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Back to School 2011

Whether you're prepping for your first day of college or preparing to graduate this year, use our comprehensive back-to-school guide to make the grade when it comes to your career, your health, your finances and more.

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ARTICLES

How to Tackle Financial Aid as a Parent in 2012

Maximize your financial aid with these tips

Capturing that Back-To-School Excitement for Grown-Ups

Why should kids and college students be the only ones enjoying that rush of back-to-school…

As an entrepreneur leading a double life, Shanta Speller understands that it takes hard work and dedication to turn a side hustle into a fulltime job. Still working as an associate director of program manager for TIME.com, she runs her balloon decorating business, Bunch of Balloons, in her spare time. Over the course of the past two years, she’s seen her dreams of becoming a fulltime business owner come closer to being a reality as her clientele and income increases. Speller shares her personal tips on jumpstarting your side hustle with BlackEnterprise.com. —Jenisha Watts

9 Tips on Jumpstarting Your Side Hustle

Working a fulltime job while running her own business, Bunch of Balloons, Shanta Speller explains…

With constant advances in technology, educators and students have to find the right tools to keep lectures interesting and engagement at an all time high. Let’s face it: the classroom, library, and study centers are no longer just for books—add laptops, iPods, tablets, and e-book readers to the list of must-have gadgets students are toting around campus. In fact, most colleges and universities are meeting students where they’re at, providing pupils with work accessible only on interactive platforms, such as the growingly popular podcasts, which are being used to elaborate on homework assignments, share lecture notes and access additional class materials. As part of our Back to School coverage, BlackEnterprise.com suggests students check out these five podcasts that will boost their academic prowess. —Janel Martinez

5 Must-Have Podcasts for College Students

Staying a wake in class can be a chore in itself for many student but…

Single mother Shani Sanders lovingly holds her son, Jordan

Managing Motherhood While in School

Typically teen pregnancy leads to a future filled with public assistance and hardships but Shani…

(Image: ThinkStock)

Decoding the Business of College Sports: Academics Over Athletics

Student athletes are often seen as those who receive favoritism in the classroom, but professional…

So you've made it through the undergraduate experience and you're headed into the job market. You've done your internships, volunteered and built up a pretty nice professional and social network. As part of <a title="our Back-to-School coverage" href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/backtoschool/"><strong>our Back-to-School coverage</strong></a>, BlackEnterprise.com offers this step-by-step guide to finding career success, from the search, to the interview, to salary and benefits negotiations to keeping the job. <i> --- Janell Hazelwood </i>

From College Graduation to Career Success: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Here’s a step-by-step guide for college graduates to finding career sucesss, from job search to…

(Image: Thinkstock)

6 Ways to Save Big on Back-to-School Shopping

Whether you’re shopping for a kindergarten tyke or a college kid, here are a few…

How to Handle Separation Anxiety: A Guide for Parents and Students

Whether it’s parents worried about becoming empty-nesters or students becoming depressed or homesick when they…

(Image: Thinkstock)

Your Cheat Sheet: A Quick Guide to Student Loans for College

Taking out a student loan may be the only way to make college affordable. But…

GALLERIES

Classes from 9am to 3pm, your organizations’ meetings scheduled right after, and you’re trying to sneak a bite to eat in between. Oh, and of course you can’t forget Facebook/YouTube/Twitter/Tumblr-time. Are you wondering what time that leaves for homework and studying?

Welcome to the life of today’s college student. A study released last year by Philip Babcock and Mindy Marks, professors from the University of California, discovered the amount of time the average college student at a four-year college spends studying has declined by 42% since 1961, which narrows work outside of the classroom down to approximately 14 hours per week. With students spending less time hitting the books, they have to maximize whatever time is available for studying and completing assignment. As part of our Back to School coverage, BlackEnterprise.com has supplied students with three, easy-to-follow pointers on maximizing their study time. —Janel Martinez

3 Ways College Students Can Optimize Their Study Time

The average college student has less and less study time to prepare for exams and…

With constant advances in technology, educators and students have to find the right tools to keep lectures interesting and engagement at an all time high. Let’s face it: the classroom, library, and study centers are no longer just for books—add laptops, iPods, tablets, and e-book readers to the list of must-have gadgets students are toting around campus. In fact, most colleges and universities are meeting students where they’re at, providing pupils with work accessible only on interactive platforms, such as the growingly popular podcasts, which are being used to elaborate on homework assignments, share lecture notes and access additional class materials. As part of our Back to School coverage, BlackEnterprise.com suggests students check out these five podcasts that will boost their academic prowess. —Janel Martinez

5 Must-Have Podcasts for College Students

Staying a wake in class can be a chore in itself for many student but…

It’s no secret that the cost to attend college can be quite expensive. As a result, most students heading back to school or those heading away for home for the first time will rely heavily on student loans and financial aid. While this assistance is a welcome safety blanket for those with limited funds, it also begins the cycle of post-grad debt. In an effort to help steer students in the right direction, here are six options for new graduates looking for debt relief. —Kahliah A. Laney

6 Tips for Decreasing Student Loan Debt Post Grad

Student loans are usually the beginning of a cycle of debt that holds us back…

It’s that time of the year again when you’re bombarded with tons of back to school commercials, followed by the fall window displays and that signature end-of-summer breeze. For many college students, it means buckling down and hitting the books again (yes, less Facebook and Twitter time), but why do so without gadgets that will make college life easier? As part of our Back to School coverage, BlackEnterprise.com has selected six tech apparatuses you should invest in this semester. —Janel Martinez

6 Tech Tools To Make College Life More Manageable

As the back to school rush continues, college bound students will need to be up…

7 Ways to Save on College Textbooks and Supplies

Lynnette Khalfani-Cox gives smart tips that could save you as much as 80% on textbooks…

Now is the time to start a business. Launching a business in college (See 5 reasons why you should here) — or collaborating on one — sets you up for a bright and successful future. I’ve come up with 25 ideas college students can start for $200 or less. Believe it! You can use one (or more) of these suggestions or come up with your own. Some of these startup ideas may work better than others, or, depending on where you go to college, may not work at all, but it's up to you so choose wisely and adjust quickly if the business you start isn’t advancing. So, college CEO, before you head back to school for the semester pick your money-making match.---Felicia Joy

25 Savvy Startups Students Can Launch for $200 or Less

College students can tap into their inner CEO with these smart startup ideas

Find a Program Many returning and non-traditional students are not in the same position as first-year undergraduates. With families, full-time jobs, and various financial responsibilities to maintain, full-time programs aren’t always an option. Since finding a program that meets these prospective students’ needs is imperative, universities and colleges offer evening, part-time and weekend programs as great alternatives. For people just looking to improve their skills and not enroll in a degree program, institutions do offer non-degree options.

4 Tips You Should Know Before Heading Back to (Graduate) School

BlackEnterprise.com has got you covered with these four easy-to-follow tips on returning to school.

Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown, Yale, Columbia and UPenn all have the distinction of being named Ivy League institutions of higher education. Since February 1954 these eight universities have been heralded for their academic excellence and standout athletic achievements. Almost 60 years later, those institutions are still recognized as the most prestigious centers of higher learning nationwide. While the general train of thought would be that the Elite 8 would solely produce cerebral types, some of today’s most notable and creative African American celebrities have walked their hallowed halls as well. With the back to school season in full swing, BlackEnterprise.com highlights 10 celebrities you probably didn’t know attended an Ivy League school. —Amber McKynzie

10 Black Celebrities Who Attended Ivy League Schools

The elite eight of higher education are referred to as Ivy League schools. While most…

Smartphone’s are changing the way college students order textbooks, purchase gas and experience the world. In a technology-driven society, these devices can be educational and lifestyle tools that use and share data in very cool ways. Mobile apps can help tech savvy students with data discovery that enhances their college experience inside and outside the classroom. Just in time for back to school season, here are six great apps that can help complete basic tasks and enable busy college students to track, capture, and pull data from anywhere to be more productive. —Hajj Flemings

6 Mobile Apps Every Busy College Student Needs

College students are always on tight budgets and deadlines, these simple mobile apps can alleviate…

With 140 characters or less, social media regulars receive the latest deets on everything from the advertures of their favorite celebs to up-to-the minute info on their close friends’ whereabouts to a blow-by-blow account of the Arab Spring. But Twitter is more than a news feed, it's also a professional tool, and following people who interest and inspire you can enhance your college experience. Instead of only following your celeb obsessions or BFFs, try useful college resources, prominent organizations and established leaders. To help you get started for back to school season, BE On Campus correspondent Damaris Skelton highlights 9 Twitter accounts that will help keep college students in the know. Let us know your favorite Twitter account (on or off this list) below!

9 Twitter Accounts That Can Enhance Your College Experience

Back to school season is upon us and BE On Campus correspondent Damaris Skelton highlights…

NAVIGATION