Do you have to buy a computer for college? #AskIsa

Have a question you'd like to see me answer just for you in a video? Ask it in the comments, tweet it to @IsaAdney, or send me an e-mail at isa@isaadney.com! The student featured in this video is struggling with procrastination and isn't sure if he should buy a computer for college. 

Check out the answer below! :)

HELP I need your ideas! :)

I'm planning content for this fall and I would LOVE to get your help. I just got a new camera and am going to try to do some more YouTube videos this year, but I can't do it without YOU.

Check out the video below and either comment with your ideas on this blog or submit them to the anonymous Ask Isa inbox.

I want to help you this year by sharing content that can really help you  move forward in your life (college or career) as well as try to make you smile in the process. 

I really appreciate any ideas you can share or any questions you have! Thanks a million. 

Top 5 things to help you choose which university to attend

I recently sat down with a community college graduate who was trying to decide between two transfer universities. One was in-state, one out of state. One had full tuition covered and the other would require tens of thousands in loans. 

She was torn and feeling a lot of anxiety about making the "right" choice. 

I shared with her the key things I thought she should look into, and she found them so helpful that I thought I should share them with you too!

If you're not sure which university will be the best choice for you, here are five things you can do:

1) Visit each campus
Get up-close-and-personal with the campus. Ask the admissions office to visit a class and/or the program director or dean of your intended major. Eat in the cafeteria. Go to an athletic event. Sit in the library. 

Don't just do the standard walk-around-tour. Some colleges even offer a chance to stay overnight - do it! This is an investment and getting as close as possible will reveal a lot and will help you make a better gut-level decision.

2) Check out alumni on LinkedIn 
LinkedIn has this new feature that I'm obsessed with. Go to LinkedIn.com/edu and click on the "Prospective Students" tab. Then type in the universities you're considering and after you click to "view" the school you're looking for, click "explore careers of alumni." Keep clicking "show more" until you find the industry and/or company that most closely matches your dream career. 

You can click on one industry or a few, and then scroll down and explore the alumni of that college. Look at a few profiles that intrigue you and consider their career path. Is it something you want to model? 

For the bold, reach out to a few alumni that you admire and ask if they'd be willing to share their experience with the university. Nothing is better than a first-hand account. Sometimes admissions offices will also arrange an alumni conversation.

If you have a very specific post-college goal then also be on the lookout for alumni who fit that profile.

For example, the student I talked with really wanted to go to graduate school at an ivy league after she graduated with her bachelor's, so I told her to try to find out which university prepared more graduates to study at an ivy league and/or had alumni who worked at her dream organizations (e.g. The New York Times). 

3) Talk to a current student 
When you visit campus be bold and ask students around you quick questions. Walk up to a group eating in the cafeteria and explain you're a prospective student and ask them if you can ask them a few questions about how they like the college.

The worst thing that can happen is that they say no, which may tell you something about the campus culture.

Some questions to get you started: 1) What made you choose this college? 2) What is your favorite part about going here? 3) What is your major? 4) What do you like most about classes here? 5) What do you like to do for fun here? 6) What do you know about [program you're interested in]? 7) What is the most challenging part of going to this college? 8) What is one thing you wished someone had told you before enrolling here? 

4) Research your intended major/career
One of my favorite websites for this is InsideJobs.com. Explore your intended career intensively and consider your major with a lot of thought. Then look at the programs at each college to determine which one will best prepare you for what you really want to to learn and do.

One of the best things you can do is connect with someone doing your dream job and tell them about the colleges and programs you're trying to decide between. There is nothing better than getting advice from someone who is in the industry and knows what kind of weight their industry places on particular colleges and programs. 

5) Cost
I put cost last very deliberately. I think community college is a great option because it is so cost effective, but that doesn't mean you always have to go for the cheapest option. 

Wait until you've completed steps 1-4 and then consider your financial aid offerings from each university and map out the cost. 

Here are a few reasons when it can be a good idea to go with the more expensive university: 1) if there are a ton of alumni who went on to your dream organization or dream graduate school 2) if someone in your dream industry says that university opens A LOT more doors in your field than the other 3) if the academic program you want to major in is one of the best 4) if it's an ivy-league university whose recognized name can open a lot of doors

Small loans are fine as you are the best investment you can make. However, if after doing all the research you think you can get all of the things above for less money at an accredited school, then go for it.

There's no reason to take out crazy loans for a private school if it doesn't really offer the things that you want and need for your future. 

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And finally, remember that you've just graduated from community college - something not everyone is able to do. You should be so proud of how far you've come and realize that you have proven you can make the best of wherever you go to school. 

Be smart and strategic, but do not be anxious. Whatever choice you make, as long as you continue to work hard, commit to the experience, and build a college community, you are going to be successful.  

College To-Do List Week 21: Summer Internships!

The college to-do list is almost over! I hope you're excited for the end of the semester. Now may feel like the time to slow down, but not quite! Keep going strong and that last day of the semester will be even sweeter. You can do this! Remember to take care of yourself, get lots of sleep, and eat healthy during stressful times. 

College To-Do List Week 20: Set your goals

College To-Do list is almost over (which means your semester is almost over!!). Congratulations and keep on going strong. You're almost there!

Below is a to-do list item that you should definitely do if you haven't already. It's something I still do every day. :)

College To-Do List Week 17: The best way to make friends & win scholarships

Are you sick of this coral tank-top yet? lol. 

I filmed the college to-do list all in one day back in Miami, so sorry for the single-note wardrobe. Ha. Hope the tips are helping!

Please let me know how you're doing with the to-do list items in the comments below or at isa@isaadney.com. How many items have you done? What results have you seen?

I'd love to possibly share your success story at the end of this series! 

It's really important to me to hear what you're going through and how I can use this blog (and the YouTube channel) to help. I want to hear from you! :)

P.S. The vlog above is about becoming a leader in a club. Most people only think about this in the fall semester, but spring is a great time to look into clubs as many officers will be graduating and clubs will be looking for new leaders!

College To-Do List Week 16: Best use of LinkedIn for College Students

The College To-Do List is here to see you through until the end of your Spring 2014 semester! It's the small things you do consistently that make the biggest difference. 

Click below to find out one of the best uses of LinkedIn for college students!

College To-Do List Week 15: An important social media tool

The College To-Do List is here to see you through until the end of your Spring 2014 semester! It's the small things you do consistently that make the biggest difference. 

Click here to watch the video & make sure you have a profile on this social media channel!

College To-Do List Week 14: What to bring to your advisor

The College To-Do List is here to see you through until the end of your Spring 2014 semester! It's the small things you do consistently that make the biggest difference. 

Click here to see what you should bring to your advisor this week (hint: it will save you a ton of time and money!!) 

College To-Do List Week 13: Something fun to schedule!

The College To-Do List is here to see you through until the end of your Spring 2014 semester! It's the small things you do consistently that make the biggest difference. 

College To-Do List Week 12: Preparing for transfer

The College To-Do List is here to see you through until the end of your Spring 2014 semester! It's the small things you do consistently that make the biggest difference. 

Watch the video below to see what to do this week to make your transfer process A LOT easier. 

College To-Do List Week 11: Get some people together

The College To-Do List is here to see you through until the end of your Spring 2014 semester! It's the small things you do consistently that make the biggest difference. 

Click here to see what you should get people together for!

College To-Do List Week 10: #1 resource on campus for getting good grades

The College To-Do List is here to see you through until the end of your Spring 2014 semester! It's the small things you do consistently that make the biggest difference. 

College To-Do List Week 9: Find someone you admire

The College To-Do List is here to see you through until the end of your Spring 2014 semester! It's the small things you do consistently that make the biggest difference.

Click here to see why you should find someone you admire this week!

And for extra help you can check out this video on how to do an informational interview!

College To-Do List Week 8: A place to visit

The College To-Do list is here to see you through until the end of your Spring 2014 semester! It's the small things you do consistently that make the biggest difference. 

College To Do List: Week 7 - Where to sit in every class

The College To-Do list is here to see you through until the end of your Spring 2014 semester! Because it's the small things you do consistently that make the biggest difference. 

College To-Do List Week 6 - What you should do before every Spring semester

The College To-Do list isn't going anywhere and is here to see you through until the end of your Spring 2014 semester! :) And the first step is planning what you want to accomplish this semester:

College To-Do List: Week 4

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break!!

It's Week 4 in the College To-Do List series! Check out the short video below for a quick and easy task you can do this week to continue to build the kind of habits in college that will help you get ahead and reach your goals.