Wednesday Tech Tips: College Life

This week's tips (both from Mashable) will help you graduates as you enter into college life.  Before you prepare for your big move in the time-honored fashion (buying Audrey Hepburn posters and those giant containers of cheez-balls at Target), take a look at these nifty gadgets that may give you a little more room in your teensy dorm.


C'mon, who doesn't want one of these?

Not only is it COMPLETELY RAD, it is a guaranteed disaster waiting to happen, which will become one of your best "remember when" stories at your 10-year reunion.

Okay, but these items are not all cheaptastic.  You may be able to save some coin on textbooks.  I'm also going to go out on a limb here and advise you to try the library at 8:00am when everyone else is still sleeping.

Also, before you buy a million plastic storage bins or a lamp or a fondue kit, check out Goodwill or the second hand stores in your neighborhood, because I promise you that they have all that stuff.*  Save some money and be good to the earth, amirite?

*Well, they probably don't have the amazing toaster/coffeemaker/baconater combo, but the individual components are all there for you to cobble together your own breakfast station.

Wednesday Tech Tips: College Life

This week's tips (both from Mashable) will help you graduates as you enter into college life.  Before you prepare for your big move in the time-honored fashion (buying Audrey Hepburn posters and those giant containers of cheez-balls at Target), take a look at these nifty gadgets that may give you a little more room in your teensy dorm.


C'mon, who doesn't want one of these?

Not only is it COMPLETELY RAD, it is a guaranteed disaster waiting to happen, which will become one of your best "remember when" stories at your 10-year reunion.

Okay, but these items are not all cheaptastic.  You may be able to save some coin on textbooks.  I'm also going to go out on a limb here and advise you to try the library at 8:00am when everyone else is still sleeping.

Also, before you buy a million plastic storage bins or a lamp or a fondue kit, check out Goodwill or the second hand stores in your neighborhood, because I promise you that they have all that stuff.*  Save some money and be good to the earth, amirite?

*Well, they probably don't have the amazing toaster/coffeemaker/baconater combo, but the individual components are all there for you to cobble together your own breakfast station.

Dope links for your edification

• Sherman Alexie on book bannings and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian.  He is working on a SEQUEL -- le swoon!

• Sarah Dessen tells it like it is.

• I have fallen in love with this girl.  Her comics are incredible and smart!

• Think you're ready for college?  USA Today makes you wonder...

• WHAT?  They are making a live action series of Library Wars?  When do we get it here?  Wheeeeeennnnnnn?

(That's 100% what my job is like, btw.)

Education of one kind...and another

Good news for all who thirst for knowledge! 

• Forty public universities are planning to offer free, full-credit, online courses beginning this spring.
• Want to travel abroad, for study or philanthropy?  Fund My Travel can help you raise the cash.
• Tuition costs keep going up up up.  ScholarMatch might be a way for you to afford your dream school.
• Are you a lady of quality looking for tutelage in matters of decorum?  Curtsying, tablesetting, dancing and finishing, are among the distinguished arts taught here.

Ball, more balls, civil rights and more

Happy Wednesday everybody!  Some entertaining and informative links for you today.

• FAFSA Day is coming up this Sunday, January 27.  Don't miss out on this opportunity to apply for financial aid for college.  CRLS will have experts available at 1:00 to answer your questions but YOU NEED TO REGISTER.  Go here. 

• SMITH Magazine is releasing another collection of six-word memoirs, this time from students.  You can see some lovely examples here.

• The media is continuing to weigh in on Obama's inauguration.  The clothes!  The celebs!  The music!

This cake:

Served at the party for Obama's staff and campaign workers with Lady Gaga in attendance.

• Speaking of parties to die for, this Pride and Prejudice ball -- how do I get in?  C'mon, I can quadrille with the best of them.

• DoSomething.org wants you and your friends to experience the civil rights movement by playing Activist Text.  Not only will you gain a deeper understanding of this critical time in history, but you could win a $3000 scholarship.

City of Cambridge Scholarship Applications Now Available

The City Scholarship has awarded thousands of dollars to college-bound high school seniors and others who want to pursue higher education. Scholarships are possible thanks to the generosity of Cambridge residents, businesses and taxpayers who support the annual fund.

In FY12, the City awarded 50 scholarships of $2,500 each.

Applications may be obtained at Cambridge Public Schools, Cambridge Public Library branches and at Cambridge City Hall.  For more information, proceed here.


Get off your butt and take care of this, seniors!  Deadline is March 11, 2013.

Big Future from The College Board

Heads up to the college-bound!  The College Board has a new FREE website to help you prepare. 


Questions about loans, test prep requirements, majors, minors, and deciding where in tarnation you want to study?  The link will get you there, plus it's been added to the sidebar menu under "Helping Hand."

Teen opens bookstore to raise college tuition

Trent Crowthers runs the business out of a barn, and plans to hand it off to his brother when he starts school.  Nice to see someone's faith that other people still value the printed word.  Have you come across any creative ways to pay for college?

What's Wrong with Reading?

Respect. Follow this link to read more of Anthony Turner's thoughts on reading on Youth Communication's website.

S-A-T-U-R...actually, just S.A.T.

After you watch this, so you can understand this incredibly dated pop culture reference, it may interest you to know that not only does the library have an annual S.A.T. Quiz Bowl, but we also offer FREE test preparation classes!

Eight Wednesdays

Beginning March 14

6:00 - 8:00 PM

Main Library

449 Broadway

To reserve a space, contact Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013.  You will actually have to dial and talk to her, not text her.  She's super nice, so don't be shy!

Scholarship news from CRLS

In case you missed it, here's the link to CRLS's Scholarship Booklet.  You'll find information about applying for financial aid, how to avoid scams, and a list of scholarships. 

The application deadline is coming up -- Monday, February 20 -- so take a look ASAP!

Need money for college? MTV is looking to help you out

Check out MTV's new Facebook app, My College Dollars.  Not only does it provide you with application information, you can register to receive updates on scholarships based on your profile.

where i come from there IS no SAT...

No, but for real.

I never had to take the SAT. We all took the ACT. Because colleges where I'm from don't care about the SAT, I guess? Unless that's just what my guidance counselor told me because he thought I couldn't handle higher education. In which case: IN YOUR FACE DR. GULSHINKI! I am a LIBRARY SCIENTIST now!)

Anyway. This is Massachusetts. College-bound juniors have to sit for this test, and they have to sit soon. Juniors? Are you reading this? Instead of doing math portion practice tests? Are you signed up for May 7? Or June 4? Am I stressing you out?

DON'T BE STRESSED! Come by the library next Tuesday (April 26) after school for a fun-but-still-helpful SAT VOCABULARY SMACKDOWN! There will be competition, there will be candy, there will be one left standing - and that one will have the most magnificent vocabulary in all the land and will get a real-life PRIZE. Most of all it will be a welcomed break from crammy cram cramming.

You in? You're in.

Area IV is open over April break

All Cambridge teens (14-19) are invited to the AREA IV Youth Center over April Vacation for fun, FREE activities, food and events. The center will be open from 3-9 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, April 19-22. All other youth centers will be closed to teens for the week.

There will also be a 3 FREE college tours offered by the Cambridge Youth Programs next week, each from 9a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, respectively. Signed permission slips are required. For more information, contact Pierre Sully, Area IV Youth Center at 617-349-6262 or psully@cambridgema.gov.

College essay advice

Teen Voices has a great online article about writing essays for college applications.

Link to City Scholarship Application

Here it is...

City of Cambridge Scholarship Apps

Listen up, college-bound! The city is offering scholarships, AKA money, cash, moolah, cheddar, benjamins, to eligible high school seniors and other pursuing higher education.

To be eligible, applicants must be attending or have received acceptance to attend an educational institution beyond the high school level prior to the time for payment of the scholarship award.

You can find applications at City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. There's also a bad link; I will post an update as soon as I find out what's going on with that.

Questions? want more info? call the Finance Department at 617-349-4220.

Let's Get Ready: SAT & College prep

Thinking about the future this summer? You may want to check out this Cambridge program, Let's Get Ready. It meets twice a week to prepare juniors and seniors for the SATs and the college applications process.

(This last is no joke, people. There have been a lot of stories in the news lately about graduates who've gotten hosed b/c they didn't know what they were in for with student loans. Be prepared!)

This program is FREE FREE FREE for students who qualify for free/reduced lunch, are the first in their family to go to college, and/or would otherwise not be able to afford a prep course.

Please check out the application online. They are also looking for volunteer coaches and mentors; that application is here.