Search our reviews of the top online universities below and use the links to request free information from these top universities:

1.

Kaplan University – One of the largest and well-known of the top online universities, Kaplan offers a wide variety of programs in associates, bachelors, and masters degree levels.

2.

University of Phoenix – University of Phoenix offers numerous online associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs with a flexible schedule. In particular, their business, arts, computers and IT, and justice programs are consistently among the best ranked in the nation.

3.

Ashford University – With a national reputation and numerous scholarships and grants for working students, Ashford University has become a top online university for students who want an affordable degree that employers respect.

4.

AIU Online – Regarded as the most prestigious online university due to its job placement statistics, AIU is the top online university for career advancement.

5.

Liberty University – The nation’s leading evangelical university is consistently a top ranked online university. With nationally recognized professors and a Christian learning environment, Liberty annually remains a top online college.

6.

Everest University – Everest is the ideal university for working adults, as it offers the most flexible class schedule along with numerous scholarships for working adults.

7.

Saint Leo University – As a respectable online university, Saint Leo University is dedicated in creating leaders of tomorrow. They provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the real world.

8.

Grand Canyon University – Many students seeking prestigious education at an affordable rate has chosen Grand Canyon University as their online university choice. Grand Canyon University not only offers a wide array of programs online, but they also give students the opportunity to learn right from their home.

9.

Colorado Technical University – Colorado Technical University has quickly become one of the top online universities based on student experience rankings because of its top rated professors and personalized instruction. Its programs in business, healthcare, criminal justice, and IT are consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally among online universities.

10.

Devry University – The oldest of online universities, Devry offers over 70 campuses, making it the top online university for those seeking a dual campus and online school experience.

11.

Virginia College – Associate’s, Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees. Virginia College is an accredited online university staffed with well-respected, knowledgeable professors with great experience in their fields. Students can choose degree programs in fields in several areas such as criminal justice or business administration.

12.

Strayer University – One of the largest networks of campus and online schools, Strayer University is the best online university for many degree programs, and is one of the top rated online universities in student surveys.

Online University Database Search

Didn’t find the university you were looking for? Search our database of over 350 online universities and colleges with the search tool below:

Christian Sites

These websites are specifically for Christian students searching for scholarships from a Christian college or university.

1. Christian Connector.com - This site allows you to search through various categories of grants and scholarships suited to your interests. All of these scholarships from this newer search are offered from accredited Christian colleges.
2. Christian College Guide – If you are trying to weigh out the options between colleges, this is a great guide for you. Scholarship and grant info is distinctly separated to keep you focused. There is also a total cost search option providing a list of Christian colleges within your budget.
3. Christian College Mentor – A conventional scholarship search but with specific matching qualities. The two options allow you to search by a keyword or by contributing some personal information.

Scholarship Searches

You can also find various Christian scholarship options by searching these sites by keyword or category.

4. Collegetoolkit.com – An all in one scholarship authority for Christian students. They have been featured on such sites as CNN.com and the Christian Science Monitor.
5. FinAid.org – While some may just be looking for scholarships, FinAid.org also helps students find loans and military aid. Look into a number of ways to find money for college.
6. Scholarships.com – Scholarships.com has scholarships from over 3,000 sources. The site helps match scholarships to you based on grade average, hobbies, and more.
7. CollegeNET – Provides a database of scholarships and grants available, including scholarships that focus on religious affiliation. The discussion boards give students a place to communicate with one another about school, faith, and other important issues.
8. ScholarshipExperts.com – College and grad school scholarships are updated frequently on this site since 2001. Their goal is to always supply true prompt scholarship materials.
9. Free -4U.com – A nationally acclaimed free scholarship collection. Search through a wide selection of Christian scholarships as well as many others.
10. Scholarship Central – Get free access to a huge undergraduate scholarship database. Peterson’s Scholarship Search connects you with more than 1 1/2 million scholarships, grants, and awards worth almost $8 billion.
11. MyFreeDegree – In as little as a couple minutes this search will have you matched up to unique scholarships. Responses are listed with tailored information based on your answers to a couple of questions.
12. StudentScholarshipSearch.com – Started in 2003, this website seeks to aid students with free scholarship info with a large differentiation of requirements. Find scholarships nationally, by state, and level of education.
13. Studentawards.com Find the money for school without the hassle. This site is devoted to helping high school seniors and college students find much needed info on scholarships, bursaries, grants and other financial assistance from the private sector and nonprofit organizations.
14. SchoolSoup – Insert Said to have one of the largest scholarship database in the world. Our search engine will find scholarships that match your interests and profile by searching through $32 Billion worth of scholarships. Scholarships with the best matches are listed first. Many scholarships can be used at any school you wish to attend.
15. Nextstudent.com – One of the biggest scholarship databases available today. It’s even updated daily with no cost to you. This site is free of advertisements and completely confidential.

16. BrokeScholar – Use this free service to apply for billions of scholarship and grant dollars. Tell them a little about yourself and receive matches detailed directly towards you.
17. College Answer – Get access to a scholarship database containing an abundance of scholarships worth over 16 billion dollars. Sponsored by Sallie Mae, this search combines technology with highly accurate scholarship information.
18. College Board Online – A fair database of around 3000 supporters. The only bad thing is there is no memory for personal information. Every time you search for scholarships, you must reenter your data.
19. SuperCollege.com – Besides just searching for grants and scholarships, learn everything there is to know. Experts and leaders in scholarships and financial aid offer helpful tips on applying for scholarships.
20. ScholarshipMonkey – This site declares a data base of one million scholarships that total over 3.5 billion. There are plenty of Christian scholarships and advice to help you make the right decision.
21. Guaranteed Scholarships – Find a number of unique scholarships by searching through this site. All of these grants are unlimited in number and require no additional requirements such as an interview, essay, or portfolio.
22. Fresch – This site will provide Christian students with answers to many of the questions they face regarding paying for college. Search through various scholarships and grants to find just what you are looking for.
23. Scholar Site.com – Rapidly search for scholastic aid with many having a Christian emphasis. Another good thing is that you don’t have to enter any personal info to start your search.
24. Fair Scholarships – On this site, you can search for scholarships and apply for them all at one time. There are many possibilities for Christian students to fund their education.
25. FindTuition.com – Get fast membership to an awesome collaboration of scholarship money and resources. This is a great way for Christian students to find money for college.
26. Scholarships 101 – A listing of over 800,000 individual scholarship awards valued at more than $2.8 billion.

Government Funding

Check out these government sponsored sites to find information on grants and scholarships.

27. CareerOneStop.net – Organized by the U.S. Department of Labor, this site has a searchable data base with over 5,000 fellowships, loans, scholarships , and other financial aid opportunities.
28. Student Aid on the Web – A U.S. Department of Education sponsored free online scholarship search. There are many Christian opportunities that are posted.
29. U.S. Department of Energy -Scholarships & Internships – Find out about scholarships, internships, and competitions from the U.S. Dept of Energy, plus information on careers and educational resources, including the latest scientific research.
30. Aviation Education Scholarships & Grants – Christian students headed for a career in aviation won’t want to miss this page from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that lists a variety of government and private scholarships for aviation students.
31. Scholarships – National Health Service Corps (U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services) – Learn more about NHSC scholarships, which help finance education for future primary care providers. In return, graduates serve those communities where the need for primary health care is greatest.
32. Financial Aid Resources – A site from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) that provides information and links to help you find scholarships, grants, and other resources available to military dependents.
33. FedMoney.org – FedMoney.org is a free online resource on all U.S. government grants and student financial aid programs. Here you will find current info about who can apply, how to apply, and full contact information for more than 130 government grants and scholarships related to education.

State and Local Searches

See what your state or local community might be offering by way of scholarships on these sites.

34. Arkansas Scholarship Connection – The Arkansas Scholarship Connection is a statewide project of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund. Their data base contains scholarships for which Arkansas students are eligible.
35. California Governor’s Scholarship Programs – California Christian students who demonstrate high academic achievement in math and sciences can earn scholarships for college from the state. Get more information on how to qualify on this site.
36. Finance Authority of Maine – State of Maine sponsors this online scholarship search. Start your scholarship search with FAME’s online scholarship search. This search allows you to look for Maine-based scholarships that match your selected criteria.
37. Pacific Northwest Scholarship Guide – A free online scholarship match program maintained by the nonprofit College Planning Network, serving students of the Pacific Northwest.
38. GoHigherKY.org – The State of Kentucky sponsors this free scholarship search
39. Maryland Higher Education Commission – Although sponsored by the State of Maryland, this search may be helpful to Christian students as well as others.

Studying Abroad

Read these sites that offer details about scholarships for oversees study.

40. International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search – The ultimate guide for financial aid, college scholarship and grant information for U.S. and international students wishing to study abroad. You can find detailed college scholarship searches, grant listings, and more.
41. Study Abroad funding – A beneficial e funding source allows you to search by country or subject to find the study abroad funding information that you need. Their comprehensive database offers study abroad scholarships, Christian fellowships, and grants.

Specific Fields of Interest

If you are interested in studying a specific field or industry, then do some scholarship and grant research on these sites.

42. Scholarship Net – This site delivers international scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships for international students. Students can access scholarship information for free, and providers can submit scholarship listings for free.
43. Military.com – Find millions of dollars in scholarships and grants exclusively for the military community. Select your search criteria below. You and your dependents have great military education benefits. Learn about great schools and programs that can help you reach your goals.
44. The Scholarship Page – Started by a Harvard student in 1997, this site primarily features engineering related scholarships, but has grown to include some others like Christian scholarships as well.
45. DiscoverNursing.com – Focusing specifically on nursing, you can find specific scholarships only offered to nursing students. You can limit results to narrow in on the criteria tailored to you.

Searching through the above sites hopefully will help you find great value in the resources you come upon. Just keep in mind that there is no fault in applying for as many different scholarships as possible. Even if you’re unsure about qualifying, the worst thing that can happen is they can say no.

Physically active students tend to perform better academically, according to a 2008 study by the American College of Sports Medicine. This is likely due to the fact that physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, increases endorphins, and improves mood. When you feel as if you are mentally exhausted, exercising your body rather than your mind can actually give it the rest it needs so that it can reenergize itself. It’s important for college students to find time in between classes to get their bodies moving through exercise machines, aerobics classes, or recreational sports. To boost your brain power, try to be physically active for at least 30 minutes on at least three days of the week.

If you are under the impression that pulling all-nighters during finals week will help your grades, you are wrong. In a Fall 2009 study by the American College Health Association, 20 percent of students reported that sleep difficulties within the last 12 months had interfered with their academic performance and caused them to receive a lower grade on an exam or project, receive a lower grade in a course, caused them to receive an incomplete or drop the course completely, or experienced a significant disruption in a thesis, dissertation, research, or practicum work. The brain processes information at night by relocating information that is absorbed during the day to permanent storage areas. During each stage of sleep, information is processed differently, so it’s important that you get from six to eight hours of sleep each night so you can go through each one.

• Health services: If you’re normally pretty healthy or are from a city close enough to school that you can visit your regular doctor if you get sick, you might never visit health services. But the usually-free clinic is a great place to learn about everyday health habits, STDs and sexual health, eating well, and the certain health risks college students face. The nurses and doctor are already familiar with the common problems that ail people your age, and can probably give you an answer and some suggestions to any question you have within a few minutes. Health services is also a good place to turn to if you want a flu vaccination.
• Study abroad office: Some students know in high school that they want to study abroad, while others haven’t ever really considered it. No matter what your major is, studying abroad can enrich your college experience tremendously, at the academic level and in terms of personal development. Drop in one day when you have a little extra time to pick up some brochures or talk with a counselor about what options could fit in with your schedule and long-term goals.
• Alumni relations: Unless you want your alumni connection to the school to consist of annual calls for donations, visit the alumni relations office when you’re a senior to ask about programs or networks that you can join to stay involved. You don’t have to sell your soul to fundraising, but keeping in contact with alumni groups makes professional networking easier, especially if you’re moving to a new city.
• The departmental office of a subject you’ve always been curious about: College is practically the one time in your life when you have a free pass to campus offices and an unquestionable excuse to drop in to random departments, just because you’re curious. If you’ve always known that you wanted to be an architect, but have a secret interest in religious studies, visit the religion department office. You can schedule a meeting with a professor to learn more about the classes they offer, and also pick up magazines, journals or literature they have in the waiting area. Even if you don’t drop your primary field of study, taking a class or two could satisfy your curiosity or lead to a new academic pursuit.

Students can either positively or negatively affect a school’s reputation, so colleges want to accept those they know will be positive influences. The admissions department will take a careful look at your academic performance in order to predict what type of college student you might be. This means looking at your academic record for all four years of high school and taking into consideration your individual class grades, GPA, and SAT and ACT scores. It is important that you are able to demonstrate that you were able to consistently make good grades or that you have the ability to improve them. If you made a few bad grades during your sophomore year but have been able to steadily make better ones since then, admissions officers are likely to notice your efforts.

Colleges also want well-rounded students who will not only contribute to their school academically, but socially as well. They will look at your involvement in extracurricular activities and consider how they have allowed you to develop your skills and talents. Students who have invested their time and efforts and demonstrated commitment to organizations will look a lot better than those who spent their free time watching TV. After school activities also allow you to have the opportunity to accomplish things that set you apart from other applicants, like earning special recognitions or awards.

Finally, more significant than being able to show that you were involved in extracurricular activities is proving that you were able to make significant contributions through leadership roles. Students who held leadership roles in high school are more likely to pursue those same roles in college and contribute on campus. Admissions departments not only want to see that you held a title, but that you also were able to accomplish something with that title. To stand out from students whose only title was “member,” be sure to mention that you were the president of a new club or served as class officer senior year.

1. Tweet about upcoming due dates or assignments.

One of the simplest ways that teachers can use Twitter in their classroom involves setting up a feed dedicated exclusively to due dates, tests or quizzes.

2. Provide the class with a running news feed.

Subscribe to different mainstream and independent news feeds with different biases as a way to compare and contrast how different perspectives interpret current events and issues.

3. Create a career list.

Set up an interesting assignment requesting that students set up Twitter lists following feeds relevant to their career goals and keep a daily journal on any trends that crop up along the way.

4. Track memes.

As inane as Justin Bieber’s popularity is, at least an educational opportunity lurks around the corner. Instructors concerned with communication and sociology issues can easily find a number of different lessons on how ideas and fads spread throughout different media sources.

5. Coordinate assignments.

Rather than keeping up with an e-mail train, students can use Twitter to collaborate on different projects and keep a quick reference on any changes.

6. Track a hash tag.

More ambitious educators may want to incorporate Twitter in lessons that track hash tags for another interesting lesson in how trends spread and the various ways in which people use social media to communicate ideas.

7. Connect with the community.

Partner up with local government or charitable organizations and use Twitter to reach a broad audience discussing the latest cultural or educational events in the area and encourage others in the community to attend.

8. Follow the issues.

Bring a little technology into debates by asking the class which issues they would like to follow. Subscribe to relevant hash tags and accounts from all perspectives and compile an updated resource cobbling together as much research as possible.

9. Write a story or poem.

Many writers and poets have experimented with Twitter’s 140-character format to bring new, serialized works in small chunks to attention-divided audiences. Some educators may like the idea of asking their students to apply their creative writing skills to a restrictive social media outlet.

10. Live tweet field trips.

Sick kids or paranoid parents may like the idea of following along with class field trips on Twitter, and smart phone-enabled teachers can keep them engaged with pictures and descriptions of the lessons learned.

11. Ask questions.

Monica Rankin at University of Texas-Dallas uses Twitter as a way for her students to keep a running stream of questions going during lectures – an application that works in any computer-enabled K-12 classroom.

12. Set up a foreign language news stream.

Keep foreign language students informed of current events from relevant nations while simultaneously challenging them to use their translation skills by keeping a specific news feed.

13. Role play.

Computer-savvy teachers can keep history lessons engaging for children by asking them to tweet ideas and quotes from their favorite figures. Alternately, they can also pretend to be famous fictional characters as well.

14. Take and share notes.

Classrooms with enough resources can allow students to tweet their own notes during lessons and share with their peers – perhaps even printing them out for home use if they do not have internet access.

15. Sync with a blog.

WordPress and other free blogging websites sync with Twitter, posting notices of new entries. Educators who require students to keep their own blogs may want to follow updates using Twitter rather than having to click through bookmarks for each one.

16. Chat with industry professionals.

Older high school students who need to explore their career options before spiriting away to college benefit from real-world discussions with professionals in paths they’re considering. Twitter helps them connect with primary sources and facilitates educational communication.

17. Connect classrooms.

Teachers and students from around the world can collaborate on projects using Twitter as a communication tool that simultaneously educates students in different classroom and cultural protocols.

18. Facilitate research.

Typing keywords into Twitter’s search engine wields every microblog entry on the subject, providing an excellent way for students to research ideas, opinions and movements as they happen.

19. Engage parents.

Parents of K-12 students interested in daily classroom activities can follow teacher tweets discussing some of the lessons learned and any progress on projects with one quick and handy trip to a dedicated Twitter feed.

20. Become politically active.

Any teachers responsible for educating kids in politics or government may like the idea of encouraging their students to use Twitter as a forum to make society aware of issues that affect them by retweeting relevant events, news stories, blog posts and other media revolving around a chosen theme.

21. Track the government.

Numerous local and national government organizations maintain their own Twitter feeds, and educators working within any of their related subjects may like the idea of compiling them all into 1 convenient space for a quick reference.

22. Write reviews.

Any media studies classes – including literature – can use the Twitter format to write microreviews of the different movies, books and music devoured.

23. Post sample questions.

Save paper by using Twitter to post up sample questions for upcoming exams for students to research and consider without ever having to put down their computers.

24. Post supplementary materials.

Retweet articles, news stories, opinions and other interesting tidbits relevant to a specific class as an excellent, convenient supplement to classroom lectures.

25. Facilitate discussions.

Take supplementary material postings one step further by requiring students to post their own succinct responses to the main theses and open up intelligent discussions with one another.

26. Play the stock market game.

High school economics teachers frequently use stock market games as a real-world project involving the fundamentals of investing. Students can use Twitter to follow the businesses, markets and analysts that help them make wise choices with their (fake) money.

27. Live tweet a book or a movie.

Ask students to use the microblog format to record their initial reactions and responses to movies and books as they indulge in them for class. It certainly makes for an excellent lesson in how perceptions change over time as more information and perspectives become available.

28. Make recommendations.

Benefitting both students and their parents, teachers may like the idea of using Twitter to discuss films and documentaries or books to check out at home – preferably as a family. Doing so especially benefits younger students, as they typically perform better in high school and college if their parents are involved in their lives and educations.

29. Plan field trips.

Encourage parental engagement by asking them to voice their opinions on where to go and where to avoid when it comes to planning field trips. While it is impossible to please everyone, moms and dads will appreciate the transparency and ability to connect more with what their children are doing and learning in school.

30. Design a background.

Art teachers curious about how Twitter can benefit their classes may like the idea of asking students to design their own creative backgrounds for friends and family – either digitally or using traditional media scanned into a computer.

31. Compare religions.

Because so many religious figures and institutions use Twitter to discuss their beliefs and teachings, it stands as an awesome resource for liberal arts educators to compare and contrast the various faiths that have shaped humanity since its inception.

32. Post syllabus changes.

E-mail inboxes often filter out important messages as junk and students lose papers or miss class for various reasons, meaning that some of them may miss out on important announcements regarding any changes to the syllabus. Twitter keeps a permanent record of any new bits of information so nobody has any excuse for missing out.

33. Take a poll.

Teachers who enjoy polling their students on what activities to do or their opinions on current events may want to keep a running tab of results they find when working in conjunction with SurveyMonkey or another similar site.

34. Hook up with Google Earth.

Numerous educators have found creative ways to blend Twitter and Google Earth together for human and physical geography lessons where they use the former’s “location” feature to learn all about new places on the globe.

35. Teach probability.

One immensely creative teacher discovered a way to introduce his students to the basics of probability by asking a broad question and charting the answers he received through @ replies.

36. Go on a scavenger hunt.

Narrow the old, reliable internet scavenger hunt to cover only Twitter, varying the degree of difficulty depending on the age range of the students. Much older kids may appreciate the added challenge of deciphering riddles that pull from their lessons.

37. Get a little bit postmodern.

Another way English teachers can stimulate their students with Twitter involves having them compile and edit coherent stories based on pre-existing tweets by other people.

38. Channel that inner Lois Lane.

Send journalism students out into the world of microblogging and assign them to poll fellow students or ask questions of experts for use in assignments on trends, opinions and current events and research.

39. Track weather patterns.

Set up a class Twitter feed that discusses the weather in different areas, charting the findings on Google Maps or Google Earth and making note of the patterns that crop up along the way.

40. Create a character.

Creative writing or English students of all ages can participate in making up a story character of their very own, with each individual contributing a sentence or 2 towards a personality or back story. Teachers can then ask them to write their own stories based on this collectively created literary figure.

41. Create a progressive poem.

Similar to the collaborative character mentioned above, students can also compile their own poetry where everyone contributes one line that flows with the one written before.

42. Play word games.

Post a daily challenge asking kids to unscramble anagrams, contribute synonyms or antonyms or give a definition for any vocabulary or spelling words as another way of getting them more involved in their language lessons.

43. Post math puzzles.

Math, chemistry or physics teachers need not feel left out from playing games and posting teasers on Twitter. Like their literate contemporaries, they can microblog a daily problem for students to solve and tweet back the answer.

44. Post videos.

Educators with access to digital video cameras may like the idea of using Twiddeo to post in-class skits, walkthroughs of field trips, clips of their travel exploits and anything else relevant to their students’ lessons.

45. Create an online art gallery.

Kids studying art and the humanities can curate their own shows based around creators, movements, regions, time periods or thematic elements that they enjoy, using Twitter as a way to show the world what they think belongs in a specific exhibit.

46. Play with TweetStats.

TweetStats allows users to input a specific account name and look at a bar graph of the microblog’s activity. Students can search for tweeps in their school or town and gather data on how and when their neighbors use Twitter.

47. Network with other educators.

Beyond using it for lessons, teachers who Twitter have at their disposal a vast network of like-minded professionals with whom they can trade ideas and insights regarding social networking in the classroom and other topics.

48. Direct message students and parents.

Because e-mail filtering frequently ships important messages off to the trash can, some educators may prefer talking privately with kids and their parents via the direct message feature on Twitter instead.

49. Join #educhat.

One of the best ways to connect with other teachers and keep up with the latest trends and philosophies regarding education by subscribing to the #educhat hash tag and participating in the community.

50. Summarize.

At the conclusion of each lecture, ask students to type a 140-character or less summary of what they have learned and perhaps pose any questions to be considered in the next class.

Twitter’s classroom capabilities are limited only by an educator’s imagination. Though many believe its limitations prevent valuable applications to an academic setting, teachers in the know realize the microblog’s potential to establish a nurturing classroom for students of all ages.

A roommate can either make your college experience more enjoyable, or make your life a living hell. When you live with someone, there are countless things that can cause problems, but it’s important not to let these problems get out of hand. If there is a problem, the first thing you need to do is talk it out. Go directly to your roommate and honestly let them know what has been bothering you. Approach the situation respectfully and be open to hearing your roommate’s side of the story as well. Once things are all out in the open, it will be easier to compromise and come up with a solution that will be beneficial to everyone.

Next, when you have too much to do and too little time to do it, you can start to feel out of control rather quickly. It’s important that you learn how to manage your time early on so you don’t find yourself pulling an all nighter right before that midterm. In college, most of your work is done outside of class, which means your free time shouldn’t all be spent watching TV. At the beginning of each week, take the time to organize your schedule and figure out what you need to accomplish each day. Make note of upcoming assignments and tests and set aside times that you can work on or study for them. Managing your time wisely can be as simple as making a plan and sticking to it.

Finally, college is demanding, and if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to meet those demands. Chances are that Snickers bar you grabbed between classes isn’t exactly going to give you the energy you need to make it through the day. To avoid crashing later, try to make healthy food choices now. This may mean replacing candy with fruit or putting some vegetables on your plate at dinner instead of macaroni and cheese. Also, now that you are no longer on the soccer team, you might find that it is a little harder to be as active as you were in high school. Take the time to check out your college’s recreational center or see if there are any intramural teams you can sign up for. Exercising regularly will help you stay healthy and improve your mood, concentration, and energy levels.

The first step is to adopt a minimalist perspective. Store everything that you do not absolutely need at your parents’ place back home. You don’t need 20 changes of clothing, your shot glass collection or cardboard cutouts of your favorite celebrities. Also, consider sharing certain items that both you and your roommate will use, such as blow dryers, mini-fridges and televisions — even clothing, if you’re both the same size.

The second step is to get on board with your roommate for a unified theme. Remember: balance helps create the illusion of space. Nothing makes a room feel more crammed than having one wall covered in heavy metal posters and the other scattered with loose photos of friends. Speaking of wall art, too many unframed posters and photos make a room feel cluttered. Choose one to three of your favorites and frame them simply in the same frame style. This looks cleaner and classier, even if it’s just a Fight Club poster. The same is true for photos. Better to have a few of your favorites in small, individual frames than to have them scattered on your wall or on a tacky, space-wasting corkboard.

Instead of wasting your wall space with too many posters, use it for practical purposes, such as storage. Install hooks to hang items like backpacks, toiletry bags, keys and jewelry, and install wall-shelving for books and other items to create more floor and surface space. Under-the-bed storage is useful for stowing things that you don’t need every day, and shoe storage is an absolute must for those with more than four pairs of shoes. You may even consider adding a large mirror to your most visible wall, as they can also create the illusion of space (and provide an extra area to get dressed if your roommate is hogging the bathroom mirror).

Finally, consider propping your bed up with cinder blocks to create more storage space for items you don’t use every day. Some beds are also capable of stacking into bunk beds, which can open up a whole side of your room for a small sitting area. With cooperation from your roommate, you can make your dorm into a place you can breathe easy instead of feeling claustrophobic.

Young adults aged 18-24, or traditional college-aged students, are considered particularly at risk for identity theft because it takes this age group much longer on average to realize that their identity was stolen. Young adults also tend to lose more money on average through identity theft than other age categories. So what steps can you take to protect yourself?

One of the first things you can do is sign up for identity theft protection at your bank. Many major banks offer this service to their customers for a small fee. These services usually mail you a quarterly credit check that will give you a head’s up anytime a credit card is opened in your name, an address has changed in your name or other tell-tale indicators that your identity has been stolen. Identity theft protection sometimes also covers the cost of an insurance policy that reimburses you for lost money if you fall victim to identity theft. If you don’t want this service, you can opt for getting a free copy of your credit report online once a year.

A practical item to have on hand to prevent identity thieves from getting their hands on hard copy personal information is a cross-cut paper shredder. After you have reviewed all of your paper bills and credit card statements, either stow them away in a lockable file cabinet or shred them so that no one can make off with your name, address and account numbers. An even better idea is to go paperless so that identity thieves can’t get their hands on hard copies of your personal information at all.

It’s also important to get in the habit of logging out of your e-mail and social network accounts when you leave a public computer on campus all the time, every time. This keeps strangers from accessing vital personal information electronically. Install antivirus software and spyware protection on your personal computer or laptop.

Finally, do not keep your Social Security card in your wallet, purse or backpack. Since there are relatively few occasions that you will actually need it, there’s no reason for it to be so easily accessible. Memorize it and keep it in a safe deposit box or locked file cabinet.