For students who excel with a challenge, pay attention. During the past 40 years, domestic business has become more connected with the global economy than ever before. A new generation of students are venturing abroad to expand their education and realize this potential. Studying abroad may be an option you never thought of and you may be thinking, why me? The answer shouldn’t be why, but rather why not?
Many college students believe the myth that only business or language majors will benefit from time abroad. That conception is just false. Medical Majors will benefit from traveling to a reputable institution abroad. Just in Mexico at Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara is a major program dedicated to producing Doctors, Nurses and Practitioners. In addition to the quality education you will receive, picking up a second language is sure to sharpen your professional resume!
How about studying the exotic wildlife in the forest of Costa Rica or Panama? If you’re a biology major, this may just be a reality. You can get up close and personal with the fauna you’re study in school rather than just reading about it. If you are interested in History, why not see it in person? Studying in Europe would put you in the middle of a very rich culture. Being in the E.U. would allow you to quickly and cheaply visit any other member country you want to on a weekend. Heard about the Leaning Tower in Italy, the Swiss Alps or any number of the other plentiful places to see?
I think I’m getting my point across and I hope you are getting excited. After all, your years in college are supposed to be exploratory. Use them to accomplish what you’ve always dreamt about but never thought you could fit in at School. I will write another article about the financial aspects, the ones that seem to hold everyone back. This will show you how it is quite possible and your school may actually help pay!!
Until then: Dylan
January 26, 2012
January 16, 2012
Food Budget Doesn't Mean Tasteless
In my past 2 year’s dorming at a small Community College, I have learned quickly how important cooking skills are. Gone are the days of asking my mom to fry me a grilled cheese sandwich. There I was at the stove, thinking to myself “learn to cook or eat easy mac every night”. If you don’t eat out every night and want a nutritious meal, you are not alone. But to help you transition, I have created a few easy cooking recipes for you to try out. These are not some five steps, three course entrée but something warm, yummy and filling.
Ramen is a college staple. At 20 cents a package who can argue with the price. In a boiling pot, cook the ramen until it is mostly done. At this point do not add the flavor packet. The idea is that the noodles need to be somewhat stiffer than with your typical ramen. After draining completely of water, add 1/3 of the flavor mix and stir. Now you have noodles perfect for adding soy sauce, sweat & sour sauce, red hots sauce or any other flavoring you like. Feel free to substitute these noodles into any recipe with chicken strips or grilled shrimp (you get the idea).
Another easy recipe is to get a Rice Pilaf packet from your local grocer. These taste great and are inexpensive. Most importantly they are filling. There are many different flavors, some including Spanish, Indian & Mexican style. The instructions are very straightforward and are listed on the packet. Mix with Ground Beef for an awesome meal.
My favorite snack is without a doubt the quesadilla, Mexican style. You will only need some soft white cheese available at your local grocery store (I prefer the round circle soft kind) and some corn based tortillas (these need to be kept refrigerated or they spoil) in order to cook. Cut the cheese thin and place in between two tortillas. In a large cooking pan (sized for four hamburgers), heat up a small spoonful of olive oil for about 30 seconds. Place one quesadilla on the pan and spread the oil evenly. When you see the bottom start to brown, flip it once. When you see the cheese oozing out you know it’s done. Be careful though as the cheese will be hot!! Dip in Salsa for maximum flavor.
The ramen recipe is just a variation of the package, but it is a whole different texture and flavor than just beef or chicken. You have so much freedom when cooking, so use your time in college to experiment. If you enjoyed these tips, leave me a comment or question. If I get enough food interest, maybe I will run a few more recipe/ideas.
Until then, best of cooking - Dylan
Ramen is a college staple. At 20 cents a package who can argue with the price. In a boiling pot, cook the ramen until it is mostly done. At this point do not add the flavor packet. The idea is that the noodles need to be somewhat stiffer than with your typical ramen. After draining completely of water, add 1/3 of the flavor mix and stir. Now you have noodles perfect for adding soy sauce, sweat & sour sauce, red hots sauce or any other flavoring you like. Feel free to substitute these noodles into any recipe with chicken strips or grilled shrimp (you get the idea).
Another easy recipe is to get a Rice Pilaf packet from your local grocer. These taste great and are inexpensive. Most importantly they are filling. There are many different flavors, some including Spanish, Indian & Mexican style. The instructions are very straightforward and are listed on the packet. Mix with Ground Beef for an awesome meal.
My favorite snack is without a doubt the quesadilla, Mexican style. You will only need some soft white cheese available at your local grocery store (I prefer the round circle soft kind) and some corn based tortillas (these need to be kept refrigerated or they spoil) in order to cook. Cut the cheese thin and place in between two tortillas. In a large cooking pan (sized for four hamburgers), heat up a small spoonful of olive oil for about 30 seconds. Place one quesadilla on the pan and spread the oil evenly. When you see the bottom start to brown, flip it once. When you see the cheese oozing out you know it’s done. Be careful though as the cheese will be hot!! Dip in Salsa for maximum flavor.
The ramen recipe is just a variation of the package, but it is a whole different texture and flavor than just beef or chicken. You have so much freedom when cooking, so use your time in college to experiment. If you enjoyed these tips, leave me a comment or question. If I get enough food interest, maybe I will run a few more recipe/ideas.
Until then, best of cooking - Dylan
January 10, 2012
How Nice Is Your Dorm?
When the summer is in full swing, millions of incoming freshman like you make their way to college. This may be your first time away from your parents. This is an eye opening experience and a life lesson for you. After selecting the college you want to attend, one of the most important decisions left to make is the rooming situation, a.k.a. dorming. There are many different options and combinations that colleges can offer you. But most likely you are to find the following two options, a traditional double or a suite style double room.
The 1st type of dorm (traditional double) is one that houses two students with most basic amenities. Incoming freshman are placed with one roommate in their dorm, sometimes through personality polls. These polls are great for matching up two night owls or quiet studiers together. Colleges try their hardest to find roommates that would be compatible matches. For sleeping, the beds will be situated on opposite sides of the room, with a desk and some sort of storage space given to each student. Depending on your dorm, some offer sinks in the dorm room. This is way more convenient than walking down the hall just to brush your teeth and definitely something to look for. The entire floor or wing of a dorm will share a common bathroom facility. Meaning you will have a large bathroom with many individual bathroom stalls to shower. In the higher end dorms, there are sometimes kitchen facilities to prepare your own food. If not though, a quick walk to the College Café solves the hunger.
The 2nd dorm type (suite style double room) that a freshman would be placed in has a little bit more privacy than the 1st. You do still have a roommate (but that is what the college dorming experience is all about). You and your roommate share a bathroom with another dorm room. Meaning that instead of a community bathroom, two pairs of students would share a bathroom in between their dorms. This provides much more privacy and a lot less student traffic. Sinks will be located in the bathroom, so it is much easier and convenient than the community bathroom set-up. Whether or not these rooms have a community kitchen entirely depends on the college.
When searching colleges and especially during a campus tour from a guide, ask questions!!!! Tour guides have been dorming at college for at least a semester and know the ins and outs of dorm living. A tour guide will be able to show you inside a dorm, so you can see exactly the type of room you will be spending your college years in. Make a list of questions about dorming and take them with you and just maybe you will find the right accommodation for yourself.
-Dylan Swartz
The 1st type of dorm (traditional double) is one that houses two students with most basic amenities. Incoming freshman are placed with one roommate in their dorm, sometimes through personality polls. These polls are great for matching up two night owls or quiet studiers together. Colleges try their hardest to find roommates that would be compatible matches. For sleeping, the beds will be situated on opposite sides of the room, with a desk and some sort of storage space given to each student. Depending on your dorm, some offer sinks in the dorm room. This is way more convenient than walking down the hall just to brush your teeth and definitely something to look for. The entire floor or wing of a dorm will share a common bathroom facility. Meaning you will have a large bathroom with many individual bathroom stalls to shower. In the higher end dorms, there are sometimes kitchen facilities to prepare your own food. If not though, a quick walk to the College Café solves the hunger.
The 2nd dorm type (suite style double room) that a freshman would be placed in has a little bit more privacy than the 1st. You do still have a roommate (but that is what the college dorming experience is all about). You and your roommate share a bathroom with another dorm room. Meaning that instead of a community bathroom, two pairs of students would share a bathroom in between their dorms. This provides much more privacy and a lot less student traffic. Sinks will be located in the bathroom, so it is much easier and convenient than the community bathroom set-up. Whether or not these rooms have a community kitchen entirely depends on the college.
When searching colleges and especially during a campus tour from a guide, ask questions!!!! Tour guides have been dorming at college for at least a semester and know the ins and outs of dorm living. A tour guide will be able to show you inside a dorm, so you can see exactly the type of room you will be spending your college years in. Make a list of questions about dorming and take them with you and just maybe you will find the right accommodation for yourself.
-Dylan Swartz
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