By AlyssaEDU on July 28, 2011
Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
You’ve enrolled at a New Jersey college and are looking for things to do in the state you are going to call home for the next four years. Truthfully, you are in luck as there are many interesting things to do in New Jersey without even leaving the state’s borders. Here is a list of some attractions in the great state of New Jersey:
Six Flags Great Adventure – This amusement park in Jackson Township, NJ was founded in 1974 as the amusement Great Adventure and taken over by Six Flags in 1977. The amusement park boasts 13 roller coasters and 44 rides in total. As part of the complex, there are also the areas known as Hurricane Harbor and the Wild Safari. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is a water park which features many water slides, lazy rivers, and wave pools. The Wild Safari is a 4.5 mile long road with 1,200 different animals along the drive. There are 11 themed sections in the park, and many animals approach the car hoping for a feeding from travelers.
The Borgata – Located in Atlantic City, NJ, The Borgata opened in July 2003 as a Las Vegas-style resort and casino. It is one of the most glamorous places in the state of New Jersey and boasts world-class entertainment venues. The Borgata contains fifteen restaurants which serve a variety of cuisine throughout the day and into the night. There are two event centers at the Borgata, with the main center holding 2,400 patrons and the Music Box, a 1,000 seat theater, hosting the resort’s comedy club. Nightlife at the Borgata is intense as well, with the resort offering four different night clubs that range from large dancehalls to intimate lounge settings. The Borgata also contains Spa Toccare, a 54,000 square foot spa with a salon, barber shop, fitness center, indoor pool, and gardens.
Delaware River Tubing – The Delaware River serves as the border between New Jersey and Pennsylvania but it is not simply a geographic landmark or natural resource. The Delaware River can be a source of great fun and entertainment for you and your friends. There are coordinated river tubing cruises, where you sit in a tube and lazily drift along the river seeing sights along the way. One of the main attractions along the ride is the River Hot Dog Man, which is a food stand literally located in the Delaware River where drifters can grab a bite to eat along their trip. Those who want to craft their own adventure can buy tubes and enter the river at their leisure but at their own risk.
Liberty Science Center – Those who enjoy museums and science will find themselves right at home in Jersey City as they visit the Liberty Science Center. The center offers numerous exhibits that showcase various aspects of the sciences. The Eat and Be Eaten exhibit shows various predator and prey animals and demonstrates the relationship between the two. The Liberty Science Center boasts the largest IMAX theater in the entire United States. The Liberty Science Center has experiences for people of all interests and ages.
Posted in New Jersey Life | Tagged atlantic city, college, liberty science center, six flags, students, the borgata, tubing |
By AlyssaEDU on July 26, 2011
Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The Jersey Shore certainly gained a name for itself in recent years with the hit television series, Jersey Shore, bringing the boardwalks and nightlife of the area to a national stage. The show premiered on MTV in 2009 and showcased the cast members, all chosen to gear towards the ‘stereotypical’ Jersey Shore partiers, enjoying themselves in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. The show portrayed the cast as a gang of drunken revelers that embraced the ‘GTL’ (gym, tan, laundry) lifestyle that Jersey Shore tried to associate with the Jersey Shore. The real Jersey Shore, however, is quite different than what was shown on MTV and it boasts many different activities for both young and old, as well as colleges which are usually not mentioned on the show.
Colleges at the Jersey Shore
While the MTV reality show was criticized for being a mindless caricature of this area, the real Jersey Shore actually boasts prestigious colleges. These schools include:
- Monmouth University – This university is located in the town of West Long Branch, New Jersey, right by the beach. Founded in 1933, Monmouth University currently has an enrollment population of 4,744 undergraduates and 1,750 postgraduate students. Interestingly enough, Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino of Jersey Shore attended Monmouth University before dropping out. Try not to follow in his footsteps.
- Georgian Court University – This is a private Roman Catholic university located in Lakewood, NJ. Georgian Court University has an enrollment of 1,955 undergraduates and 1,090 postgraduates. The college is run by the Sisters of Mercy and is divided into the Women’s College and University College.
Award Winning Boardwalks
In a recent issue of the world-renowned magazine, National Geographic, the publication ranked the top ten boardwalks of the United States. Two New Jersey locales made the list, with one at number 10 and one that ranked as the top boardwalk in the nation.
Jersey Shore Locations
The Jersey Shore is a colloquialism for the many beach towns that dot the coastline of central to southern New Jersey. Among the most famous beaches are Sandy Hook, Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant, Atlantic City, and Wildwood. People go there to vacation or simply for an afternoon at the beach.
Attractions at the Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore offers a multitude of attractions for people of all age groups and sentiments. The towns that are geared towards tourists and travels are known for their boardwalks. A boardwalk is a walkway for pedestrians typically found along a beach. At the Jersey Shore, the boardwalks are hotspots for arcades that are filled with games that award prizes for the skilled participants. There are various sideshows on many boardwalks that demonstrate talent, comedy, or other interesting spectacles for beachgoers.
The main attraction of the Jersey Shore, true to the name of the area, is the actual shore. New Jersey’s beaches have gently rolling sand dunes and the water is surprisingly clean. It is common to find people body boarding along the moderately sized waves of the Jersey Shore, or lying in the sand trying to catch a tan. The beaches also offer many piers that are perfect for those who love to fish or simply watch the ocean.
Posted in New Jersey Life | Tagged colleges, georgian, monmouth, mtv, New Jersey, shore |
By AlyssaEDU on July 19, 2011
Image: Maggie Smith / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
For a long time, people argued over the merits of attending private or public colleges and universities. There are positives and negatives to be considered for each option and the decision to attend one type of school over another is a personal choice. Everyone has a different situation in their lives and must weigh all of the factors in choosing their educations in New Jersey for themselves. There are factors that are unique to New Jersey regarding this choice, but many are universal across the country. These include:
Financial Concerns
Almost nothing in this world is free, and this fact applies to a quality education as well. While it is certainly a worthwhile investment into your future, attending college is not cheap. One of the major differences between public and private colleges and universities in New Jersey and the United States is cost. According to the College Board:
- Public four-year colleges charge, on average, $7,605 per year in tuition and fees for in-state students. The average surcharge for full-time out-of-state students at these institutions is $11,990.
- Private nonprofit four-year colleges charge, on average, $27,293 per year in tuition and fees.
- Public two-year colleges charge, on average, $2,713 per year in tuition and fees.
The differences in cost outlined above may seem quite staggering but there are mitigating factors at play here too. Private colleges may have greater endowments and resources which allow them to award more financial aid to their students.
Teaching Styles
Public and private universities vary in more ways than their tuition charges. Public universities typically have higher enrollments than private schools. This fact is particularly true for a state’s flagship university, which is the main public school in the state. In New Jersey, this school is Rutgers University, and the main campus (New Brunswick) boasts an enrollment of more than 30,000 students. The increased enrollment at public universities means that courses are different from those at private colleges. Lecture halls packed with hundreds of people for an introductory course are a common sight at public colleges and less frequent at private universities. This means that, as a blanket statement, students receive more individual attention at private colleges than public ones.
Differences in New Jersey
New Jersey has many private and public universities for aspiring students to choose between, and there are some interesting initiatives in the state to encourage education. The state sponsors programs that make public education very appealing. One example of this is the NJ STARS program, where students in the top 20% of their high school classes attend two years of community college and then finish their undergraduate educations at public schools for free. Princeton University is also in New Jersey and is one of the most prestigious universities in the nation. Not only is it an Ivy League school, but Princeton was the first school to establish a no-loans policy, where students that qualify for financial aid have their education sponsored through grants and campus jobs.
Posted in Campus Life, Financial Aid | Tagged costs, financial aid, loans, private college, public college |
By AlyssaEDU on May 19, 2011
When you have been in New Jersey for a long time you have probably done all of the things you can think of, right? Well, try to think a little harder. As time goes on it becomes harder to find the fun things to do in any state, but New Jersey has so much history to offer it is hard to think anyone could run out of things to do. As a recent college student, I was always looking for fun things to do in the area that were cost effective, also known as cheap.
Houses
You would be surprised how many homes in New Jersey have so much history. North Jersey has homes from George Washington and the Zubriski family. Although they both had multiple places to reside, going in for a tour as some history is never dull, unless you are forced to go while in grade school and would rather be coloring than listing about some old guy who cut down a tree a really long time ago. As an adult, it is easier to appreciate the history behind these places and Jersey boasts many of them if you are willing to do a little research.
Shows
Residents of New Jersey seem to forget how close they are to the NJ Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). Shows are going on all the time. High schools and colleges also put on performances and for about $5 you can see a show. You can also check out some local zoos and see what shows they have going on if you are an animal person.
After a while in the same state you have to dig a little deeper to find new things to do, but it is hard to imagine that you have run out of things to do considering there is so much history behind the state. Try to do some research and see what else New Jersey has to offer. You are bound to find something you had no idea was around and you might even learn something new. Never underestimate the power of a walk someplace you have never been!
Posted in New Jersey Life | Tagged colleges, fun things, george washington, high schools, jersey activities, njpac, performing arts center |
By AlyssaEDU on May 17, 2011
Technical schools are becoming increasingly popular in New Jersey whether you are interested in nursing or maybe even mechanics. New Jersey doctors’ offices and hospitals are always looking for new faces to help the patients who walk through the doors every day. Car shops are looking for the new mechanics who are up on the latest technology and who work quickly to get the cars done and well. Whatever reason you have for wanting to go attend technical school, you will be entering a field that is always looking for new people. A job might not jump out at you right away, but eventually you will find something.
Nursing
Students are gravitating more towards nursing now than ever in New Jersey. Even the traditional colleges in the state offer nursing programs which are often packed with students eager to learn. There are many reasons why someone would want to be in the nursing field, but I guarantee it is not for the amazing hours. Nurses can have incredibly long hours, though they are rewarded by several days off in a row. The hours are not the same for all nurses especially those in private practices, but no matter what your hours are, you are still involved in a very selfless career that helps so many every day.
Mechanics
People who purchase cars and are planning on keeping the car for a long period of time will want to get it serviced on a regular basis. People usually like to keep the same mechanic in New Jersey for fear that someone they do not know may try to rip them off and get them to fix things that aren’t even broken. Getting into mechanics is great for those who are good with their hands and like to build relationships with customers. Some companies pay by the hour while others pay based on the amount of work you do. Some pay based on both, but you would be surprised how far it goes to keep a good relationship with the customers. When they make appointments and request you, you are looking at a lot of work that will make the day go by faster as well as earn increased pay.
Posted in New Jersey Life, Types of Schools | Tagged appointments, car shops, hospitals, latest technology, mechanics, nurses, nursing programs, nursing students, private practices, relationships, technical school, technical schools, traditional colleges |
By AlyssaEDU on May 13, 2011
Living in New Jersey has many great qualities, but sometimes it takes a little effort to see thenm once you have lived here for so long. Let’s face it; those of us who have lived here all or most of our lives really don’t understand why New Jersey is so great. All we really understand is that it is close to the City for business and Broadway purposes. But why else is New Jersey so great? Why do people keep coming here? Who wouldn’t want to leave at the first smell of it? The truth is, New Jersey actually doesn’t smell that bad and it isn’t a horrible state by any stretch of the imagination.
Open your eyes
You have to be willing to open your eyes. I know you walk around with your eyes tightly shut for fear of the floating dirt blinding you, but New Jersey is not dirty despite the nickname “Dirty Jersey”. Have you seen New Jersey in the fall? The immense amount of trees that change all sorts of colors is overwhelming. Have you been around in the spring? The smell of the lilacs is intoxication if you happen to walk past a blossoming tree. The white snow looks like a blanket has covered the entire state during the colder months. And the shore is just downright fun in the summer. So why wouldn’t you want to stay in New Jersey if you could? Students are fast to run out of this state without ever really giving it a chance. Every state has its downsides, but somehow people have given New Jersey a bad reputation over the other states.
Give it a chance
Once you let your guard down and realize other people just don’t know what they are talking about you will slowly start to see the greatness that is New Jersey. Smell the flowers, walk along the shoreline, visit one of the many malls it has to offer, walk through a park, drive into the City, make a snow angel, collect seashells, and paint a picture using only the colors fall has to offer. These are only some of the wonders this wonderful state has to offer, so before you run like the wind on your way out, look back and give it another chance.
Posted in New Jersey Life, New York | Tagged fall, malls, New Jersey, parks, shoreline, spring, students, summer, trees, winter |
By AlyssaEDU on May 12, 2011
Students who live in New Jersey are usually looking to leave the congested state and gain a higher education elsewhere. But why go through all of that when there are wonderful public colleges in New Jersey utilizing your tax dollars only to make your tuition payments lower? Sure, it is nice to get away and live away from home for a great college experience, but is it really worth building up all of those student loans for tuition and textbooks?
Take a look
As badly as you will want to leave New Jersey for college, you should take a moment and think about it rationally. Will you be the one footing the bill for your education? Will you be receiving any scholarships to help you pay for tuition or books? How much will a dorm cost for four years as opposed to living home? These are all of the things you need to think about before running out of Jersey to another land. Public colleges in New Jersey are actually known for great educations such as Rutgers and Ramapo. The two schools were looking to merge at one point, but Ramapo needs more schools within the college before it is on equal playing ground with Rutgers. Before you start ruling out the public schools, give them a fair chance and work out what you would be saving if you attended in NJ as opposed to an outside school. Maybe the savings will entice you.
Focus on what matters
You have to know what is important to you. Is the cost of tuition at the top of the list? Do you want to go where your friends go (never a good way to choose a school)? Do you want to be close to home? Do you want the school to be known for its academics? Public schools in New Jersey can offer low tuition with stellar academics, so where are you running to and why? Ask the students who decided to stay home and go to school locally and see how happy they are about the money they saved. If in the end you are still not happy staying locally for college, follow your heart. Make sure you do enough research before you this important decision.
Posted in Choosing a College, New Jersey Life, Types of Schools | Tagged college, dorm, money, ramapo, rutgers, school:, students, tuition |
By AlyssaEDU on May 5, 2011
Once the summer rolls around students just want to relax and take a mental and physical break from the hard work they have put in. For those students who reside in New Jersey there are many options available that will keep your money in your wallet but still allow you to have fun. Sometimes you just need to be creative in order to find things to do in this great state.
Discover
One of the great features of New Jersey is the beach or as the locals call it, down the shore. Students can go to Long Beach Island, Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant, and a few other areas. Depending on where you are located, the beach is only a few hours away so if you don’t have the money for a hotel you can just head back home for the night. There are also some other great things to do such as find new museums or parks. If you look around, you will find that there are plenty of activities for students that do not cost much money.
Relax
Once you have exited your last class of the semester the last thing on your mind is anything pertaining to school. In New Jersey there are many ways you can relax which don’t cost you much, but sometimes it is nice to treat yourself. Spas are popular in NJ and sometimes much needed after a long semester. Heading to the spa is pricier than going out for a day at the beach, but if it is just a onetime thing there is no harm is spending a little money considering how much you will be saving on the days you just go to the beach or find other low-cost things to do.
When you are used to living in New Jersey you become aware that it can take a little time and effort to come up with fun things to do. Do some research online or check New Jersey magazines to see what new things people are mentioning. You should mix it up so you do not find yourself getting bored throughout the summer. Have fun!
Posted in New Jersey Life | Tagged day at the beach, living in new jersey, long beach island, magazines, money, new museums, relax, seaside heights, spa |
By AlyssaEDU on May 3, 2011
If you already live in New Jersey you are aware of the immense amount of money it costs just to live here. Imagine being a college student trying to survive in this money-hungry state. Students have to learn how to be creative in order to make their dollars go further, but after a while it can become annoying and ideas are not so quick to come. The following will give New Jersey college students some ideas they can do to save some cash.
1. Wait for movies – Remember when it used to take six to twelve months for a movie to come on VHS? Now movies come out mere months after the release into theaters. Once you have waited for it to come out on DVD just wait about one more month and go onto the auctioning sites and see how cheap you can purchase it for. Going to the movies in NJ for one person will set you back anywhere from $10 – $12 and that does not include concession stand items. Have someone in your group of friends purchase the movie and change it up every time so no one is buying a movie twice in a row. The cheapest I have purchased a movie was $0.01 with $2.98 shipping. You just can’t beat it.
2. Cook – Who doesn’t enjoy having someone else cook? Although it is nice to go out weekly for a bite to eat with friends try having someone in your group cook and switch off weekly so everyone gets a chance to host. This should save a lot of money considering going out to eat is rather pricey. This could cut it down by a significant amount for everyone.
3. Drinks – In college, the new thing that becomes fun to do is going out for a drink with friends if you are 21 or older. Think about the expense on a weekly basis and it adds up to a lot especially if you enjoy mixed beverages. Try investing in a bartender’s book and try to make the drinks at home. Do this responsibly. Just because it costs less does not mean you need to be sloppy about it and go overboard. College is about responsibility so do this accordingly. Enjoy!
Posted in Campus Life, New Jersey Life | Tagged college students, friends, money, movies, new jersey college, save, theaters |
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