Top 100 education advice blogs
1. myUsearch – “myUsearch.com exists to provide honest, unbiased information to help students make the right college choice, get into college, pay for college and live a happy and healthy college life,” write the authors. “Our founder was working for a college that was spending millions of dollars trying to recruit students who really had no interest in attending their college…It was out of this frustration that myUsearch.com, the Honest College Matchmaker, was born.” Recommended posts: “Do Extracurriculars Really Help You Get into College?,” and “How to Get into College with a Low GPA.”
2. College Thrive – “I have always enjoyed writing, and I figured since I was going to be in college for the next four or so years, why not help others out and write about all of the tips and resources I come across as I go,” writes blogger Dan Northern. “I hope [my readers] find ways to make college a little less stressful, as well as find useful information and resources along the way.” Recommended posts: “How to Prioritize Tasks,” “5 Tips to Prepare Yourself for School,” and “Creating Good Habits in College.”
3. Homework/Study Tips – From About.com, educational writer Grace Fleming posts countless articles which provide great advice for high school and college students. Some topics include how to use verbs in an essay, time management, and how to improve your home homework and studying habits. Recommended posts: “Learning Styles,” “Organize Your Homework,” and “Top 8 Healthy Homework Habits.”
4. Study Hacks – This site is not only a great starting point for students in need of educational advice, it’s also a popular resource for education bloggers. The articles cover everything from must-read books, writing advice, and the college admissions process. Recommended posts: “An Open Letter to Students on the Danger of Seeing School as a Trial to Survive” and “Want to Get into Harvard? Spend More Time Staring at the Clouds: Rethinking the Role of Extracurricular Activities in College Admissions.”
5. Parents Countdown to College Coach – “I started writing [my blog] when I began my parent coaching business about a year ago,” explains Suzanne Shaffer. “I have been coaching parents on college admissions for about 10 years and felt my expertise in this area would be helpful. My site is geared mostly toward the “parents” of the students, but often they pass them along to their kids. I hope they learn that college admissions is not as daunting as some might think if you have the right tools and gather all the information.” Recommended posts: “Choosing a major–now or later?,” and “Top 10 Questions parents ask about college.”
6. Top Test Prep – If you’re struggling with test anxiety or you’re worried about your upcoming SAT exams, author Ross Blankenship writes numerous tips for students concerning SAT math problems and writing scores, as well as background information on the SAT exam. Recommended posts: “SAT Writing – How to Improve Your SAT Writing Scores,” “SAT Math Word Problems – How to Answer SAT Math Problems” and “What Admissions Offices Want.”
7. Great College Advice – This blog is written by a group of education consultants who provide expert advice on choosing a major, avoiding debt, applying for college, and improving your grades. Recommended posts: “Which College is the Best? What are the objective indicators?,” “Debt Free U – Investing in college and choosing a major,” and “Wanna go to med school? Forget science, major in liberal arts.”
8. Sharp Brains – If you’re a student who is struggling to get back into the back-t0-school mode, then try this site out for size. These articles cover numerous brain exercise activities as well as memorization tools, tips on multi-tasking, and treatment for ADHD. Recommended posts: “Top 50 Brain Teasers and Games,” “Brain Coach Answers: How can I improve my short term memory? Is there a daily exercise I can do to improve it?” and “10 Brain Tips To Teach and Learn.”
9. The Fat Envelope – “I’ve been an SAT tutor off and on for over 10 years,” writes Jenn Cohen, President & Chief Word-Nerd. “My husband, Gary and I started Word-Nerd because I wasn’t happy with what was available to my students for vocabulary prep, so we did it ourselves! We hit a range of topics from SAT prep tips to college admissions to general rambling about the state of education, all with the aim of not taking ourselves (or college prep) too seriously.” Recommended posts: “Practical advice for choosing a college” and “What does my SAT score mean?”
10. Jeannie’s FYI College Admission Blog – Jeannie Borin, M.Ed, has appeared on Fox News and MSNBC and was interviewed for Time Magazine, CNN and numerous other major publications. She has been on talk radio and written for the Wall Street Journal. It is Jeannie’s hope that students and families will “garner the information necessary to assist them in navigating any of their educational needs from career assessment, financial planning, athletic recruitment, art and performing art portfolios, academic tutoring, test preparation, college searches, resume and essay writing to making their final decisions.” Recommended posts: “Top 10 things Families Should Pay Attention To In The Application Process” and “Academic Portfolio Booster and Homeschooling Program Helps College-Bound Students.”
11. The Admission Game – This award-winning blog provides great advice on improving your test scores, applying for college, and college admissions interviews. Blogger Peter Van Buskirk is an author, motivational speaker, educational advocate, and a 25-year veteran of the selective college admissions process. Recommended posts: “A Guide to Understanding College Rankings,” “The Value of the College Interview,” and “Questions About Course Selections.”
12. The Huffington Post’s College Blog – Not only does this blog cover various political and educational issues, some articles also touch on how to improve your grades, the transition from college to your career, or how to get bed bugs out of your dorm. Recommended posts: “Missed Connection: The College-to-Career Gap,” “How to Make College Bound Students Financial Pros” and “The Freshman 8 And Your GPA.”
13. College Candy – “Having just graduated from college, I felt there was a major void in the media world when it came to college students,” writes Lauren Herskovic, the site’s Editor in Chief. “We have 100 student writers contributing, giving the most thorough and varied advice out there. I want students to come to CollegeCandy to learn everything from study tips to tips on how to make the most of their experience. Mostly, though, I want them to enjoy themselves on the site, laugh a lot and learn in the process.” Recommended posts: “The ABC’s Of Getting “A”s and “B”s,” “Don’t Drain Your Brain! Eating Tips for a Killer Memory & Laser Focus” and “Saturday Read: 4 and a Half Books for Back to School.”
14. Hack College – “Lectures are boring and inefficient,” write the authors, “HackCollege is educating the students of the world about effective, open source software, putting techno-political arguments in everyday language, and creating a cult of ‘Students 2.0.’ If we can change the way 1 percent of college students and faculty in the world view education and technology, we’ve done our job.” Recommended posts: “Take Advantage of Government Apps” and “Give Killer Public Presentations With These Public Speaking Tips.”
15. Student Branding Blog – These posts provide great insight as to how students can brand themselves as employees to make them more attractive for the college market after graduation. Recommended posts: “Career Development 101: How to Figure Out What to do With Your Life,” “Want To Forget Important Things? Don’t Take Notes” and “High School Grads: Get a Jumpstart on College.”
16. Campus Byte – “In 2006 I had just been accepted into The University of Texas at Austin,” writes Jay Willingham. “Within the first few weeks of school, I withdrew from all of my classes because I didn’t understand why I was in college or what my goals were. Because of this, I write about proven techniques that have helped me become a better student, make better grades, make more friends, enjoy college and graduate with a degree.” (After quitting his job he was accepted back into UT Austin and will be graduating this year). Recommended posts: “How To Choose A Major: The Ultimate Guide” and “Must-Have iPhone Apps for College.”
17. Knowledge Points – These articles provide great tips for junior and/or high school students concerning reading comprehension, test anxiety, as well as ACT and SAT tests. A lot of the articles are written from the perspective of a parent who is looking for tips on how to help their child with their education. Recommended posts: “Increase Reading Comprehension by Understanding Patterns” and “SAT or School Tests: Help Your Child Avoid Test Anxiety.”
18. College Counseling Culture – “My site is actually geared more toward adults who work with students (as is my website at collegeforall2.org),” explains Willard M. Dix, the President of College Access Counseling, Ltd. “I’ve always been interested in how much college, college counseling, and college admission are linked to American ideas about class, status, education, economics, and many other cultural aspects, but I’ve never seen much written about them. I have over 30 years’ experience with teaching, college admissions, and college counseling, so I’ve experienced just about everything except having a child of my own to go through the process.” Recommended posts: “The Crabby Counselor Talks About the College Application Essay” and “High Hopes, Major Disappointment.”
19. Allen’s College Admissions Blog – From About.com, the articles on this site have a combination of both educational advice and the latest in education news. Author Allen Grove has a PhD in English, and used to work as a college professor and director of a program for new college students. Recommended posts: “Should Middle School Students Be Thinking About College?” and “College Essay Style Tips.”
20. College Basics – “I am a retired high school college counselor with over 35 years experience and my business partner is a retired English teacher who has taught more than 25 years and is a certified writing consultant,” writes Maureen Hodge. “We both wanted to continue helping students so we came up with the idea of creating a website with all of the information needed to successfully navigate the college application process from the freshman year in high school through the first year of college. We devoted special attention to writing the college essay, selecting a college, interviewing, and paying for college.” Recommended posts: “Get the Best for Less When You Apply to Colleges” and “College Majors Relevant to the Job Market.”
21. Reading, Writing & Math Help for Dyslexia, LD & ADHD – Blogger Bonnie Terry is a Board Certified Educational Therapist as well as a best-selling author. Her posts include numerous case studies and articles to help educate parents, students, homeschoolers, and teachers on how to address a child’s learning problems. Recommended posts: “4 Activities to Improve Reading Skills (Part 1),” “(Part 2 – Spelling),” “(Part 3 – Reading Comprehension)” and “(Part 4 – Writing).”
22. Admitted Blog – This is the official blog of the National Association for College Admission Counseling organization. The articles are packed full of statistical information written for students, parents, and high school counselors. Recommended posts: “New Steps to College Article Discusses Application Submissions,” “What Counselors and Parents Need to Know About LD/ADD Students” and “Is Skipping College the Right Fit for Some?”
23. My College Guide – This entertaining-yet-still-educational blog advises college students on how to prepare for college. Categories include choosing a college and/or a major, college applications and interviews, or transferring to a different school. Recommended posts: “Choosing a College Major You Can Live With” and “The College Letter of Recommendation Is Not My Grandma Thinks I’m Wonderful” and
24. How to Get In – This Edvisors Company is one of the top online providers to help students with their college search and preparation. Categories include college admissions, tips college counselors, financial aid, online courses, and much more. Recommended posts: “Senior Year: Planning for College,” “How to Assemble a College Search List” and “Is it frowned upon to earn your bachelor’s, master’s and PHD from the same institution?”
25. College Admissions Partners – This website has numerous resources for students which provide advice on the college application and transferring process, as well as background information on college preparation, admissions, and rankings. Recommended posts: “Successful College Application Resumes,” “Guide to BS/MD Programs” and “What Colleges Don’t Want You to Know About Financial Aid.”
26. Student Positioning Blog – “The whole idea of student positioning is to make the student as attractive as possible, as they are marketing themselves to businesses called colleges,” writes Jeffrey Sonnergren, a College Planning and Funding Specialist. “It is a lot of fun when the student realizes that they can play offense and create leverage for merit-based scholarships, as opposed to doing well in school and SAT/ACT tests, picking a few good schools, crossing their fingers, and hoping for the best. I would hope that student s realize that this is a high stakes situation and they can truly help themselves by applying to the best fit colleges for themselves and they can absolutely play offense. By necessity and sheer competition, there are multi-level strategies to employ for the college application process, but careful planning is the key.” Recommended posts: “Improve Your Options By Enrolling in an ACT Prep Course” and “Maximize Your SAT Scores with Successful Education Solutions.”
27. ProfHacker – From the Chronicle of Higher Education, this site is a great tool for students who want to see into the mind’s of their professors. Even though the target audience for this blog is generally teachers, the authors provide great advice for students from a professor’s perspective. Recommended posts: “An Open Letter to New Graduate Students,” “From the Archives: Time Management for the New Semester” and “Using Grading Contracts.”
28. Get Schooled – This site is full of articles for both high school grads and college students. The posts entertain readers on financial advice, how to pack for college, employment after graduation, and the latest in educational news. Recommended posts: “The Importance of Common Core Standards,” “High jobless rates for high school drop-outs” and “D’s are not allowed.”
29. College Advice – “When I was an undergraduate in college I used to wish there was someone who could advice me or tell me what their experience has been like with many college related topics,” writes blogger Sam S. “Getting help from the college advisement center is great, but it’s limited; moreover, firsthand experience of other students is really something one can relate to…It is my hope that students will walk away with something that they can really implement through out college, instead of just a momentarily intake of information. If from reading my blog one student will save $400 on textbooks or one student will be ahead of their game when applying to grad school, etc. then really that’s enough for me.” Recommended posts: “Common College Terms” and “College Tip: Get To Know Your Professors.”
30. Perfect Essay – If you’re a student who despises writing essays or is currently suffering from writer’s book, this site offers great tips on everything essay-related: from methodology, organizations, and conclusions. Recommended posts: “Your best analysis research paper help is here,” “Write your best Master thesis and Ph.D thesis” and “Custom term papers and essay ideas.”
31. Study Prof – “I have taught college, high school, and elementary school students,” writes Cody Blair. “In addition, I’ve always been interested in how our brains learn (and don’t learn). Both of those things played their part in getting me started writing my studyprof.com blog. I hope students will find out how they can succeed in their school work, even if they find learning difficult. Students often struggle with procrastination, focus, and the memorization of large amounts of material. I try and give students concrete ways of overcoming those difficulties.” Recommended posts: “See That Vocabulary In Context” and “Memory Magic With Smart.fm.”
32. Campus Grotto – This site has been featured in several publications like The New York Post, the Huffington Post, and CNBC.com. Their articles cover a wide variety of different educational topics such as college rankings, tips for studying or employment, and how to finance for college. Recommended posts: “College Advice: 100+ Tips for Survival” and “Easiest Colleges to get into.”
33. The Thesis Whisperer – “I work in a graduate school helping PhD students from all over with ‘generic skills’ training – such as writing and presentation skills,” explains Dr. Inger Mewburn who works at the School of Graduate Research. “I like to read broadly – which is a luxury many PhD students cannot afford. This enables me to act as an information filter for students, drawing in research on other areas such as motivation and relationship management – even addiction behavior – which might be relevant. A lot of the advice out there in books for completing a PhD or dissertation is pretty one dimensional – like giving lists of dos and don’ts (my pet hate). The problem with lists and the ‘do this, don’t do that’ sort of advice is that is very hard to put into practice. Instead I like to get at the meaning behind the advice, unpack it and encourage discussion about what works and what doesn’t.” Recommended posts: “how to sell your thesis in 3 minutes (or less)” and “The goldilocks dilemma.”
34. ProtoScholar – “I felt that there were a lot of things about productivity that didn’t really address the student population, particularly the graduate student population,” explains blogger/author Rebecca, a PhD student in Education Policy. “I wanted to offer some thoughts about how to make that better. Tips, tricks, and sometimes just a different perspective. Plus a bit about what graduate school means and is all about, particularly for those who are considering it.” Recommended posts: “How I use OneNote for my Dissertation” and “Flow.”
35. To Do: Dissertation – “When I started writing my dissertation, I didn’t see the kinds of blogs that would be helpful to my writing,” explains Katie Linder. “There are plenty of spaces for dissertation writers to talk about how they are struggling, but I didn’t come across many places that offered supportive and encouraging suggestions for getting the dissertation done. My hope is that this blog will be that space. The goal of TD:D is to talk realistically about practical steps that dissertation writers can take to finish their writing and take satisfaction and pride in their process and final product. I hope that dissertation writers can find tips on the site that will help them through writer’s block, being overwhelmed by a large writing project, and other common obstacles for dissertation writers.” Recommended posts: “5 Early Warning Signs of Dissertation Writer’s Block” and “The AB(C)D Guide to Beginning Your Dissertation.”
36. College News – These posts cover everything from sex and relationship advice, the latest in educational news, top movies at the box office, and sports updates. But most importantly, this blog also touches on crucial educational advice every college student should be aware of. Recommended posts: “The highs and lows of tuition,” and “Why you should take advantage of summer tuition rates.”
37. My College Calendar – This site is written by numerous authors who have experience working in the educational field. There are also various resources available on the site such as individual planning outlines for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, or even parents. Recommended posts: “College Applicants: Include Private Colleges and Universities On Your List of Schools” and “Top Ten Strengths and Experiences Colleges Look for in High School Students.”
38. Notes on Student Success – This site is a “companion blog” to MyCollegeSuccessStory.com. These posts are full of academic tips that could help inspire students to become more successful throughout their educational journey. Recommended posts: “The Course Syllabus: Know It, Love It, Understand It, Benefit From It” and “Don’t Go to Grad School to Avoid Career Cluelessness.”
39. Her Campus – “My co-founders and I met at Harvard through running Harvard’s lifestyle and fashion magazine,” writes Stephanie Kaplan, co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Her Campus Media LLC. “…girls from all over were telling us they wished their school had a magazine like this, because their only writing outlet was the campus newspaper. Our site is an online hub for everything college women need to know – a collegiette’s guide to life…In addition to our national content, we also provide local content from teams of students at 50+ schools across the country, so readers can also gain insight into what college life is like at different schools by visiting Her Campus.” Recommended posts: “Study Smarts: 10 Tips and Tools for Getting Back Into School Mode” and “The Good, the Bad and the Coffee: How Much is Too Much?”
40. Inside College – Although this blog has more entertainment value than educational value, it still provides some great tips for students who need more information on scholarships, or tips on the college admissions process. The majority of the articles are lists of recommendations students should check out before applying for college. Recommended posts: “Colleges for the Shy Student,” “The Happy Colleges” and “Colleges for the Most Fun-Loving.”
41. Kaarme: The High School Counselor Week Blog – Kaarme’s motive is to expand college opportunities for all students and protect their personal data at the same time. “A college education is not an option, it is required so try EVERYTHING you can to identify and earn one,” writes Mark North, CEO of Kaarme. “The best quality tools for finding an education should be easy to get and free to use so everyone has a chance and our world educates as many people as possible. If you search for an education, your efforts should not be exploited or your personal information sold to third parties. Seeking an education should not be risky.” Recommended posts: “Test Preps Tips – Chewing Gum?” and “Parent Contact – How Much is Too Much?”
42. The Real College Guide – This site is full of articles which educate readers not only on their education and future careers, but also health and fitness, campus life, and procrastination. Recommended posts: “Are Online College Courses All That?,” “Top 10 Weirdest Weird Majors,” “Organize Your Study Space” and “Student-tested Tips to Ace Your Final Exam.”
43. Why Boys Fail – Richard Whitmire is a former editorial writer for USA Today, and writes numerous articles on how males can improve their productivity in the classroom. The majority of the posts are summaries of other educational articles he has found on the web, and cover topics like minority teachers and students, college gender gaps, and single sex education. Recommended posts: “Reading Aloud” and “Where the (ADHD) Boys Are.”
44. Gearfire – Students who need some advice on how to save money throughout the semester should check out the articles on this site. The posts touch on numerous topics on how students can live on a cheap budget, as well as day-to-day living advice. Recommended posts: “The Big Secret Key to High School Success” and “10 Gadgets to Help You Sleep Better.”
45. Study Successful – The topics on this blog cover everything from electronic books, to how to get motivated for school and productivity. The site’s author is a 19-year-old medical student who is studying at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Recommended posts: “Procrastination: The Convential Theory” and “5 things we can learn from the AWESOME Barney Stinson.”
46. In Like Me – Lynn Radlauer Lubell is the founder of Admission by Design, (an educational consultancy), and is also a a graduate of MIT and Harvard Business School. Her posts are packed full of statistical information to help college-bound students with the admissions process. Recommended posts: “Save Money: Check Out Graduation Rates” and “How to Impress a College Admissions Officer.”
47. Student on Campus – This site is full of unique and informative articles about student finances, the latest technological tools for students, and social media. Some of the most entertaining posts cover popular Youtube videos, college drinking games, and how to design your dorm room. Recommended posts: “Back-to-School : Top 10 iPhone Apps for College Students,” “StudentOnCampus Recommends: Amazon Student” and “20+ Websites Which Will Save You $$$$ During College.”
48. College Blogaversity -“I write my blog to take a different twist to what everyone else in my field is saying,” explains Paul Hemphill. “The fact that I have videos with my blog makes my point. Videos are easier to do and easier to receive from the perspective of the viewer. As a result, students will more likely view my message than someone else’s who doesn’t use video.” Recommended posts: “College Double Major: Waste of Effort, Money, and Time” and “Community College – The Vital Alternative.”
49. Teen College Education – “I started my blog originally because I wanted some sort of a summer job as a sophomore going on vacation,” writes Andy S. “Then after I wrote a few articles, I started to really enjoy the topic and now I hope to spread education information to everyone I can. I feel that as a teen living through everything, I can provide unique insight into my topics. I hope that students will learn from my experiences and research so that they can have the best educational experience possible. I also hope to give students a different perspective to the daily school routines that they are used to.” Recommended posts: “Our Society of Grades,” “Secrets on How To Study For Finals” and “Top 10 Tips that High School Students Wish they Knew Before College.”
50. Pre-Med Hell – Specifically for medical school students, the posts on this site are written by a group of authors who are all undergraduate students, and they describe their articles as “rants of neurotic pre-meds.” Book reviews and interviews with their fellow classmates or doctors are also included in the articles. Recommended posts: “Exercise 101: Five Tips for a Better Pre-Med Work Out” and “Interesting Read: How to ace the personal statement.”
51. College and University Blog – This unique blog is full of entertaining articles which touch on why students drop out of school, the use of social media in classrooms, and the most common myths about college. Recommended posts: “College Dropouts: 10 Reasons Why Students Quit School” and “Building Successful Relationships with Professors: 5 Tips for College Students.”
52. The Mad Grad – These posts are a combination of educational and personal reflections, and are written by two former college students who experienced the “after-college crisis” firsthand. Their site was also listed as one of the “Top 10 Gen Y Blogs” by Ryan Stephens Marketing in 2009. Recommended posts: “College in America – Infographic” and “MTV’s hired- A great show for recent grads (or anyone!)”
53. Cammy Bean’s Learning Visions – Cammy Bean works as an eLearning instructional designer as well as as writer, project manager, and multimedia producer. The majority of her posts are directed towards students who are pursuing a career in technology, and they reflect her own insights on how students can become more successful through eLearning. Recommended posts: “The Unofficial eLearning Salary Calculator” and “The Two Faces of ePortfolios.”
54. Not Just Your Average Admissions Blog – Blogger Andrew Flagel is the current Dean of Admissions and Associate Vice President for Enrollment Development at George Mason University. His posts cover everything about the college admissions process and how students can get the most out of their education. Recommended posts: “How to live your life – what you want versus what we might” and “Cheating Harvard and Lying on Your Application.”
55. University of Venus – This is a brand-spanking new site which was recently launched in January 2010. With a mixture of personal experiences, opinions, and reflections, these authors update their readers on reading and writing tips as well as the latest in educational news. Recommended posts: “Effective Use of Chocolate aka How to Bribe Your Registrar” and “The Disappearing College Catalog.”
56. Smart College Visit – The specific goal of this blog is to help college-bound students prepare for their future campus visit. Parents could also find some helpful advice from these articles, which range from academic programs, travel tips, and how to become a successful entrepreneur. Recommended posts: “Women Entrepreneurs on College Visits – 10 Questions to Ask,” “Student-to-Student: Questions to ask on a College Visit” and “Information Overload.”
57. NextStepU – Next Step Magazine’s blog is an “award-winning college-planning resource for teens, adult learners, and school counselors.” Post categories include financial aid tips, how to plan a timeline for college, as well as themed posts like “Tuesday Tour Day” and “Wanna Win Wednesday.” Recommended posts: “Some outstanding colleges ‘fly under the radar’” and “How does your school counselor compare?”
58. College Times – The posts on this blog range from politics, science, finance, relationships, employment, humor and most of all…controversy. The topics are so diverse they cover everything from how to build a perfect playlist for your iPod, how to last longer in bed, or the latest movie and book reviews. Recommended posts: “10 Worst Beers You Should Avoid in College,” “Choosing the Best Laptop for College in 2009” and “College: When Second Choice Is Best.”
59. Find Your College Card – “FindCollegeCards blog is a blog dedicated to those currently going to college, and those preparing for college,” writes the author. “Here, you’re going to find great money saving tips, education advice, and many other articles.” Recommended posts: “Writing a College Essay in 7 Days or Less,” “How to Request Official College Transcripts” and “What Colleges Accept Low SAT Scores?”
60. Life After College – Author Jenny Blake is a UCLA graduate who currently works as a Career Development Manager and internal coach. She is also the author of “Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want” which is set for release next March. Recommended posts: “Live for the Dip” and “8 Ways to Organize Your Life with Google Docs.”
61. Dissertation Research – From the Regents Center Library at the University of Kansas, this blog is full of advice for students who need help with their research papers. Post topics include statistical abstracts, transliteracy, or sites to help you with your business research. Recommended posts: “New search engine, NowRelevant.com” and “Another Free Citation Tool.”
62. Get Into College Blog – Author Steve Schwartz works as a professional college counselor in New York City, and posts his expert advice on how students can get into college. Post topics range extracurriculars and recommendations, to SAT’s and the college essay. Recommended posts: “5 Reasons Not to Be Discouraged By a Low GPA,” “College Selection Tips | Picking the Right College,” and “College Application Supplemental Material | What to Include, What to Leave Out.”
63. My College STAT – As stated on their site: “Our goal is to humanize the erratic admission process by showing the students behind the scores. By sharing user-submitted information including test scores, grade point averages, extracurricular activities, and personal distinctions, myCollegeSTAT allows students to compare themselves with admitted students.” Recommended posts: “College Admissions: an Afternoon with the Experts” and “When Financial Aid is the Final Word.”
64. University Parent Connection – “Our site is intended to help parents navigate their student’s college and local community,” writes Sarah Schupp. “[Our mission is to provide] comprehensive information that will easily help you navigate the university and its surrounding community during your visit, as well as provide you with helpful tips and resources when you are back home!” Recommended posts: “Five Traits That Matter in College Admissions” and “The College Transfer Process.”
65. College Puzzle – Dr. Michael W. Kirst is a professor of Education and Business Administration at Stanford University. He has also written ten books, two of which are “The Political Dynamics of American Education” (2005) and “From High School to College” (2004). Recommended posts: “Linking Secondary School Curriculum To College General Education” and “Beyond Adoption Of Common Core Standards For College Readiness.”
66. Surviving College – “Surviving College Life is every student’s guide to the ins and outs of college,” writes blogger Jamie, a recent UC San Diego graduate. “Here you’ll find tips about relationships, finances, productivity, studying, health, and beginning your life as an adult.” Recommended posts: “Ridiculously Easy Ways to Kick Distractions for Productive Study Time” and “Final Exam Survival Tips.”
67. Google Student Blog – “Jessica Bagley and I started this blog to keep students informed about products, tools, tips, programs and opportunities at Google that are relevant for them on and off campus,” explains Miriam Schneider. “We hope that students will learn about Google products that will make their lives easier and find out about ways and opportunities to get involved with our efforts.” Recommended posts: “Student Tip: Use Google Docs and Calendar to Import Class Syllabi” and “Google Scholarship program kicks off in China.”
68. Cramster Blog – This site is essentially an online community of study groups for schools, courses, or even textbooks. Users can generate their own customized quizzes or search for practice problems in subjects like math, physics, computer science, chemistry, and much more. Recommended posts: “The Study Tips to End All Study Tips” and “C’s Get Degrees… But I Want an A!”
69. Layers of Learning – “We’ve both been involved in the education world for many years, and both currently home school our children,” write Karen Loutzenhiser and Michelle Copher. “Our hope is that Layers of Learning is a source of inspiration for hands-on style learning projects for teachers and parents alike…We cover new topics every day and hope that our projects spark interest and make learning fun for kids. Every day our articles fall under one of four categories: Explorations (hands-on learning units), Expeditions (field trips), Experiments (great science experiments and projects), and Explanations (teaching tips and our philosophies).” Recommended posts: “Twelve Books To Read With Your Kids” and “Pre-school and K Curriculum.”
70. Stay Out of School – “StayOutOfSchool.com investigates why one of the greatest, albeit hard-headed, creative thinkers of our time advises young, creative college graduates to stay out of graduate school,” writes author Elizabeth King, who is also the President of Elizabeth King Coaching Inc., a test preparation company. Her post topics touch on art, pop culture, creativity, music, and much more. Recommended posts: “Creativity: What Is It, Anyway?” and “Critical Thinking: What Is It, Anyway?”
71. iStudent Advisor – This “interactive international higher education guide” has great advice for students who are interested in studying abroad. There are also study guide resources for those who are interested in studying in Australia, Canada, Europe, Ireland, the UK, and New Zealand. Recommended posts: “IELTS vs TOEFL: Which is Better?” and “How Important are University Rankings?”
72. Admissions Hook – The categories on this blog include how to find scholarships, as well as tips and tricks from experts in the educational industry. Numerous essay editing tips are included on the site, and students can also read various writing samples. Recommended posts: “Choosing an Essay Topic,” “5 Tips for Writing a Scholarship Essay” and “5 Scholarship Essay Don’ts.”
73. College Admissions – “Blogger Jeannie Borin, M.Ed, has an extensive educational background having served as counselor, school administrator, admissions director, teacher and curriculum supervisor for over twenty years in both the public and private sectors. Her affiliation with the National and Western Association of College Admissions Counselors as well as the Higher Educational Consultants Association keeps her on the forefront of innovative and current trends in college admissions and education.” She is also the Founder and President of the Los Angeles based independent college counseling firm College Connections, and writes for two other blogs: College Connections and Jeannie’s FYI College Admissions Blog. Recommended posts: “Tips For The College Fair” and “What to Do When Colleges ACCEPT You.”
74. Graduated and Clueless – “I was inspired to write my blog based on my inability to find or create the life I wanted after I graduated and moved to Boston,” writes blogger Jeff Sanders. “I hope students and graduates will learn that college is not a real-world preparatory institution. By that I mean college is designed to teach you how to learn, not to qualify you for any specific job. The real world is a completely different beast that requires completely different skills than what you learned to master in the classroom. Some skills do carry over, but the big stuff (personal finances, finding a job, office politics) is only learned through experience on the job, not in school. Take your education into your own hands and learn what you need to on your own. Don’t rely on a school, job, or another person to hand you success. You have to create it for yourself. Recommended posts: “Top 3 Things a Recent Grad Should Do” and “Should I Go to Grad School?”
75. 168 Hours – “I started writing my blog because I’m interested in how people spend their time now and in the past, and how we can all spend our time better,” explains author Laura Vanderkam. “The blog builds on my book, ‘168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think’. I hope students will learn that we can choose how to spend our time, and that time management isn’t about just saving five minutes here and there. It’s about filling our lives with things that deserve to be in it.” Recommended posts: “Feeding the Idea Beast” and “How did you spend the 2016 hours of summer?”
76. Head4College – “I started my blog as a compliment to my college planning business, McLaughlin Education Consulting,” explains Sharon McLaughlin. “Through my college planning service, I assist clients with both the admissions process and the financial aid planning process for undergraduate and graduate school. Having worked as college administrator in admissions and financial aid for over twenty years, I knew that students and parents are frequently making college planning decisions with outdated information. Trends are changing with college entrance testing, the economy has lead to changes in financial aid funding policies and increased the competitiveness of college admissions. It is important to educate families on the current trends and issues in college admissions and financial aid, so that they make informed decisions when choosing a college and comparing financial aid awards.” Recommended posts: “The Homesick Freshman” and “For College Transfers The Time Is Now.”
77. A Better Education – “I am a former teacher but found I didn’t enjoy teaching,” writes blogger Tracy Stevens. “I left education for many years but when my son had a hard time starting in Kindergarten it reignited my passion for it…In my quest to help him find the best model, school, and help we could find him so that he could thrive, I found myself researching, reading and thinking about education all the time. I thought I might open my own school so I applied for a Building Excellent Schools fellowship and was denied because my application wasn’t about college prep and had an arts focus. I wrote to Daniel Pink after reading his book ‘A Whole New Mind,’ telling him about my experience, asking ‘what’s a girl to do?’ It was his suggestion that I write a blog about education.” Recommended posts: “Brain Rules by Dr. John Medina” and “The Nature and Purpose of Education by Maurice Holt.”
78. The Pre Req – Author Ashley Singh started blogging after she participated in a Unigo.com video series about her college campus, and was then asked to do a weekly video blog on the MTV show College Life. “From my site, I hope that students will learn that it’s important to take in the world around you and think about what’s going on for yourself. Instead of accepting what is told to you and taking it all as the truth of what’s happening, the only truth that matters is your own, whatever that may be.” Recommended posts: “How to Survive Finals” and “5 Ways to Beat the Back-to-School Blues.”
79. College Blender – This site is unique because it is essentially a community of students and faculty/alumni members who want to share their opinions and advice on everything college-related. If you are a student or currently work at a college or university, you can write for the College Blender by signing up to be a member of the community. Recommended posts: “Students on Ways to Reduce Student Loan Debt” and “How to Start an Essay? Think Airplane Takeoff.”
80. Creative Learning Systems – “I have children of my own, and they attend school in New Zealand, which is totally different from the schools I knew when growing up,” writes Dr. Yvonne Eve Walus. “I was born and raised in communist Poland, where the standard of education was extremely high. As a 9-year old, I learned about non-decimal forms of arithmetic operations (binary and hex and others), two years later the syllabus included trigonometry (sine, cosine, tan etc.) In other subjects the standard was as high: discursive essays, laws of motion, ancient history, detailed biology…” Her advice for students? “You have a unique learning style, a ‘best for me’ way of learning. Find out what it is and homework will be a breeze.” Recommended posts: “Troubled Teens and Learning Styles” and “Chinese Wisdom and Learning Styles.”
81. Fragment/Framework – “I began blogging about my teaching strategies, practices, experiences, and theories a few months after I first started teaching Introductory Composition as a Master’s student at the University of Cincinnati,” writes Kathryn Trauth Taylor. “I continue my blog today as a doctoral student at Purdue. In my field of Rhetoric and Composition, many scholars have studied and encouraged reflective practices–it is one of the core values of the field, as I see it….Through blogging, I hope to connect with other Composition instructors–especially graduate student instructors who are forming their teaching personas for the first time alongside me. My site is not really geared towards my students, specifically. Rather, I share it with peers, professors, family members, and other friends in academia.” Recommended posts: “Writing Literacy Narratives” and “Introductions & Transitions.”
82. Improve Your Learning and Memory – “As a faculty member who has seen students struggle inefficiently for some 47 years, I knew that I knew a lot about learning they did not,” writes W. R. (Bill) Klemm, a Professor of Neuroscience at Texas A&M University. “So I wanted to share this information. hope they will recognize their counter-productive learning behaviors, and as a result make what I say, ‘better grades, with less effort.'” Recommended posts: “Multi-tasking and Memory, One More Time” and “Music Training Helps Learning & Memory.”
83. Kapp Notes – “The blog turned out to be the perfect place for me to keep my ideas in one place and to share with my students and others in the field,” writes Karl Kapp, who works as an educator, consultant, speaker, as well as an author of several educational books. “I want [students] to learn about the industry and to gain a perspective about what it takes to be a practicing professional in the field of e-learning and instructional technology. The second thing I want students to learn is to use and become comfortable with Web 2.0 tools.” Recommended posts: “Definition: Metacognition” and “Want to Teach Math, Science and Engineering to Kids? Think Guitars.”
84. Grad Hacker – “I found that productivity blogs geared towards grad students was lacking [when I started my blog],” writes the Grad Hacker. “I may or may not have been wrong as, in hindsight, [but I] found that a lot of people had these ridiculous habits that made them seem productive, but I felt were in the end, simply ridiculous. That’s what started the How to Act Productive Series, which in the end brought over a lot of traffic to my site.” So what does the Grad Hacker want students to learn from their posts? “That keeping a list or two and doing work goes a long ways… And that there are alternatives to traditional career paths after you get a PhD.” Recommended posts: “How to Act Productive Tip #13: Start Late” and “How to Act Productive Tip #10: Bring Massive Amounts of Work On the Plane.”
85. My Montessori Journey – “I started writing the blog to document my transition from teaching elementary special education in a public school setting to teaching Montessori preschool in a private setting,” writes blogger Laura L. “At the time I started the blog (May 2008) there were only a few blogs that featured Montessori education and I had been inspired by those few quite a bit…Now there are lots more bloggers writing about their experiences incorporating Montessori principles into a variety of settings, which is really exciting. I hope that my blog readers will come away with new ideas and new ways of thinking about how to present activities to young children.” Recommended posts: “The many facets of socialization” and “Record Keeping in the Montessori classroom.”
86. Eduplan Blog – EduPlan is a consulting firm which is comprised of numerous certified career coaches, business consultants, college and graduate school advisers, and personal branding strategists. Their posts provide various tips on essay writing, applying for college, personal branding, and salary negotiations. Recommended posts: “How to Hire an Educational Consultant” and “Top 10 Tools for New College Students.”
87. GradSpot – “After graduating from college, I was surprised at how unprepared we (grads) were to confront many of the issues that were confronting us at the start of our independent adulthood, ranging from career to financial to healthcare and other issues,” writes Stuart Schultz, co-founder and CEO of Grad Spot. “In order to make sure that future classes of graduating college students had all of the information and tools to help them not only transition to life after college but thrive in the real world, we created Gradspot.com. I hope that from Gradspot.com and our book, “Gradspot.com’s Guide to Life After College,” students will learn how to tackle the major issues they’ll confront in their first year or two out of college, from securing a job, to finding a place to live, to understanding health care, to getting their credit and finances in order, and more.” Recommended posts: “Why Unpaid Internships Are Hard to Find” and “Balancing Full-Time Work with a Part-Time Degree.”
88. Academic Remediation – This author works with elementary school children who are struggling to keep up with their fellow classmates. The categories on this blog include ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, and advice for students who struggling in math, reading, and writing. Recommended posts: “On Dyslexia” and “A Question from a parent on autism and reading comprehension.”
89. Omniac Education – This blog is a great resource for parents or students who need advice on exams, the college admissions process, or how to write a college essay. The articles touch on various topics such as financial aid, SAT or ACT exams, and test anxiety. Recommended posts: “A Useful Concordance Table for the SAT and ACT” and “High School Grades Matter More Than You Think.”
90. Learning Circuits – This blog is “dedicated to sharing ideas and opinions about the state of learning and technology.” The main feature of this blog is their “Question of the Month” series where other educational bloggers can respond to a question posted in an article, which is then re-posted in the LC blog post. Recommended posts: “Voice-Over in eLearning” and “Presenting the Value of Social Media for Learning.”
91. StuVu – The blog otherwise known as Student View allows college students to post their own photos, videos and reviews of their college experiences to other students. Some of the posts provide entertaining advice like how to cure a hangover, or tips on how to get into the college spirit. Recommended posts: “Last Minute Grade Improvement” and “Switching Majors in College.”
92. Algebra Homework – The authors of this blog write about the different online resources that are available for students who are struggling with their algebra homework. Recommended posts: “Simplifying Algebraic Expressions,” “Advantages of Taking Online Lessons for Algebra Homework Help” and “The Need of Algebra and Geometry Help.”
93. College and University Search – From the College Bound Network, these articles provide expert information on everything related to the college admissions process, such as high school transcripts, application deadlines, and recommendation letters. Recommended posts: “Rankings, Schmankings–How Do I Get Into These Colleges?” and “Confusing College Admissions Lingo — Defined!”
94. Playing Your A Game – Author Kantis Simmons is an “educational guru” who delivers “content rich information through books, articles, keynotes, seminars, e-mails, consultation, and conferences.” His tagline is “helping students play their ‘A’ game in school and life,” and he has been invited to speak at many schools and conferences to talk about how students can achieve academic success. Recommended posts: “7.25 Ways to Overcome Apathy or Lack of Motivation in School as a Student” and “Key Questions to Ask Your High School Counselor and College Advisor Today!”
95. StudentStuff – This unqiue blog provides numerous tips which cover everything from Diet Coke and long-distance relationships, or how to work out to music. Post categories include health and fitness, career and money, activism and awareness, or studying abroad. Recommended posts: “Don’t Wait…Study Abroad Before it’s Too Late” and “Planning your major: Why You Should Work for Money and Not Love.”
96. The Ivy Coach – Bev Taylor, the Ivy Coach’s founder and president, has been featured in numerous broadcasts and publications like the US News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and many more. She provides expert advice on how to find the right college, letters of recommendations, and issues that are facing educational counselors. Recommended posts: “Waiving Rights on the College Application” and “Senior Slide and its Impact on College Admissions.”
97. College Jolt – The articles on this blog provide background information on the different types of college majors, as well as campus politics, what students should bring to college, and the perks of being a student at a community college. Recommended posts: “The Sophomore Slump: Suppressing the Slide” and “Time Wasters: Least convincing excuses for missed assignments.”
98. Rethinking Learning – This site is geared more towards teachers who are looking for a forum to converse about the future of education. There are also politically-driven videos posted on their website which highlight three educational issues: Learning, teaching, and fairness. Recommended posts: “Tread Softly on Their Dreams” and “Mentoring and Coaching – Do you need it?”
99. eduFire – Even though updates are scarce, this entertaining blog writes about a variety of different topics like homeschooling, educational technology, tips for teachers, and the latest in educational news and politics. Recommended posts: “Entrepreneurial Education (time for us to coin a phrase…)” and “Micro-Learning: You Heard it Here First.”
100. That Rooftop Voice – Heather Trahan is a doctoral student in the English Department at Bowling Green State University, but she is also a teacher for a General Studies Writing course as well. Her poems been published in the Detroit’s Metro Times, Word Riot, Slow Trains, the Healing Garden Journal, and many more. Recommended posts: “The writer who doesn’t believe in writer’s block gets writer’s block” and “Advice for grad students–how to stay relaxed, and remain joyful.”
