Safety First
College campuses big and small, rural and urban are not immune from crime, so it's important that you use your common sense to stay safe on campus.
Familiarize yourself with college security programs to help ease on-campus crime and take advantage of evening security escort services, if offered.
We've compiled some additional tips to help you stay safe on campus:
- Walk in groups.
- Be aware of your surroundings - don't walk in unlit areas at night and avoid those seldom-traveled shortcuts.
- Don't prop open entrances of residence halls.
- Keep your dorm room door locked while you're sleeping.
- Use door peepholes.
- Vary your route if walking everyday.
- If you're at a party, never let a stranger get a drink for you and never leave a drink unattended.
- Don't accept rides from people you don't know.
- Be aware of people loitering in hallways.
- Never loan your keys or identification to anyone.
- Don't leave your backpack and personal belongings unattended.
- Make sure someone knows your whereabouts and your expected return time.
- Consider carrying a personal alarm device, like a whistle. Pepper spray isn't recommended; it could easily be taken from you. . .and used against you.
If you have a “gut-feeling” about a stranger, a fellow student, or a situation you find yourself in, trust your gut and remove yourself from that situation as soon as possible.
You should also know what crime prevention education programs are available on campus, what the crime reporting procedure is, and who to call to report a crime.
Online Classes Becoming More Popular
With the price of gas soaring, online classes are gaining in popularity. Colleges across the country are reporting increases in online enrollment ranging from 10 to 52 percent.
Waiting lists for Web-based classes have lengthened at many colleges. Some colleges are responding to this surge in popularity by training more faculty to teach online classes.
In an informal survey of visitors to degree.com in May, the #1 reason visitors said they were interested in an online degree program was “higher gas prices”; last year the top reason given was “convenience.”
Get an Edge Over the Competition
According to a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), new college graduates looking for a job may have an edge over the competition if they've participated in an internship. More than 75 percent of employers responding to NACE's Job Outlook 2008 survey indicated they prefer to hire candidates with relevant work experience.
Results of a separate NACE study show that many employers prefer to hire their own interns when they have job openings. You should actively pursue an internship during college. An internship gives you concrete and relevant work experience to include on your resume, valuable contacts that may be able to help you land your first job and may give you an edge over the competition.
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