Archive for the ‘Student Extra’ Category

Student Organizations: Major Specific

Paperdolls.jpegStudent organizations are a great way to enhance your college experience. Through involvement in student organizations, you can meet people you might not otherwise, bolster your academic profile, and gain important leadership experience. We have spent the past few posts looking at the benefits of nationally recognized student organizations. Today, we will begin looking at student organizations through the university you attend whose membership is based on major.

Chances are your declared major has an undergraduate student organization. These organizations are usually run by students of the major with one or two faculty advisers. Unlike national organizations, these tend to be smaller and more specifically suited to their members’ interests and concerns. Because these organizations are based on major, they are a great way to foster relationships with people within your major and with faculty. While this might not seem all that important, these relationships are crucial upon graduation–both for professional growth and graduate school applications.
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Nationally Recognized Student Organizations: The Greek System

GreekLetters.jpegAs we move through our investigation of the benefits of membership to student organizations, it is important to remember that organizations come in all shapes and sizes. In the last post, we began looking at nationally recognized student organizations whose membership was based on academics. Today, we will wrap up our look at nationally recognized student organizations by giving a brief overview of the Greek System on college campuses: what it is, why it can be beneficial, and how to join.

The Greek System is most commonly known as sororities and fraternities, with sororities being limited to female membership and fraternities being limited to male membership. These organizations are known as the Greek System because they are identified by two or three letters of the Greek alphabet. Generally, sororities and fraternities have houses–or chapters–all over the country. There are sororities and fraternities for everyone: some base membership on major, some on family, some on whomever wants to join. Most people join the Greek System their freshman year, although some wait until their sophomore year.
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Go Get an Internship!

Officeguy.jpgAs students, it is a guarantee that you have heard—or will hear—the word internship floating around. While they are talked about widely, many students don’t fully understand what they are and their importance to their college career until much too late in their college career. The following is a brief overview of internships: what they are, the different types, why they’re important, and how to get one.

An internship is basically an opportunity for college students to work within their field prior to graduation. Colleges match students with employers with the idea that employers will benefit from the help of a student and that the student will learn what is required to succeed within their field of choice. There are two types of internships, paid and unpaid. Unpaid is by far the most common. (more…)

A Holiday in Andalucia

Andalucia (sometimes spelt Andalusia) is one of the six autonomous regions of Spain. It is in the south of the peninsula with an extensive Mediterranean coastline. The dramatic beauty and fascinating culture of this region make it an ideal holiday destination. Andalucia is a treasure trove of historical sites, fascinating cities, and rural tranquillity.

There is something here to suit all tastes. For a beach holiday with sand, sea, and sun there is a choice of coast lines including the Costa del Sol, the Costa Tropical, the Costa de la Luz, and the Costa Almeria. If you prefer more cultural and historical tones to your holiday then a visit to one of Andalucia’s great historical cities is an experience you will always remember. Seville, Cordoba, Granada, and Malaga are exemplary of Spain’s engrossing cultural heritage from Islamic times. Architecturally there is much to enjoy, plus a vibrant nightlife of eating out or attending a flamenco performance, the theatre, or just strolling through the city.
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Travel Note: Journey to Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu, PeruMachu Picchu, as most people are aware, is a mystical archeological ruin high up in the Andes of Peru. Built in about 1450 A.D., it’s often called the “Lost City of the Incas.” The view from the city is breathtaking because the Urubamba River winds its way three quarters of the way around the city, thousands of feet below. This gives the city a vertical scale that is perhaps not found anyplace else in the world.

Although the citadel itself is only about 8,000 feet high, there are nearby snow-covered peaks about twice as high. The area has more climatic zones within a short distance from each other than any place else in the world. The floor of the Urubamba Valley in that area is subtropical and lush. Many rare species of flora grow there. In fact, it’s known for its many delicate, beautiful and rare orchids
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