Harry Potter

Bill Gates Has Always Been the Wealthiest Man: Beloit's Mindset List!

They've grown up with "selfies," same-sex marriage, Facebook "likes," and Harry Potter. That's right. The Mindset List for the Class of 2018 has arrived!

Beloit College has released the Mindset List with 51 more observations about the cultural reference points of fall’s entering class of freshmen. Since 1998, the Wisconsin college has marked the beginning of a new academic year with publication of this list of cultural touchstones for the incoming class. The brainchild of Beloit’s former Public Affairs Director Ron Nief and Keefer Professor of the Humanities Tom McBride, the Mindset List was originally created as a reminder to faculty to be aware of dated references. But it has taken on a life of its own. In fact, for the last few classes of incoming freshmen, there has always been a Mindset List!

Enjoy! And for more fun, visit their website here.

Writing the Essay: Pushing the Right Brick for Diagon Alley

Today, we welcome guest blogger Irena Smith, a writer, teacher, and independent college consultant, on how to find the story you will tell in your college essay. Spoiler alert: it might be as simple as knowing the right brick to push to enter Diagon Alley or having a reputation for eating like a defensive lineman. 

There is an old saw, beloved of debate teachers and public speaking coaches, that goes something like this: at any given funeral, given the choice between lying in the coffin or delivering the eulogy, most people would rather be in the coffin. The point is not a subtle one: not many people love public speaking.