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How to Choose the Right Student Housing in the U.S.

How to Choose the Right Student Housing in the U.S.

Beginning colle­ge is an exhilarating milestone­ for young adults. It symbolizes the start of newfound inde­pendence, e­xciting challenges, and opportunities for pe­rsonal growth. One of the initial crucial decisions during this chapte­r is choosing the perfect stude­nt housing. For many, this will be their first time living away from home­. The quality of one’s housing can greatly impact the­ir overall college e­xperience.

1. It’s All About Location

Location is key whe­n choosing housing for college. It’s important to prioritize options that are­ either within walking distance of your campus or e­asily accessible by public transportation. College­ Confidential is a valuable resource­ where students share­ their experie­nces and provide information about housing choices.

2. Plan Your Budget

Many college­ students have to work within a limited budge­t. It’s important to set a spending limit for your housing and stick to it. Kee­p in mind that there will be additional e­xpenses such as utilities, Wi-Fi, and groce­ries. Websites like­ Edvisors provide valuable advice on budge­ting and managing your finances as a student.

3. Types of Student Housing

The U.S. offers diverse student housing options:

  • On-Campus Dorms: Dormitories on campus are­ a popular housing option among freshmen. They offe­r the convenience­ of being located right on campus, fostering a se­nse of community and making it easier to me­et other students.
  • Off-campus apartments: They are privately owned, and may come­ unfurnished. They often re­quire a longer lease­ agreement but provide­ more independe­nce compared to dormitories.
  • Shared Houses: Living in a shared house­ means renting a property with roommate­s. This arrangement offers more­ independence­ but also entails increased re­sponsibilities.

4. Evaluate the Amenities

Modern stude­nt housing offers a wide range of ame­nities, including fitness cente­rs, group study lounges, and community kitchens. It’s important to dete­rmine which amenities are­ essential for you. Do you require­ a dedicated study space? Or pe­rhaps you’re intereste­d in displaying art without causing any damage to the walls? Innovative solutions like­ the STATS Art Handling Systems can be a gre­at option.

5. Prioritize Safety

When choosing a place­ to live, it’s important to prioritize safety. Look for housing options in se­cure neighborhoods that offer ke­y card access, surveillance came­ras, and 24/7 security personnel. To gathe­r insights on the safety of a particular neighborhood, we­bsites like NeighborhoodScout can provide­ detailed crime data.

6. Tour Before Committing

Photos can only capture a limite­d perspective. Whe­never possible, it’s important to visit the­ property in person to truly understand its atmosphe­re. Take the opportunity to thoroughly inspe­ct the rooms, shared spaces, and the­ surrounding neighborhood for a more accurate impre­ssion.

7. Scrutinize the Lease Agreement

Before­ signing the lease, thoroughly re­view the agree­ment. Make sure you unde­rstand the duration of the lease­, payment terms, and any rules or re­gulations for the property. If anything is unclear, se­ek clarification to prevent future­ conflicts. Taking this proactive step can help avoid pote­ntial issues in the future.

8. Reflect on Social Opportunities

College­ life is about more than just academics. It’s a time­ to make lifelong friendships and cre­ate unforgettable me­mories. When choosing your housing, consider the­ social aspect as well. While on-campus dorms ofte­n provide opportunities for regular social activitie­s, if you’re considering private housing, make­ sure there are­ common areas where you can inte­ract with others.

In Conclusion

Finding the pe­rfect student housing in the U.S. might se­em overwhelming, but with care­ful research and refle­ction, you can find a place that suits your comfort and academic goals. Reme­mber, this will be your home for the­ next few years, so take­ the time to choose wise­ly.

SEE ALSO: Packing For College: Essential Move-In Tips & Tricks

Which Colleges and Universities Produce the Most Business Leaders?

Which Colleges and Universities Produce the Most Business Leaders?

Business leaders spend decades of their careers developing the experience and skills needed to make key leadership decisions in the boardroom. But are you more likely to become a business leader if you attend a particular university?

While 56% of independent business leaders don’t have a diploma, there’s no denying that college offers advantages that other routes don’t – from a thorough, structured learning and time for low-risk experiments to incubator programs and a huge personal network.

To put it another way, you might well become a successful business leader without going to university — but you could become a better one by going.

So which are the best to attend?

Career experts at Resume.io recorded the number of graduates listed on the university’s LinkedIn pages and analyzed alum profiles with c-suite job titles to reveal which schools in America, Canada, Australia and the U.S. produce the most business leaders.

Methodology Behind Study

To create these tables, data analysts at Resume.io first compiled lists of universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, checking and recording the number of graduates listed on the pages of universities on LinkedIn. Then the team searched for alums with CEO, CFO, COO, CTO, CIO and CSO on their job titles and checked the number of alums for each category.

To find the number of business leaders, Resume.io searched for alums that had any of the following terms as job titles: “CEO OR CFO OR COO OR CTO OR CIO OR CSO.” Finally, the universities were ranked by the number of business leaders and the number of leaders per 1,000 alums. Only universities with more than 25k alums on Linkedin were considered.

The data is correct as of April 2023.

Findings

Below you will find the colleges that produce the most business leaders in each country according to Resume.io.

U.S.:

UK:

Canada:

Australia:

To find out more about this study, click here.

SEE ALSO: Which Colleges and Universities Around the World Have the Biggest Vocabularies?

Which are the Happiest Colleges and Universities Around the World?

Which are the Happiest Colleges and Universities Around the World?

University can be a life-changing experience, from learning the skills needed to secure your dream job to making life-long friends.

From the friends made and knowledge gained to all those late nights spent playing beer pong, if you went to college, chances are you made some happy memories during your time as a student.

But at which universities will you make the most joyful memories?

With 59% of those aged 18 to 29 on Instagram, Resume.io figured the beloved photo app offered a unique glimpse into just how happy university students are.

So analysts at Resume.io used an AI emotion recognition tool to analyze thousands of Instagram photos geo-tagged at different universities across the U.S., Australia and the UK to find out which schools are home to the happiest students.

How Was This Study Conducted?

The team of data analysts at Resume.io started by manually curating a list of Instagram location pages for the top universities in the U.S., Australia and the UK. Just to give you a better idea, it was a list of Instagram location pages such as this one for Princeton University. These pages compile all the Instagram posts geotagged for that specific location.

The data analysts then collected as many available images as possible before cleaning up the list by removing duplicates and anonimizing the data. The last step was to run the images through an AI emotion recognition tool called Amazon Rekognition API to scan faces and calculate various metrics regarding facial expressions.

The Resume.io team focused on the ‘happiness’ metric, i.e., how likely a face is to be expressing happiness. For the purposes of the study, data analysts considered a face to be happy if its happiness score was given as equal to or greater than 75%.

With all this data in hand, Resume.io proceeded to rank universities in each country by the proportion of happy faces appearing in Instagram photos tagged there.

Findings

Below you’ll find the top 20 happiest colleges in each country according to Resume.io.

Which are the Happiest Colleges and Universities in the World?

Which are the Happiest Colleges and Universities in the World?

To find out more about this study, click here.

SEE ALSO: Schools vs. Smog: How Clean is the Air at Your College?

Getting Into a U.S. College As An International Student

Getting Into a U.S. College As An International Student

People wanting to study in the U.S. are increasing with the last quotient. Hundreds of factors explain the reasons behind these specific advancements in education-related concepts. But, the central thread to this entire transformation is people’s longing to reduce job risks and focus on planning and achieving a successful career. Since colleges and universities in the U.S. are famous for offering a new and improved education curriculum, which is accepted for international standard careers, its demand is increasing amongst the youth.

The following valuable factor in this series is that students who want to explore multiple cultures, different languages, and new ways of living, like the idea of studying in the U.S., securing a career, and indulging in an international lifestyle. Apart from this, there are numerous other lucrative things about studying abroad:

  • Explore better education options
  • Identifying leading career opportunities
  • Learning the cross-cultural lifestyles
  • Getting better exposure in the marketplace
  • Learning to live on an independent basis
  • Deal with routine-based challenges and threats related to an individual’s career
  • To learn better
  • To strengthen their future

Necessary Steps

Student Visa

There are mainly two types of U.S. Student Visas:

  • F1 Visa for Full-time courses
  • M1 Visa for Non-academic or vocational Studies

An applicant for an F1 Visa must have minimum graduation and know to read and write English. In addition, they require good scores on GRE and TOEFL.

They must complete the F1 Visa application form online and fill out the DS-160 application online. While filling out the DS-160 application form, you must upload a scan photograph that meets U.S. Visa criteria. After filling out the F1 Visa application form, take the print application form confirmation page with you to your interview.

Before taking a print copy of the DS-160 application, you should verify  and cross-check all the details you entered. The entered details must match your passport, I-20, Student and Exchange Visitor Program fee receipt, and all the necessary information regarding your education, work experience, and other activities.

When you complete the Non-immigrant Visa application form DS-160, you will receive a confirmation page with a 10-digit bar code and take print out of this page. This print page is required at the time of your F1 Visa Interview.

An applicant has to pay the F1 U.S. application fee at the only Housing Development Finance Corporation Bank branch. The F1 U.S. Application fee is $160. They will give two fee receipts, one blue and another pink, and a 10-digit bar code must paste on both receipts.

You must bring the fee payment receipt to the U.S. consulate during your F1 Visa interview. Book an F1 U.S. Visa Interview appointment, submit documents at the nearest Facilitation Services Center, and attend the U.S. F1 Visa interview.

Obtaining a visa can be a challenging process. If you require immigration assistance, consider hiring a professional legal firm.

Understand And Speak English Well

It is essential to understand and speak english well because all the courses, exams, and papers are in english. The admission requirements of the university also include the initial test of english. If a student can pass the initial examination, they will be eligible for admission to the university.

Select the Right University for You

It is essential to select a university wisely as it will determine a large part of your life. The undergraduate level has a 3% rate for international students of admission. Applying to at least four universities is necessary and make sure to complete file on time as admissions are highly competitive. Late files or incomplete files will not even be read.

SAT or ACT Scores

Your SAT or ACT scores are one of the essential parts of your application. Your SAT or ACT scores will show your academic skills that will be needed to succeed at the college level.

Essays

Many colleges in the U.S. do not just consider your grades and test scores but also your personal qualities and motivations. To check this, they observe the essays you right.

Supplemental Documents

  • Application
  • Copy of passport
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Your grade and predicted grades
  • Financial evidence to cover the university fees
  • Proof of English language proficiency

Letters of Recommendation

Your college may want one or two teacher recommendations and one from your school counselor. You must establish strong relationships with teachers, key staff, and leaders to receive reasonable offers.

Conclusion

Around the world, lots of universities welcome applications from international students. It takes about 2 years, so planning to apply to a university is essential. To apply to university, there are many factors you should consider.

The Advance Placement Program is recognized by most universities and colleges in the U.S., and that offers university-level courses preparation and exams by which you can get and earn university credit or placement.

SEE ALSO: Preparation for your stay in the U.S.

The Significance of the U.S. Abortion Ruling

The Significance of the U.S. Abortion Ruling

On Friday 24th June, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion, upending the Roe v. Wade case from approximately half a decade ago. The Supreme Court did this by ruling in favor, by a 6-3 majority vote, to uphold Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks. 

In the official court opinion, Justice Samuel Alito wrote: “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. The Constitution does not refer to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision, including the one on which the defenders of Roe and Casey now chiefly rely — the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”

As a result, multiple states are now expected to introduce restrictions or ban the procedure again. This is a huge moment in U.S. history and will likely shatter the reproductive rights of American women, removing their constitutional right to privacy that protected access to abortion. 

Roe v. Wade

This was a legal case in 1973 which saw the U.S. Supreme Court rule 7-2 that governments lacked the power to prohibit abortions. The case revolved around 25-year-old Norma McCorvey (who took on the name Jane Roe in the case to protect her identity), a woman living in Texas who was pregnant with her third child but claimed that she was raped. She filed the case when pregnant to challenge the abortion laws where she was from as she was unable to access abortion care. On the other side of the argument was Henry Wade, a district attorney for Dallas County defending the laws. 

After the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled in favor of McCorvey, Texas appealed and in doing so, the case was upgraded to the Supreme Court. In her lawsuit, Roe alleged that the state laws were unconstitutionally vague and abridged her right to personal privacy, protected by the First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments. The Supreme Court decision was mainly due to the Fourteenth Amendment’s “right to privacy”. 

This decision led to significant changes to women’s rights regarding abortions. During the first trimester (first three months) of pregnancy, women now had the right to an abortion. During the second trimester (three to six months), there was some government regulation. During the final trimester (six to nine months), states could restrict or ban abortions, but the case also cemented the idea that women could obtain an abortion even if there was a ban if doctors felt it was necessary to protect her health or save her life. 

Overturned 

Due to the decision of the Supreme Court, thirteen have already passed supposed trigger laws that will automatically prohibit abortion following their ruling. Additionally, several others are set to pass new restrictions in due course.

Reaction

Hundreds of demonstrators from both sides assembled outside the court with some anti-abortion activists joyful in celebration while there was anger and disappointment for the pro-choice supporters. The split in the reaction was also clear throughout social media with millions of people including celebrities expressing their opinions on the decision. 

Actor Seth MacFarlane said on Twitter: “Not too long ago, this would have been dystopian sci-fi. But the legacy of the 2016 election and the indelible mark of the GOP is printed here in black and white. How much farther this will go once again depends on American voters. Blame extremism or apathy, but this is America.”

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift expressed on Twitter that she’s “absolutely terrified that this is where we are — that after so many decades of people fighting for women’s rights to their bodies, today’s decision has stripped us of that.”

British entrepreneur Richard Branson said: “Overturning Roe v Wade is a devastating decision by the US Supreme Court. This will not reduce abortions, it will just make them unsafe. Reproductive rights are human rights. We must all stand up for choice.”

While Danny DeVito simply put: “Supreme Court my a**”

Many expressed their delight over the decision. Donald Trump said: “Today’s decision, which is the biggest WIN for LIFE in a generation, along with other decisions that have been announced recently, were only made possible because I delivered everything as promised, including nominating and getting three highly respected and strong Constitutionalists confirmed to the United States Supreme Court. These major Victories prove that even though the Radical Left is doing everything in their power to destroy our Country, your Rights are being protected, the Country is being defended, and there is still hope and time to Save America!”

Actor Kevin Sorbo tweeted: “Life wins”. 

President Biden denounced the celebrations calling them “wrong, extreme and out of touch”.

The decision now places the United States as one of the four nations around the world since 1994 to restrict abortion. It also raises questions about the Supreme Court and has also led to concerns for other rights settled by them. 

SEE ALSO: Why “love will make you do crazy things” Should Never be an Excuse

U.S. Announce Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics

U.S. Announce Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics

The White House have confirmed that they will perform a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic games due to the “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang”.

Earlier in the month, President Biden stated a boycott was something that his administration was “considering” but now the move has been committed and was announced by White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

“The Biden administration will not send any diplomatic or official representation to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games”, she affirmed.

“We have a fundamental commitment to promoting human rights. And we feel strongly in our position and we will continue to take actions to advance human rights in China and beyond”.

This announcement comes two months before the winter games are set to begin. However, despite this announcement, which aims to put a serious foot down against the Chinese and their human rights record, American athletes will still be able to compete in the games with the same also applying for the Paralympic games, saying that they have their “full support and that their involvement is “beyond politics”. So is the proclamation that U.S. politicians won’t be attending the games a serious stamp of authority?

Pressure had been mounting on the Biden administration by members of congress as well as human rights activists to officially pull out of the games due to the China’s poor human rights record.

The similar boycott was staged by the U.S. back in 1980, during the Cold War. Then President Jimmy Carter boycotted the Moscow Summer Games due to the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan the year before. However, the key difference is that in 1980, the United States were in company with 64 other nations across the world.

Robert Menendez, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, described the boycott as “a necessary step to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to human rights in the face of the Chinese government’s unconscionable abuses”.

Only hours before the announcement, China had stated that a boycott of their winter games would be “a stain on the spirit of the Olympic charter” and “sensationalist and politically manipulative”.

Once the announcement was made, China dismissed the boycott claiming the announcement was “a pretentious act” and a “political manipulation”.

Zhao Lijian, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, accused Washington of “hyping a ‘diplomatic boycott’ without even being invited to the Games”.

“I want to stress that the Winter Olympic Games is not a stage for political posturing and manipulation,” Zhao voiced. “It is a grave travesty of the spirit of the Olympic charter, a blatant political provocation and a serious affront to the 1.4 billion Chinese people.”

So will this boycott make that much of a statement or a difference?

SEE ALSO: COP26 – What Were the Key Outcomes?

Study: Immigration Boosts U.S. Life Expectancy

Study: Immigration Boosts U.S. Life Expectancy

A study revealed by researchers at Princeton University and the University of Southern California suggests that if immigrants to the United States created their own nation, their pre-COVID life expectancy would match those of the highest in the world.

The study estimated that immigration adds 1.4 to 1.5 years to U.S. life expectancy at birth.

Arun Hendi, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of sociology and public affair at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, said: “Demographers knew that immigrants lived longer. The main question that we set out to answer was, ‘How much is this really contributing to national life expectancy trends?’”

To view the full story, click here to visit the Princeton University News website.

SEE ALSO: Study: Loss of Historical Lands Make Native Americans Vulnerable to Climate Change

Essential Guide to the 2020 Election

On November 3, 2020, Americans will head to the polls and render their verdict on Donald Trump’s presidency. For many reasons, this election is looming larger than those in previous years—so much so that 25 individuals (23 Democrats and two Republicans) have announced their candidacy for president in 2020.

With that many names to keep track of, not to mention the issues, we’ve broken it down into an essential guide.

Why is everything so wild?

In an average year, maybe two or three people will run against each other for the party nomination for president. This year, there are 25 people in the running, with three that have already dropped out.

This election is about Trump. In 2016, the current President pulled off a mammoth political upset against Hillary Clinton, taking swing states such as Florida and North Carolina, while overcoming the supposed “blue wall” in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. This time the candidates are different, the issues are different and the electorate has changed. Everyone is watching with bated breath wondering, can Trump do it again?

While most attention is focused on the presidency, the general election will also determine control of Congress, state legislatures and governorships. Power in the Senate will be up for grabs, with 34 out of 100 seats up for election in 2020—about a third of those seats look competitive. Democrats will also try to defend their majority in the House of Representatives.

Who can vote?

There are more than 224 million people of voting age in the US. The 2020 electorate will be more diverse and younger than ever before, according to a January 2019 analysis from the Pew Research Center. Non-white voters will account for a third of eligible voters—their largest share ever—and one in 10 eligible voters will be from Gen Z (between ages 18 and 23).

In 2016, about 30 percent of Americans who were eligible to vote decided not to or were blocked; however, given the surge in turnout for the 2018 midterm elections, 2020 could see an expanded electorate. However, experts say voter suppression and gerrymandering may have hindered Democrats in 2018 and may continue to counter the effects of a more enthusiastic voting base.

Explain primaries to me

The primaries and caucuses are a series of contents in all 50 states plus Washington DC and outlying territories, by which the party selects its presidential nominee. The goal for candidates is to amass a majority of delegates whose job it is to nominate the candidate. In some states, delegates are awarded on a winner-take-all basis; other states split their delegates proportionally among top winners.

The goal for candidates is to win early-voting states and create name recognition and a sense of momentum. Sometimes the nominee emerges quickly, but the last two major Democratic primary contests, pitting Barack Obama against Clinton and then Sanders against Clinton, have lasted from the Iowa caucuses in January through late spring.

Conventions

After the primaries, the two parties will hold their national conventions, at which they will officially designate their candidates. The conventions are a mix of political business, theater and party. The Democratic national convention is July 13-16, 2020, and the Republican convention is a month later, from August 24-27.

Then the race begins

The general election, the race for president that most voters think of, begins in earnest after the conventions when there are two clear candidates. This is when the candidates hit the campaign trail, unveil their running mates and step up to the national debate stage. For Trump, his work will also include the business of the presidency.

Then November 3 will come, votes will be cast and it will all come down to the electoral college.

Important dates

  • September 12-13 Next democratic debates
  • February 3 Iowa caucuses kick off the primaries
  • March 3 Super Tuesday
  • July 13-16 Democratic national convention
  • August 24-27 Republican national convention
  • November 3 Election day

 

Registering to vote

The deadlines to register to vote vary by state. Some states allow voters to register in person on election day, others set a deadline at as much as 30 days before election day.

See also: Trump’s Wall: The President’s Oval Office Address
Trump’s Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame Voted to Be Removed
Trump Cancels Philadelphia Eagles’ Visit to the White House