Typical Universities have a School of Information Technology that offer a variety of degree programs, some common ones are: Information Systems, Computer Science, and Web Development. All three require decent self-motivation to spend hours in front of a computer learning how to code by, you guessed it, coding. The IT classes have mainly have strong practical emphasis on the application of computers, systems, and networking techniques to real world problems, so at least you know that what you are learning you will use, and believe me, the skills are in high demand. IT Practical skills and applications are balanced with exposure to the knowledge base that underlies the field of computing. A core of 30 plus hours provides a common foundation for most IT degree programs.

If there was a University of IT, the main programs would be Information Systems and Computer Science programs prepare a student for an application development (want to build iPhone apps) oriented computing career, although, there are important differences in the context of the work to be performed, the types of problems to be solved, and the types of systems to be designed and built. Starting positions for either program include such job titles as programmer or programmer or analyst, which usually have very decent wages.

The only extra that the ideal University of IT may want is a minor department in business. Department minors are intended to help majors in other departments focus on specific skills and electives which are relevant for their career needs. For the University of IT students, I would suggest a business minor, such as marketing or management, as these are skills that if a developer has, he or she is much better off in the work place, either in an organization, or as an entrepreneur.
Good luck to all of you soon to be IT professionals!

In the past, I have used the traditional manner of paper and pencil, but it never felt right to me. I’ve also tried my best to adapt to the common agenda that is commonly given out freely at college orientation, but that never did it for me either. (I think it was because I like to have my tasks laid out in one list, opposed to scattered throughout in calendar format). So anyway, if you’re like me and feel like tossing the paper and pen aside, leap into the digital age and give one of these web based apps a try.

Todo.ly

This relatively new to do list manager has the smoothest interface that I have come across. It is simple, and uses color coding to separate the priority of certain tasks. Separating tasks, is also really easy. Just create separate projects for things like schoolwork, home stuff, personal task, etc. Custom icons help to easily distinguish between each project and filter.

Todo.ly is however, missing a few key features like email reminders. They do however, have a feedback sections that allows users to vote and suggest new features, so they should be added soon.

Teamly

I actually first heard about Teamly yesterday while reading this post on WorkAwesome.com. The great thing about Teamly, is that is puts a focus on your most imortant tasks. This is great because it is sometimes hard to get going when you’re staring at a list of endless tasks. To combat this, Teamly only displays your top priorities for the day, week, and month.

Teamly has some kick-ass features like email integration, reports, and tracking. The web app is free for individuals, but costs a little cash if you’re looking o work with a team.

Ta-Da List

This app is pretty stripped down compared to the two above. Focusing purely on simplicity and putting your to-do list right in your face, Ta-Da list is perfet for those who want an effective task manager without all of the fancy jazz to go along with it. With Ta-Dal Lists, you can easily create lists organize tasks under these lists.

Although not quite as feature rich as some other to do list managers, Ta-Da List does allow you to email yourself a copy of the list so you can take it to go on your smartphone.

Toodledo

I haven’t had much time to expirement with this application, but it seems solid. It has tons of features like goal setting, file storage, a scheduler (for those of us who like to procrastinate), and list sharing.  Unfortunately though, many of its features can only be unlocked with a paid account ($14.95/year).

With Toodledo, you are able to share your lists publicly, which is great if you’re trying to collaborate on a project with other students. along with this ability, it  out-features many other apps on this list (especailly true is you’re willing to shell out for a pro account). Another plus is the available iphone app, so you can manage your tasks from anywhere.

Remember the Milk

Through all of my testing, RTM has been the task manager that I have settled with. It is easy to use, and has the two key features that I look for in a task manager, email reminders and task priority. Email reminders can be scheduled to be delivered to your phone on a daily basis, which will give you a run-down on what you need to accomplish for the day. Tasks can also be easily ordered by priority levels 1, 2, 3, and 4.

RMT has an easy to use interface that uses tabs to separate tasks into different sections. You can also search, and sort all of your tasks, so they are always easy to find. Adding a new task is super-simple as well. Just type something like, “English Paper 3 days” and RMT will add it to your task list with the due date in three days from now. Quickly navigating and changing your tasks is also made simple, with RMT keyboard shortcuts. They take a minute to learn, but once mastered, you’ll no longer waste any time fooling around with your task list.

Wrapping it Up

That about does it for the to-do list web apps that I have tested.  Give a couple of these a try, and see how much more productive you can become. Also, if you know of any other web based apps, do a quick write up in the comment section.

What is Student of Fortune?

StudentofFortune.com is a marketplace for students to exchange homework help for money, and vice versa. It is a win-win situation for both sides. If you’re struggling with school, Student of Fortune may be just the place to find the help you need to get back in gear. Alternatively, if you’re Mr. straight A student, than you are bound to be able to tutor a struggling student or two and earn some cash while doing so.

Why use Student of Fortune?

• Get help with difficult homework questions.
• Get paid to help out others in need.
• Because your friends are useless when it comes to homework help.
• Very large user base.
• Quick responses
• Free signup.

Check it Out!

Right now you may be thinking this is too good to be true. Well it’s about to get even better. The top tutor has made over $150,000 (that is not a typo)! Talk about getting college paid for! I haven’t yet used the site, but I just signed up for an account, and I’m ready to start earning. If you haven’t yet, head over to StudentofFortune.com and get a free account.

1. Five Essential Books For College Students via CollegeInfoGeek

2. Simple Guide to Speaking Foreign Languages via ZenHabits

3. 7 Secrets of the Super Organized via DumbLittleMan

4. 11 Things to Avoid in 2011 via Stepcase Lifehack

5. How to Break Bad Habits via LifeHacker

Unfortunately, many of us are feeling a bit unprepared as we reach this point in the semester. All of  those classes we skipped and notes we hardly wrote down are coming back to bite us in the ass. It’s a terrible feeling. Somehow though, this feeling of unpreparedness  gets us every time during the weeks leading up to exams. Even when we have a good set of notes and attended every lecture, we still feel a little uneasy about our approaching exams.

Luckily though, Justin from Starfolie.com has released a free report about getting through exams. He specifically gives his advice on how to succeed with exams even when you’re unprepared –just what I needed. Throughout the guide, Justin provides advice from his own experience, as well as from his observations. Here is an excerpt from his free report:

We’re going to form your study strategy based on how professors generally create exams: With more questions and marks being given to content covered in the second half of the course (post midterm).

As such, your strategy is to begin studying the end of the semester and work your way backwards through the course. This way you thoroughly cover the material with the highest likelihood of appearing on the exam.

Along with providing the helpful hint of studying course material by starting at the end and working your way back to the beginning, Justin supplies us with other methods of review that make preparing for exams less stressful, even when you’re pressed for time.

As you know, there are two kinds of exams, essay exams and question based exams. This free report covers unique methods of preparing for both types. So, ff you want to feel a little bit less stressed about your upcoming exams, give this report a quick read-through. You won’t regret it.

CollegeThrive’s Links of the Week is a weekly roundup of some of my favorite articles I’ve stumbled across while browsing. The links will always be beneficial to college students.

1. 5 Personal Management Skills for Being Awesome via WorkAwesome

2. Building a Smarter To-Do List via 43 Folders

3. Improving the Student/Professor Relationship via CollegeCandy

4. Survive Your Finals Hell Week via HackCollege

5. How Motivation Works via Goodlife Zen

6. Study Abroad Programs France Take advantage of our study abroad programs in France and explore the culture of cities like Paris.

StudySuccessful is a blog about living a successful college life. This does not only mean I write about study hacks, but also about lifestyle design and personal development. In the last couple of months my blog definitly grew more in this way.

In this free course you can learn different ways (from psychology behind motivation to crazy breakfasts) to get motivated for your school work. There is a lot to benefit from, the only thing you have to do is ACT!

Mint.com Personal Finances

CollegeThrive’s Links of the Week is a weekly roundup of some of my favorite articles I’ve stumbled across while browsing. The links will always be beneficial to college students.

1. The 7 Essential Rules to Optimal Health & Weight loss via ZenHabits

Getting in shape is easier than you think. Just be sure to avoid bogus “diets” and live your life in a healthier way. Leo outlines the seven essential rules for a better body in this informative article.

2. Intro to Cooking: Hangover Helpers via CollegeCandy

Hangover’s are terribly painful. They can effect your head, stomach, and whole body. If you’ve had a night of heavy drinking and need a cure, you might want to have a look at these hangover recipes.

3. Avoiding All-Nighters via College Advice Blog

Procrastination often leads to cramming for a test, which usually consists of staying up all night before a test studying. This is a terrible habit to get into, and can be a difficult one to break. Check out this article for a better approach to studying and avoid those all-nighters.

CollegeThrive’s Links of the Week is a weekly roundup of some of my favorite articles I’ve stumbled across while browsing. The links will always be beneficial to college students.

1. The Best Note-Taking Apps via LifeHacker

Increasingly more, smartphones are always by our side at our ready. If you have an iPhone or Android smartphone, you should have a look at these note-taking apps, and leave the lined paper at home.

2. 5,000 Janitors in the US with PhD’s via Gizmodo

Maybe you haven’t noticed, but there are a lot of people going to college these days. With the job market far from in its best shape, it’s no wonder that millions of college grads can’t find employment in their desired field. Check out this article to view the shocking statistics.

3. 30 Days to Success via StevePavlina

Do you have a goal that you’ve had trouble attaining in the past? Maybe you have been trying to eliminate procrastination, become an early riser, or start running. No matter the new habit you are trying to start or goal you dream of reaching, beginning with a “30-day trial” will jumpstart you on your way.

4. 6 Ways for Teens to Avoid Distractions & Finish Homework via ZenHabits

Distractions can really kill a good study session. The best way to get around them is to eliminate them. Learn how to balance both your social life and schoolwork in this article written by Leo’s seventeen year old daughter.

5. 8 Most Annoying things on Campus via CollegeCandy

Check out this humorous, yet true article from our friends over at CollegeCandy, and be ready to laugh at how true these things are. From bad parking to the twin sized dorm bed, you are sure to find an annoyance that hits home at your campus.