Student loan debt has now reached $1 billion, and the situation has gotten so bad that there are Americans who are having their Social Security checks garnished to pay off outstanding loan debt. Meanwhile, recent graduates sit in a precarious position of underemployment, combined with doubling rates and rising monthly bills as their loans are sold from one lender to another. It’s clear that we’ve reached a crisis point. But what got us here?

There are several places where we can lay blame: colleges, for becoming so expensive and ignorant of student finance, the government, for restrictive policies and inflating prices with student aid, private lenders with predatory tactics, and even students for allowing themselves to get in too deep. The fault lies not with just one, but all of these student loan villains, who have all done their part to bring us to a very real point of trouble. Read on to learn in detail how each of these groups has played a role in the destruction of student loans.

• Colleges

  Although students, Congress, and banks are catching a lot of flack for the student loan crisis, many are pointing out that the high cost of college that creates the need for so many mind-blowing loan bills is the real problem. Cato Institute research shows it costs just $8,000 a year to educate an undergrad at the average residential college, while most students pay double that: $16,000 at public universities and $37,000 at private ones. What’s making up this major discrepancy? Multimillion dollar sports programs, glowing recreational facilities, excessive administration, and tenured faculty who may or may not actually be teaching are the most likely culprits. It seems that colleges can raise their prices because they know they’ll get paid one way or another, whether it’s through grants, scholarships, loans, government contributions, or endowments. Colleges raise tuition, get more aid, and raise tuition again in a vicious cycle that is not at all beneficial to students.

• Financial aid offices

  Whether the heart of the problem lies with price of education or not, it seems that colleges aren’t doing a whole lot to make student loans a responsible process. Financial aid offices aren’t known as places that will gently point out to students that perhaps they’ve gotten in over their heads, even though they often have a full picture of just how bad a student’s financial situation has become. Financial aid offices are in a great place to assess the financial situations of students and give them a reality check before they get in too deep. But it sure doesn’t seem like colleges want to do that. Some, like NYU’s VP of Enrollment Randall Deike, believe that it would be “completely inappropriate” for universities to take on such a role, as “some families will do whatever it takes for their son or daughter to be not just at N.Y.U., but any first-choice college.” Others may be hesitant to point out the problem, as it will likely send students to a different, cheaper college and push down enrollment numbers. U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tom Harkin are working on a solution to this problem, introducing a bill to require that colleges offer counseling to students who are seeking private student loans.

• The federal government

  Government intervention into student finance has been well-intentioned, but produced disastrous results. US News and World Report points out that the federal goals of making a college education within reach, while requiring that debts ultimately be repaid certainly seem reasonable and noble, but have not exactly worked out as planned. Where there was once a $2,500 annual limit on federal student loans, there’s now a $31,000 limit for four years. As the federal government pumps out more financial aid to help students afford college, colleges find that they can charge more for tuition, making education less affordable. And just about everyone can take out a student loan, giving colleges no incentive to keep costs down while students continue to rack up five-figure loan bills just to get a four-year degree. Even if students declare bankruptcy in the future their student loan debt lives on, as the government has deemed that student loans are not dischargeable. Beginning in 2014, student loan forgiveness laws will go into effect, capping federal loan payments at 10% of a student’s income, and forgiven after 15 years. This is excellent news for the future, but it doesn’t do a whole lot to help out those who are struggling today. Loans can be deferred, but ultimately, they must be paid.

• Lenders

  The government isn’t the only one handing out student loans like candy. Once students reach the limit on what they can borrow through federal student loans, they can turn to private lenders with much less favorable terms, but the same non-dischargeable debt. This fills the gap between what the government will provide, and what students need to actually pay for school, but it’s a dangerous situation to be in.nStudents with private loans are often subject to having their loans sold and terms changed, which can alter their loan payments by hundreds of dollars per month. These loans are convenient for students who need them to get through school, but their existence is highly problematic. Lenders like Sallie Mae and Wells Fargo have been accused of making subprime loans to student borrowers, not taking into consideration the risks behind these loans. They’ve given money to students attending schools with low graduation rates, students who may or may not actually finish school, get a job, and have the means to pay back their student loan. What happens then? They just sell off the debt, or, get a government bailout to cover the losses. The five biggest private student loan lenders have made profits reaching well into the billions, but at the same time, were able to get a $112 billion bailout from the government for loans that could no longer be sold.

• Students and their families

  We hate to blame the victims, but we have to ask: what exactly did students think they were getting into? Why didn’t parents save? Many programs exist. Obviously, many students feel that they don’t have a choice, and student loans, even subprime ones, often mean the difference between getting a college degree and not going to school at all (or worse, dropping out halfway). With big plans to get a great job after graduation, we’re sure that most students feel confident that they’ll be able to pay their student loan bills off without a whole lot of trouble. But why aren’t students more wary of taking on so much debt, especially with poor job prospects? We have to point out that there are often situations in which students could have acted more responsibly, and must bear some of the blame for our unfortunate student loan situation. It is possible to graduate college without debt, even if your parents haven’t saved one red cent. Enrolling at an in-state public college, starting out in community college, hunting down scholarships, picking up part-time work and paid internships, and even living at home are all major ways that students can make their school bills more manageable. Would we be in this situation if more students availed themselves of these options rather than taking a blind leap of faith right into crushing debt?

Ultimately, many parties are responsible for the student loan crisis. As we reach a point of decision, it will be interesting to see if and how colleges, Congress, lenders, and students themselves make a change for the better.

1. Dave Ramsey: It’s going to take time: Think of getting out of college debt as a process, not a quick event. Once you start making payments and making headway, you will start to get a sense of hope and dignity. This doesn’t mean, however, that you should put your loans off to the side or delay making payments because of a low interest rate. The longer you wait, the longer it will be hanging over your head.
2. Ric Edelman: Put retirement first: Edelman says that though it may seem like a long way off, retirement is the one thing you can’t pay for while going through it. If you can only save for one thing, forget the house or kids’ college funds — save for retirement.
3. Lynn O’Shaughnessy: Law school is not a great option: Speaker and author of Shrinking the Cost of College, Lynn O’Shaughnessy points out that barely half of 2010 law school graduates are finding jobs at firms, making the huge tuition cost a poor investment.
4. Fran Katzanek: Put off the car and apartment: This author of Reality 101: The Ultimate Guide to Life After College recommends waiting at least six months before pulling the trigger on a new car or big apartment. Use public transportation and get a roommate until you have a better idea of what you can afford.
5. John Strelecky: Do something, anything: Odds are strong that you’ll have trouble finding a job immediately upon graduation. John Strelecky, author of How To Be Rich and Happy, says you should blog, volunteer, or take an unpaid internship to make contacts and gain experience until you find work.
6. Bill Druliner: Don’t worry about keeping up with the Joneses: This consultant with GreenPath Debt Solutions cautions putting too much stock in other people’s Facebook or Twitter posts bragging about their success. Before you start stressing that you’re a financial failure, remember these people are only posting the stuff that makes them look good.
7. Wes Moss: Think about moving back home: CFP Wes Moss knows it’s a sacrifice to move back in with your folks after graduation. However, “If you can grin and bear it, it’s a great way to get a financial buffer quickly,” he says. Of course, it’s all for nothing if you don’t save that money you would have spent on rent.
8. Melinda Opperman: No credit history is as bad as a poor history: According to Ms. Opperman, who works with Springboard Non-Profit Consumer Credit Management, new grads should understand that their existing credit scores will affect their buying power. Find a card with low fees and budget tracking features so you can build your credit score, if necessary.
9. Zac Bissonnette: Don’t try to take shortcuts on paying off student loans: In his book How To Be Richer, Smarter, and Better Looking Than Your Parents, Zac Bissonnette urges you to ignore people who tell you not to worry about paying off student loans any time soon. The interest probably won’t be tax deductible, and you probably won’t have any of it forgiven.
10. Ornella Grosz: Curb excessive spending: The oft-cited author of Moneylicious: A Financial Clue for Generation Y says college leads to reckless spending habits that need to be avoided after graduation. Don’t buy luxury items often; make do with your current clothes and gadgets for now.
11. Clark Howard: Don’t finance a car for more than 42 months: When you are ready to buy a new car, this finance guru has a good rule of thumb for determining if the one you’re eyeing is too expensive: if you can’t pay it off in three and a half years, it’s too much.
12. Laura D. Adams: Investing early is powerful: Also known as Quick and Dirty Tips’ “Money Girl,” Adams wants new grads to appreciate the power of compounding. Investing now, in your early 20s, can result in a savings account balance that’s two, three, five, or 10 times higher than if you wait until your 40s to start.
13. Suze Orman: Contribute to your 401(k): She doesn’t care if you “don’t have a pot to pee in.” No matter what your salary is, financial guru Suze Orman insists that if your company matches a certain amount of contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, you must pay in the full amount and take advantage of this free money.
14. Mary Beth Franklin: Consider a Roth IRA: If you don’t quickly find a job, or that job doesn’t offer a retirement savings plan, take this personal finance writer’s idea. A Roth IRA lets you withdraw contributions tax-free whenever you want, but earnings can only come out tax-free in retirement.
15. Carla Fried: Get health insurance: Credit.com writer Carla Fried strongly suggests new grads get health insurance. If a new job doesn’t offer it, grads can stay on their parents’ until the age of 26. Even if you have to buy your own, no one should go without it.
16. Ricardo L. Nazario: Temper your expectations: As a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley, Mr. Nazario knows what he’s talking about. His advice for his own kids and for you is to not expect the corner office and huge salary right out of the gate. Moving up requires paying dues and time; don’t get ahead of yourself, mentally or financially.
17. Ronald Hatfield: Be financially proactive: A financial management specialist working at WVU, Hatfield’s top pointer is to be a lifelong learner about finance. Go to seminars, read books, learn the ins and outs of money management. No one else is going to do it for you (for free, anyway).
18. Kevin Crall: Have an emergency fund: Mr. Crall of MidWestOne Bank urges recent college grads to set aside some money for a rainy day, or rather three to six months’ worth of rainy days. You never know when you might need it.
19. Jason D. Hiley: Create a budget and follow it: It’s never been easier or more convenient to keep track of your expenditures and monitor where your money goes. This certified financial planner recommends using sites like Mint.com to create a responsible budget.
20. Cheryl Costa: Be smart about debt: “If a graduate ever can’t pay off her credit card bill, she needs to re-evaluate how she’s spending her money and whether she’s living within her means,” says CFP Cheryl Costa. Consider consolidating student loan debts to lower the payments and make them easier to manage.
21. Beth Kobliner: Don’t lose heart: If the job market is discouraging, financial expert and author Beth Kobliner is here to reassure you. She points out that the unemployment rate is always significantly lower for college grads than high school-only grads, and last year employers began to hire more.
22. Karen Blumenthal: Read the fine print: If you’re like most people, you’re lazy about reading all the details of contracts and agreements you sign. This author of The Wall Street Journal Guide to Starting Your Financial Life knows reading the fine print can help you avoid costly fees.
23. William Danko and Thomas Stanley: Take the time: The authors of the famous and still-relevant The Millionaire Next Door, Stanley and Danko showed that millionaires dedicate plenty of time to working on their finances, whereas “under-accumulators of wealth” do not. Which would you like to be?
24. Carmen Wong Ulrich: The hard work pays off: When asked what one thing she wished someone had told her when she was fresh out of school, the author of Generation Debt: Take Control of Your Money — A How-to Guide doesn’t mention finances. Instead, she says all the frustration you face at first in the working world is just fuel for your fire.
25. Jason Anthony and Karl Cluck: Getting out of debt means freedom: Two Columbia grads who wrote a book together called Debt Free by 30: Practical Advice for Young, Broke, & Upwardly Mobile have this to say to you: you don’t have to be a slave to Visa or MasterCard. Getting your spending under control and getting out of debt allow you to quit a job you don’t like and wait for one you love to open up.

Our New Networking series has taken a look at how social media sites can be used as powerful networking tools for new college graduates, sharing our best picks for tips, tools, and more for Facebook, Twitter, and now, LinkedIn.

Today, we’re exploring LinkedIn for new grads. We’ve saved the best for last: this site was created with professional networking in mind, and it’s our top pick as the most effective resource when it comes to making meaningful professional connections. Check out our guide to find great ideas for making the most of this great tool, as well as groups to check out and insightful posts for LinkedIn success.

Tips

Whether you’re a LinkedIn newbie or just need to become more effective on the site, these tips offer great ideas for LinkedIn networking as a new grad.

• Use it: Too often, students and recent grads shy away from LinkedIn, preferring to use Facebook or Twitter instead. That’s a mistake: LinkedIn is the online destination for professional networking, and you’ve got to be on it to get connected.
• Create a complete profile: Don’t just give a tiny bit of effort when it comes to your profile; actually take the time to fill it out completely so that you’ll be more likely to connect with others that share your interests.
• Connect with your classmates and professors: Leaving school doesn’t mean you have to leave all of your connections behind. Bring them with you by reaching out and connecting with classmates, faculty, and friends on LinkedIn.
• Find a mentor: Use LinkedIn to find alumni, professors, or industry greats that can help you out as you navigate in your new career.
• Use introductions: If you share a connection with someone you’d like to meet, simply use the introduction form to request that your connection passes it along and helps you grow your network.
• Connect with all of your past employers: Yes, all of them. You never know which connections can pay off for you, so really take advantage of your full network.
• Take advantage of resources just for new grads: LinkedIn has recently spiffed up profiles for new grads, allowing users to list projects, honors, organizations, and even courses that you’ve taken in college, all relevant experience that can help you stand out and get connected with more people.
• Ask for recommendations: Check in with former employers, professors, colleagues, and classmates to greatly improve your LinkedIn profile with recommendations from those who know you in your college/professional life.
• Be a connector: If you know two (or more people) that should know each other but don’t, take a moment to introduce them to each other on LinkedIn. They’ll appreciate that you thought of them and recognize that you’re valuable as a person who offers assistance and great connections.
• Don’t neglect keywords: Although you’ll likely connect with people you know, and people they know, others (including recruiters) will find you simply by searching. The best way to get found is to include relevant keywords throughout your profile and summary. Remember to highlight and repeat key phrases and words that do a good job of explaining what you’re all about.
• Go public: Although you may be concerned about privacy, keeping a private profile is not the way to go on LinkedIn. Open your profile up publicly to connect with new people, and just be careful about what you share.
• Make small connections: LinkedIn’s co-founder, Reid Hoffman, says that it’s a great idea to do “small goods” on the site, offering congratulations, “likes,” and other little ways to let people know you’re listening and you care.
• Join groups: This one should be a no-brainer. If you want to network on LinkedIn, one of the best ways to do so is to get connected with others through industry and career groups.
• Establish yourself as an expert with Q&A: Check out the LinkedIn Answers tool to stand out as a resource in your industry and area of interest. You’ll attract new connections and show potential employers that you’re well-informed.
• Personalize your connections: When requesting connections on LinkedIn, take a moment to change the template request from “I’d like to add you to my professional network” to something that actually identifies you and why you should be connected with that person.
• Network in person, too: Use LinkedIn as a way to get connected with people and events that you’ll spend time with in person, deepening connections and finding more resources within your network.

Groups for New Grads

Join and participate in these groups to get connected with relevant new contacts, find resources for new grads, and more.

• Your alumni network: Take advantage of your college connection and get active in your alumni group on LinkedIn. Some of the best of these include the Boston College Alumni Group and The Penn State Alumni Association.
• Young professionals groups: There are countless groups on LinkedIn dedicated to young professionals in a variety of different interests. These include those that are industry-based, like Young Professionals in Energy, and location-based, like Chicago Young Professionals.
• Professional organizations, interest groups: Perhaps the most valuable groups you can join are the ones that cater to your specific career, interest, and industry. Search to find the right one for you, and dive in to become an active member.
• New Grad Life: Join this group to find discussions on interviewing, job posts, networking, and more.
• Students and New Grads: Become a part of Students and Recent Grads to get connected with people who want to hire new grads, learn about entry-level jobs available, and find out about news that matters to recent graduates.
• College Graduate Job Hunters: Find great new jobs, lively discussions, and great connections, all aimed at new graduates searching for jobs in this group.
• College Recruiting Central: Get insight into how human resources professionals and recruiters are finding new grads like yourself by joining and participating in this group.

Useful LinkedIn Tools

Find a job, discover new connections, and share your portfolio by taking advantage of these great tools on LinkedIn.

• LinkedIn Student Jobs: LinkedIn has made it amazingly easy to find a job targeted for new grads on the site. Through the LinkedIn Student Jobs section you’ll find a wealth of companies looking to hire recent grads just like you.
• Beepmo: Using this GPS-enabled mobile app, you can discover new connections based on where you’re located, making finding new people “as easy as checking into Foursquare.”
• Creative Portfolio Display: If you’ve worked on a lot of projects in college, this app is a great way to showcase your work and show your connections (and potential employers) what you’re all about.
• Reading List: This app is great for discovering new and relevant books, and also for striking up a conversation with others about what you’ve read.
• LinkOut: Having trouble finding time to get together with a new connection? LinkOut can take your calendar, your connection’s calendar, and automatically find times in which you can get together.
• Cardmunch: At events, it’s not always easy to collect business cards and remember to connect with everyone you’ve met on Facebook. Cardmunch automates much of this, automatically transcribing and uploading information from business cards after you take a photo of them.
• Events: This is a can’t-miss app. Stay on top of events that are important for networking and your career with the LinkedIn Events app.

Helpful Resources

Further explore the ways you can use LinkedIn for professional networking as a new graduate with these blog posts.

• LinkedIn Tips: Getting More from the Social Networking Service: Check out this post from CIO.com to learn how you can get more out of networking on LinkedIn.
• What Do I Put in My LinkedIn Profile if I am a College Student?: Neal Schaffer’s post goes into great detail about what you should do with your profile if you’re just starting out in the workforce.
• Oops! What NOT to Do When Approaching a Recruiter on LinkedIn: Thinking about connecting with a recruiter? Tread carefully, and watch out for these mistakes.
• LinkedIn Recommendation Tips: Chris Brogan’s post explains the fine art of sharing and requesting recommendations on LinkedIn.
• 9 Steps to LinkedIn Networking for a Job: Follow the steps in this post to increase your chances of finding a job through LinkedIn networking.
• Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn: This resource is more than five years old, but Guy Kawasaki’s advice still rings true as he explains several ways that anyone can put LinkedIn to work for networking and more.
• 5 Reasons to Use LinkedIn: Geared toward freelancers, this article is great advice for anyone who needs to better understand why and how they should ramp up their LinkedIn networking.

With so much going on in the world, why has college become the focus of so much attention in recent months? Simply put, there is no single answer to that question. It’s likely a combination of a number of different and complex factors, some of which we’ll try to explain here. As a student, you should pay special attention to the debate, as the ideas of these candidates could directly affect your life, future, and well-being if put into practice, so read on to start learning more about why higher education is such a key political issue on both sides of the aisle in this year’s election.

1. College tuition is astronomically high.

   College tuition has risen at a rate that is 5.6% above the rate of general inflation for public schools and 2.6% for private schools. That might not mean much to those in the upper income brackets, but for the average middle-class family those numbers might put college out of reach. Making things even harder are proposed plans to cut back on government loans or raise interest rates on existing loans. Unprecedented college costs are one of the biggest issues driving college education to the forefront of the political debate, with both Democrats and Republicans speaking out publicly on the issue. Mitt Romney has notably said that he doesn’t think the government should offer loans to students at all, a view echoed by many other Republican candidates. Yet these might be words Romney has to eat; traditionally voters of both parties have staunchly supported increased student aid.

2. American colleges aren’t producing workers for the most in-demand sectors.

   You’d have to be pretty out of the loop not to have heard the innumerable news reports and articles bemoaning the lack of science and technology grads in America. STEM employers nationwide haven’t been able to fill jobs, despite high rates of unemployment overall, because there simply aren’t enough qualified candidates out there. This disparity has caused many to speak out, though some without considering the ramifications of what they are saying, like Florida governor Rick Scott. Scott claimed that students with degrees in fields like anthropology simply weren’t needed in Florida (despite many areas of anthropology being firmly rooted in science). Boneheaded commentary aside, the lack of STEM grads is a real concern to many political candidates who want to provide greater funding for programs that promote these areas of study, as they fear America could quickly fall behind in an increasingly global marketplace.

3. Student debt affects the economy as a whole.

   As Bill Clinton’s campaign put it so succinctly in 1992, “It’s the economy, stupid.” The average college student in 2012 will graduate with more than $25,000 worth of debt. That’s a hefty sum and one that could take decades to pay back, especially in a poor job market that puts inexperienced grads at a disadvantage in looking for work. While the debt most strongly affects college grads themselves, it has some far-reaching effects for the economy as a whole that can’t be dismissed. Grads with more debt may spend less, they may live at home, put off marriage or buying a home, and may even take help from their parents who put off retirement. In an economy that’s already struggling, these aren’t good things, and it’s no surprise that candidates are focusing increased attention on higher ed.

4. They’re looking to appeal to a certain demographic.

   Rick Santorum certainly couldn’t hope to woo college-educated, middle-class voters with his statement, “President Obama once said he wants everybody in America to go to college. What a snob.” Indeed, he was speaking to a crowd of mostly blue-collar workers in Flint, Mich., who applauded this and other statements highly critical of college education. On the flip side, President Obama and democrats in the House and Senate have been making concerted efforts to appeal to the interests of students, fighting plans to cut back on funding and pushing for expanding community college offerings nationwide. These moves aren’t accidental, and a big part of many of the statements being made about higher education in the political arena today are part of a larger platform or campaign strategy that has been crafted to capture certain, often very specific demographics.

5. The college educated make up a significant portion of voters.

   While the college educated only make up 27.9% of the population, they accounted for 45% of the votes in the 2008 presidential elections. College-educated voters are much more likely to register and head to the polls than those who are less well educated. While the college educated have a long tradition of supporting Republican candidates in elections, it seems that in recent years that the tides have shifted. In 1984, college grads overwhelmingly voted for Reagan (62.7% to 36.9%), but in this year’s election, polls show Obama handily beating Romney in support (51% to 42%). In today’s political world, no candidate can afford to ignore the college-graduate pool of voters, and that may be a part of the reason why higher education has been such a major issue in recent months as each party vies for a piece of that vote.

6. Candidates see college as being tied to political leanings.

   Rick Santorum has said that he thinks Obama only wants all Americans to go to college so that they can be remade in his image, with the implication that colleges indoctrinate all students with liberal propaganda. While obviously not all college grads emerge from their education as liberals, college education is tied in many ways to tending toward belonging to one political party or the other. Several major studies have found that those who have a bachelor’s degree are more likely to take a liberal viewpoint than those whose education ended in high school. This may be the reason that so many Republican candidates feel the need to push back against colleges and college grads, many of whom they know will vote Democratic in the coming elections. Yet Santorum doesn’t get off that easy, as there is little evidence to suggest that this shift is the result of any widespread practice of indoctrinating students.

7. Jobs are scarce.

   It’s no secret that the economy in the U.S. (and around the world) is floundering. Jobs have become very hard to find and the downturn in the economy has hit college graduates especially hard. Many can’t find jobs in their fields, or jobs at all, and the majority are carrying tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt. This may have been part of what spurred Santorum to make his controversial comments, believing that not everyone needs to go to college. There is some truth in this, to be sure, as skilled professionals are needed to fill jobs in a variety of other very important fields as well. Yet, while college may not be for everyone (and may be a very poor investment for those whose interests lie elsewhere) it still affords many a better chance of finding a job, as the current unemployment rate for those with only a high school diploma is a whopping 22.9%. Even the worst performing college majors only have unemployment rates of 13.9%, a fact that many ignore in light of promoting alternate, often politically motivated strategies for economic recovery. The unemployment rate has been a major issue during Obama’s entire presidency, and Americans can expect to continue to hear more about it as November approaches, often tied in with critiques of higher education and college tuition.

8. Education is always a hot-button political topic.

   While college may have been the focus of much of the education-related discussion in recent months, education as a whole is always a central and hotly debated political issue, perhaps because it strikes so close to home for so many Americans. There are countless examples that demonstrate this, if you stop to think about it. Just a few months back, there was a huge outcry over Wisconsin governor Scott Walker’s plans to strip teachers’ unions of their bargaining rights. Nationwide, many schools are still struggling with the legacy of the No Child Left Behind program. Major battles in the House and Senate in the past few months have been over school funding issues. Cutbacks over the past decade at colleges all over America have caused many students and faculty to protest. While current economic and social factors have exacerbated problems with higher education, the reality is that education, even at the college level, is a deeply rooted political topic, and one that none of us should be surprised to see at the forefront of national debate. It’s also one that we can expect will continue to come up, time and time again, in the months leading up to the election.

2008 proved a landmark election year for the 18-to-29-year-old demographic, with 51% of qualified Americans within this age range showing up at the polls. Sixty-two percent of those with at least some college experience voiced their opinions on economic, social, and political issues, and four years later, it’s looking like they may very well show up in the same (relative) droves. Because so many topics big and small directly dictate their lives, it behooves new and seasoned voters alike to familiarize themselves with today’s most pressing debates. Start with the following and branch out from there for a broad view of everything currently at stake.

1. Jobs:
   The New York Times refers to the current crop of college graduates as
   “The Limbo Generation” because they happen to enter into an economy pockmarked by high unemployment. Growing up, higher education was always touted as an essential gateway toward many (if not most) career paths, but reality proved otherwise when businesses just stopped hiring. A 2010 Center for Information & Research on Civil Learning & Engagement showed that voters between the ages of 18 and 29 considered improving the economy the most pressing political issue, with 59% reporting it as their primary concern. Considering how an estimated 64% of Occupy participants are under the age of 35, it doesn’t look like much has really changed since then.
2. Tuition and student loans:
   College students continue demonstrating in the United States and Canada alike, angered largely over tuition hikes and favoring student loan reform. For obvious reasons, of course! President Barack Obama, the Democratic incumbent in the 2012 election cycle, has already made some headway in making it easier for graduates to pay off the money they’ve taken out for their higher educations, but more legislation needs implementing to protect their interests. As it stands now, the laws restricting payments to paying out no more than 10% of disposable income will not go into effect until 2014. Which, for cash-strapped college kids struggling to scratch up jobs after receiving their degrees, isn’t nearly soon enough.
3. Birth control:
   Health probably shouldn’t be much of a governmental issue beyond ensuring and encouraging, but policymakers have managed to turn this basic human right into a gladiatorial arena; women in particular must watch on as their bodies are politicized rather than humanized. Backlash against birth control pills particularly piques controversy, with detractors making news whenever they attempt to discourage or outright ban access to these potentially life-saving drugs. Even factoring out how they lower the risk of unwanted pregnancies — an expensive and time-consuming challenge for already broke and harried college students — doctors prescribe Ortho Tri-Cyclin, Yaz, and similar pharmaceuticals when preventing other diseases and conditions. Birth control also happens to be useful for relieving horrendous period-related pain (migraines and cramps in particular), preventing uterine and ovarian cancer, alleviating issues with fibroids and endometriosis, bolstering bone density, and lowering the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease. Only 34% of voters at all age levels consider birth control a major issue in 2012, with women the most likely demographic to prioritize it. This controversy impacts far, far more women than just the sexually active, and college ladies who value their long-term health and wellness should stand up and take notice to what the candidates have to say.
4. Abortion:
   Seventy-seven percent of pregnancies in women who have completed “some college” are unplanned, making up 40% of the total of those between the ages of 20 and 29. In 2002, this meant $5 billion worth of medical costs. College women unable to shoulder the fiscal and temporal expenses can seek private, safe facilities in which to terminate their pregnancies and plan families — if they even want them at all, of course — around their own schedules and those between the ages of 20 and 24 are the most likely (29.6 out of every 1,000) to seek out the procedure. If the rest of the United States follows the example of Arizona, which restricts abortions past 20 weeks and considers women pregnant before they even conceive, this means compromising their bodily autonomy and constructing their lives around the will of the government rather than personal choice.
5. Healthcare:
   After the economy, healthcare ranks as the second most major political issue for voters between ages 18 and 29, with 24% listing it as their primary concern. Understandable! Even completely purging the socialized medicine vs. private healthcare debate, every single individual on the planet deserves affordable access to the resources necessary to keep alive and as kicking as possible. Idaho requires all full-time college students to carry a health insurance policy, tacking even more costs onto their already burdened bank accounts — to the tune of $2,124 at Boise State, or an increase of 20.9%. On a national level, many are allowed to stay on their parents’ plans up to age 26, but this is an option not available to all. Scammers so often take advantage of college kids’ vulnerability, and intensive research is necessary to prevent the loss of even more money.
6. LGBTQ equality:
   According to a 2002 Gallup poll, roughly a quarter of the American population identifies as homosexual, so it’s probably just a little bit logical to assume that a goodly portion of these individuals have or will attend an institute of higher learning at some point. Most campuses these days play host to LGBTQIA organizations (at minimum) providing resources and support to students who feel confused or marginalized by their sexualities and gender identities and expressions, and every year Campus Pride ranks the best colleges and universities for meeting their needs. Supporting equality means nurturing a safer atmosphere for LGBTQIA classmates, for whom suicide and bullying stand as a much more heightened risk than their cisgendered or heterosexual peers.
7. War:
   So far, Operation Iraqi Freedom has resulted in nearly 4,500 American military casualties since its inception. In Afghanistan, the number sits at just under 1,938 at the time of writing. Because the average age of active duty combatants hovers around 28, this means quite a bit of overlap with college students who take advantage of the GI Bill after returning. In fact, many enlistees sign up with their preferred branch with the hopes of eventually affording college or vocational school. Regardless of one’s perceptions regarding American involvement in international conflicts, the troops fully deserve a fair chance at the higher education opportunities they need to accomplish their goals. Keeping them alive and safe is, quite obviously, the most essential component.
8. Internet restrictions:
   Even though SOPA/PIPA never landed, it certainly forced the Internet generation to take notice of how politicians impact their digital doings. Now CISPA, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, elicits outcries from citizens and businesses concerned that its allowing open access to website data without a court order means the potential for egregious privacy violations. Considering three out of 10 “best jobs of 2012” involve working directly with computers (and, of course, so very, very many more), more and more graduates will likely land directly in these legislations’ crosshairs. Even then, understanding the ins and outs of online privacy and its relationship to civil rights is a valuable knowledge set to possess, especially as society grows more and more reliant on digital media for pretty much everything ever.
9. Gas prices:
   With gas prices constantly swelling, the additional costs are of course disconcerting to commuting collegiate. And with hybrid and electric cars still forging their own niche economically and environmentally, many can’t afford to invest in the greener option. On a geopolitical scale, prudent consumers should know exactly what sorts of policies dictate how their oil and gas travel from underground to their vehicles, because consumers deserve to know the grim realities of ecological abuse and shocking human rights violations behind their purchases — information more than just college students could sorely use.
10. Housing:
    Currently, American renters pay roughly $804 a month, as compared to homeowners shelling out an average of around $185,200 per unit. With the housing crisis a constant theme in the news these days, issues relating to this hallmark of independence in and after college are of the utmost importance to enrollees. They have to live somewhere, and while 85% of recent graduates move back in with mom and/or dad after receiving their degrees, once again such a scenario is not open to all. Like healthcare, all persons hold the right to safe, affordable housing, and college kids with little to no disposable income in particular must pay close attention to how much money they’re spending every month.

Twitter is a great option for new-to-networking grads because of its low level of commitment. Anyone can follow and connect with celebrities, visionary businesspeople, and brands with just a moment’s thought and click of the mouse. That makes it so easy to cast your net far and wide, building your network at a rapid pace just 140 characters at a time. Highlighting Twitter chats, location-based apps, and lots of good advice, we’ve got your ultimate guide for making Twitter an incredibly effective tool for your post-graduate networking life.

Tips

Consider these tips to turn your Twitter account into a new grad networking powerhouse.

• Follow both who you know and who you’d like to know

  Twitter isn’t quite as personal as Facebook, so it’s easy to connect even with complete strangers if you think they’re interesting enough for a follow. Target people who work for companies you’re interested in, industry leaders, and engaging people in your local area.

• Give way more than you take

  A good rule to follow in any type of networking, this tip from twitip.com explains that most of your tweets should be linking, conversing with others, and finding things that your followers might appreciate. Then, just a handful of your tweets should be about taking, asking followers to check out a blog post or help you win an online contest.

• Get connected with recruiters, companies, and colleagues

  Naturally, you’ll want to seek out people who can help you find a job. Pay attention to what they’re saying, and don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation.

• Be real, but professional

  Share your true self on Twitter, but be careful to put it through a professional filter first. People want to know about you and what you think is important, but it’s easy to cross the line into annoying and inappropriate.

• Consider your username carefully

  Your Twitter name is essential to recognition, so choose carefully. Some people simply use their names, others come up with something more creative. Whatever you do, make sure it reflects your personality and is easy for others to remember.

• Use lists

  Create lists to help you identify important people based on their interests and relevance to you, while also creating a great resource for these same people to find each other using you as a connector. You should also check out the lists of others to find great people to follow.

• Think of Twitter as a business card

  Share your URL, create a professional description, and set a creative background to showcase what you’re all about with Twitter.

• Ask questions

  Everyone loves a good Twitter conversation. Post questions that are relevant to your industry and niche to get a good one going, and maybe even learn something in the process.

• Become easy to find

  Many Twitter users find new people to follow simply by searching for them. You can acquire targeted followers (and potential new networking partners) by tailoring your profile and tweets to attract these people. Write about your interests, keep keywords in mind, and by all means, create an engaging and explanatory profile.

• Stay active

  It’s tempting to just set up a Twitter account and say, “Hey, I’m on Twitter.” But to make networking actually work, you’ll have to participate on a regular basis.

• Speak up

  Let your followers know what you’re looking for in your Twitter experience. If you’re trying to find a job, say so.

• Retweet relevant content

  Assuming you’re following lots of feeds that offer excellent resources, you’re bound to come across some very relevant tweets. Pay it forward, retweeting the best of these to your followers to improve your engagement and connections with others.

• Join Twitter chats

  Become a part of communities that are relevant to you by searching for and joining regular Twitter chats. You’ll benefit from a great conversation, as well as get the opportunity to connect with others who share your interests.

Must-Follow Feeds, Hashtags, and Chats

These feeds, hashtags, and chats are full of great resources for you, and resources you can pass on to your network. To find even more Twitter chats, check out this helpful Twitter Chat Schedule.

• @JobAngels

  This free career management program on Twitter is full of tips and great opportunities for new grads and beyond.

• @CareerBuilder

  @CareerBuilder offers job search advice, career-related updates, and more in this Twitter feed.

• #JobHuntChat

  Tune into this chat for a great group of job seekers, recruiters, HR professionals and career coaches who offer a great conversation on job hunting and networking each Monday.

• @EntryLevelJob

  Recent grads can find entry-level jobs through this CollegeRecruiter.com Twitter feed.

• #LeadershipChat

  Lay a great foundation for a career as a leader by tuning in to and participating in #LeadershipChat each Tuesday.

• @newgradnetwork

  Follow @newgradnetwork to find help getting the right job with tips, advice, and resources.

• @jobshouts

  This “social employment engine” is all about getting job seekers and employers connected on Twitter.

• @MonsterCareers

  Through @MonsterCareers, you’ll find career advice, tips, and insight into today’s workplace.

• #GenYChat

  Connect with other recent graduates in this chat, discussing relationships, business, job hunting, and more.

• @joblister

  @joblister’s only function is to spread the word about the latest job openings.

• @NewGradLife

  This feed offers a mix of job postings, advice, and useful updates for new graduates.

• #U30Pro

  Made up of fewer than 30 professionals, this community connects young, career-minded folks together.

• #job

  The #job and #jobs hashtags are an incredible resource for finding the latest job posts, resources, and news.

Useful Twitter Tools

From location-based apps that help you connect with the people around you and directories that point out who’s who in your industry, these tools will help you get ahead on Twitter.

• Twitter Search

  So simple, but so useful, Twitter’s own search function offers a great way to get connected with other people in your interests.

• NearbyTweets

  Find people and job openings in your area by using NearbyTweets.

• Twellow

  Find and attract Twitter followers based on location, interests, and more through Twellow.

• Klout

  Find out what your current influences are on Klout, and work toward becoming influential in more relevant topics with the insight provided by this tool.

• Tweetafile

  Share files on Twitter, like your resume, easily and simply using Tweetafile.

• ManageFlitter

  Clean up your Twitter account with this tool that helps you identify inactive accounts, as well as ones that you should communicate with more often.

• Formulists

  Using Formulists, the process of creating lists on Twitter is automated, helping you to better categorize the people you follow.

• Topsy

  Who is talking about you? Topsy can monitor Twitter and other social networks to keep you up to date on the latest results for your name and other search terms.

• Mentionmapp

  Grow your network with Mentionmapp, a Twitter tool that helps you identify who your friends’ friends are on Twitter.

• WeFollow

  Discover new people to follow, and get yourself listed in this extensive Twitter directory and search.

Helpful Resources

Need more guidance in making Twitter a great tool for networking as a recent college graduate? Be sure to check out these helpful posts.

• Why Every Student and New Graduate Should Be Using Twitter

  TalentEgg Career Incubator shares this article full of insight into how Twitter can help you build a professional network, land dream jobs, and build your personal online brand.

• Slam-Dunk Networking with Twitter

  GigaOm shares this resource for several things you can do on Twitter to increase your networking power, including sharing breaking news, asking for help, and joining Twitter chats.

• Twitter Etiquette: Five Dos and Don’ts

  Read this post to find out about the biggest dos and don’ts for presenting a professional image of yourself on Twitter.

• How Twitter Got Shannon Her First Job

  This post explains how Shannon Lehotsky (@SLehotsky) used Twitter to find a great job right out of college, sharing her helpful tips for success.

• Career Networking Tips: Get Started on Twitter

  Monster.com’s career advice has practical tips for starting a Twitter networking campaign from the ground up.

Before social media became popular, new grads and college students did most of their networking in person and on the phone, or none at all. And while there’s nothing wrong with an in-person, hands-on approach, today’s grads know that there’s a more efficient way to get connected with people who are important to their future, namely social media giants Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. That’s why we’re sharing a series on The New Networking, focusing on how 2012 grads can make social media a major part of their post-grad networking strategy.

Today, we’ll focus on Facebook, hands down the most popular social media site out there with more than 900 million active users. Although not traditionally regarded as a professional site, Facebook is an incredible resource for friendly networking, and it’s also the place you’re most likely to find the people you already know in your educational career: your friends, classmates, and even professors. Read on to discover tips for Facebook networking success as a new grad, useful pages, apps, and resources for further reading that are perfect for today’s recent graduates.

Tips

Make the most of your Facebook networking experience with these tips for success.

• Share your professional personality

  A recent CareerBuilder survey indicated that 30% of employers hired candidates based on something they liked about the candidate’s Facebook page. Giving a good feel for their personality, a professional image, background information that supports qualifications, and showing a wide range of interests were among the top reasons managers were convinced to hire a candidate based on their Facebook.

• Connect with potential employers

  Practically every organization out there has a Facebook page, from the florist down the street to Target. Chances are, there are plenty of potential employers that you can “Like” on Facebook. By all means, do so, and then spend some time connecting with the Page to get on their radar and get a feel for their culture.

• Take a critical look at your photos

  Spend some time going through your photos on Facebook, making sure that you’re projecting an employer-friendly image and removing any that might be embarrassing. Untag yourself from inappropriate photos on your friends’ pages as well.

• Find or create photos that show your professional side

  If you’ve been involved in charity events, internships, and other activities that show you in a professional light, be sure to add those photos and give them prominence, even their own album. It’s also worthwhile to consider having a professional photo taken to serve as your profile photo.

• Update your Facebook resume

  Now that Facebook is on a Timeline, new grads have a great opportunity to turn Facebook into a virtual resume. Update your profile to reflect your new educational status, list organizations that you’re a part of, and highlight lifetime accomplishments to give potential employers and networking partners a better idea of what you’re all about.

• Reach out

  Identify people on your friends list that might be able to assist you in your professional career, and let them know that you’d like their help, whether you’re looking for advice or a job. Of course, you should also make yourself available to them for assistance as well.

• Create a professional list

  Facebook allows you to group friends by category into lists. Create a new list that includes professional friends, and check in with this group to interact for professional networking.

• Promote and share based on what you believe in

  Stay active on Facebook by sharing links, photos, and news about causes that are important to you, and resources that are relevant to your profession.

• Cull your friends list

  There’s no need to be ruthless, but carefully think about who you’re taking with you into your new professional life. Some unsavory characters like your frat boy drinking buddy (who didn’t actually graduate on time with you) might be better left off of your friends list. Employers will judge you based on your connections.

• Expand your friends list

  After you cut out “friends” who are better left behind in your college days, think about who you might connect with that will help you in your life as a college graduate. Family friends, college professors, friends from your alumni group, and influential people in your area of expertise are all great examples of people you should be connecting with on Facebook.

• Be careful about status updates as well

  A recent study of 400 college students’ profiles indicated that 47% of status updates might be judged as inappropriate by an employer. Consider keeping controversial status updates to yourself, or simply make them private.

• Never badmouth an employer on Facebook

  Speaking poorly of an employer just makes you look bad. If you’re conducting a job search, prospective employers will see you as whiny and difficult to work with. Currently employed? Once they see that fiery status update, you might not be employed for much longer.

• Go offline occasionally

  Facebook offers a great way to get connected, but you should take care to spend time with connections off of the site as well. Go to networking events (even ones set up on Facebook), take a friend out to lunch, and simply spend some time putting yourself physically out there to stand out in a sea of recent grads who may not be doing the same.

Must-Follow Pages

The best Facebook pages to follow are the ones you find yourself: those that cater to your interests and allow you to network with people who are relevant to the career you’re looking for. But there are a handful of pages and groups that we recommend every new grad takes a look at.

• Your alumni association

  Get connected with your college alumni association, if you aren’t already. This page can help keep you up to date on news, jobs, networking opportunities, and more.

• Professional groups

  Search for and identify groups that may be helpful to you professionally, including industry groups, job search communities, and special interests that you may have.

• Monster.com

  Find motivation, tips, and resources for finding a job on the Monster.com page.

• Career Network

  Easily one of the most popular job networks on Facebook, the Career Network page regularly shares links to job boards, news, and resources for job searches for new grads and beyond.

• New Grad Life

  Find news, opportunities, and camaraderie on this Facebook page for new grads.

• CareerBuilder

  CareerBuilder’s page offers tips for job seekers, resources for networking, and more.

Useful Facebook Apps

Whether you’re recommending a friend or finding a job, these Facebook apps have a lot to offer for the young networking crowd.

• Marketplace

  On Facebook Marketplace, you can sell your old sofa, pick up a deal on a laptop, or even get a job. Check in with this app regularly to find out if there are any jobs available for you in the Marketplace.

• Reppler

  Using Reppler, you can keep a consistent online image on your Facebook page, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more.

• Hire My Friend

  You can strengthen your network by helping others get a job. Use the Hire My Friend Facebook app to help out your friends who are job searching, sharing their professional profile and qualifications with employers who may be looking for a candidate just like them.

• BranchOut

  Creating a Jobs tab for Facebook, users can apply for jobs, share them, and even get a look into inside connections they may have with a company.

• BeKnown

  BeKnown from Monster brings professional networking to Facebook, allowing job seekers to connect with contacts, friends, and more. You can also view and apply for jobs, get endorsed, and be automatically matched with jobs based on your profile.

• CareerFriend

  CareerFriend pulls the employment information of your friends to find potential job opportunities that may exist in your network, so you can find great positions through your friends, family, and colleagues.

Helpful Resources

For further reading and insight into how you can make Facebook into the ultimate new networking tool, check out these excellent posts on the subject.

• HOW TO: Use Facebook for Professional Networking

  Check out Mashable’s guide to using Facebook for professional networking to find out how to set up your Facebook profile professionally, finding networking friends, and more.

• How to Use Facebook: 5 Tips for Better Social Networking

  ReadWriteWeb shares this guide for stepping up your Facebook networking efforts with regular status updates, added content, relevant photos, and more.

• 12 Ways to Use Facebook Professionally

  GigaOm shares this guide on using Facebook in a professional way, discussing strategies like finding old coworkers and current connections, joining interest groups, and carefully limiting wasted time on Facebook.

• How to Prepare Yourself to Use Facebook for Professional Networking

  This WikiHow offers practical tips and steps for creating a Facebook profile that’s ideal for professional networking.

• Study: More Than 15% of Workers Get Hired Through Social Networks

  This article indicates that 1.4 million Americans have Facebook to thank for finding them a job. Click through to find out why being “super social” on Facebook and other social networks can really pay off.

• How Recruiters Use Social Networks to Screen Candidates

  This revealing article and infographic discusses how recruiters use Facebook and other social networks to weed out unsavory candidates and identify great ones. Check it out to find out why some candidates are rejected, and some are hired based on what’s found on Facebook.

1. Children are more likely to be medicated for anxiety and/or depression: Researchers at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga studied more than 300 college students in Does Hovering Matter? Helicopter Parenting and Its Effect on Well-Being. The study indicated that students with hovering parents experienced “lower psychological well-being.” Specifically, these children were more likely to be medicated for anxiety, depression, or both. Hovering parents at this level were likely to hold themselves back from constant phone calls, instead preferring to check in with their children through Facebook.
2. Parents suffer from more anxiety too: It’s not just children feeling the anxious effects of helicopter parenting; parents report similar problems as well. A study by the Society for Research in Child Development indicated that helicopter parents suffered from mental health problems as well, stemming from an assessment of self-worth based on their children’s accomplishments. These parents reported “sadness, negative self-image and diminished contentment with life in general.” George Maxon University provost Peter Stearns indicates that parental anxiety has increased over the past 20 years due to over-involvement.
3. Children become neurotic: Keene State College researchers have discovered that children with helicopter parents are more likely to become neurotic. Studying 300 freshmen, research indicated that these students were “less open to new ideas and actions, as well as more vulnerable, anxious and self-conscious.” Researchers point out that these factors are hardly the basis of a successful college student personality.
4. Children feel like they lack control: When parents control nearly all aspects of a child’s life, it’s not at all surprising that these children feel as if they do not have any control in their lives. In a Current Directions in Psychological Science report, psychologists indicate that the more a parent makes decisions for adolescent children, the more the children suffer emotionally and feel a lack of control over the course of their own lives.
5. Social and personal downsides for students: In a 2007 research project, Indiana University’s Center for Post-secondary Research associate director Jillian Kinzie indicated that helicopter parenting does have its perks: students with helicopter parents tend to be prepared with the academic skills necessary for college, as well as being more engaged and satisfied in learning. But on the downside, these same students are severely lacking in life skills, unable to manage conflict resolution, and experience difficulty with sharing and self-reliance.
6. Kids turn into quitters: We are now seeing a generation of helicoptered children grow into adults, and a study from Jean Twenge at San Diego State University indicates that many former helicoptered children are becoming quitters. In this study, the current generation of new employees expects good pay and prestigious job status, but does not expect to put in long hours to do so. Twenge believes that these overprotected children who do not get what they want will turn into quitters, unaccustomed to failure and having to do things on their own.
7. Lowered feelings of self-worth: Helicopter parents are often all too eager to step in and save the day when it looks like things aren’t going well for their children. But experts say this behavior is teaching kids that their parents don’t believe they’re good enough to do things on their own, undermining feelings of self-worth. By over-assisting, parents deprive their children of the satisfaction of mastering tasks they have been working toward.
8. A lack of responsibility: Children of helicopter parents often learn that they’re not responsible for their own actions, because typically, their parents are the ones in charge of making mistakes disappear. Experts believe that these children have difficulty learning self-control. Helicopter parented adults tend to bully other people into getting what they want, rather than being responsible for their own successes.
9. Establishing unreasonable expectations: Well-meaning parents who rush in to clear every path and solve every problem are not granting their children the opportunity to learn how to fight their own battles and accept disappointment. These children who do not handle their own problems grow up thinking that life should always be easy and happy, so when their adult lives are not so perfect, they find they have unreasonable expectations, struggles, and anxiety in the real world.
10. An inability to be self-sufficient: For children who are coddled and spoon-fed their entire young lives, it is not at all surprising to hear that they experience difficulty in becoming self-sufficient. Educators report that helicoptered children enter schools without essential skills for self-sufficiency. They also suffer academically, experiencing trouble when they have to think critically and analytically on their own.

Several states now require personal finance courses at the high school level, but colleges are getting in on the game as well, with some even making personal finance courses a requirement for graduation. Whatever the rules, it’s clear that young people need a bit of help when it comes to learning how to manage money, and these colleges are making sure that their students will be ahead of the game. Mark this year’s Financial Literacy Month by learning about just a few of the colleges and universities that are stressing financial education.

1. Penn State Erie

   In a partnership with National Educators Council, Penn State Erie is taking part in the Financial EduNation Campaign. Starting in April 2012, the college will be providing free personal finance programs to students, parents, educators, and other organizations throughout the state as their part of promoting the campaign. Aimed at teens and young adults, the programs are completed online through a program that features celebrities, business leaders, and sports stars. So far, the school has reached out to more than 25,000 students in middle school through college, but they hope to expand the program during the coming month.

2. Indiana University Kelley School of Business

   Students at this business school can get a crash-course in financial education in a sophomore course taught by Professor Brian Jbara. Jbara has reported an increased interest in his course in recent years, as students worried about a poor job market, student loan debt, and a generally poor economy look to build real-world skills before graduation. Jbara believes that helping students to learn more about their financial lives is critical to their success in their first jobs and beyond. His course has grown from just 25 students to 225 over the past 10 years he has been teaching it, a testament to the growing popularity of personal finance education on college campuses.

3. NYU

   At NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, there are a number of personal finance courses students can take. While the courses may have been largely ignored in past years, that isn’t the case anymore, as students flock to the office to register for personal finance courses. In fact, the courses were so popular and had so much interest from students outside of professional fields that the school actually added several other sections to their line-up. In addition, the school has been approached by family members of students who want to learn more about how to address their own financial situations, and the school may branch out further in coming years to meet the needs of a community that increasingly wants to build better personal finance skills.

4. Washington University, St. Louis

   Professor Michael Gordinier has taught a personal finance course at Wash U since 2003, open to any student at the school in their junior or senior year of study. Over the past few years, the course has grown in popularity and has become one of the better-attended and most-requested classes on campus, boasting a class size of almost 200 students, up from just 80 a decade ago. The course is often more full than that, however, as many business students often audit the course (they cannot take it for credit) just to get information. At the end of the semester, many students thank Gordinier for helping them save more or get out of debt, a big payoff for a semester of work. Gordinier thinks all schools should offer similar programs, which are currently pretty uncommon, to students so that they can learn practical skills in money management.

5. Champlain College

   At Champlain College, students don’t get a choice when it comes to taking courses in finance; they’re required. Undergrads at Champlain must attend two sessions on financial literacy during their time at the school, a change that was made because administrators felt too many students were graduating without basic financial skills. The courses cover topics like credit scores, saving, budgeting, retirement, and credit strategies, among others. Students learn fundamentals that will help them get jobs, buy homes, and manage debt. In addition to the required courses, students at Champlain can continue their financial education through courses in student loans and employment benefits. The school hopes to host a financial literacy conference in the coming years.

6. Drexel University

   If you want to take a personal finance course at Drexel University in Philadelphia, you had better get ready to battle for a spot. The last three times the school offered a personal finance course for business students the sections filled up almost immediately, forcing the school to schedule additional sections to meet the demand. While personal finance courses were limited to business majors in the past, the school is working to create additional sections of the course for non-business majors due to its overwhelming popularity. School administrators say they aren’t surprised by the number of students looking for practical, real-world information, especially in an uncertain job market.

7. Baylor University

   Baylor University first launched a personal finance course 15 years ago at the request of parents who wanted their children to emerge from college with some practical skills under their belts. Franklin Potts, the professor teaching the class, now sees hundreds of students each semester. Potts believes that schools put too much emphasis on information that isn’t useful to everyday life, sacrificing lessons in important practical matters. And the course isn’t popular with just liberal arts majors; business school students flock to it as well, as many business courses don’t ever touch on issues like retirement, insurance, or budgeting.

8. Wellesley College

   Called Econ 223, you might not realize this class even has anything to do with personal finance at first glance, but it’s helping students at Wellesley learn some pretty fundamental skills. Professors Anne Witte and Saundra Gulley inundate students with the essentials of personal finance, from insurance, to retirement funds, to managing credit. The duo created the course about five years ago when they noticed that students on campus seemed wholly unprepared to manage their own finances, and it remains a popular choice on campus today. Witte says that she believes every student should have to take a class like this one, so that they can learn from things in the classroom rather than making real-world mistakes.

9. Kansas University

   Students at KU now have the option of taking a personal finance course during their time at the school, getting the chance to learn about topics like budgeting, bill paying, renting, retirement, investing, and even buying a home. The course was created in the fall of 2007 at the urging of parents and business school faculty who thought the school sorely needed a more practical financial course for students. Today, about 100 students from different majors and levels are enrolled in the course and it is growing in popularity as students reap the benefits of their newfound financial knowledge.

10. Georgetown University

    Georgetown costs students a pretty penny to attend, so it only makes sense that it would offer a course to help students manage their financial lives. After all, they’re going to have some serious loans to pay back. Seniors at the school can take part in a series of financial literacy workshops that cover topics like loan repayment, spending, credit cards, taxes, and employment benefits. In addition to these workshops, the school’s alumni association also takes part in a series called Common $ense, where students can connect with alumni to learn about a variety of financial issues.

1. Access your documents from anywhere: Whether you’re in your dorm room or the school library, you can access your Google Docs. Take advantage of this to make it easy to do your work on-the-go.
2. Use Docs reference tools: Take advantage of the Define option to use Docs’ built in dictionary, as well as a thesaurus and an encyclopedia available for use right in your document.
3. Go mobile: Google Docs is available on most smart phones, and has a number of capabilities available on the go.
4. Save to different file types: You can easily save your documents and spreadsheets to commonly used file types like DOC, XLS, CSV, and HTML.
5. Use keyboard shortcuts: With keyboard shortcuts, you can speed through all of your tasks in Google Docs.
6. Use templates: Google Docs has a template gallery for just about anything you can imagine, from an apartment bills organizer to a doc for organizing college visits.
7. Convert PDFs to images and text: Use Google Docs to make PDFs easily editable.
8. Create forms: Gather research information, ask for opinions, and more by creating Forms in Google Docs.
9. Search EVERYTHING: Search through pretty much everything you’ve got by searching Docs and Gmail together, thanks to Gmail Labs settings.
10. Autodetect links: Simply add links in Google Docs by having them automatically detected, instead of having to input full URLs.
11. Adding video: You can embed video in documents, slides, and more to dress up your presentation.
12. Insert photos with drag and drop: Instead of going through the process of attaching, you can just drag and drop files from your hard drive into the document, then wrap text around the photo.
13. Create graphs: Visuals are great tools for getting your point across. Using charts in Google Spreadsheets, you can create your very own information-sharing graphs.
14. Look up live finance data: In Google Spreadsheet, you can use special formulas to pull live information from Google’s finance service.
15. Self-update spreadsheets: In addition to inserting live finance data, you can create a live link to that data for a document that constantly updates itself as accurate.
16. Draw in Docs: Using Polyline, snap to guides, and other drawing features, you can easily create the images your documents need.
17. Insert facts: Using Google Spreadsheet, it’s easy to insert facts, like the population for a city, which is simply pulled through the Google search engine.
18. Simply add equations: Google Docs has found a way to make it easy for students to take notes in class, offering an Equations editor for adding equations onto your pages.
19. Embed Docs anywhere: Get a link to your document or spreadsheet, and you can embed or publish it anywhere, including Facebook or a class blog.
20. Just share: Get the ball rolling on collaboration through Google Docs by sharing your document through email links.
21. Turn it into a webpage: Download your document in HTML, and you can share it as a webpage with a minimal amount of hassle.
22. Chat away: In Google Docs, you can see anyone who is currently editing the document, and if needed, send a message to chat with them.
23. Team up with anyone: Using Google Docs, you can collaborate on a document with friends, classmates, and professors.
24. Share an entire folder: If you’ve got a collection of documents to work on together, just open up a shared folder that everyone can access.
25. Work on documents all at the same time: Google Docs allows users to simultaneously work on a single master document, so you can come together with other team members and professors to work on a document at the same time.
26. Allow editing without signing in: If you’re sharing a document with classmates who don’t have a Google login, just make it available to edit without signing in.

1. Track visits: Using Google Analytics, you can track how much traffic a published document is receiving.
2. Set notification rules: Find out about the changes made by your collaborators on any given document by setting up notification rules.
3. Use Docs instead of emailing attachments: Rather than emailing revised versions of documents over and over again, you can just use Google docs and see revision histories.
4. Kick slackers off of a project: Simply remove collaborators doing more harm than good by clicking None next to their name.
5. Freeze to stop editing: If you’ve perfected certain rows and columns in your spreadsheet, just freeze them so they’re not accidentally edited.
6. Revert back to old versions: If your group doesn’t like a certain set of changes made, it’s very simple just to revert back to automatically saved previous versions in the revision history.
7. Save brainstorm notes for group projects: Get everyone’s ideas all together in one place by using Google Docs for brainstorming.
8. Use data validation: Make sure that your collaborators aren’t adding a mess to your spreadsheet by using data validation on shared documents.
9. Use color coding: You can change text colors based on rules, like setting green for one classmate, blue for another, and red for yourself.
10. Clean up your main Google Docs page: Move items to individual folders, and you can make your landing page a lot cleaner and easy to navigate.
11. Insert a bookmark: Make it easy to access other parts of your document, like a table of contents, by inserting bookmarks throughout.
12. Create subfolders: For an extra step of organization, create folders within folders.
13. Get color coded: Color code the names of your folders for quick and easy identification.
14. Get synched: Using tools like Syncplicity, you can get all of your Google Docs synched up with documents from Microsoft Office.
15. Create your own shortcuts: Put together shortcuts to launch Google Docs, create a new document, and even access frequently used documents in a flash.
16. Print multiple Docs at once: If you need to speed through printing several documents at one time, just download and open them as a zip file.
17. Quick View PDFs: When you see PDF files in search results, you can just Quick View them to open them up in Google Docs.
18. Check your translation work: Google Docs has added a translation tool, which can easily be used to double check your work when writing a foreign language essay.
19. Get a grade before you turn assignments in: Using Flubaroo on Google Docs, you can get quick feedback on your assignment, giving you a chance for improvement before you need to turn it in.
20. Write in full screen mode: Make your toolbar, menus, and other tempting distractions disappear by displaying your Google Docs in full screen.
21. Automatically correct your common mistakes: If you have words that you just can’t spell to save your life, set up a preference to automatically find and replace your mistakes with correctly spelled words.
22. Customize your styles: If you like a consistent look for your documents, set up a customized style so you don’t have to go back and fix it with every new document.
23. Work offline: Use the offline feature of Google Docs to work on the bus, plane, or anywhere you plan to go without an internet connection.
24. Save web pages to your Google Docs account: Turn any web page into a PDF for viewing later by using the send to Google Docs extension for Chrome.
25. Back it all up: Google Docs itself offers a great way to back up your documents, but it never hurts to save elsewhere, right? Back up and download all of your Google Documents and save them to a hard drive for safekeeping.
26. Use Google Docs for everyday stuff, too: You can use Google Docs to track expenses, maintain your calendar, and more.