Preparing Young Children for College

The post below uses information obtained from education.com and gocollege.com

Do I really need to start preparing my child for college while they are still in middle school?

Experts say yes. Ultimately, the decision comes down to you and your child, but here are some tips when considering your child's future:

Add college to the conversation.

Talk to your child about their interests, how they might translate into a college major and career. You can help them envision the future at a time when the social anxieties and opportunities of middle school seem to be taking over any extra time in their minds.

Expose your child to college opportunities. 

It’s not too early for you and your child to visit a college so he/she can begin to picture him/herself there. Don't be afraid to introduce them to certain programs or career paths that you have decided together might be a good fit. Many universities offer campus tours to students of any age for free. 

Click here to schedule a tour at Utah State.

 Get involved in your child's choice of classes.

The research is clear: Kids who take algebra by the eighth grade and geometry by ninth grade are much more likely to go to college than those who don’t. These math classes are required to take more advanced math classes in high school and to take science classes like chemistry and physics. In addition to taking math every year in middle school, your child should take: 

• English: Every year 
• History (including geography) and science: As many classes as possible 
• Foreign language: Many colleges require at least two years of a language, which your child can begin in middle school. 

Because college work and many jobs now require computer skills, your child should also try to take advantage of any computer science classes offered in middle and high school. He’ll gain new skills and may discover a career path.

Learn about college costs--and ways of avoiding them 

High school students who take AP classes can often use those credits to skip many general education classes at their university. These high school classes generally cost a fraction of the price, but your child must be academically ready to take on such courses.

Make sure your high school students are preparing to take the ACT or SAT. High scores on these tests can ensure scholarship offers and good job placement after graduation.

College doesn't have to be a scary thing. Preparing early and starting the conversation with your children should help them be excited about their future.

And really, who doesn't love the idea of being a Future Aggie?

The post below uses information obtained from education.com and gocollege.com

The Mentor Effect: Going from Mentee to Mentor

Original article by Levo League

by Akansha Agrawal

I have entered into a full cycle of being a mentee and a mentor: my mentor, Vivian is a Cal alumni, and my mentee Andrea is a sophomore economics student. My relationship with Vivian has been so extremely gratifying that it inspired me to become a mentor — a phenomenon I like to call the ”mentor effect.’ Here’s what I’ve learned along the way.

Utilize Your School’s Alumni Network

I came across Vivian’s profile on Cal’s mentorship program through the alumni network, and I knew she would be the perfect fit for me: we grew up in the same city, we share a similar academic background and we were both passionate about the same industry. Your school’s alumni network is a perfect starting point in your search for a mentor, because chances are you will find someone who shares a similar background and interests.

Discuss Your Goals and Mission

After a brief exchange through emails, Vivian and I had our first casual meeting where I discussed my interests and goals for the future. It’s important to identify and communicate to your mentor how she or he could best help. I remember when I first heard about the Levo League, I was so eager to get involved that I emailed Vivian right away — I knew she could best advise me on how to reach out to the team.

Show Your Appreciation

A mentorship should not be one-sided, and so as a mentee, show your appreciation by writing a nice thank-you note or treating your mentor to lunch. Stay in touch regularly, even if you don’t need new advice or help.

Give Back

I have found mentoring Andrea to be even more fulfilling than I could imagine. I learn from Vivian’s mentoring tactics and apply it to my mentorship with Andrea, hoping I can provide her that support system Vivian provides me. As discussed elsewhere on this site, you are never too young to be a mentor, so don’t let age or career level hold you back!

Original article by Levo League

If you are interested in becoming a mentor to current students or recent graduates at Utah State, please contact alumni@usu.edu. 

How To: Land Your Dream Job Without Experience

Original article by Levo League

Photo Courtesy of Levo League

An Army combat engineer turned advertising executive. A banking executive turned career counselor. A mother of 12, now a communications writer. An Intel engineer turned comedian. These are not your typical career changes.

Here are the inspiring stories and creative strategies these people used to transition into a job they love—without related work experience or education.

Work on your transferrable skills and connect with the interviewer on a personal level

Tom Aiello, president of March Marketing, was an Army combat engineer who wanted to work in advertising.To get the recruiters’ attention, he listed his skills and compared it to job descriptions to see which of them are applicable in advertising. Then he focused his resume and cover letter on these transferable skills. His next challenge was to convince company VPs that his military background was applicable to advertising. 

These decision-makers didn’t think “a rigid Army veteran would thrive at an ad agency,” Tom says. He had to convince them that he could fit in. “The key was connecting on a personal level to make them feel they could work with me,” Tom says. 

He looked up the background of each interviewer, then used the information he found to break the ice by drawing out what they have in common. 

Do your homework: study the people, culture and the work done. Use this to “ask intelligent questions about the job,” Tom suggests.

When transferrable skills aren’t enough: quash the stereotypes

Peter Berner, president of Pilot Workplace, had a successful banking career, but he wanted to be a career counselor. 

Back then, “the going price of admission into the career development field was a Ph.D. in Psychology and a skirt,” says Peter. 

Here’s a situation where transferrable skills and enthusiasm weren’t enough. 

To solve this, he compiled the bios of senior leaders in major career development firms, and through persistent networking, he got an audience with the decision-makers of these companies. 

But he didn’t ask for an interview. Instead, he showed them the bio compilation without the names and asked them to check for any similarities in the work and backgrounds on the bios. None of them could find a pattern. 

The credentials of the senior leaders were diverse, but even more surprising to his audience was the fact that “none of them had a Ph.D. in Psychology and not one of them were female,” Peter says. 

After realizing this, the people who didn’t want to give him a chance were suddenly open to hiring him. Don’t disqualify yourself from the competition just because you don’t have the “requirements” for the job. (Click here to tweet this thought.)

Create your own experience

Varda Epstein, a mother of 12 with a high school education, started out occasionally cleaning houses to help pay the bills, but is now a successful writer. 

Like most writers, she started out with no clips, so she wrote editorials for a local newspaper and used them for her portfolio. Today, she’s the communications writer at Kars4Kids, an organization sponsoring educational initiatives for children. “I’m doing what I love best: writing about education and helping children,” says Varda. 

Many aspiring writers think they can’t have a successful writing career because they don’t have a journalism degree, but she didn’t let that stop her. “No potential employer noticed or inquired about my lack of education,” says Varda.

Don’t be impatient for success

“Nothing big starts big,” says Dan Nainan, senior Intel engineer turned comedian. He used to travel the world doing technical presentations with Intel Chairman Andy Grove, but he wasn’t exactly a “natural” on stage. 

He took comedy lessons to get over his fear of public speaking. After that, the comedy kind of took off and, since then, he’s performed at several events, including a TED conference and several presidential inaugurations. 

He’s successful, but “it took almost two years of full-time work to get my first show,” Dan says. Back then, each $5 ticket sold earned him $1 and he had to hand out flyers in Times Square. It was hard work for low pay, but he persevered. 

As for changing jobs and learning new skills, Dan suggests, “If you want to do something difficult, try something even more difficult, and the difficult thing will become less so.” 

Let that sink in for a moment. It’s logical advice. In his case, speaking on stage was hard, but it’s even harder to make people laugh. Once he got comfortable with comedy, public speaking came easier.

What about you? Are the requirements for your dream job a bit out of reach? Try the strategies here.

Original Article by Levo League

We're Celebrating USU's Birthday, Complete With a Theme Party

Each year in March, we celebrate the birthday, or founding, of Utah State University with a Founders Day event. This year's event takes place on Friday, March 6, but that doesn't mean the celebration is over. 

We're going to keep it rolling through the entire month of March, bringing you stories about the history of USU and the many achievements made by its phenomenal students, faculty and staff.

To kick things off, we thought we'd start by providing you with our own definition of Founders Day. 

USU Founders Day [u-s-u foun-ders dey] : noun

1. Celebrating the establishment and rich history of Utah State University  2. Honoring distinguished alumni  3. Gathering to enjoy an evening of well-known friends and alumni at USU.

For 127 years, Utah State has been known for high-quality education, innovative research and a beautiful campus. This Founders Day we'll gather once again to celebrate how far we've come. 

From day one, USU has been dedicated to resolving Utah’s water problems. This year’s theme, Year of Water, focuses on the achievements of our many leading researchers in this field. 

In a January 2015 Utah State Today article, Tim Vitale, Executive Director of USU Public Relations and Marketing, explained more about the history of USU's involvement in and the critical need for addressing Utah’s water issues.

"Utah State University took up the challenge of quenching the water needs of a burgeoning population even before historic Old Main was completed. USU’s Agricultural Experiment Station was the first building on campus before Old Main, and its mission was to research then solve Utah’s water problems and address the state’s water needs."

This year, Utah State University's Water Research Laboratory will celebrate 50 years of leading the state's efforts on water research.

In reference to that celebration, USU President Stan Albrecht said, 

“We noted immediately that it’s not just the Water Lab leading efforts to address water needs. Our specialists in many colleges across many disciplines today are among the nations and even the world’s leading experts on many water-related issues. So we decided to broaden the celebration."

Few know about the work being done across the globe by our experienced water experts. It certainly isn't a glamorous, high-profile industry. But it's one of vital significance and monumental impact. 

Noelle Cockett, USU provost and executive vice president, said, "Addressing water issues is a complex and challenging task, and our interdisciplinary approach has resulted in innovative solutions recognized the world over.”

According to Vitale, "USU has projects now in Egypt, Senegal, Thailand, Uzbekistan, throughout Latin America, Central America and in many other countries across the Middle East."

Not only that, but our Utah State water resources graduates are sought out and highly valued in their field. Vitale said, 

"People who received their graduate degrees in water resources from USU are the who’s who of water ministers, engineers, resource specialists in Jordan, Palestine, Israel, the Philippines, Thailand, the Dominican Republic and now — or, again — in Iraq. USU researchers are the principal investigators on other projects across the nation, particularly in the West and in dozens of areas of specialization.

From rehabilitation of river ecosystems, to water quality for humans AND fish, to ways to capture and then deliver to municipal systems, to the agricultural fields and to the faucets in your home, USU has been, is and will continue to be THE place for answers to water challenges facing the region, state, nation and world."

Click here for the full Utah State Today article 

Join fellow Aggies and friends of Utah State as we celebrate the 127th anniversary of the establishment of USU. Honors include Distinguished Service Awards to W. Brent & Beverley J. Robinson and Rodney E. & Valene D. Tueller. Recipients of Distinguished Alumnus Awards are Blake R. Kirby and David C. Miller. The evening includes dinner, awards presentation and entertainment. $35 per person. Please RSVP by March 2, 2015 by calling (888) 653-6246 or register online at www.usu.edu/foundersday. Doors open at 6pm and dinner begins promptly at 6:30pm.

Dishing Out Love to Donors This Week

There are many different types of people who support Utah State monetarily: alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and more. We love every group for the unique ways in which they affect USU’s success:

• As alumni, you give back by donating time, money or experiences to our university and its students. In addition, you give Utah State a good name by using the marketable skills and knowledge you developed while in school at your workplaces and in your homes.

• Faculty and staff have dedicated their careers to teaching our students and providing opportunities for them to succeed. They've spent countless hours preparing and producing quality curriculum and programs for students.

• Students can give back through the True Blue pledge. More importantly, USU would not be the great institution it is without hardworking, devoted students who use their ingenuity and intent to acquire well-earned degrees.

• Parents support their students as they learn and grow at USU. They can support systems like the Merrill-Cazier Library, which serves as a valuable learning environment for every student on campus.

We recognize that many Alumni fit into several of these categories. Because of your unfailing support of this institution, we would like to say thank you, once again.

The relocation of the Block A was made possible by USU donors

This week, February 25-27, is Love-A-Donor week. Every day we thank a different group of our supporters:

      

February 25th - Celebrate Faculty and Staff - Send words of love and appreciation to faculty members who go above and beyond the call of duty! The Student Alumni Association will also be giving a small gift to these wonderful individuals. 

February 26th - Celebrate Alumni - Say thank-you to those who have come before! On this day, the alumni population will receive a powerful video via email from our student population saying thank you for the generosity of all our giving alumni.

February 27th - Celebrate Students - Many students give of their time, talents and treasures to USU. On this day, the Student Alumni Association will recognize all of those types of donors. If you have given the True Blue Pledge stop by the Alumni House from 11 – 1 PM for your swag, “A” license plate waiver, (if you have not already done so) and a cookie! If you haven't participated in the pledge, please stop by if you'd like to become “True Blue” yourself.

You are also invited to participate in a campus-wide social media competition during Love-A-Donor week. During the week, we encourage you to post pictures of yourself thanking a donor. You could write a note to a professor who donates, cook dinner for an Aggie alumni family member, or do the dishes for your roommate who has given the true blue pledge. Show your appreciation however you would like.

Be creative, and use the hashtag #usugivesback. At the end of the week, Alumni Association staff will examine the entries and the winning photo will be recognized on many Utah State University social media channels. The winner will also receive one use of the David B. Haight Alumni Center, free of charge.

Whichever group you're a part of, know that we love and appreciate you. Thank you!

We Love You… Platonically, Of Course

It’s February - the month of LOVE.

To some, that thought may be joyful and full of excited anticipation. For others, it may simply be abysmal. Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day this month, or Singles Awareness Day, love is an inevitable, and integral, part of your life.

We each have multiple, and varied relationships that are founded on some degree of love. Whether it be a cherished family member, an adored spouse, an admired friend, a beloved sports team or even a favorite dessert, the feelings are there. You can’t deny them.

Love is an interesting phenomenon. Think about it for a second. We all need it. We’re happy when we receive it and even happier when we give it away to others. It’s been referred to as the universal language, but the funny thing is, we don’t all speak it the same way.

In fact, Dr. Gary Chapman, a renowned author and licensed marriage counselor, claims there are five different languages of love:

·         Words of Affirmation

·         Acts of Service

·         Receiving Gifts

·         Quality Time

·         Physical Touch

In his best-selling book, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, Chapman stresses that each of us feels loved the most when others share our Love Language with us. An example may be helpful.

Imagine this. Jake and Jamie are married. They have four kids, two jobs, an overwhelming house payment and a Great Dane, named Snuggles. Amidst the daily chaos of life, they’ve become so focused on keeping their children, employers and Snuggles happy, that they’ve forgotten about each other’s happiness. Their relationship has gotten a little rocky.

They’ve both read Dr. Chapman’s book and Jake knows that Jamie’s primary love language is Acts of Service. He also knows Jamie hates to clean up dinner. Speaking his wife’s love language, Jake tells Jamie to relax with her book (as much as she can with four kids) while he makes dinner and cleans it up afterward. 

The result: Jamie feels sincerely loved. Way to go, Jake!

Obviously, that single act alone won’t guarantee this couple’s happily ever after. The trick is to speak each other’s love languages frequently and consistently over time.

Now shift gears a little. Instead of imagining a husband and wife relationship, imagine your relationship with your alma mater. Is it good? Bad? Somewhere in between? Do you feel like it’s mutually beneficial? Or is it one-sided?

Are we speaking your love language well enough that you feel appreciated by the university? In other words, can you feel the love?

We may not excel in speaking all of Chapman’s love languages, but here are a few we try to do well.

WORDS of AFFIRMATION

Our students, faculty and alumni are amazing! We’re constantly looking for ways to highlight their accomplishments and share the incredible things they’re doing. From this month’s Alumni Spotlight on Brittany Fisher to our recent Utah State Today article on Emeritus Professor David Lancy to our engineering students’ Personal Vacuum Assisted Climber on the Huffington Post, we’re proud of your achievements and love to talk about them.

ACTS of SERVICE

Utah State University faculty and students are involved in some of the most cutting-edge, influential research in the country. The work they do provides services and solutions to problems faced by people, communities, cities and nations around the world.

In addition, multiple USU organizations give students and alumni the chance to serve those in their communities and beyond. For example, the Val R. Christensen Service Center regularly organizes service projects both in Cache Valley and around the globe. The projects this group facilitates not only help those who are direct recipients of their acts of service, but it also serves the students and community members who volunteer, making their lives richer and more purposeful.

RECEIVING GIFTS

We all know the greatest gifts a university can give its alumni are the knowledge and skills to succeed in life. After all, we’re in the business of providing the best education possible. We also know that education comes with a price. Tuition isn’t cheap, but it’s an investment for your future, which is certainly worth making.

While there are expenses to graduating from USU, did you know there are also opportunities to get things for free? Here are some examples:

·         Aggie Rewards – this is a mobile and desktop app that doesn’t cost a penny, but can have big dividends. Simply install it on your computer or phone and start playing. You earn points for things like visiting USU websites or social media sites. You can also earn points just for shopping online at some of your favorite stores (Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Best Buy, Kohl’s, etc.). Then you redeem those points for gift cards or a chance to win some amazing prices.

·         Social media giveaways – follow the USU Alumni Association and other USU groups on Facebook and Twitter for chances to win additional prizes. In the past, we’ve given away football tickets, basketball tickets, Aggie gear and more. Trust me, it’s worth it to stay connected.

·    Membership benefits – join the USU Alumni Association and receive all the benefits that come with your membership. Joining is easy. You have options between an Annual Membership or a Lifetime Membership. Visit our website for more details.

  

QUALITY TIME

Our lives are full of online interactions. Whether it’s at work with colleagues, at school with classmates or at home with family, we’re constantly communicating with each other through electronic devices. That type of collaboration may be necessary today, but we also still believe in the incomparable value of face-to-face contact. We understand how spending time to develop a personal relationship can make a significant impact in someone’s life. That is why we host a number of events across the university. And they’re not just limited to the Logan, Utah campus.

The Alumni Association organizes pregame parties before football games on the road. We also put together parties for some of the basketball away games. These are great opportunities for alumni and friends to spend time together and with representatives of the university. All with a common bond of being an Aggie.

Cheering on your favorite Aggie sports team with someone you care about is another great way to speak the language of quality time.

In addition, the Student Alumni Association (SAA) organizes Alumnights throughout each semester. These events are networking occasions where students are invited to the home of an alum to share their professional and personal experiences and to connect with other Aggies.

Not only does SAA have opportunities like this, but networking events that bond students and alumni happen all the time throughout USU and its regional campuses.

PHYSICAL TOUCH

We stay away from this particular love language, for obvious reasons. We’ll let you worry about it with your other, more appropriate relationships.

Dictionary.com defines love as a verb meaning “to have a strong liking for or take pleasure in.”

Here at the USU Alumni Association, we think this is a perfect definition of how we feel toward our alumni. We certainly have a strong liking for every one of our graduates and we take a great deal of pleasure in seeing you succeed.

As you do find success, please keep us informed so we can share your inspiring stories with others and we can all benefit from each other.

This Valentine’s Day make it a goal to learn how to speak the love languages of those who matter most in your life. Who knows, it may result in being the best Valentine’s Day ever!

5 Ways USU Might Be Different Without Alumni Support

Your involvement is vital to everyone at Utah State. 

As an alum, you have upheld traditions, attended events, and assisted the students at USU.
In fact, without your support, things could be pretty different around campus.

Just imagine:

1. Big Blue would still be a real bull

We'd have to teach him how to breakdance dance and give high-fives to all the kids.

2. Students would howl for more resources in the library on a regular basis

Students living nearby in Reeder Hall have to wear earplugs every night instead of just during Finals Week.

3. We couldn't pay for seats in the stadium, so we'd have to stand

Imagine the thrill of standing through a 4-hour game, with 4 kids.

4. We'd have to hold all our events on the Quad, rain or shine

With no Performance Hall, we'd be "singing in the rain, in the Aggie rain.."

5. True Aggies would have to kiss in the tower of Old Main, instead of the block A

After all the sweating from climbing the hill and the tower stairs, how many people would actually end up kissing?


In all seriousness, we hope you realize how big of a difference your involvement makes at Utah State University.

Our reputation is built on our successes. What greater success could we have than our students using their education to better the world? 

Thank you for your continual confidence in and support of Utah State University.

New Year of Gratitude

A new year seems to bring with it reflection and resolution. As we look back on this year, a major part of who we are at USU and what we are able to do is made possible by our alumni. And as an Alumni Association, we have resolved to be more grateful this year for your vital and substantial contributions, whether they come in the form of volunteered time, monetary donations or alumni involvement.

Your contributions have helped us make incredible strides, and for that, we are sincerely grateful.

The support you've given has created scholarships, expanded educational opportunities, strengthened Aggie networks and given students resources they need to succeed.

Your volunteer involvement with USU, as board members, mentors, guest speakers and more, has also strengthened the value of our students' education and their entire Aggie experience.

USU students who have benefited from your contributions 

Your unwavering loyalty to Utah State makes our students feel proud to be Aggies. Our athletes, artists, musicians, engineers, biologists, journalists, and more say “thank you” for your support of their education and ambitions.

We’re excited to see what 2015 will bring.

What You Need to Know Before You Do Your Holiday Shopping

Leaves are falling. The temperature is dropping. Frost is showing up on your lawn in the morning, and almost every department store in your city is decorated with trees, glowing lights, snowmen and more.

The holiday season is here again, and that means holiday shopping. Whether you love it or hate it, it's inevitable.

But this year, things are going to be different. Why, you ask?

Because you'll have Aggie Rewards, that's why.

Aggie Rewards is a free, online app that lets you give to Utah State University every time you buy holiday gifts online. Shopping online is simple, convenient, provides you with more options and eliminates the time you'd waste waiting in endless lines at the store.

Aggie Rewards won't make online shopping any easier than it already is, but it will help you feel better about each purchase, knowing that you're giving to USU at the same time. In addition, you don't have to change anything you already do when you shop online.

Here is how it works in 3 easy steps:

• Visit the Aggie Rewards login page: www.usu.edu/rewards 
• Follow the instructions to install the app on your web browser (for desktop or laptop computers) or on your mobile device (for smart phones or tablets)
• Shop online at over 2,000 participating retailers, including Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Netflix, Best Buy, Kohl's and more.  

It's that simple.

Not to mention, each time you shop, you earn points that can be redeemed for great prizes. See what one of our recent winners had to say about her experience with Aggie Rewards.

So, before you start your online shopping this season, be sure to install Aggie Rewards first, and give a little holiday love to USU, too.


For questions regarding Aggie Rewards, or how to install it, contact Brandon Taylor at (435) 797-8537 or brandon.taylor@usu.edu.

Happy Hunger Games: 4 Ways to Survive the Library During Finals Week

Original article featured on Surviving College

It’s exam season everywhere, which means that library spaces are scarce, the silent area of the library is actually silent, and food wrappers cover every available surface. During finals week, the library is more of a silent battlefield for tables, chairs, and books. Those who have managed to locate available resources refuse to give them up for hours on end. So now what?

1. Be one of those people who hoard resources

 

Contrary to what all of your friends say, they will not get to the library early tomorrow to snag a seat. In fact, a lot of people claim that they will wake up early the next day to study, but this doesn’t often pan out. Our beds are just so comfortable. If you do manage to get out of bed early (and I mean like 8 am on a Sunday), snag one of the silent study desks at the library and claim your study space for the day. When you have to get up for a break, reserve your table according to the following guidelines. Try to keep your break times to a minimum. Leaving and reserving your study space for more than 30 minutes is just selfish. Get your food, go to the bathroom, and go back to the library.

Acceptable forms of reserving a table include:
- Leaving your bag on the desk / chair (take your valuables with you though!)
- Sprawling all of your notebooks on the desk
- Asking a friend to save a seat for you

Unacceptable forms of reserving the table include:
- Leaving a textbook that you pulled from the library stacks on the desk
- Pouring coffee on the table
- Hiding all of the chairs

2. Wear quiet shoes

 

This isn’t just for girls in heels. It’s for just about anybody who isn’t wearing running shoes. Libraries echo and footsteps are irritating, especially in silent study areas. If you are going to pace around the library to look for a seat, make sure that you aren’t disturbing your fellow schoolmates. Otherwise, they will glare a hole into your back until you leave out of guilt.

3. Bring a cushion

 

Your tushie and your back will thank you. Besides, you know that fatigue will take over your body eventually. The cushion can double as a pillow. (You could also just bring a pillow.)

4. Choose your friends carefully

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You favorite friend to party with may not be your favorite study buddy. Make sure that the people you study with are quiet and focused. They will guilt you into studying even when you don’t want to, just by studying so hard themselves. And they won’t disturb you when you finally get in the zone. 

You should also pay attention to how many people you are studying with. Typically, groups larger than four can be unproductive.

In the end, what matters most is that everyone shares the study space available and does their best on their finals.

Here’s to another successful exam season!

 Original article featured on Surviving College 

Let us know if you have any stellar study tips for finals this year.