Choosing a college is a big deal, not the least because there are SO many choices to complicate your decision. What should you look for in a school? Here are a few suggestions to help get you started.

• Affordability: Really, the first thing you need to look at is the cost. Have an idea of how much you can afford, based on what you’ll be getting in financial aid and how much you can afford to pay yourself. The less you have to take out in loans, the better — otherwise you may find yourself saddled with impossible amounts of debt by the time you graduate.
• Curriculum: Be sure not only that the school has a degree in the subject you want, but that the specifics fit your interests, too. For instance, if you want to pursue a career in the pastry arts, you will need to narrow down your list of culinary arts institutes to those that offer a curriculum you are interested in.
• Student life: Sure, your education is the most important part to consider, but you also need to think about how other things will impact that education. For example, having access to a good college library can make a big difference. Student lounges with wifi can also make a big difference. A good career counseling department will help you stay on track, and job placement services help you with one of the most difficult parts — finding a job after graduation.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it should give you some things to think about when you are looking for the right college!

Technorati Tags: college, culinary arts institutes

Tags: college, culinary arts institutes

This week Newsweek’s cover story promotes an exclusive ranking of “The Greenest Big Companies in America”. This is an important moment in time. In 2006, Vanity Fair was among a few high profile publications to introduce entire annual issues to the green movement and their readership was reported to have been the lowest of the yearly issues.

Fast forward three years and six months later, the introduction of Newsweek’s list marks an important moment in time. Joining the annually released lists of the Best 100 Companies to Work For (Fortune), the 100 Best Global Brands (BusinessWeek) and The Largest 500 Companies (Fortune), the (presumably) annual list represents a palpable and permanent shift in business ethics and operations. Transparency is a leading value of those engaged in the green movement but it is still interesting to read that 70% of the companies participating voluntarily provided the data necessary to compile the list (otherwise utilizing publicly available information).

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By Kelli Peterson

Technorati Tags: Economics

Tags: Economics

The last time you went to the grocery store or the local Walmart, did you count the number of cleaners, soaps, and detergents that labeled themselves “green.” At Target last week while attempting to find the laundry detergent that was supposed to be on sale, I was boggled by all the new green chemicals that I’d never heard of before my shopping trip. I wasn’t certain what most of them did — much less exactly how “green” they really were.

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By Lisa Wojnovich

Technorati Tags: Economics

Tags: Economics