10 Outstanding Commencement Speeches in 2017

With exams, college apps, and the December chill we thought you needed some positivity. Here 10 of the best graduation speeches this year: 

Joe Biden, Colby College

Former Vice President Joe Biden spoke to students about engaged leadership, as well as the importance of empathy and dignity.  He encouraged students to get involved and be engaged in the world around them, including politics.

Message: “It’s time to regain our sense of unity and purpose.”

Theo Epstein, Yale University

Theo Epstein, President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs recalled his history with the Cubs, including the team’s monumental victory on Game 7 of the World Series.

Message: “Some players — and some of us — go through our careers with our heads down, focused on our craft and our tasks, keeping to ourselves, worrying about our numbers or our grades, pursuing the next objective goal, building our resumes, protecting our individual interests. Other players — and others amongst us — go through our careers with our heads up, as real parts of a team, alert and aware of others, embracing difference, employing empathy, genuinely connecting, putting collective interests ahead of our own. It is a choice… The latter, connecting, keeping our heads up, allows us to lead, and, every now and then, to be part of something bigger than ourselves, and, therefore, to truly triumph.”

Will Ferrell, University of Southern California

In a humorous speech, comedian Will Ferrell spoke about the fear of failure and needing to overcome it.  He also spoke about success, the need to appreciate what you have, and the importance of giving back.

Message: “No matter how cliché it may sound you will never truly be successful until you learn to give beyond yourself. Empathy and kindness are the true signs of emotional intelligence.”

Dr. Adam M. Grant, Utah State University

Adam Grant, Wharton School management professor and co-author of Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy, told students that sometimes quitting is a virtue.

Message: “Define your dreams broadly enough that you can find new ways to pursue them when your first and second plans fail…. If you want to be resilient, find the right amount of generosity and authenticity and grit.”

Helen Mirren, Tulane University

Tony, Emmy, and Academy Award winner Helen Mirren shared five pieces of advice for a happy life, including “treat people just like people” and “don’t overcomplicate things.”  She also offered many practical dos and don’ts.

Message: “We’re all in this together.”

Sheryl Sandberg, Virginia Tech

 Chief Operating Officer of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg recalled how her own personal tragedies helped her come out stronger. Sandberg told students to cultivate resilience, not just for yourself, but also to instill it in other people.

 Message: “Build resistance in yourselves.  When tragedy or disappointment strike, know that you have the ability to get through anything…An important way you can serve and lead is by helping build resilience in the world.”

Howard Schultz, Arizona State University

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz shared his rags-to-riches story, which started with his childhood in public housing.  He also explained how he built his business based on values and humility, in addition to profits.

Message: “Summon your compassion, your curiosity, your empathy towards others and your commitment to service.  Give more than you receive and I promise you, it will come back to you in ways you can’t possibly imagine.”

Octavia Spencer, Kent State University

Academy Award winning actress Octavia Spencer inspired students to stay true to their authentic selves.  Students should lead their own journeys and not try to copy the paths of others.

Message: “No one came here the same way, and you won’t all achieve success the same way… Don’t let yourself get caught up in the trap of comparison…. Define success and define your best years by every day that you work hard towards achieving your goals.”

Oprah Winfrey, Smith College

 Global media leader Oprah Winfrey told students to use their talents, gifts and knowledge for the greater good…to change the world for the better.

Oprah reflected upon how much of her personal happiness comes from helping others. The more she donates her time to helping people, the more fulfilled she feels.

Message: “Make it your intention to serve through your life with purpose…Shift the paradigm to service and the rewards will come.”

Mark Zuckerberg, Harvard University

Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg called upon college graduates to build a world where everyone has a place and a purpose.

Fast Fact: Zuckerberg went to Harvard, but dropped out after creating Facebook there. He received an honorary college degree the day of his address.

Message: “Purpose is that sense that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, that we are needed, that we have something better ahead to work for. Purpose is what creates true happiness… But it’s not enough to have purpose yourself. You have to create a sense of purpose for others.”

10 Things you need to Know if you're Thinking about Transferring College?

Most college students don’t admit it, but they often think about whether they ended up at the right college. Being an international student myself, this crossed my mind during fall semester of my freshman year of college: Should I transfer?

I was homesick and incredibly lost for the first couple of months but I ended up staying back at my college and ride it out. But for those of you who know in your heart that you’re not at the right college, here are ten things to know about the transfer admissions process:

1. The transfer process is markedly different than the freshmen admissions process. Whereas your high school record and standardized test scores dictate the freshmen admissions process, your GPA and course selection in college matter much more if you apply as a transfer student
2.  There are some colleges that will accept transfer students for the spring semester, but most of the highly selective colleges only admit students for the fall semester.
3. Most students who transfer do it after freshman or sophomore year.
4. No matter how large your classes are, make sure to connect and build a relationship with two professors if you’re planning to transfer. These professors can write your letters of recommendation.
5. You need to be in “good standing” at your current college to be competitive to transfer. If you are on academic or social probation, it can be difficult to get admitted to a top college.
6. The admit rate for transfer admissions is typically higher than the admit rate for freshmen admissions. Why? Almost every college in the country struggles with retention. When a student drops out, transfers, or even goes abroad for a semester, the college needs to fill that bed with another student to stay financially stable. The odds are in your favor if you apply as a transfer student.
7. If you applied to the same college as a high school senior, your old application (or what’s left of it) will be evaluated to some extent. But the primary focus of the transfer admissions committee will be on your current application.
8. Sometimes colleges have limited financial aid for transfer students. Check with each admissions office/financial aid office to determine if financial aid is available.
9. If you are applying to transfer into a very specialized program (i.e. engineering, business, nursing, etc), make sure you have the prerequisites in place so that you are as competitive as possible.
10. Most students don’t believe it, but there are plenty of students who transfer from a community college to a traditional four year college—even Ivy League colleges. The transfer admissions process focuses more on your academic performance at your current institution rather than where you attend.

As appealing as another college can be for a student, they need to remember that there will be an adjustment when they transfer. Students will have their friend groups solidified and it takes a confident individual to start fresh in a new environment when everyone else is hunkering down where they are. However, ending up at the right place is all that matters. I hope this helps

Will Higher Education Ever Change?

With the advent of social media and high speed internet, the dissemination of information has been on a steady rise. We get news in a matter of seconds 24x7. This advancement is also seen in the Education industry with many "Ed-Tech" amalgamations sprouting up-- companies that instruct through interactive lectures for a subsidized price than attending college. Companies such as Khan Academy and Coursera are in the forefront of this disruption. 

A March 2012 study by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press found that 60% of American adults viewed universities as having a positive effect on how things are going in the country and 84% of college graduates say that the expense of going to college was a good investment for them. Yet another Pew Research Center survey in 2011 found that 75% of adults say college is too expensive for most Americans to afford. Moreover, 57% said that the higher education system in the U.S. fails to provide students with good value for the money they and their families spend.

This shows that there is a big chance that the way we learn is changing and that the future might look quite different. The flip of this however is that technology has come and gone, but the education industry has remained pretty much the same. Significant improvement in the effectiveness and wider distribution of education accompany every major new communication technology. In the early days of their evolution, radio, television, personal computers—and even the telephone—were all predicted to be likely to revolutionize formal education. Nevertheless, the standardized knowledge-transmission model is primarily the same today as it was when students started gathering at the University of Bologna in 1088.

The internet however, is a different kind of beast which is taking over lives a lot more than just verbal communication. There are changes that we will see by the year 2020 with more hybrid learning and increased service in distance leaning programs that are able to educate far and wide. As developing countries  such as India and China are increasing so are educational demands which will be met if not my an aging brick and mortar system. Though I do believe that going to a college changes you in a lot more ways than just staring at a computer, this might soon just be the thinking of the past.

What are your opinions? Comment and let us know! 

How to Win at Homework

Homework is something that doesn't go away when you're in college so it's a good idea to understand how you can be effective while homeworking. One good solution could be to do homework with classmates and friends. According to recent research, students who collaborate with classmates on assignments and group projects develop better decision-making skills than those working solo. This means that not only does studying suddenly become less awful when you’re surrounded by friends, but learning stuff alongside others can actually boost your GPA. 

But with little time to actually study and commute to friends, some people are taking to social media to study. Reddit is filled with threads for almost every single thing you’d ever study, from Econ to English. And thanks to video chats and document sharing, Google+ is another surprisingly great tool to get stuff done in groups. Not to forget online study sites such as khan academy. 

It’s easy to blame the internet as a homework distraction, but very real evidence shows that social networks can help you learn. A study from Baylor University found that students who participated in a closed Facebook group of 15,000 classmates actually benefitted (and so did their grades). This isn't an excuse to spend all night on Messenger instead of with your bio textbook, but school-specific social networks can help you finish your work faster. In short, its about time you studied with other people either in person on virtually!

Advice to First Years by College Presidents

It’s a tradition amongst college presidents to send out a letter incoming first year students a month before they embark on their collegiate journey. Since most first year students will be entering college this month, we thought we share some of the sage advice presidents of various colleges had to offer:

Dr. Johnathan Gibralter, President Wells College

1. First of all, first years, take a deep breath and approach everything one day at a time.The nervous feelings you have those first few days will get better, and there are many people on your campus who care about how you’re doing. It’s normal to feel lonely and miss your family. Try not to call them too often. Instead, leave your room and get to know people on campus.
2. Show up and study hard! Remember first and foremost you are in college to be a successful student. Faculty members are there to support you in class and during office hours. No surprisingly, they expect you to come to class, read the textbooks, be organized and put effort into your assignments. Not surprisingly, the students who do best in college are those who actually attend lectures and do the work. If you do your part, professors and teaching assistants can help you share your ideas through research opportunities, art exhibitions, plays and in many other ways. In short, remember why you are in college — to define the best parts of yourself through learning.

Dr. Adam Weinberg, President Denison University

1. Take a wide range of classes.Students make the mistake of trying to narrow in on a particular major early. Partially, they do this under the mistaken belief that it helps with jobs (that is the topic for another article). The wider the range of courses you take, the broader the skills and world views you will develop and the better prepared you will be for life.

1. Make Friends: Pick good friends who are at college for the right reasons and who bring out the best in you. Who you hang out with matters. Our college careers are shaped, more than anything else, by the people we chose to hang out with.
2. Save a little bit of time for reflection: At least once a semester, take a few minutes to think about all the experiences you are having in college and what they are adding up to. What are you learning about yourself and the kind of person you want to be and life you want to lead? You can do this with some friends, an academic advisor, a mentor, a parent, or even by yourself.   

Julie Ramsey, Vice President for College Life & Dean of Students Gettysburg College

1. Take care of yourself: Between class, writing papers and studying, attending club meetings and hanging out with friends, you may find it exhausting! Get enough sleep, eat well and exercise often. If you need help, contact the Health Center, Counseling Services, or Department of Public Safety.

1. Join a student club. Follow up on the contacts made at the Activities Fair last week. Take some time every week to learn more about the 120+ student-led clubs and organizations on campus. If you don’t see what you are looking for, start your own club or initiative!

Richard A. Moran, President Menlo College

1. Choose a “Walkup” song to keep in mind- something you can hum to yourself as you make an entrance on campus. A walkup song is a confidence-building song that says you're going to be someone.