Girls in STEM: A New Generation of Women in Science

wh.gov: Girls in STEM: A New Generation of Women in Science

Girls in STEM, featuring young women scientists and engineers who wowed the President and the nation at the White House Science Fair in February, shines a spotlight on these extraordinary young role models and their exciting projects -- ranging from a machine that detects buried landmines, to a prosthetic hand device, to a lunchbox that uses UV light to kill bacteria on food. http://www.whitehouse.gov/stem

Check out Angela Zhang of Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, CA 00:58-01:33

Student Loan Interest Rates Loom as Political Battle

Student Loan Interest Rates Loom as Political Battle By TAMAR LEWIN, NYTimes
President Obama is pushing to retain a low interest rate for student loans, but Republicans counter that such a move is a fiscally irresponsible attempt to buy the youth vote.

Should teachers and students be Facebook friends?

Should teachers and students be Facebook friends? By Karen Matthews, Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Should students and teachers ever be friends on Facebook? School districts across the country, including the nation's largest, are weighing that question as they seek to balance the risks of inappropriate contact with the academic benefits of social networking.

Whose Offer Is Sweetest?

Whose Offer Is Sweetest? By TANYA CALDWELL, NYTimes

Expert advice on comparing financial aid award letters.

When the Calculator Says 1 + 1 = 4

When the Calculator Says 1 + 1 = 4 By MATT FLEGENHEIMER, NYTimes

The new “net price calculators” are supposed to tell you what college will really cost. But like all things in their infancy, there are growing pains.

A Second Opinion: The Post-Baccalaureate

A Second Opinion: The Post-Baccalaureate

By CECILIA CAPUZZI SIMON, NYTimes

For older students, post-bac programs can resuscitate, or initiate, dreams of practicing medicine. But medical training is a long, risky journey.

Pre-Med’s New Priorities: Heart and Soul and Social Science

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL, NYTimes

Can the MCAT identify that ethereal mix of scientist, humanist and spiritualist that makes a good doctor?

•  Graphic: Examining the Would-Be Doctor: By Major, Grades, Test Scores

Nonfiction Curriculum Enhanced Reading Skills in New York City Schools

Nonfiction Curriculum Enhanced Reading Skills in New York City Schools

According to a new study, children in New York City schools who learned to read using an experimental curriculum that emphasized nonfiction texts outperformed those at other schools.

UC grows more selective as applications flood in

UC grows more selective as applications flood in by Matt Krupnick, Contra Costa Times and SanJoseMercury.com

Admissions fall to 66 percent of applicants statewide, although record number of California residents get in.

Document: UC admissions for Fall 2012 (preliminary data, April 2012)

High School, in Three Years

High School, in Three Years

wsj.com

More high school students are graduating in three years. Fueling the trend are state scholarships, the growth in online classes and the use of proficiency testing to earn credits.

• Video: The Push for 3 Years of High School

Ignoring College Rankings to Find My No. 1 School

Ignoring College Rankings to Find My No. 1 School
NYTimes, The Choice Blog

Eric Eichelberger, a senior at Marist School in Atlanta, says "the best school for me is not necessarily the one with the highest rankings."

How to Compare Financial Aid Award Letters

How to Compare Financial Aid Award Letters
NYTimes The Choice Blog
Two experts, Zac Bissonnette and Kalman A. Chany, offer advice on comparing award letters.

Trying to Find a Measure for How Well Colleges Do

Trying to Find a Measure for How Well Colleges Do
By RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA, NYTimes.com

What information exists on how well colleges teach their students has often been hidden from view. But that may be changing — including with the use of standardized tests.