Study & Travel

Chocolate Paradises Around the World

2009-04-03T19:11:00.000-07:00

It’s just like any other addiction. You start slowly, gradually acquire a taste for the stuff and then ramp things up into a full-blown habit. But you can’t help yourself—you love the subtle buzz, the lingering aftertaste, the euphoric feeling that seems to follow every delicious encounter, to the point where you can no longer live without your daily dose. That’s when you know you’re a

Travel Scams to Avoid

2009-04-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

Joe Yogerst 2008-08-13© Peter Cade/Getty ImagesHow to avoid resort fees, ID theft and moreWriters like to think they’re immune to the scams that plague ordinary travelers. But wandering scribes are just as susceptible to stings and swindles anyone else. During a trip to England several years ago, I spied an advertisement in one of the London papers promoting a hotel-and-meals package in Yorkshire

His and Hers: Packing the Perfect Carry-on

2008-11-10T23:39:00.000-08:00

From khakis and pullovers to cardigans and jewelry, here are tips for men and women to get maximum efficiency out of a carry-on bag.By Christine Ajudua, Jessica Shaw, Rima Suqi, Travel+LeisureWhen it comes to an urban travel wardrobe, men are lucky—they can get away with a basic uniform, built around a button-down shirt, jeans or khakis, and a sweater or blazer. It’s important to pack neutral

Packing Tips for the Smart Traveler

2008-11-10T23:30:00.000-08:00

With ever-changing airline rules and restrictions, packing can be a nightmare—but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some of the latest techniques for stress-free packing.By Christine Ajudua, Jessica Shaw, Rima Suqi, Travel+LeisureHow to pack in five easy stepsOur easy-to-follow instructions for organizing your suitcase—and techniques for folding and rolling your clothes for a wrinkle-free arrival.1

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

2008-10-16T20:58:00.000-07:00

The International English Language Testing System or IELTS is a test of English language proficiency, developed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. There are two different IELTS tests that you can take: Academic and General. The former is used for university entrance in English Speaking countries.IELTS is not a test that you can pass or fail. Your assessment will be

Best Asian breakfast restaurants in Los Angeles

2008-08-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

From the Los Angeles Timeslatimes.com For a soothing morning meal, sample such Eastern delicacies as steamed buns, fresh soy milk and Chinese doughnuts.By C. Thi NguyenSpecial to The TimesAugust 20, 2008BREAKFAST IS the last great dining frontier. Los Angeles is full of intrepid culinary explorers, venturing to all corners of the city in search of lunch and dinner; but as for the morning, we're

Free Things to Do in New York City

2008-08-10T13:37:00.001-07:00

Heading to New York? Get great ideas for free sights and activities in New York City. Then, after your trip, share what you’ve found with other MSN Travel readers by contributing your own suggestions to the list.By MSN Travel EditorsThere’s so much to see and do in New York that the city can be overwhelming – and overpriced. Don’t panic; just keep in mind that many of the most

Free Things to Do in Washington, D.C.

2008-08-10T13:05:00.000-07:00

Get great ideas for free sights and activities in Washington, D.C. Then, after your trip, share what you’ve found with other MSN Travel readers by contributing your own suggestions to the list.By MSN Travel EditorsWith all the free monuments, museums and gardens around town, Washington, D.C., is a budget-friendly city. Here’s a list of our favorite ways to

Dollar-Friendly Destinations

2008-07-31T00:14:00.000-07:00

Who needs Western Europe and its horribly unfriendly currencies? These equally fascinating destinations avoid the worst of the tourist hordes while offering more value for your dollar. By Diane VadinoForget the pound, and banish the euro — just because it's all bad news, all the time, for those two currencies doesn't mean that dollar-earners need to stay on this side of the pond this summer.

Free Things to Do in Las Vegas

2008-07-30T18:48:00.001-07:00

Unless you hit the jackpot at the slots, you might be looking for ways to save money on your next trip to Vegas. Here are some ideas to get you started. By MSN Travel EditorsHere’s a list of our favorite ways to spend time and save money in Las Vegas. We invite you to share your ideas, as well! Visit our message boards to post your own favorite free things to do in Sin City. We’ll keep adding

Free Things to Do in Chicago

2008-07-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

Chicago is the urban heart of the Midwest, unpretentious yet vibrant, multicultural yet all-American. There’s never a shortage of things to do and see here – especially things that are free. By MSN Travel EditorsIf you’re traveling to Chicago and need some ideas on how to see the city’s best free attractions, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite ways to spend time and save money in the Windy

Free Things to Do in Los Angeles

2008-07-30T17:41:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles may be the playground of the rich and famous, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a good time during your visit. By MSN Travel EditorsTheme parks, shopping on Rodeo Drive, dinner at Spago in Beverly Hills … all classic L.A. experiences, but not always easy on the budget. If you’re seeking to balance your days at Disneyland with some no-cost excursions, look

36 Hours in Chiang Mai, Thailand

2008-04-12T18:26:00.000-07:00

By JOSHUA KURLANTZICK BLESSED with a cooler climate than Bangkok and buffered by lush mountains, Chiang Mai has long served as a backpacker’s gateway to Thailand’s northern reaches. But an influx of Thai artists and Western expatriates has turned this quiet city into a vibrant destination in its own right. Design studios have sprung up in town, fusing traditional Thai with modern

36 Hours in Pasadena, California

2008-03-16T11:16:00.000-07:00

NY TimesMarch 16, 2008 By JENNIFER STEINHAUER NESTLED in the San Gabriel Valley just 10 miles northeast of Los Angeles, Pasadena harbors a distinct, if at times chauvinistic sense of individual self. Its old-money past continues to flourish in the form of grand mansions and a vast array of museums and gardens, many underwritten by prominent local families. And newer money has helped

3 Tips to Prevent Lost Luggage

2008-03-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

Here’s how to prevent your bags from winding up on a rainy tarmac—and what to do if it does happen.If there were ever a theme to traveling with my peripatetic parents it might have been: "No checking bags." Historically, my methods of consolidating my belongings, such as stuffing vacuum bags, have been somewhat inelegant. But I’ll gladly take that over luggage being displaced for a flat of

Border-Crossing to Require Proof of Citizenship

2008-03-07T20:24:00.000-08:00

If you're accustomed to driving across the border to shop, ski or sightsee in Canada, you need to know about new border-crossing requirements.Starting Jan. 31, citizens of the U.S. and Canada ages 19 or older will have to present a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license) along with proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate) in order to enter

Scoring the best hotel rates

2008-02-26T01:06:00.001-08:00

(Travel + Leisure) -- Travelers treat searching for hotel rates online like a game of roulette: try enough combinations (dates, locations, travel agencies), and you'll score the perfect one. But it's easy to forget that booking a room through an online travel agency means that if you need to change your travel dates or find a better deal, you may pay a penalty, often upward of $25. Add to this

Worst states for job hunting

2008-02-26T01:04:00.001-08:00

If you've rewritten that résumé several times and sent out dozens of applications but your job search still shows no promise, you might not be the problem.One frequently overlooked but critical factor in finding a new job is your state's unemployment rate. You can have the experience and skills of an employer's dream, but they won't do you any good if there just aren't enough jobs available.The

How Foreign Students Learn to Talk the Talk

2008-02-24T19:53:00.001-08:00

Lisa Yuan, a first-year M.B.A. student at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, spoke English on the job when she lived in China and felt pretty competent. But she says she now realizes "there is much room for me to improve." After being tested on her English proficiency at UNC, she decided she should take a new class for international M.B.A. students to "get rid of

Harvard to Trim Tuition For Middle-Class Families

2008-02-24T19:49:00.001-08:00

Harvard University sweetened financial aid for middle- and upper-middle-class families at a time when elite colleges are increasingly under assault for pricing themselves out of reach for all but the wealthiest Americans. Under its new program, to take effect next fall, the Cambridge, Mass., school said undergraduates whose families earn up to $180,000 a year would be asked to

Matching Top Colleges, Low Income Students

2008-02-24T19:47:00.001-08:00

Last year, when Amherst College welcomed 473 new students to its idyllic campus, 10% of them came from QuestBridge. But QuestBridge is no elite private school. It's a nonprofit start-up in Palo Alto, Calif., that matches gifted, low-income students with 20 of the nation's top colleges. In return, the schools -- including Princeton, Yale, Stanford and Columbia -- give scholarships

Top Jobs

2008-02-23T23:25:00.000-08:00

These jobs will experience strong growth and be in great demand for the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Information technology 1. Network systems and data communications analystsProjected growth by 2016: 53 percentMedian annual salary: $64,600* 2. Computer applications software engineersProjected growth by 2016: 45 percentMedian annual salary: $79,780 3. Database

Master's or Ph.D.: Which Is Right For You?

2008-02-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

Just as there are many reasons people choose to go to graduate school, there are many options from which they may choose. If you have selected a field of study, you may be wondering whether you should get a master's degree or a doctoral degree. Here are some things to consider. TIMEA graduate degree requires a significant investment of time. Master's degrees

Which Way to Go: How to Find a Graduate Program That's Right For You

2008-02-23T14:59:00.000-08:00

The decision to attend graduate school is only the first step in what may seem to be a long, and at times frustrating, journey. In fact, some would argue the truly difficult decisions are yet to come. With over 400 English programs and 300 Chemistry programs, just to name a few, it can be rather difficult to narrow the field. So how do you identify the graduate program that is right for you?

Thinking about going back to school?

2008-02-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

Some things to consider from a student loan provider So you're thinking about going back to school to get an advanced degree. You may be wondering if this is a good idea. Answering a few questions can help you determine if now is the right time for you to go back to school. * Why do you want an advanced degree?* What will you have to give up to go back to school?* What will it cost to obtain

Writing Your Graduate School Statement

2008-02-23T12:51:00.000-08:00

As you gather application materials for graduate school, you will be required to include a written statement as part of the process. These written statements are often called "letters of intent," "personal narratives," "personal statements" or "statements of purpose." While the essays are personal in nature, the school is not looking for your life story.

Applying to Graduate School

2008-02-23T12:50:00.001-08:00

Planning to apply to grad school? If so, you're probably wondering what the basic steps are that you'll have to follow and what your timeline should be for your preparations. Probably the single best piece of advice in this process is to: Do

More Students Head Overseas Freshman Year

2008-02-23T12:44:00.000-08:00

Callie Broughton had an eventful freshman year at Florida State University -- in Spain. Ms. Broughton, now a 20-year-old junior, opted to study abroad in Valencia through a program for first-year students at Florida State. For one year, she lived in an apartment and took classes with other FSU students at the university's Valencia Study Center. In her spare time, she explored

Trips with a taste of adventure

2008-02-16T01:07:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (AP) -- Forget the tan, the Mickey Mouse photos and the cliche souvenirs.These days, travelers want to experience something more than the gated resort and the cruise ship buffet. They want to go on a walking tour, climb a mountain and kayak down a river -- adventures that can make a vacation more meaningful."In travel, people are increasingly seeking the authentic unique experiences that

Short-Term Study in the United States

2008-02-14T22:55:00.000-08:00

The United States offers a wide range of short-term study programs lasting 12 months or less, including high school exchange programs, work and professional exchange programs, vocational and technical programs, short-term university study, professional study, and intensive English programs. This section gives an

Student Resources & Immigration Info

2008-02-14T21:00:00.000-08:00

The international student has some responsibilities to attend to before they can enter the United States to attend a Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) certified school or program. This section of the Student (SEVP) website is here to assist with those responsibilities. SEVIS.One of the first responsibilities for the international student is to apply for a visa. The following

I-94: How to record departure from the United States after the fact.

2008-02-14T16:53:00.000-08:00

Q: I did not turn in my I-94 when I left the U.S., what should I do?A: If you returned home with your Department of Homeland Security Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) Departure Record in your passport, it means that your departure was not recorded properly. It is your responsibility to correct this record. You must provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sufficient information

America's Best Colleges

2008-01-26T16:18:00.000-08:00

America's Best Colleges Princeton tops the annual list of the national universities, while the California Institute of Technology was named the best national value among more than 1,900 schools ranked and reviewed.

America's Best High Schools

2008-01-26T16:14:00.000-08:00

America's Best High Schools We analyzed data from thousands of schools in 40 states to produce our list of the nation's best. One hundred schools earned gold medals, while many more earned silver and bronze medals.

All Across America

2008-01-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

Despite what the media may say, Los Angeles and New York are not the only two places to live in America. Even though the United States is one country, it is not a culturally homogenous entity. The states in its country are comparable to the countries in Europe. Los Angeles could not be more different than New York, and Texas may seem to be its own sovereign republic when compared to, say, the

Graduate School Admissions Tests for International Students

2008-01-23T18:14:00.000-08:00

As an international student studying abroad in the United States, you will be required to complete certain examinations before you are accepted into an American graduate school program. The types of examinations you must take will depend upon the program you choose and its requirements. If the American style of the English language is not your native tongue, you will be required to prove your

Most Popular Fields of Study

2008-01-23T00:08:00.000-08:00

Fields of graduate study vary in popularity by many different socioeconomic and cultural factors, including geography. That popularity also varies by time, with new trends continually emerging. For instance, women now make up 58 percent of graduate students, but by the middle of the last century, they represented only about 20 percent. What women and minorities--another growing group of graduate

Managing Your Time in Graduate School

2008-01-23T00:07:00.002-08:00

Graduate school is known to be much more intensive than undergraduate work, so it is important that students develop good time management skills. In order to avoid feeling overwhelmed, you should keep track of your time and plan it out on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis. You may already feel short on time, but it is worth it to set some aside to plan out the year or two ahead.Managing your

Current Perceptions of Full-Time MBA Programs

2008-01-23T00:07:00.001-08:00

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has released its eighth annual MBA Graduate Survey of graduate students in their final year of business school. The survey covers the quality of the MBA programs, and employment expectations and selection criteria.For the survey, 5,641 students from 158 schools from around the world were interviewed. Ninety-six percent of those surveyed were

Adjusting to American Grad School

2008-01-23T00:05:00.000-08:00

Moving to a new country can be a very stressful experience, and going there to attend graduate school only compounds the process. After all, this is not a vacation you're here for, so on top of all the normal difficulties associated with moving abroad, you will have graduate level schoolwork added to the mix. And if you're not careful, it could become overwhelming.With the right attitude, however

Applying to school as a foreign student

2008-01-23T00:04:00.000-08:00

Applying to graduate school can be a headache even in the best of circumstances. After all, it's not nearly as easy as applying to most undergraduate colleges and universities, which involve taking the SAT's, filling out an application, writing one essay at most, and having your school's guidance counselor send your transcript to the institution to which you're applying. No, applying to graduate

Choosing An American School

2008-01-23T00:03:00.000-08:00

You've already made the most important choice, and that is to earn your graduate degree in one of the best countries for graduate education. Now comes the hard part: choosing the ideal school. A lot of factors go into this decision, from the location of the school to the size of the class, not to mention the actual fields of study.Fortunately, there are several strategies you can employ that will

U.S. Grad Schools Seek More International Applications

2008-01-22T23:59:00.001-08:00

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has released its 2007 International Graduate Admissions Survey Phase I: Applications, which explores the changes in the number of international students applying to American graduate schools. Since the events of September 11, 2001, the number of international students enrolling in masters and doctoral programs in the United States has significantly

Choosing a GRE Study Guide

2008-01-22T23:57:00.002-08:00

When I began my search for graduate programs in creative writing, one of the first things I did was sign up to take the GRE general test. Nearly a year before any of my applications were due, even before I was certain where I wanted to apply, I hit the study prep books. I took copious notes in the workbook portions and locked myself in my bedroom with a stopwatch for the practice tests.On the day

Taking the MCAT

2008-01-22T23:57:00.001-08:00

Nobody likes tests, but if you're planning to go to medical school, you're almost certainly going to need to take the MCAT so here's a little information to help you on your way.OverviewThe Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized, multiple-choice examination that is a required component for application to most medical schools in the United States as well as many in Canada. The

Taking the LSAT

2008-01-22T23:55:00.000-08:00

If you are considering law school, you will almost certainly have to take the LSAT. The Law School Admission Test is required for all ABA-approved law schools, most Canadian law schools, and many others as well.When contemplating the LSAT, you might be tempted to echo Oscar Wilde's remark that "We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities." However, since it is necessary for

Taking the GMAT

2008-01-21T23:23:00.001-08:00

"Make a virtue of necessity."Richard Burton's anecdotal advice from his Anatomy of Melancholy reminds us that though we can hardly expect taking the GMAT to be fun, we can choose to regard the exam as an opportunity to demonstrate our virtues rather than a torture device set to destroy us.Overview of the GMATBusiness schools generally use the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) to assess

Overview of the GRE

2008-01-21T23:22:00.001-08:00

As we have all come to learn, standardized tests seem to be an inevitable part of the admissions process as we climb from one phase of education to the next. Having braved the standardized tests for an undergraduate education, it seems almost unfair that graduate schools should continue torturing students in this fashion. Sadly they do, and so we include this article in hopes of providing an

K-12 Reference

2008-01-21T23:20:00.000-08:00

Education World's Research Center http://www.educationworld.com/research/The Toolbox Section contains all sorts of handy useful links to great resources, like online dictionaries, language translators, encyclopedias, maps, conversion engines, and more! Fact Monster http://www.factmonster.com/

Writing and Math

2008-01-21T22:23:00.000-08:00

Writing Strunk, William, Jr. 1918. The Elements of Style http://www.bartleby.com/141/index.html Asserting that one must first know the rules to break them, this classic reference book is a must-have for any student and conscientious writer. Intended for use in which the

Dictionaries

2008-01-21T22:14:00.000-08:00

Merriam-Webster Online http://www.m-w.com/Merriam-Webster provides a free online dictionary, thesaurus, audio pronunciations, Word of the Day, word games, and other English language resources. Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/This is a free online English dictionary, thesaurus and reference guide, crossword puzzles and other word games,

General Virtual Libraries

2008-01-21T21:37:00.000-08:00

California Digital Library http://www.californiadigitallibrary.org/ The California Digital Library provides a single point of access for digital collections produced or managed by the University of California. This site offers a broad range of scholarly and popular content; the digital