Heading Off to College, but Battling Depression or Anxiety?

A study released in January of 2014, led by Jean Twenge, a San Diego State University psychology professor, finds that today five times as many high school and college students are dealing with anxiety and other mental health issues compared with youth of the same age who were studied in the Great Depression era.

The college experience can be challenging for all young adults as they navigate through making new friends, achieving academic success, establishing their identity, learning to live independently and planning out their futures. And if you add the additional responsibility of managing a mental health condition, it can make these already challenging circumstances even more overwhelming.

Keep in mind that students living with mental health conditions can be and are successful in college with the right supports set up. The following are highlighted excerpts from a report by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) as reported by StrengthOfUs.org – listing key strategies to put into place to help students succeed in college:

Criteria for Choosing a College

Selecting the right college is extremely important. Your choice shouldn’t be based on the fact that your friends are going there, what fraternities or sororities are available or because that’s where “so-and-so” went when they were your age. It’s not a coin toss, it’s a process!

First and most important, research yourself! In order to find the right fit, you need to know where you will be the most comfortable. Take an honest look in the mirror. Don’t ask yourself where your parents or friends think you’d be the most comfortable, but where you feel you’d really fit in. Would you be lost on a large campus or would you thrive with the abundance of activities? Does the Greek System appeal to you? What about a designated quiet dorm? How do you best study – curled up on your bed or sitting in the library? Do you want a lot of one-on-one access to your professors or access to study groups? Do you know what you want to study or do you want to explore other majors? Are you more of a math/science person or a creative liberal arts type? Taking an honest look at who you really are (not who your parents expect you to be) will help narrow your search to the right school. Remember, you are the one living your life!

Once you have done some self-research, apply your new-found knowledge to your college search.

SAT or ACT and the Diagnostic Test

It’s not a secret that the SAT and/or the ACT are important. However, most people don’t understand why it is so important to focus on these tests. Your SAT/ACT score is the only thing that is still completely in your control. By the time you are a junior in high school, raising your GPA significantly is mathematically impossible, and improving class ranking has you relying on other people’s failures. With the right amount of studying though, you can see a tangible increase in your SAT/ACT test score. As a high school student trying to help pay for college the number one way to make money for college is by improving your SAT/ACT scores. This can generate thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars in savings.

Common Pitfalls when Filling out your FAFSA

The FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid is one of the most important documents you’ll fill out during the college planning process. This key document is required for any family wishing to be considered for federal and or state college grants and loans. Financial aid is based on a first-come, first-serve basis, so it is vitally important to not only get your form in early (forms are released on January 1^st) but also to fill it out correctly to avoid costly mistakes. Here’s a checklist to make sure you submit your form accurately and increase your chances for aid.

10 Hot Classes for Success in the Year 2020

Imagine the places you could go if only you knew what classes could take you there…

A zombie apocalypse might just destroy civilization before the year 2020. Hey, plenty of crazy things happen every day. If the zombie virus goes viral, only the best and brightest are going to have a chance at survival. Just in case, we’ve compiled a list of classes that you should take now to ensure your place in a post-zombie apocalyptic society in 2020.