Sunday Dinners: Spinach Salad with Fruit

Sunday Dinners: Spinach Salad with Fruit

Today's comfort food recipe is brought to you by my mom, who adapted this simple and delicious for a myriad of family meal occasions over the years. At its most basic it's a simple and fresh salad recipe, perfect for healthy side salads at home or as a contribution to a potluck or BBQ. The broad range of optional toppings makes it incredibly versatile.

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The Benefits of a Community College Education: Guest Post by Mark Rothenmeyer

The Benefits of a Community College Education: Guest Post by Mark Rothenmeyer

The low cost of tuition allows you, the student, to fulfill courses required for graduation while also taking classes to broaden your perspective, pursue your interests, and determine your future major. Many students arrive at expensive, four year institutions with the “undecided” block checked and spend a great deal of money trying to find their passion when they could have spent dramatically less had their search began at a community college.

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Cultural Preparation for Studying Abroad

Cultural Preparation for Studying Abroad

If at all possible, you should try to get a jumpstart on learning about the history and culture of the place you’re about to call your temporary home. Think about it as a kind of cultural acquaintance-making. You will by no means be able to learn everything about a country before you go. But some exploration ahead of time will mean you are better prepared and will have more context to understand the experiences in your new home.

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Education in the UK vs. the US: "What is Foucault?"

Education in the UK vs. the US: "What is Foucault?"

This is a blog post about liberal arts, the United States system of higher education, and my brief experience studying in Northern Ireland. Specifically, about the difference witnessed between my “breadth” of educational experience in liberal arts and the “depth” of background evidenced by my peers in the law program.

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Reverse Culture Shock and the Post-Abroad Slump

Reverse Culture Shock and the Post-Abroad Slump

Before you set off on a study abroad (or any prolonged travel), you will probably hear about culture shock time and time again. You’ll be warned that some aspects of culture or the mundane details of normal life will be different where you’re going, and that these differences will probably cause you to feel uncomfortable in ways you can’t anticipate before you go. When you travel, you encounter different expectations of “this is just how things are.” 

What isn’t discussed so often is the reverse shock of returning home.

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The Disconnected College Curriculum and "Spider Ed": Guest Post by "Professor X"

The Disconnected College Curriculum and "Spider Ed": Guest Post by "Professor X"

Colleges are no longer producing responsible citizens of the world.  This is a damning testament, since the world, or at least America, is clearly evolving toward entitled lifestyles where people are informed by their own filters and become disconnected from any real world.   Why is the college experience enabling students to remain on this path?

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Thesis Writing Basics: Choosing an Undergraduate Thesis Topic

Thesis Writing Basics: Choosing an Undergraduate Thesis Topic

An undergraduate thesis is the culmination of a college experience, and if you have the opportunity (or obligation) to write one, you will probably approach it with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. It is your chance to write something that is almost entirely self-directed: it will bring together the information and skills that you have learned thus far on your academic journey and set you free to pursue a specific research topic of your choice.

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Campus Involvement Leads to So Much More--Guest Post by Rebecca Rothkopf

Campus Involvement Leads to So Much More--Guest Post by Rebecca Rothkopf

College is all about figuring out who you are and what you want to do. That’s a big deal, and while classes are an important part of the college experience, I would argue that taking advantage of the opportunities to get involved on campus is equally important. To back up this argument, I’ve created a list to help back up why student activities and branching out of your comfort zone are both a valuable part of the college experience...

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Things I Had to Learn in College: Grocery Shopping

Things I Had to Learn in College: Grocery Shopping

One of the weird things about leaving home to go to college is that there’s an awful lot you have to learn and acclimatize to all at once. Not only do you have to adapt to a new style of teaching and learning, but you also are thrown into being in charge of maintaining your own life. I grew up doing chores, but my folks did a lot of looking after me. So I arrived at college knowing how to vacuum and wash dishes, but not how to do a myriad of other “grown up” things. I had to learn on the fly… and with varying degrees of success.

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The Confused Graduate: Guest Post on the Complications of Life After College

The Confused Graduate: Guest Post on the Complications of Life After College

Some people enter college knowing exactly what path they will take, beginning freshman year and ending in a job. For many others, it's not such a direct route. 

First, make sure you know that NOT knowing is completely acceptable. You just have to design a path for yourself that will allow you to explore your options. College is a huge investment in terms of time and money, so when you go, it’s better to be sure you have a solid idea of what you might want to do. Set goals for yourself, and if you don’t meet them, don’t be too hard on yourself. Just try again, and stay focused on finding what you can do for the long haul, and don’t sweat the small things.

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Campus Sports Culture When You Don't Like Sports

Campus Sports Culture When You Don't Like Sports

What is it like to attend a big sports college when you don't like sports? Or when you actively dislike all things sports-related? Sports culture was something I was worried about before I started college. I have never been a fan of team sports, and am 100% disinterested in being a spectator for any and all sporting events...

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