Colleges and universities – Page 2 – Teen Observer Archive

June 26, 2018

Social media can influence self esteem

Students shared on Wednesday their views on social media and its effects on mental health and self esteem at American University in Washington, D.C., with many saying they see the negative effects but refuse to give up their phone.

It is very unlikely to find a millennial who isn’t glued to their cell phone, scanning their screen. Social media is used by many millennials in order to stay updated, develop a voice, or create content, and research shows that it can have both positive effects and negative ramifications.

However, many students feel that the advanced network causes their self esteem to take a hit, even though it can help them stay connected to friends and family who may be far away.

Many students studying or working at American University this summer expressed their thoughts on how social media affects their confidence.

Justine Coleman, 20, is like many others interviewed who said they compare themselves to others on social media platforms.

“Sometimes it can get a little in your head,” said Coleman, a journalism and mass communications student at George Washington University. “People just put out the happiest versions of themselves.”

According to the National Psychologist, around 81 percent of the U.S. population has at least one social media account.

Using social media is a part of many peoples’ daily routines.

Hannah Kim, 19, a film and media arts major, said that she uses it “really often, almost maybe every hour of the day. Just to check.”

Kim added that “a lot of the younger kids now are growing up a bit too fast and they’re taking inspiration from social media.”

As teenagers develop and undergo changes, they may feel insecure as they observe their friends or celebrities on social media.

“That’s all they’ve grown up with,” Coleman said.

Social media has advanced with Generation Z as they age which affects their mindset. It’s difficult for the younger generation to separate reality from idealism.

“They have grown up with social media, so it’s always been embedded in the culture,” Amanda Luthy, 21, a film and media arts major commented.

However, many of the students overcome the feeling of being pressured.

“There’s a whole team of people behind them producing this content,” Luthy stated on the topic of social media influencers. “It’s not always genuinely that person them self.”

Many students also express how common it is to have a social media cleanse. “Taking some time out is a good way to cope with it,” Coleman said.

June 25, 2018

Coffee kicks the morning in gear for many at college

Adult caffeine drinkers at American University and in Tenleytown said that coffee is embedded in their daily routines and many know there are both benefits and risks associated with the popular beverage.

“I drink every morning, which isn’t great,” said Erika Heddesheimer, 20.

Most interviewed this week on American University’s campus said they take their coffee the same way: With milk.

While most people caffeinated earlier in the day some choose other times.

“I drink it whenever I get into work,” said Emma Reeves, 21, who works at Georgetown Cupcake. She continued saying, “I don’t need it when I wake up.”

Reeves might not need it right away, but studies show other people rely on caffeine to motivate in the morning.

A study from the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee found drinking coffee increases dopamine levels in the body. That can lead to a feeling of happiness and energy, but the site said “caffeine does not fulfill the criteria to be described as a drug of dependence.”

However, according to research published in 2016 in the Journal of Caffeine Research, a majority of students sampled drank coffee or espresso daily but were unaware of the caffeine content that offers many a boost in the morning, according to interviews.

Others interviewed at a Starbucks in Tenleytown, a neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., several said they don’t plan on giving up their caffeinated drink in the morning.

“I’ve being drinking coffee since I was a kid, since I was like 12,” said Liz Desio, 25. “And I work very early in the morning so I feel like it is necessary to get my day started.”

July 31, 2017

Why Berkeley?

Sproul Hall, home to many protests at the University of California Berkeley. Is now the undergraduate administration office. Photo by Jolie Ebadi

BERKELEY, Calif. — When visiting the campus of the University of California, Berkeley one sees and hears a diverse and passionate culture.

The famous green-arch entrance at Sather Gate stands for new beginnings. Some are drawn here for academics or the eclectic laid-back city, but what else causes people to stay?

Viry Cabral, a 19-year-old local, said “Berkeley is a cool place to work in because it is interesting and diverse.” She attends community college in nearby San Pablo.

In informal interviews across campus, some students said that although the university is more affordable than a private college, there are underlying issues socially.

One described a racial dispute in the library; others were concerned about the recent housing crisis and lack of affordable space for students.

Maritza Geronimo, a UCLA student, was visiting the campus for a symposium directed at research and scholarships. She said she didn’t think the campus was “welcoming for people of color,” but knows this is something students are working on. ( To read more about Racial issues at Berkeley, go to http://www.dailycal.org/2016/10/23/student-groups-block-sather-gate-latest-protest-relocation/ ) Her colleague, Christian Vasquez, also from UCLA, said he’s enjoying “a different culture than I am used to back home in Westwood. There are more food options for expressing ethnic communities in Berkeley, and more opportunity for all social classes financially and politically.”

Several students said they saw a renewed political activism and welcoming spirit and a general encouragement for artistic expression. One student’s favorite artistic piece was a car covered in chains that she saw around town often.

Nicole Blake, associate director of the undergraduate admissions office, said the school has “an eye for diversity, not just how people look, but where they come from, making it very inviting for students and staff,” which is why she has stayed for 12 years.

“I would want other people to know that I know how young people feel,” she said. “I think they believe it’s about the GPA and the rigor, but I would say to them: Berkeley is for you.”

July 20, 2017July 20, 2017

Some colleges make SAT optional

Admissions officers at test-optional colleges and universities are relying on new ways to review a student’s academic ability without looking at their standardized tests scores.

“By allowing students to apply as test-optional, they are indeed giving the student a choice on how they present themselves to an admissions committee,” said Jeremy Lowe, who is the associate director of admissions at American University, a test-optional school in Washington, D.C.

Test-optional schools–those where students are not required to submit their SAT or ACT scores in their applications–are also on the rise. Test-flexible schools apply a holistic review of a student that is more personalized and takes other aspects of a students academic success into account.

Standardized tests used by colleges and universities. Photo by Alberto G.

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/about/benefits, standardized tests can reflect a student’s strengths and weaknesses. Standardized testing is used to eliminate possible discrimination of students who may be limited by a weaker school system. These tests also have the job of measuring a student’s readiness for college.

For years, tests have been a standard for college applicants during the admissions process, however in a PBS report, colleges and universities are starting to put less emphasis on test scores as they are not reliable in predicting academic success.

“I know some people who did very badly on it and they ended up going to college and getting very good grades,” said Kevin Thibodeaux, 25, of the SAT.

As of the summer of 2017 more than 950 schools are test flexible or test optional.

July 20, 2017July 20, 2017

More students opting for first two years at community college

Michaelyn Hoeres is unsure what she wants to study in college.

The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18-year-old, who graduated from Freedom High School in June, worried about paying thousands of dollars per credit for general education requirements.

So, she’s spending her first two years of higher education not on a sprawling University campus, but instead at Northampton Community College.

“I knew I could knock out many of my gen ed requirements and save money while at a community college,” Hoeres said. “It puts less pressure on my parents.”

Michaelyn Hoeres posing for her senior pictures. By Kevin Volpe

Hoeres is among an estimated 9.8 million undergraduates enrolling in a community college for the 2017-2018 school year, according to Teachers College, Columbia University.

The total cost of a four-year degree can be drastically reduced by spending the first two years at a community college.

The average cost of one year of private, four-year University is $35,074, according to Best Value Schools. According to College Board assuming you complete two years of required classes at a community college, you will save $12,000 to $66,000 compared to the same education given at a state or private school.

No matter which college someone attends or what your ideal major is, the first two years generally are comprised general education classes. Many students won’t get into courses that fulfill their majors until junior year.

Even with two years at community college, students who transfer their junior year to a more traditional campus earn a diploma with that school’s name on it.

Every first-year student is required to take core classes such as English 101, math, and science class in order to fulfill needed credits for graduation. There’s little difference in content between those classes from school to school, so some interviewed this week find it more economical to take them at community college.

The main reason behind attending a community college comes down to cost. Being able to earn a degree at the fraction of the price is a desirable want for many young individuals.

Students are better financially prepared for the costs of a four year university should they plan on transferring.

Hoeres is looking forward to getting started. Even though she admits, she knows she’s missing out on some aspects of a four-year college.

“I am excited to be beginning a new part of my life but it does hurt watching most of my friends leave to go hours away to Universities,” Hoeres said.

July 20, 2017July 20, 2017

Report: High-performing but low-income students left out

Jane Thomas’s daughter studies at Emory University where annual tuition nears $50,000.

Thomas identifies her income as “comfortable” but said this week her daughter will pay her own college debts.

“Whatever she didn’t pay off, she’ll have to work off, because we want her to have some responsibility,” Thomas said.

Thomas is one of millions of Americans facing rising tuition costs, especially at elite, private, and Ivy League universities. That means many low-income Americans are being forced out of an elite higher-education system that they can’t afford.

A study done by the National Bureau of Economic Resea rch found that “the vast majority of very high-achieving students who are low-income do not apply to any selective college or university.”

According to the study, this trend occurs when high-achieving students search for colleges in the range of their income, rather than of their achievement.

But, colleges have been trying to incorporate students from all backgrounds and economic statuses.

In 2004, the eight Ivy League universities underwent a financial makeover when schools such as Harvard, Princeton, and Yale decided to provide free tuition to those families that made under $60,000 a year.

But still, at five of the eight Ivy League’s there are more students from the top 1 percent of income ($630K+), than the bottom 60 percent (<$65K).

It seems that America might be one of the only countries putting students into crippling debt. Jane McTaggart from Brisbane, Australia recalled that when she went to college it was free.

Although annual tuition in Australia is now $20,000, students “don’t have to pay back their debts until they make a certain income,” McTaggart stated.

McTaggart also stated, “I find it quite disturbing that you have so much debt for young people.”

College costs in America are increasing as the average tuition for a private institution has racked up to $35,074 for four year schools.

These costs aren’t encouraging low-income students to choose elite universities and are another reason for less low-income, high-achieving students attending college.

Although Jane Thomas is able to pay for her daughter’s tuition at Emory University, she is still skeptical of the efforts being made by colleges to provide financial aid for low-income students.

She stated, “I don’t think they’re doing enough.”

July 20, 2017

Safety First When Students Travel Abroad

Students from all over visit Westminster.
Photo from College Fulton MO

WASHINGTON D.C. – Beth O’Quinn says that studying abroad and discovering new cultures and ways of life is one of the most influential and enlightening experiences a student can have.

But O’Quinn, who is the director of experiential learning at Foxcroft School, a girls boarding school in Middleburg, Virginia, says that safety is the most important consideration of sending students from her school overseas.

“Safety always comes first,” O’Quinn said.

“We have a ratio system for every trip that we take,” she continued. “For every six girls, there are two teachers or chaperones who attend as well. So if there is a total of 12 girls on the trip, then there will be four chaperones in total as well.”

When most parents consider allowing their child to explore a different country, the first thing that comes to mind is the health and safety precautions that are put into action.

Kimberly Turner of Washington D.C. says in an interview that when she went to Edinburgh, Scotland her senior year of high school, “The teachers went above and beyond to ensure that we were all healthy and safe by regularly checking in with us and having groups of us being assigned to different chaperones. I did not once feel unsafe on that trip because the chaperones were organized and always on top of everything.”

David Larsen, who is the director of the Beaver College Center for Education Abroad, states that he requires the students he sends to Belfast, Ireland to be driven through the most dangerous parts of that city so that they are clearly informed of what places to avoid.

O’Quinn also stated in a recent interview that students have to fulfill certain health requirements deeming that there will be no health issues that will be exacerbated by going overseas or that will hinder their overall experience.

It is also essential that students be given the proper vaccinations depending on what country they will be visiting.

Sometimes, school leaders must also account for a country’s political issues when deciding if students should go.

O’Quinn said that one trip to South Africa in 2016 coincided with elections there. It was cancelled because of upheaval and violence at the time.

Even though the city, Johannesburg, that the students would have been staying in was deemed safe, she said it was better to err on the side of caution.

July 14, 2017July 20, 2017

Architecture on college campuses influences atmosphere for students

WASHINGTON, D.C –Students and alumni say that both the architecture and atmosphere of their college campuses have enriched their educational experiences.

Most interviewed this week in Northwest Washington, D.C. said that traditional campus architecture–those schools with brick and stone buildings–has character and helps tell the story of the university’s history.

“You get a true sense of the institution,” said Philip Brown who had attended Howard university. “It had an inviting atmosphere with the interior design and structure of the buildings there, which provided a place for a more positive learning experience.”

They also believe that historic architecture can signal the university’s renowned academic status.

Campus atmosphere–including well-tended gardens and green space some called “homey”–was another significant factor to contribute to people’s desire to attend certain colleges.

A 2011 University of Rhode Island report of its Admissions Advisory Committee noted campus curb appeal matters to admissions decisions.

Rick Hesel, the Principal of the Arts and Sciences group at the University of Rhode Island, advises other institutions that it is very important to make a good first impression with the overall image and appearance of the campus.

Campus tour — Families on a campus tour of American University, Friday, July 14. By Elle Rosse.

“When I attended Towson University, there will new residential buildings that had been built. They were gorgeous and they really lead to a more organized, clean feel,” said Kim Kinner of Washington D.C.”

A beautiful and well – manicured campus can also attract more students despite possibly having a bad location.

Elizabeth Herzfeldt of Kalamath Oregon who attended Pacific Lutheran University, said “The campus was located in a bad part of town, so the well – groomed campus was very eye – catching.”

July 14, 2017

U.S. student debt tops $1.4 trillion

WASHINGTON, D.C.–American University students and Northwest District of Columbia residents said Wednesday that student loan debt which is above $1.4 trillion in the United States today is a serious issue facing those seeking higher education in America.

Nelson Jacobson discusses his experience with student loans. By Vicky Tan

“Interest rates are rising and I’m scared that I’ll still be paying of loans when I’m 35,” said Leila Ackerman, 18, who will start at American University this Fall.

Ackerman worries about expenses beyond just tuition and housing. She said the hidden costs are also going to add up. Not only is tuition becoming more and more expensive, but new students must be able to afford food, textbooks and other necessities to living away from home.

“I’m one of the lucky ones, I can’t even imagine what having loans breathing down your back would feel like,” said Janice Barlow, 20, an American University student. “You really can’t do anything. Every thing you do, anywhere you go, you have to be thinking about money.”

According to the Student Loan Debt Report, national student loan debt collectively currently totals $1.41 trillion.

According to the report, around 70 percent of college students in the United States now owe some soft of debt for education. However, even with almost a whole generation drowning in student loan debt, there is no guarantee of employment after they graduate.

There was a general consensus among both residents and students that government is not doing enough to help financially struggling students. With interest rates slowly rising, the nation has not made education as high a priority as others, they said.

“Government should try to make education more affordable, everyone should have the opportunity to go to get a better education if they want to. Money should not be a limiting factor,” Ackerman said.

July 14, 2017July 20, 2017

Switching college majors part of the process

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Many current and former college students interviewed this week in Northwest Washington, D.C. have changed their majors in college as they discovered their passions and interests on campus, while others fall in love with their major and stick with it in order to pursue a career in that field.

Sarah Menke-Fish, a professor of Film and Media Arts at American University, thought she would major in music and home economics when she enrolled in the University of Northern Iowa, but ended up changing her mind after two months when she discovered her passion for speech.

Idegbuwa Karba talks about why she chose to major in psychology at Howard University. By Courtney Cohn

“I thoroughly loved it and did really well in it,” Menke-Fish said.

Menke-Fish is not alone.

According to an April 2017 report from the University of Memphis, “About 40% of college students switch majors at least once, suggesting that major choice is a process rather than a single decision.”

Menke-Fish ended up majoring in speech theater teaching and radio television broadcasting, which led to many careers involving both teaching and acting. She also notices that many of her students switch majors in college like she did.

She acknowledges that people think they know what they’ll enjoy and want to study as they enter college, but may discover that they excel in a different area and want to find a career in that field instead.

Zerline Hughes discussed choosing to major in journalism at Howard University. By Courtney Cohn

However, Zerline Hughes, 40, a freelance writer, always knew she wanted to study journalism and kept that major at Howard University.

“I didn’t ever want to change,” said Hughes, who described herself as a freelance writer. “Howard University had a good journalism program and I thought it was the best fit for me and my goals.”

Like Hughes, Idegbuwa Karba, 19, has known what she wanted to major in since high school, and does not want to switch.

Karba majors in psychology at Howard University and said she doesn’t plan on changing.

Kim Kinner, now a second grade teacher, majored in mass communications and marketing in order to find a high-paying job in that field. She ended up switching to an education major in graduate school when she realized her passion for the field even though it might not come with the same paycheck.

“Money isn’t worth it,” Kinner said. “I wanted a career my heart was in.”