Student loans, like child support payments and criminal fines, can be garnished from wages.  Garnishing means you never see the money.  Like taxes, the payment is sent to the debtor before you receive your check.  That means if you’re a server, when you receive your paystub it will show a negative amount.  Not a pretty scenario.

This circumstance came about when the government (taxpayers) became the sole backers of student loans.  They put banks out of originating federal student loans, presumably to keep banks out of the lucrative fee business on a young, fiscally unknowledgeable group.  At 18, it’s much easier to sign on the dotted line without reading the fine print.  Why?  Because no one has ever held scary amounts of debt over your head, making threatening phone calls and initiating wage garnishments, and Democratic representatives in the Senate fought to keep it that way.  As a result, policy for loan forgiveness on the Federal side is directly tied to taxpayer dollars and private loan options are shrinking.

Fast forward 10 years and some uncomfortable truths require reckoning: students with no assets to speak of are bad creditors by definition, and the sheer size of loans (up to 4x the annual salary of the average graduate, after securing a full-time job with benefits).  Declaring bankruptcy for student debt is very difficult, accruing interest and destroying credit in one fell swoop.

Of course, there are a lot of resources for students and graduates who are delinquent on Federal student loans, including reduced payment plans as part of “default diversion” programs and options to postpone payments in times of temporary hardship.  If the hardship isn’t temporary, students need to know their options, and bankruptcy, though a last resort, is one of them.

A common test of undue hardship is the Brunner test which requires a showing that 1) the debtor cannot maintain, based on current income and expenses, a “minimal” standard of living for the debtor and the debtor’s dependents if forced to repay the student loans; 2) additional circumstances exist indicating that this state of affairs is likely to persist for a significant portion of the repayment period of the student loans; and 3) the debtor has made good faith efforts to repay the loans. (Brunner v. New York State Higher Educ. Servs. Corp., 831 F. 2d 395 (2d Cir. 1987).

It’s very difficult to prove undue hardship, but if it does occur, know that bankruptcy isn’t impossible, and in some cases, even prudent.  Keep an eye out for reforms, which may make it easier to discharge student loan debt in the future.

-Wonderbread

I’m reading America: A Narrative History, Brief Volume 1

So why should you get involved? Who cares if there’s a science club, or sister society? You should! Student organizations can be a lot of fun. Here are my top reasons why you should get involved:

1. We are social creatures by nature. There is nothing wrong with a quiet night at home every once in a while. However, there are times when it becomes necessary, some might even say crucial, that you get up, swap the sweats for real pants and mingle with your peers. It’s healthy to interact with others, even if it’s just once in a while. We all know you have to sit in class with Sue Something and Bobby what’s his name, but do you really know anything about them? What’s their favorite hangout? What do they like to do on the weekends? If you don’t give your snuggie a break, and leave your dorm room for fresh air, you might never know!

Student groups, whatever they might be—sororities, fraternities, student government, resident life, mock trials—you can find something that fits both your schedule and your social style. Just give these groups a chance and you might be pleasantly surprised. Some of the best college relationships—friendships and romances—start in student groups, that’s how I met my leading man! You never know who might share your interests! So go find out!

2. Another reason to get involved? Connections, connections, connections! Professors, administrators, and high ups in universities are often advisors or contacts of student groups. If you want to know the ins and outs of your school, or get guidance on jobs, resumes or even events, student clubs should be on your go-to list! Plus, you will instantly find a group of students who share your interests, passions and even schedules!

3. When you look back on your four years of college, what do you think you’ll remember? The test you studied for that one afternoon, at that one time, in the middle of that one month? Or the time you decided to run for class senator and gave a speech in front of the whole quad and taped posters up in every academic building? You only get to do college once—if you’re lucky! So make the most of your time and build memories that are going to last forever. Lots of groups will have formals, parties, social events and even dinners—perfect opportunities for pictures and memory making! The rallies you throw on campus, or the events you put on for the students will leave a mark on not only your memory, but will be a part of your school forever. Show your spirit, and share your skills with your school and get involved. You won’t regret it—in fact you’ll look back and be happy you did! You will have people to seek out at reunions, pages to flip to in the yearbook and memories to share with your kids some day!

Student organizations are easy ways to meet and greet with your peers, build relationships and get involved with something that interests you. You can always take time for yourself, but remember, once school is over, it’s much harder to find clubs and groups that will welcome you with such open arms—and often no membership fee!

-Ring Queen

I’m reading Strangers to These Shores: Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States with Research Navigator

Tip 1: Go find where your classes are on campus before the first day of school. I have made the mistake of carrying around a campus map while frantically searching through hallways to find classes on the first day. I’ve learned that it’s so much easier to at least know the building that you’re in. Finding room numbers in generally easy because there will be signs on the walls. Just allow yourself extra time the first day in case, but know where your classes are!

Tip 2: Stick to your values. There is always that college freshman that is finally off the leash for the first time and completely loses it, don’t let that be you. It’s okay to experiment, try new things, and meet new people. It becomes way too much when you can’t recognize yourself anymore. Remember where you came from, what you were taught, and who you are. Doing a complete 180 in terms of your personality will leave your old friends confused, your new friends unsure of the real you, and your parents completely worried. I’m not saying that change is a bad thing, just make sure if you’re doing any morphing that your morphing into superman and not the evil villain.

Tip 3: Keep up on homework. Cramming for test is normal, at least in my case. Homework is different than a test; it’s the easy points and attendance that can really help your grade in a gen-ed class.  Rack up the easy points and take a little stress off your test cramming session. It might be a cheap shot, but its smart shot as well.

Tip 4: Don’t go around the carousal and try to get with every horse. By this I mean, have respect for yourself.  The worst thing you can do freshman year is start out with a bad reputation. Keep it classy and never get too trashy. Flirting is a given, but rounding the bases with multiple people will give you a terrible name. Nothing is harder than shedding off a bad rep. Strive to maintain respect for yourself, gain respect from your peers, and never lose respect from those who love you most.

Tip 5: Don’t overload classes your first semester! The first semester of college is full of so many new experiences and new friends. Allow yourself the time to get situated to your new life and spend time with the new people that you’ve met. There is nothing wrong with easing into it the first semester. Make sure you don’t add unnecessary stress to your life by taking too many credits right away.

Tip 6: Keep in touch! It can be easy to get caught up in your new friends and slowly start to lose touch with old ones. Make a point to stay in contact with your high school friends.  You don’t want to come home for winter break and have to start from scratch telling them all about how college is going. Fill them in as you go! There’s something amazing about high school friendships. Many people let them slip, always try to hold on.

I hope these tips will be useful as you begin this new and exciting journey. Just remember, that although the scenery changes, you choose your own path. Stay true to yourself, have a good time, and always keep it FRESH-MAN.

-Speedy G.

I’m reading Foundations of Nursing in the Community: Community-Oriented Practice

1. It is considered lucky to be awoken by a kiss on Valentine’s Day.
2. In the Middle Ages young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their Valentine would be. They would wear the name of their Valentine pinned on their sleeves for one week to show other their true feelings. This was known as “wearing your heart on your sleeve”.
3. The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare’s lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine’s Day.
4. Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone on Valentine’s Day in 1876.
5. In 2009, consumers spent $14.7 billion dollars on Valentine’s Day.
6. 75% of men state they plan ahead for Valentine’s Day although many don’t make their final purchases until the last few days.
7. 46% of Americans exchange Valentine’s Day candy.
8. Richard Cadbury, as-in Cadbury cream egg, invented the first box of Valentine’s Day themed chocolates in the 1880s.
9. Valentine candy “conversation hearts” have a shelf life of five years.
10. Worldwide, over 50 million roses are given for Valentine’s Day every year.
11. 73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine’s Day are men while only 27% are women.
12. About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine’s Day gifts to their pets.
13. 33% of Valentine’s Day cards will come with a gift.
14. The first commercial Valentine’s Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland.

Don’t forget to check out our eCampus.com Trivia Challenge – Valentine’s Edition for a chance to win a $50 SkinIt.com Gift Card or $250 in cash!

-Lovejoy

I’m reading Modern World History, Grades 9-12 Patterns of Interaction: Mcdougal Littell World History Patterns of Interaction

The college diploma: With graduation just around the corner, it’s that important-looking piece of paper that college graduates are dreaming of this time of year.

Too bad you can’t take it with you to a job interview.

The truth is that once you enter the working world, the bachelor’s degree you worked really hard to get is going to occupy just a small amount of space on a much more important piece of paper: your resume.

That’s right: it’s your resume, not your actual diploma that future employers care about. Sure, they want to see that you graduated from college, preferably in a field related to the job you’re applying to. But more importantly, they want to see what kind of job skills you have, where you worked, and what kind of impact you had on that organization.

And the resume is they key to relaying all of this information. If it’s done correctly, your resume can get you past the hundreds of other applicants going after the same position (the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the unemployment rate is still 8.5 %) and into the interview room.

So if you want to a job after graduation, you’ll need to start working on your resume now.

How to Get a Jump Start on Your Resume

1. Get Help From a Professional

Do you have a resume? If not, start working on yours right now. Your college or university probably has a career center on campus, so take advantage of it. The career experts there can help you build a resume from scratch and best of all, they’ll do it for free. As an alternative, there are also many professional resume writing services that can help you out for a fee.

2. Don’t Forget Collateral Materials

So you helped design the brochure for your dorm’s annual fundraiser? Awesome! Did you write a letter or article that was included in your student newspaper? Great! Get these materials together so you can take them to future interviews. Future employers don’t just want to hear about what you did, they want to see it if at all possible. Put your samples in a nice clip book or organizer and bring them to your interview. Even if you email any links beforehand, it’s still nice for your interviewer to be able to see what you worked on in person.

3. Go Digital

It’s not enough to buy some nice letterhead and call it a day. Nowadays you also need a strong digital presence, so that when recruiters Google your name, they get your LinkedIn profile and your Google+ profile, not some ridiculous Facebook photo that’s 5 years old.

If you haven’t joined these social networks yet, do it! They’ll not only help you show up positively in the search results, but they’re also great networking tools. Put up a professional head shot, use strong keywords to describe who you are and what you want to do professionally, and above all else, keep them free from profanity and other inappropriate posts.

I know it sounds like a lot of work, but trust me, it’s well worth it. Job searches can take several months so the sooner you get started, the closer you’ll be to that first job out of college.

Noël Rozny is Web Editor & Content Manager at myFootpath, a career and education resource for students of all ages. Visit myFootpath.com to find the bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD program that’s right for you.

A balance can be struck between keeping a great GPA and having a social life.  Freshmen may not believe in such a thing.  Some enter a hard semester of courses and quickly become overwhelmed.  The key to this is both managing your time well and staying organized.

First, try getting a planner.  This comes in various forms: a whiteboard, a booklet planner or a calendar, either electronic or physical.  Add in your class schedule, and then look for the empty blocks of time in your week.  Do you have a day off?  Do you have a few mornings, afternoons, or evenings open?  Weigh your workload and your speed of completing homework, and figure out how many blocks of time you need to finish your homework.  Dedicating specific blocks of time to study ensures that your work will get done.

“Wake up early and do your school work, that way you can have a social life,” one senior from Penn State suggests.

A junior from California State University of Monterey Bay comments balancing school and friends is not hard if you have the right people in your social life.  Finding friends who influence you in a positive way and keep you driven is important.

For many, doing homework right after class while information is fresh in your mind can lead to a stress-free academic life.  You will never forget about an assignment and will keep your free time actually free.

Personally, I write in my planner that each class is one or two hours longer than it is, this way I can complete all of my homework.  If classes are back to back, adding a study block of time towards the end of the week tends to balance things out.

Stay organized and remember college is the most exciting time in your life.  Enjoy it, just don’t go overboard!

-TravelBug

I’m reading The Career Fitness Program: Exercising Your Options

15.  The Lion King (a.k.a. the best Disney classic there is) – I saw this bad boy in 3D and I still sob like a baby when—spoiler alert!—Mufasa dies. Not only did these singing African animals top the box office again in 2011, but it has been a movie after any child’s heart, whether they’re really into Disney or not.

14.  Titanic – This movie is also getting the 3D treatment in April (I am SO seeing this in theaters!), but this cash-boat doesn’t even need to make money. Only second to Avatar now in all-time money made at the theaters, this film will make you laugh, sob, smile, and likely cause you to yell at Rose: “You liar! You did let go!”

13.  Mean Girls – Who can forget Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert as the ultimate high school girl clique? This film basically is our generation in a nut shell. Four for you, Mean Girls! You go, Mean Girls!

12.  Fight Club – Obviously, I’m not allowed to talk about it.

11.  Inception – One of the most original movies I’ve seen in a while, with some of the best original tracks I’ve ever heard. And yet another film in which Leonardo DiCaprio was snubbed at the Oscars. Do you think he won the award in a dream? Maybe a dream within a dream?

10. Harry Potter series – If you haven’t read the books—which is sinful, in my opinion—you’ve probably at least seen the movies or heard the iconic theme song. They also got progressively better with each new sequel. Unlike the Twilight series, there is some substance of good story telling. We grew up with the Potter kids and they won’t be forgotten any time soon.

9.  X-Men movies – We just love all those mutants, especially James McAvoy as Professor X and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. I’d pay good money to see young Magneto (Michael Fassbender) square off against old Magneto (Ian McKellen).

8.  The Hangover – What college student didn’t see this movie? It’s basically our worst nightmare—in a hilarious film version with older, mostly employed guys.  This movie gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “Walk of shame”.

7.  Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – Who hasn’t wished they could erase someone from their memory? I’d pay top dollar to rid myself of my annoying ex boyfriends. Plus, Kate Winslet is basically perfection in every role she ever takes on.

6.  War Horse – Easily the best movie of 2011 and it has the Oscar nomination to prove it. I love most war movies, but this one was more moving than Saving Private Ryan.

5.  Lord of the Rings Trilogy – Peter Jackson created the most amazing world and Elijah Wood got lots of screen time. They pretty much paved the way for nerdy fantasy movies. These movies are my precious…es.

4.  Jurassic Park – These movies will forever be the best dinosaur movies ever…and a new one is being made. Hear that, Littlefoot? Although the first movie is by far the best, the last twenty minutes of its sequel where a T-Rex is rampaging through L.A. is 100% pure Hollywood awesomeness.

3.  Edward Scissorhands – We can learn a lot from Eddie. How to sort-of cover scars with the Avon lady’s help. How we should decorate our lawn with shrub sculptures. And just how bad a bad haircut can be.

2.  Forrest Gump – Forrest Gump is such a great character.  This is one of Tom Hanks finest and most quotable roles of all time. I believe that almost every college has seen and loved this movie.  Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. Just like this list.

1.  The Usual Suspects – The fine art of storytelling in many ways. You instantly sympathize with all of the main characters; especially poor Verbal. It also has one of the greatest twists in movie history; even rivaling Fight Club. Who is Kaizer Soze?

-ToonyToon

I’m reading Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing

Here is a list of some easy and effective workout moves that will get your blood pumping, and your body tone in no time—all without leaving your comfort zone, or stepping foot in a gym!

What you need: Dumbbells, water bottle, and preferably a little pump-up music (to get you in the mood!) No dumbbells? No problem! Grab two water bottles or two cans of soup—same difference!

Side Bends
Here’s a personal favorite of mine—and a great place to start if you want to work on that pesky midsection! Grab one of your weights (or water bottles) in your right hand and stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your right arm at your side. Put your left hand on your hip, elbow facing out. Lean to your right, letting your right arm (with the weight or water bottle) hang to just about your knee or mid-thigh. You should feel a slight pull or stretch on your left side. Return to the starting position. Do 25 reps and then switch sides.

Pushups
No surprise here, but pushups are a sure fire way to feel the burn. They are difficult, but a great exercise to get familiar with and a good tool to tone those arms and chest. Keep your back straight and hiney held high. If you can’t grasp the full pushup right away, do a modified pushup, starting on your knees. Be sure to lower yourself so that your elbows form 90-degree angles. When you come up, extend fully. Do 10 to 20 for starters to test your comfort level. Start slow and take breaks if you need to!

Planks  (With mild alterations!)
So these exercises are a bit of a doosie but really worth your while. To start get into the pushup position and form a triangle with your hands.  Keep your back super straight and hold.  In no time you should feel your midsection working hard! To make planks even more beneficial try these variations!

1. First, try alternate shoulder taps. While in plank position, lift right hand and touch your left shoulder. Return to plank. Next, lift left hand and touch right shoulder and return to plank. Do 20 total taps.

2. The second plank exercise involves curls. Break out your water bottles. Start with the water bottle in right hand, while in plank and do 20 curls. Switch sides, and do 20 curls with left hand while in plank.

3. The third plank exercise involves kicks. While in plank, lift right leg slightly off the ground. Kick up, then lower leg almost to the ground—but don’t touch it. Repeat with left leg. Do 20 total kicks.

Mini-Squat Kicks
For this exercise, start with feet shoulder width apart and knees slightly bent. Bounce down, then come up and kick to the right with right leg. Return to center, bounce down, come up and kick to the left with left leg. Do 20 total kicks.

So there you have it—a short and sweet routine that will leave you feeling great! If you want to kick it up a notch repeat the total routine 3 times—we want you to really feel the burn!

The final tip I have for you, if you aren’t too exhausted, is to bundle up and go for a walk! Doing moves in your dorm room is a simple way to work out, but nothing compares to a brisk walk to get those legs moving and take in a bit of fresh air.

-Ring Queen

I’m reading DK Guide to Public Speaking

From January 31st – February 13th we will be giving away a daily prize of a $50 Skinit.com gift card and on Valentine’s Day we will give away a grand prize of $250 CASH! The contestants with the highest score each day will be entered to win the daily prize. Continue taking the trivia challenge every day to increase your cumulative score! The people with the highest cumulative score at the end of the challenge will be entered to win a grand prize of $250 in cash!  So enter now for your chance to win!

When should you start networking? Right now! The sooner you start the better. There are four main social media platforms you should be on to really bolster your connections: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Though Google+ is new to the scene, it has quickly become one of the biggies in getting your name out there. With a Google+, your posts are more likely to show up higher on search results, making it easier for potential employers to find and approve of you. If you like writing and have the time, a blog is also a great way to start getting your work and name out there.

Just being on these sites isn’t enough, however. You need to keep what you’re saying and doing professional. That doesn’t mean you have to go back to your Facebook posts from middle school or high school talking about your break up or mishap with a face mask—though you might want to anyway, with that whole weird timeline thing that can bring people anywhere in your past (creepy!). Not everything you post has to be completely professional or impersonal either. In fact, you want your employers and connections to get some sense of who you are outside what you want to do with your life.

There are some basic tips you can follow to keep your profiles tasteful, personable and professional. Make sure you’re using proper grammar and spelling. On Twitter with only 140 characters to use, sometimes it’s hard to write in complete sentences, but at the very least make sure what you are saying makes sense. Don’t write Facebook statuses with “$up hom3sk!ll3t” or any other weird spellings associations.

Avoid swearing! Though they’re rather common these days and might slip out of your mouth in daily conversation, filter online! Remember, you may be friends with your young cousins and you don’t want to be accused of being a bad influence. Also avoid posting every single thing you do in a day. Your Twitter account and Facebook feed shouldn’t be filled with “Walked the dog. Text it” or “Now I’m eating a grilled cheese. Getting ready for the movies. Then partay!” Only update on important life moments, like getting into college or nailing a job interview, and post about other things relevant to your career or goals. Don’t be afraid to share links to news articles or blog posts you liked or retweet a favorite company of yours—in fact, the more retweeting you do, the higher the likelihood for you to get noticed and maybe give you a boost on the competition.

A good way to start building your connections is to simply search for people you know and get talking. Whenever you get a new job or internship, update all of your profiles and start connecting with others who work there. Be friendly and try to start conversations; even if you don’t get a response, keep trying (but only once every three days at the most, you don’t want to look like a psycho). If you have a blog or website, promote it frequently by tweeting the URL and sharing posts on all your other platforms. The more active you are the better as long as the information is relevant, interesting and shows your personality.

Finally, the best way to really get going is to just jump in and experiment. Even if you’re shy, adopt an outgoing online persona and reach out to people. Follow and friend request companies you’re interested and people who could potentially land you a job in the future. Most importantly, don’t forget about networking in person. Professors, people working in offices on campus, local companies you visit can all prove to be beneficial to your future. The more friends, the merrier—even if they don’t ultimately land you the job!

-ToonyToon

I’m reading Modern Management: Concepts and Skills