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September is fast approaching — which means it will soon be time for school (again). But in addition to dusting off the old backpack and putting new batteries in the graphing calculator, there are other ways to prepare for the semester. For instance, you may want to check-out a classic college movie. The question is which one?

What is the greatest college movie of all time? Below is a list of ten contenders (and perhaps a few pretenders) gleaned from similar lists floating around the internet. Look for your favorite — or one you haven’t seen yet — and then snag it next time you’re at the video store. After all, a college movie is a lot like college itself — it’s much better the second time around …

Here they are, in no particular order.


Animal House (1978). Starring John Belushi. Frat wars, toga parties, and John Belushi dressed like a pirate — what’s not to like? As Roger Ebert put it, “The movie is vulgar, raunchy, ribald, and occasionally scatological. It is also the funniest comedy since Mel Brooks made The Producers.” Animal House did for college movies what Star Wars did for science fiction — it took a loose affiliation and turned it into a genre.

With Honors (1994). Starring Joe Pesci and Brendan Fraser. One of the few “serious” films in this genre — that is, if any Brendan Fraser film can be considered truly serious. The story focuses on an apprehensive student named Monty who accidentally loses the one and only copy of his thesis to a bum named Simon. In exchange for his thesis, Monty must provide room and board to Simon — who also ends up teaching Monty lessons about life not covered in the college curriculum.

Old School (2003). Starring Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, and Vince Vaughn. A story of three middle-aged men trying to recoup their former glory by moving onto a college campus and forming their own fraternity. Acclaimed as our generation’s Animal House, Old School is has “a few more backaches, a lot more wrinkles, and plenty more morals hanging over the characters’ heads.” (Michael Szymanski, Zap2it.com)

Good Will Hunting (1997). Starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck. Once heralded as the “Rocky of the 90s,” the story of a boy-genius-makes-good hasn’t aged quite as well as its male leads. Still, Good Will Hunting has undeniable heart and several memorable lines. As Phil Villarreal of the Arizona Daily Star once put it, “the film succeeds not because of an overall arc, but as a chain of small moments that glimmer in their minuscule perfection.”

Back to School (1986). Starring Rodney Dangerfield. When his son expresses concern about going to college, millionaire businessman Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield) decides to enroll in college himself. Though the gags are familiar and formulaic, Dangerfield gives what most critics consider his finest performance in a feature film — and yes, they do mean that as a compliment.

Revenge of the Nerds (1984). Starring Robert Carradine and Anthony Edwards. The original movie poster said it all — “They’ve been laughed at, picked on, and put down. But now it’s time for the odd to get even.” It’s the story a group of lovable nerds at a fictional college waging war against their age-old nemesis — the jocks. Although a precursor to such films as American Pie and Van Wilder, “when compared to most of today’s gross-out extravaganzas … this exceedingly upbeat saga seems almost wholesome.” (James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette)

Rudy (1993). Starring Sean Astin. A classic “unlikely hero” story of an undersized boy who always dreamed of playing football at the University of Notre Dame. Whatever Rudy lacks in size, skills, and brains, he makes up for in sheer determination until he finally realizes his dream. The same thing might be said of the film itself. Though slightly manipulative at times, Rudy is arguably the best of several similar sports-themed college movies, which includes such films as The Program and Blue Chips.

PCU (1994). Starring Jeremy Piven. What happens when a high school senior on a recruiting trip accidentally finds himself in the most notorious fraternity house on campus paired with a seventh-year student and consummate party animal? Answer: PCU — short for “Politically Correct University,” which tells you all you need to know about the nature and aim of this intentionally offensive comedy.

Mona Lisa Smile (2003). Starring Julia Roberts, Julia Stiles, Kirsten Dunst, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. In essence, Mona Lisa Smile is a skillful reworking of Dead Poet’s Society, only instead of a free-thinking English professor challenging conservative mores at a boy’s preparatory school, we have a free-thinking art history professor challenging conservative mores at a girl’s college. Still, the formula works.

The Skulls (2000). Starring Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker. The Skulls is the story of a student who joins a secret society in hopes of getting into Harvard Law School. Soon, however, he becomes suspicious about the true nature of the organization and its mysterious role in his best friend’s supposed suicide. The only suspense/action film on the list, The Skulls is notable not for being a piece of groundbreaking cinema per se, but for being refreshingly different than the typical college film.

What’s your favorite college movie of all time?




ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.

Benjamin Franklin once quipped that there are two certainties in life — death and taxes. But as every college student knows, life also has a third certainty — rising tuition.

At most schools, tuition increases at a rate of about 3-5% per year. On average, the cost of one-year’s worth of school, including tuition, housing, transportation, and other fees, amounts to about $12,000 per year at a public school and $32,000 per year at a private school. That means that the cost of a bachelor’s degree is anywhere from $50,000 to a staggering $125,000.

Still, even with the rising cost of education, there are several promising signs for college students (and their parents). Perhaps the most widely televised indicator is the bill recently passed in Congress that will allocate more money for Pell grants. Currently, recipients of federally-funded Pell grants get $4,310 each year. The bill, which passed 78-18, would raise that amount to $5,400. The bill would also provide loan forgiveness to students who take jobs in public service following graduation and make payments for ten years.

What this means is that more Pell grant recipients — typically, the poorest college students — will get a significant boost from the federal government in the form of financial aid that does not have to be repaid. As such, these students can reduce their need for financial aid that does need to repaid — namely loans. For more information about this bill as well a subsequent bill that targets the financial aid application process and the problem of conflicted interests between banks and colleges, see “Senate Votes to Increase Grants, Loans.”

A second promising sign is the recent move by Amherst College to eliminate student loans entirely and replace them with scholarships. This move provides greater flexibility for both the school and prospective students. On the one hand, it allows Amherst to draw on a broader pool of applicants — not just the ones who can pay for school outright or who can be reasonably expected to repay loans. On the other hand, it grants students greater flexibility after graduation.

"Too often, students who graduate from college with debt feel compelled to make career choices based in part on their need to pay off their student loans," said Tom Parker, dean of admission and financial aid. "Graduates from low- and middle-income families should have the same array of career options as graduates from upper-income families."

In doing away with student loans, Amherst joins other notables like Princeton and Davidson, who have likewise replaced student loans with scholarships. Hopefully, the move by Amherst and others will open up a dialogue at other institutions and herald similar moves in the near future. To read more about how Amherst intends to implement (and pay for) its new program, see “Amherst Cuts Loans in College Aid.”

The third and final indicator is perhaps the most anecdotal but also the most promising of the three, at least potentially. It deals with the long-standing gripe of both students and faculty at colleges and universities around the country — namely, the price of textbooks. Well, it seems one professor has finally had enough.

Ron Hammond, a sociology professor at Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah, announced recently that he will no longer use textbooks in his courses. In “Textbook Prices Too Much, So UVSC Professor Eliminates Their Use,” Hammond said, "I think it’s immoral because of the cost of it." Instead, he’s tailoring his classes to cover similar material by drawing on other sources, such as those available for free online, and by opting for his own tests and questions rather than those provided by the textbook.

While Hammond is only an isolated case — at least for now — he does represent a growing number of disaffected teachers who are looking for alternatives to the overpriced textbooks provided by a handful of well-established publishers. If other professors follow suit — and it is almost certain they will — publishers will need to respond or risk losing a lucrative but increasingly hostile market. If they don’t, they could see migration en masse to textbook-less courses such as those offered by Professor Hammond, leaving behind a stack of high-priced but now worthless textbooks, which would give disgruntled college students something they’ve clamored for for years — a good old-fashioned book burning.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.

Being prepared for a job interview isn’t just about dressing appropriately, it’s also about knowing how to respond thoughtfully to the interviewer’s questions. Interviewers like questions that are personal and revealing, which can be intimidating. But the truth is that interviewers tend to ask the same questions — or variations thereof. So, if you know what these questions are, you can prepare accordingly.

Here are ten of the most commonly-asked job interview questions. Don’t be surprised if they come up in your next interview.

1. “Tell me about yourself.” This is the ice breaker. First of all, it is important that your answer doesn’t sound rehearsed. Your answer should be genuine and honest as well as short and sweet. Don’t talk endlessly about every detail of your life — that’s not what potential employers want to know. Focus on your education, work history, recent career experience and any hobbies or accomplishments that reflect a strong character. Even though it’s an ice-breaker question, it should still be selling you as a candidate.

2. “Why did you leave your last job?” With this question, it is crucial to be brief, honest, and, most importantly, positive. If you left by choice, don’t talk badly or put blame on others. You’ll only make yourself look bad. Instead say you left for a better opportunity. If you were fired, be honest about the reasons and assure the interviewer that the mistakes — if any — will not happen again. Being honest about the circumstance shows your interviewer that you have confidence in yourself.

3. “What do you know about this company?” You should expect this question at every interview. This is why you should always do some research on the company before the interview. Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are the major players? This shows the interviewer that you are actually interested in the company and being employed by them.

4. “Why do you want to work for this company?” Again, make sure you’ve done your homework and base your response on the knowledge you’ve acquired. For instance, you could say that you’re interested in the kind of business with which the company is involved, or that you like the benefits the company offers. Better yet, try to relate your answer to your personal interests or career goals.

5. “Why should we hire you?” This is a softball pitch — an easy opportunity to show your strengths — so hit it out of the park. Try to sound confident without sounding cocky. Create your answer by thinking in terms of your abilities and experience. Point out specific ways in which your assets as a candidate will benefit the company.

6. “How long do you plan on staying with the company if you’re hired?” Technically, employers are not supposed to ask this question; still, sometimes it finds its way into the conversation. If it does, steer clear of specific answers; being too specific could be potentially dangerous. You could be making promises you can’t — or don’t want to — keep. That being said, try not to sound too vague. Try something along the lines of “I’d like it to be a long time, or as long as we both feel I am doing a good job.”

7. “Are you willing to work overtime?” You’re on your own here — but be prepared for the question. It’s to your advantage to be honest up front in setting the terms of employment; however, keep in mind that the more flexible you are, the more likely you’ll get the job. If nothing else, let your interviewer know that while you have preferences or special circumstances, you are willing to be flexible.

8. “What do you feel this position should pay?” A loaded and a delicate question. The best way to have success with this question is to not answer it directly. A good tactic is to counter with something like, “That’s a tough question … Can you tell me the range for this position?” In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. Of course, a better approach would be to do your homework. Find the average salary for the position you’re applying for and answer, “I understand that the range for this job is between $____ and $____. That seems appropriate for the job as I understand it.” Either way, make sure you communicate that while the money is important; getting the job is first priority.

9. “What is your philosophy/attitude towards work?” If you get this question, be advised that the interviewer is not looking for a soliloquy. Ask yourself: “Do I have strong feelings about how work should be done?” If so, answer accordingly. If not, keep it short and positive, always showing concern for the good of the organization.

10. “Do you have any questions for me?” This is one of the most neglected and overlooked questions of the interview. In fact, many applicants treat it as a “throwaway.” Instead, come with some prepared questions, such as: “How can I be an asset to the organization? How soon will I be able to be productive? What type of projects will I be involved with?” Remember that a keen or insightful question on your part will tell the employer as much about you as your answers.

To conclude, let me observe that the key to most of these questions is doing your homework. The fact is that you can compensate for lack of experience or education, even getting fired, by having a well-rehearsed and well-delivered response to the questions above. Still, remember that even the best answers will have no credibility whatsoever unless you are completely honest and sincere with yourself and with your interviewer. And while I can’t promise you’ll get every job using these tips, I can promise a more successful interview and a fighting chance even with jobs you have no business applying for.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kari Whitaker is a technical as well as creative writer. In addition to articles on education and careers, she also enjoys writing short stories, essays, and poetry.