Instructions for use:





These article excerpts may be used in a variety of ways – newsletters, email attachments,
blogs, handouts, etc.
You do not need to receive written permission or to pay a royalty fee to use these excerpts –
as long as each one used appears in its entirety, including the “excerpted from” footnote.
Simply copy and paste your chosen article from this document to use in your communications.
When using one of these excerpts, please display the image of the book’s cover that is shown
below. Simply right-click the image and save it to your computer for use.
If you have questions or comments, please contact permissions@usnews.com.
Article 1
11 Hot College Majors With Strong Job Prospects
Looking for a direction with terrific growth potential? U.S. News & World Report recently delved into a
few hot majors you might want to consider:
1. Biomedical Engineering: The folks standing at the intersection of the life sciences, engineering and
medicine are working on such advances as an artificial kidney to help 2 million people worldwide
give up their dependency on dialysis, "designer" blood clots created from artificial platelets to save
wounded soldiers on the battlefield, and the use of stem cells to build new blood vessels to repair
damaged hearts.
2&3. Biometrics & Forensic Science: As more experts are needed to operate the increasingly
sophisticated tools being invented to prevent and investigate crimes, colleges have begun stepping up to fill
the need. Biometrics teaches students how to build automated identification devices, such as facial
recognition systems. Forensic science focuses on using technology to analyze evidence.
4. Computer Game Design: The global market for video and online games is expected to reach $82
billion by 2017, compared to $67 billion in 2012, according to DFC Intelligence, a San Diego-based
market research company. So it's hardly surprising that 212 colleges and universities now offer majors
in game design, development and programming.
5. Cybersecurity: Large companies and governments are moving aggressively to protect their computer
systems. Between 2014 and 2016, the Pentagon plans to add more than 4,000 experts to the current
900 at its Cyber Command. Specialists in cybersecurity can also expect to find openings in health care,
keeping patients' medical records private; energy, where the online systems controlling water and power
supplies are susceptible to attack; and at security services firms.
6& 7. Data Science & Business Analytics: The International Data Corporation, a Framingham, Mass.based technology market research firm, says the global volume of computerized data is doubling every
two years. This will help create some 4.4 million jobs worldwide by 2015, estimates technology research firm
Gartner Inc.
8. Petroleum Engineering: New technology such as horizontal drilling and multistage hydraulic fracturing
(fracking) have opened up shale formations thought unproductive 10 years ago, and a new crop of
petroleum engineers will be needed to tap these reserves; half of the current supply are expected to
retire in the next decade.
9. Public Health: Two factors give public health majors rosy prospects: the threat of global epidemics,
and the part of health reform that focuses on prevention.
10. Robotics: Metra Martech, a market research firm based in London, has projected that between 2012
and 2020, robotics will create from 2 million to 3.5 million new jobs - hardly surprising in a field helping
to expand human capabilities across every walk of life. Anesthesia bots are assisting in surgery,
oceanographers are using underwater robots to map the underside of Arctic ice, and NASA's robotic rovers
are currently surveying the surface of Mars.
11. Sustainability: New and retooled environmental degree programs are placing fresh emphasis on
practical problem-solving. One solution-oriented curriculum spans law, business, science, resource
management and ethics.
Excerpted from “11 Hot Majors That Can Lead to a Great Job” (which provides additional information, including leading
colleges that offer majors in these fields) in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2014. Available at
usnews.com/college14. Copyright © 2013 U.S. News & World Report, L.P. Used by permission of U.S. News & World
Report, L.P. All rights reserved. U.S. News allows republication of this excerpt without specific written permission or
payment of royalties, provided that the excerpt is republished in its entirety without any modifications and includes this
notice. Please contact permissions@usnews.com with any questions.
Article 2
Admissions Officers Speak Out: Application Mistakes To Avoid
Some types of mistakes on college applications drive admissions staffers crazy (and sometimes send the applicant
straight to the rejection pile). U.S. News asked pros from around the country to weigh in on what they’d strongly
rather you not do. Here’s a sampling from the 13 goofs they identified:
Let parents take the lead
“It doesn’t tell us that a student is interested if we get 15 phone calls from Mom,” says Tom Weede, vice president
for enrollment management at Butler University. “We want families involved. But the student needs to take the
lead.”
Submit a lengthy résumé
“At my stage in my career, I shouldn’t have a three-page résumé. So no 17-year-old should be submitting a threepage résumé,” advises Leigh A. Weisenburger, dean of admission and financial aid at Bates College . “I know many
college counselors encourage students to write one as a process to help the kid recognize all she’s accomplished,
but we don’t need to see it if you’ve filled out the application properly.”
Hit submit without proofreading
“Using spell-check isn’t enough – you have to proofread,” warns Debra Chermonte, dean of admissions and
financial aid at Oberlin College. Admissions officers tell of one applicant who described having an “international
bachelorette” degree and another who wrote a passionate essay about the musical “Loin King.”
Wait until the last minute
“Many students who submit on the date of the deadline assume that everything transmitted and was received. But
sometimes things are lost in cyberspace,” says Julie Shimabukuro, director of undergraduate admissions at
Washington University in St. Louis. “We try to give a few days’ grace period, but colleges and universities expect
you to confirm that your application has been received and that it is complete. Check your status through the
college’s or university’s website first to see if everything is there.”
Write a one-size-fits-all essay
“If you write an essay for a university, and then you write that essay again and it’s just a matter of changing the
name of the university, then it’s probably going to be a poor essay. And yes, we have gotten students who forget
to change ‘Northwestern’ to “Rice,’” reports Chris Muñoz, vice president for enrollment at Rice University. “Why,
specifically, have you chosen us? Demonstrating true interest and care can make a difference on the margin.”
Trump up your extracurriculars
“We want to know where a student’s passions lie, and genuine interests tend not to appear suddenly in senior
year,” states Sarah Richardson, director of admissions and scholarships for Creighton University. “I’d rather see
quality over quantity. Include as much detail as you can so that we can understand what kind of a fit you’ll be for
our institution.”
Fail to check our requirements
“There’s nothing more disappointing than to review an application of a student who might otherwise be
competitive for admission and realize she is ineligible because she didn’t take the required courses, says Kelly A.
Walter , associate vice president and executive director of admissions for Boston University. “For very focused and
specific programs and majors like business, you’re required to have specific quantitative skills. Or for physical
therapy and athletic training, a very strong foundation in both science and math is a critical factor in the
admissions process. So look at all the curriculum requirements for things you may be interested in.”
Excerpted from “Oops! These Goofs May Ruin Your Chances” in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2014.
Available at usnews.com/college14. Copyright © 2013 U.S. News & World Report, L.P. Used by permission of U.S. News &
World Report, L.P. All rights reserved. U.S. News allows republication of this excerpt without specific written permission or
payment of royalties, provided that the excerpt is republished in its entirety without any modifications and includes this
notice. Please contact permissions@usnews.com with any questions.
Article 3
How To Get A Great Financial Aid Package
Heather McDonnell associate dean of financial aid and admission at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y., was
shopping at the grocery store a couple years ago when a man came up to her and appealed for mercy.It was a father
who recognized McDonnell from a high school presentation she had given in the community, and who wanted to
sweet-talk her into handing over a little more cash to cover the college's tuition (now $47,000 a year). McDonnell
prefers that parentsemail their appeals, but she can certainly sympathize with that dad's desperation. "We've been
witnessing an erosion of state and federal funding for years," McDonnell says.
Still, resourceful parents and students will find that there's money out there for those who know where to look
-- and how to speak up when that fat welcome package announces a scrawnier-than-expected award.
Before you try to knock down the price tag on your child's dream school, it's vital to understand the elements of
the typical aid package. The first includes federal need-based grants, work-study funding and subsidized
Stafford loans (meaning the government pays the interest for you while you're in school) based on your
family's financial information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The state may provide
some funds, too. Then there are merit scholarships offered by the institutions themselves for academic
achievements or talents. Finally, there are federal loans that aren't subsidized, for anyone who wants to
borrow extra, and parent PLUS loans for Mom and Dad.
Schools have plenty of leeway in how they balance grants and loans - - a much-desired viola player or student
government president with perfect SAT scores might get 75 percent grants and 25 percent loans, say, while you're
offered just the opposite - - and you're clearly better off with the biggest possible handout. But you can't assume
you'll save by limiting your choices to public schools, warns Beth Walker, a financial planner at Strategic Wealth
Associates in Colorado Springs."The majority of what state schools have to offer is loans,'' she says. Even though when it
comes to well-endowed private colleges the "retail sticker price is considerably higher, they can give away more free
money."
Linda Parker, director of financial aid at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., says she often reconsiders students'
financial aid packages when family circumstances have changed -- a parent has lost a job or become ill. Or perhaps
you face an unusual challenge that wasn't accounted for on the FAFSA form.
To help families in the struggle to figure out what college is really going to cost, the Department of Education now
requires all schools to post "net price calculators" on their websites. The calculators use financial information
provided by parents to estimate what the family's final bill will be, including room and board, and accounting for
the federal and state aid the student is most likely to receive. College advisers warn parents not to take an
estimate as gospel, though. The quality of the tool varies by school, and it may not collect all the information it needs to
spit out a truly accurate figure.
If you've snatched up all the free money you can find and need to fill in the gaps with loans, be aware of the long-
term ramifications. Subsidized loans cost less over the long run because the interest isn't accruing while the
student is in school. The government also covers it during the six months after graduation before loan repayment
starts, and during any period of deferment - - for grad school or a period of unemployment, say.
Excerpted from “Get a Great Package” in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2014. Available at
usnews.com/college14. Copyright © 2013 U.S. News & World Report, L.P. Used by permission of U.S. News & World
Report, L.P. All rights reserved. U.S. News allows republication of this excerpt without specific written permission or
payment of royalties, provided that the excerpt is republished in its entirety without any modifications and includes this
notice. Please contact permissions@usnews.com with any questions.
Article 4
Take A Layered Approach to Student Loans
If student loans are inevitable, layer them on smartly, advisers warn.
With this type of debt, "there's certainly a pecking order,” says Chuck Knepfle, director of financial aid at Clemson
University in South Carolina.
Students should always exhaust their federal options first, advisors agree; federal loans lock in interest rates and
have flexible repayment options, such as reduced monthly payments for low-earners. And students should
borrow only what they absolutely need. (There are better ways, like a job, to pay for snacks and the movies.)
"Walk back the numbers,” advises Kristine Movalli, 26, an office manager at a small Boston nonprofit, who pays
just under $700 a month from her $34,000 annual salary toward her $100,000 in student loan debt. “Know
what you're getting yourself into,” she says. “Question everything.”
Student loan calculators and payment planning websites, such as those offered by Edvisors, the College Board and
the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, can provide some clarity about expected monthly bills and the
long-term debt tab.
For most borrowers who qualify for need-based financial aid, a subsidized Stafford loan might be the best
option. Interest doesn’t accrue while students are enrolled at least half time. Families not eligible for the
subsidized Stafford can get an unsubsidized version, which begins accruing interest immediately; both allow
borrowers to defer payback until six months after graduation.
Beyond that, parents can take out federal PLUS loans, up to a max of the cost of attendance. But advisors caution
parents strongly about piling on their own debt."I always call it the loan of last resort," says Jeremy Farmer,
president and founder of Houston-based College Financial Advisors. And experts note that tapping retirement
funds and home equity can put borrowers' assets at risk.
Families who seek private funds should start with their own banks and look for guidance from their school's
financial aid office, shopping around at credit unions or state education agencies, too, to see if they can find
better deals or repayment safeguards.
Excerpted from “Beware, If You Borrow” in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2014. Available at
usnews.com/college14. Copyright © 2013 U.S. News & World Report, L.P. Used by permission of U.S. News & World
Report, L.P. All rights reserved. U.S. News allows republication of this excerpt without specific written permission or
payment of royalties, provided that the excerpt is republished in its entirety without any modifications and includes this
notice. Please contact permissions@usnews.com with any questions.
Article 5
His Key To Success: ‘Be Yourself’
Rejected by his first choice, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johan Ospina is attending Boston
University, across the Charles River. The soon-to-be computer science and engineering major observes now that
the quality of his applications improved as time went on (MIT was one of his first, and BU was his last). For
example, as part of his BU essay, he could be specific about the structure of BU buildings after viewing a YouTube
video about the campus. Another early app (and rejection): Duke. Ospina also got into North Carolina State and
High Point University. Having moved to the U.S. from Colombia at age 7, he presented himself to colleges as a
student with “an international perspective.” One lesson learned from the application process is “to be yourself,”
Ospina says. “I was trying too hard on my initial applications,” and they came off as forced. He only has to pay
$6,000 a year of the $61,000 cost, thanks to a combination of grants and work study.
SCHOOL: Needham B. Broughton High School, Raleigh, NC GPA: 3.5 (unweighted) SAT/ACT SCORES: 660 math,
640 critical reading, 660 writing; 30 composite EXTRACURRICS: marching and symphonic band, French Club,
Physics Club, Service Club and tutor to adults seeking their GED SURPRISE: There’s no computer engineering
degree at the University of Chicago. HELPING HAND: Asked a friend to read over his scholarship applications and
edit them. STRESSOR: “I got my rejections from MIT and Duke in the same week.” TIP: “Make sure you know your
math basics” before taking the SAT. He estimates that the Spark Notes website’s SAT section helped him boost his
test scores by 150 points.
Excerpted from “How They Made It In” in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2014. Available at
usnews.com/college14. Copyright © 2013 U.S. News & World Report, L.P. Used by permission of U.S. News & World
Report, L.P. All rights reserved. U.S. News allows republication of this excerpt without specific written permission or
payment of royalties, provided that the excerpt is republished in its entirety without any modifications and includes this
notice. Please contact permissions@usnews.com with any questions.
Article 6
Lesson Learned: Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
An International Baccalaureate student, Benedicte Mangala is going to UNC-Charlotte to study biology or predentistry. She also got into Meredith College in Raleigh, UNC-Greensboro and East Carolina. She heard “no” from
UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State and Appalachian State. In filling out her applications, Mangala focused on
what she sees as a real strength, her varied interests and activities. They include serving as student body vice
president and varsity cheerleader, marching band, being the school’s Queen of Hearts this year, French Club,
International Club and chorus. The most stressful part of the process: waiting to hear back on her citizenship
application while applying to college. Mangala’s family moved from the Democratic Republic of the Congo when
she was in fourth grade. She became a citizen in December, which allowed her access to financial aid.
SCHOOL: Needham B. Broughton High School, Raleigh, NC GPA: 2.67 SAT/ACT Scores: 540 math, 490 critical
reading, 550 writing; 21 COMPOSITE ESSAY TOPIC: “I defined myself as a book whose chapters foreshadow the
great things that await me” and “assemble my existence in the two worlds in which I now belong – the USA and
Congo.” NAIL-BITER: She expected to hear from her top pick, UNC-Charlotte, on April 1, but never did; the school
said it hadn’t received her fee waiver. She finally got the good word in mid-May. REALIZATION: “I did my apps
either right before deadline or on the deadline day,” which made the process more stressful than it needed to be.
ORGANIZATIONAL TOOL: A regularly updated to-do list HELPFUL: The College Board and U.S. News websites
helped her get a better sense of colleges’ personalities and which ones offered programs of interest. TIP: “Apply
early and apply to a back-up school, just in case.”
Excerpted from “How They Made It In” in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2014. Available at
usnews.com/college14. Copyright © 2013 U.S. News & World Report, L.P. Used by permission of U.S. News & World
Report, L.P. All rights reserved. U.S. News allows republication of this excerpt without specific written permission or
payment of royalties, provided that the excerpt is republished in its entirety without any modifications and includes this
notice. Please contact permissions@usnews.com with any questions.
Article 7
Negotiating His Financial Aid Package Paid Off Well
Alexander “Ryan” Hudson, the class valedictorian at Broughton High School in Raleigh, NC, heads to Wake Forest
University on a full ride, after deciding Harvard’s offer to cover half his costs didn’t cut it. As a Guy T. Carswell
Scholar at Wake Forest, Hudson believes he’ll get “a large amount of personalized support that I would not as just
another Harvard undergrad.” He’ll study physics and get funding to do undergraduate research. “I also really liked
Wake Forest when I visited it for the scholarship weekend.” (His planned visit to Harvard fell victim to Boston’s
lockdown after the marathon bombing.) The National Merit Scholar and center for the school’s football team
applied to more than a dozen schools and got into most, including Cal Tech, Duke, University of Virginia, University
of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Cornell, New York University and the University of Pennsylvania. He got rejected by
MIT and wait-listed by Johns Hopkins University. He highlighted himself as a “good strong” math and science
student. “I like STEM subjects!”
GPA: 3.9 SAT/ACT SCORES: 800 math, 800 critical reading, 730 writing; 36 composite EXTRACURRICS: Varsity
football and track, math club, Science Olympiad, emergency medical technician, tutor, Habitat for Humanity
volunteer ESSAY TOPIC: Losing weight. “I was told I had very high blood pressure. That was a wake-up call.”
BIGGEST MISTAKE: “I applied to so many schools, it was hard to keep track of everything.” As a result of being
disorganized, he was unable to do an MIT interview. TURNOFF: The “gothic stone” at Duke University. “It got on
my nerves.” WHAT COLLEGES WANT: “They want to see you passionate about something.” BRIGHT IDEA: Used an
Excel spread sheet to track his apps, SATs, ACTs, CSS profile, scholarships, admissions officers and contact info. TIP:
When it comes to financial aid, “don’t take the first number they give you.” He appealed eight schools’ awards and
got all of them to give him more money, from $2,000 to a whopping $30,000.
Excerpted from “How They Made It In” in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2014. Available at
usnews.com/college14. Copyright © 2013 U.S. News & World Report, L.P. Used by permission of U.S. News & World
Report, L.P. All rights reserved. U.S. News allows republication of this excerpt without specific written permission or
payment of royalties, provided that the excerpt is republished in its entirety without any modifications and includes this
notice. Please contact permissions@usnews.com with any questions.