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Many students are graduating high school and getting ready for college at this time of year, and next year’s seniors are likely whittling down their short lists of possible colleges and universities. This makes it a particularly opportune time to highlight just a few of the many wonderful institutions of higher learning in the United States.

Whether public or private, large or small, there are many great places for the leaders of tomorrow to develop the experience, critical thinking skills and training they will need to live wonderful, productive lives. Today, we will explore a few examples of great schools of all types.

Before we get to the colleges and universities we’d like to talk about, let’s cover the last several articles that you may have missed. Recently, we discussed why students shouldn’t take the summer off from learning, how to find great books for summer reading, and how to use the internet to help foster learning and growth. Also, we talked about how summer jobs can help students in and out of the classroom, how to incorporate different cultures into lessons and schoolwork, and a few suggestions of great books to reading to toddlers.

Now, let’s get on with our list of top 7 liberal arts colleges and universities that you may want to consider!

1. University of California-Berkeley (located in Berkeley, California)

This public university has a rich tradition for students to aspire to- after all, eight Nobel Prize winners are faculty members. Degrees from bachelor’s all the way up to doctoral level degrees are offered at the University of California-Berkeley, and the campus is located close to San Francisco, which provides easy access to many cultural opportunities for students. The university offers a lot of financial aid, helping to keep the indebtedness of graduating students fairly low, especially for such a high quality institution.

Wheeler Hall, University of California Berkeley

The University of California-Berkeley provides a great place for students to learn and have fun, as Cal sports teams are always among the best whether they are men’s or women’s sports. Between the wonderful academic programs and the great setting of the college itself, this university is always a top choice for graduates.

2. New College of Florida (located in Sarasota, Florida)

New College of Florida, or NCF, is consistently in the top few (or at the top of) public value colleges year after year. A demanding academic program and affordable tuition help to attract students from Florida and beyond, and the system of “academic contracts” that students enter into allow them to become more focused and accustomed to working close with faculty members.

Jane Bancroft Cook Library, New College.

An NCF education seems to encourage further learning for graduates, as well. NCF is always among the top colleges in terms of graduates who go on to earn a Ph.D. The campus is located along the Gulf of Mexico in the area of southwest Florida, and provides easy access to Sarasota and Tampa, where art and culture await for NCF students.

3. Loyola Marymount University (located in Los Angeles, California)

Loyola Marymount University, founded in 1911, is a great school for academics that isn’t quite as hard to get into as some other top universities, but still provides challenging coursework for students. Consistently ranked as one of the top colleges in the west, Loyola Marymount University is also rated as one of the top 10 most beautiful campuses by the Princeton Review.

Ethnic diversity is also a source of pride for Loyola Marymount University, as the campus is known as a very culturally diverse one. Loyola Marymount is also a progressive school- for instance, the law school is the first in the state to require pro bono work.

4. Grinnell College (located in Grinnell, Iowa)

Grinnell College is located in the heart of Iowa, and offers small class sizes (most classes have less than 20 students) and a campus with a true “community” feel. Grinnell isn’t just a place to feel like home, but also a place to succeed academically, as it is ranked among the top private colleges in the entire nation. Of course, Grinnell is not just a place for great academics, but also a very physically fit college. One-third of Grinnell students compete in intercollegiate athletics.

Financially, Grinnell is a great school as well. Grinnell has the 7th largest endowment per student among all public and private higher learning institutions in the United States, and is devoted to making sure that all students get the financial aid they need to attend. Best of all, parents can send their kids to Grinnell without worrying about crime or big city distractions.

5. Rice University (located in Houston, Texas)

Rice University is the most prestigious college of the south, and is known as a school where students will learn to be independent, critical thinkers through rigorous academics and thought-provoking coursework. Rice offers a variety of great academic programs and is known as a school that churns out some of the country’s most promising young people.

Rice University Campus.

However, even though Rice is a private school, this type of value won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Actually, Rice has the lowest tuition of private schools that are highly selective, and guarantees to meet the entire amount of demonstrated need for any given student for four years. This kind of financial aid allows Rice’s students to enjoy the lowest debt burden among highly selective institutions.

6. Amherst College (located in Amherst, Massachusetts)

Amherst College is noteworthy for its interesting approach to education requirements, as students at Amherst are generally free of pre-conceived requirements and are more or less free to chart their own educational voyage. Students enjoy this philosophy nearly as much as they enjoy the generous financial aid packages that Amherst offers, making the college accessible to all different types of students. Speaking of “all different types of students”, Amherst is also known as a very diverse campus that prides itself on its multicultural appeal.

Amherst College Campus.

Variety isn’t just found in the composition of the student body, but also in the many organizations available to join, which number over 140 in all. Amherst has been around since 1821, and the faculty and students alike take pride in the college’s great traditions and history.

7. Cornell College (located in Mt. Vernon, Iowa)

Cornell College is located in the heartland of the country, and provides a surprisingly progressive outlook on education amongst a traditional midwestern backdrop. Cornell is notable not just for its relatively high admissions standards and great academics, but also because it is one of only a handful of colleges that has students take only one course at a time.

Cornell College Campus.

This scheduling, sometimes known as block scheduling, allows students to fully immerse themselves in any given subject for a complete month, before moving on to another subject the next month. This allows students and faculty alike to focus on mastering one subject at a time, and provides everyone involved with opportunities that other colleges can’t provide, such as being able to spend a class abroad or take class trips. The college, which is often confused with Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, is also notable for its beautiful campus and location in a charming Iowa town.

These are just a few of the many wonderful colleges and universities that today’s students have to choose from. It’s definitely true that if a student chooses one of these fine institutions, they simply can’t go wrong!

For many students, a summer job is a no brainer, since they have more available time in the school year and would like to make some extra cash. However, what many students don’t realize is that there are many other benefits to a summer job besides just the paycheck. Here are some ways that a summer job can actually help students perform better in the classroom.

Developing Responsibility
One of the best aspects of summer jobs for students is that they allow students to develop a high level of responsibility. A summer job encourages a different type of responsibility from what is typically required in school. After all, no one is forcing you to work, unlike school, which is mandatory for most young people. No, working a summer job is usually a choice made by the student based on the fact that they will benefit from their own hard work. Just making a decision like that shows maturity on the part of the student!

Of course, a summer job will teach a student as much, if not more, than school will about being on time, working hard to get tasks done, and working with their peers under the supervision of an authority figure. Once learned and practiced, these skills will carry through to the school year and help the student perform better than ever!

Learning on the Job
A great way to develop learning skills is to simply keep learning, and a summer job helps students do precisely that. Sure, most summer jobs aren’t overly complicated, but they do involve doing new things that the student usually hasn’t done before, and learning to do these things in a way that is pleasing to supervisors and others. Even the simplest job will require at least some degree of learning, which will likely be more learning than the student will have done at the beach!

Real World Experience
Often times, students complain about school, wondering, “What does all this have to do with the real world?” A summer job is a great way to answer that oft-asked question. After all, once school is done, students will have to migrate to the work force, where if they don’t complete their education, many of the same not-so-glamorous jobs will await for them. When I worked at my first fast food restaurant, I had fun working with friends and made some extra money, but I also immediately realized the value of education! After all, I didn’t want to be doing work like that for the rest of my life!

Through getting a taste of the work force, students will realize the value of an education in a totally different way. Once they see that their hard work in school will eventually have very tangible rewards, they may find themselves more motivated and reinvigorated going into the next school year.

No matter how you slice it, getting a summer job is a great idea for any student. Just make sure that there’s still time to meet with your tutor!

Learning starts well before students enter school, as any parent already knows. However, even though most parents take the time to provide homework help to the older children and help toddlers learn their letters, numbers and other things, it’s also important that they help the smallest children get comfortable with the idea reading a book. If you take the time to read to your child, there are many different books out there that can be enjoyable and fun for your little one. Here are a few examples.

“What’s Wrong, Little Pookie?” by Sandra Boynton
This book is a “board book” that is durable and suitable for all ages, including babies. It’s actually a great book for babies, because it can withstand being chewed on, tossed around, and other things. Plus, it has a very cute story about a sad little piggy that is easy for young kids to remember and participate in as they learn the story through multiple readings. The art and story are both great, so this is a good book to read to your baby to get them used to the idea of sitting with you and reading a book together.

“Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw
This is a very popular book that tells a heartwarming story that may even choke you up a bit at the end! The illustrations are vibrant and will hold any child’s attention, and the story itself is one of a parent’s never-ending love for their child, so it’s easily relatable for any parent. This book has parts that will be easy to remember for most toddlers so that after a few readings, they can “read” along from memory, enhancing their experience.

“The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper, George Hauman and Doris Hauman
You’ve almost certainly heard of this classic story of determination to overcome obstacles. This great book has bold, colorful illustrations to go along with a story that will resonate with younger kids and older ones alike. The book isn’t one that is difficult to read for beginning readers, and it’s also an appropriate story for those that are still a little young to read, but who like to be read to. Every parent should have this book!

“Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak
This is yet another classic children’s book and is a personal favorite of mine as well. A winner of the Caldecott Medal, “Where the Wild Things Are” is a book that is adventurous and explores the power of imagination. This theme is great for all young readers, and the illustrations are nothing short of top notch, with a distinctive yet accessible style all their own.

Even if your youngster is too little to understand your words, or read on their own, it’s a great idea to read to them so they get accustomed to the idea of books. This will set them on a path that will spur them on through early reading all the way to English classes in high school and college. Show your kids early on that reading can be fun!

With schools having students from all different backgrounds and cultures, it’s important for teachers as well as other students to celebrate the diversity that’s found in the classroom these days. Sometimes, it can be difficult to know how to help students embrace the diversity of other children’s backgrounds, and it’s certainly hard to figure out how to fit such a lesson like that in between multiplication and gym class! These tips provide helpful and easy ways to include multicultural learning and appreciation in your classroom without it being overly forced or out of place.

Use Holidays as a Platform to Teach Multiculturalism
While you can take a break in your summer vacations, taking out some time to study good books would not be something much hard. Some schools are rather conservative about celebrating holidays that are based on specific religions, but if you’re not able to have a celebration for a holiday, perhaps a short time spent explaining the holiday, its significance, and what is done during it would be a good idea. If it’s allowed, a little celebration during a specific holiday is a great way to get the students’ attention, while providing them with a tangible crash course in a different religion or ethnic background. Simple foods, games and other traditions can be utilized on a holiday to help students embrace different cultures.

Show and Tell, Multicultural Style
Show and tell is a game that usually is reserved for younger students, and this version would also work well with them. Instead of simply having kids bring in objects from home, try to get them to bring items that are significant to their cultural background. This can be a great way for students to open up with each other about their backgrounds, as well as a way for them to appreciate each other’s heritage. Of course, you can also provide information to go along with what the students say, or ask questions that lead to more information or discussion from those sharing.

For older students, this game can work as well. In fact, older students may be more able to really identify with and speak about their backgrounds than their younger counterparts. Their parents are also more likely to trust them with important family items or antiques. Just make sure you don’t tell them it’s “show and tell”! Also, as the teacher, you can bring in items that you find that represent different cultures, and plan a short lesson around them.

Find the Culture in School Subjects
Finally, it’s important that teachers today look for opportunities to talk about important social and cultural issues. For certain teachers, like history and social studies teachers, this can be easy. For others, it can be more difficult, but is still possible. Math teachers can discuss the backgrounds of important mathematicians, music class is a great place to explore different cultural sounds, science can easily be a platform to talk about the scientific contributions of many cultures, and so on. This is something tutors can do, as well.

As you can see, if it’s truly a priority to you to talk about many different cultures in your classroom, it’s something that you can do. If you make an effort to include an appreciation of differing cultures as a lesson that is learned in your classroom, your students will be much better for it.

These days, there are ways to use computers- and more specifically, the internet- to help students of any age and ability level further their learning. When used correctly, the internet can be a powerful learning tool, indeed. What I’d like to do today is discuss a few key ways that students can use the internet to foster intellectual growth in and out of the classroom.

Help is Just a Click Away
One of the most marvelous things about the internet is that it makes it possible to communicate with anyone else who has internet access, all across the globe. In recent times, this possibility has been used to provide new educational tools that had never before been imagined. Specifically, the internet has really changed the world of tutoring. Now, with online tutoring, you’re not limited to your immediate neighborhood area or city when you’re selecting a tutoring service. Not only that, but online tutoring offers perks that traditional tutoring simply can’t match, such as detailed reports and records of tutoring sessions, and convenient, easy-to-arrange scheduling. Finding homework help has never been so easy!

Games: Not Just for Fun Anymore!
Although not every game site is going to be educational, with a little looking around you can easily find educational games that are fun and provide learning possibilities for literally every age group there is. Whether you want a game that helps students learn to type, to add or subtract, or anything in between, there is likely a game that suits your needs. Games like “Typer Shark” help students learn to familiarize themselves with the keyboard, all while zapping sharks to keep the game going and get a high score. Many other games help students learn basic skills in other subjects, all while allowing them to become more comfortable and familiar with using computers. As we all know, computer knowledge is a valuable skill in and of itself.

A Virtual Encyclopedia at Your Fingertips
The internet also functions as a virtual encyclopedia of sorts, ready to provide you information on any topic imaginable. Literally every topic or subject imaginable has some sort of information about it just waiting to be discovered on the internet. With a little diligence and searching around, it’s pretty easy to find information from multiple sources about any topic you could think of.

Of course, the internet is unique in that just about anybody can put a website up, so you can’t trust everything you read. It’s important that students consider their source when deciding whether or not to take information they find on the internet as facts automatically. Although the internet contains plenty of useful facts and information, it also contains quite a few opinions and general inaccuracies. Therefore, it’s important to have a critical mind when deciding what information is reliable and what information is not, especially if you’re researching for a paper.

All in all, the internet contains a vast number of resources of many kinds for students. If used correctly, it can be a very powerful tool that can provide students with information, homework help, even educational entertainment! Use it wisely, and you’ll see how helpful the internet can be!

Summer is one of the best times to get involved with reading. Think about it: you have the summer off from school, you have no homework or tests to study for, so you have all kinds of time to read! Even though the summer is usually seen as time to go to the pool, take a vacation and have fun with friends, I’m sure you can squeeze a little time in between the pool and the basketball court to read!

Of course, after you decide that you want to do some reading for fun this summer, the next step is to figure out just what you will read. With millions of books to choose from, where do you even start? Wonder no further, brave reader! Here are some ways you can find books that will entertain you all summer long!

Start Your Search at the Library
This may sound obvious, but if you’re looking for great books, first you’ll want to head to the library. The question is, what do you do when you get there? You don’t want to waste hours looking through the shelves and simply picking out the books with the most interesting jackets, do you? I didn’t think so!

The best way to find great books at the library is to simply talk to the librarian. Librarians are experts on great books for every age group and interest, so if you need a good starting point for your summer reading, you should really take advantage of their expertise. After all, they’re there to help!

Scour the Internet for a Good Read
Another way to find some good reading material without even leaving your home is to look around on the world wide web. Simply do a search for what you want (for example: “sports books for middle school”) and see what comes up! There are also many websites that review books of all types, for all ages and interests. Those can be a good starting point if you have no idea what you’re interested in reading.

If You Like the Author, Read On!
If you are able to find a book you really enjoy, look in the book and see if the author has written other books as well. Odds are that they have, and before you know it you’ll have several more books to give a try. The best part is, if you liked the author’s previous work, you’re more than likely to find more books that they’ve written that you will enjoy, as well. There’s nothing better than finding a great book, only to realize that the author has written many other books that you can now discover!

No matter what type of literature you enjoy, you can’t go wrong with getting some reading done in the summer. You’ll learn new things, keep your mind active and have fun at the same time! When you’ve tired of splashing around the pool, grab a good book and relax with a glass of refreshing lemonade. Now that’s what summer’s all about!