Student Life

Sweet Ways to Treat Your Valentine on a Budget
February 10, 2021
It’s the thought that counts. Cliché? Maybe but it can be true for doing something great for your Valentine without breaking the budget. It isn’t always how much you spend but to show that you are thinking about the one you love. Way to their heart…through your stomach Don’t break the bank by going to…

Can You Take a Gap Year After You Have Been Accepted to College?
February 2, 2021
Welcome to college! It’s an exciting day to receive the acceptance letter to the college you had planned to attend. Well, sometimes plans change and you have decided you aren’t quite ready to start college. That’s okay. You may have decided that you want to wait a year to explore what you plan to attend…

How to Save Money on Textbooks this Semester
October 28, 2020
College is an investment in your future, and while all investments cost something, college shouldn’t break the bank. From tuition and fees, meal plans, room and board, the last thing you want to spend your hard-earned dollars on are books for class. Check out these tips to save money on textbooks this semester and beyond. Wait to Buy Your…

How I Know a Student Will Succeed: What One Instructor Looks For
October 27, 2020
After 38 years of teaching at the community college and university levels, I have seen a lot of students over the years. The more things have changed, the more some things have endured over the years. After almost four decades of teaching college students, I can tell pretty early on who is going to succeed…

Why I Chose a Community College: One Top Student’s Perspective
October 7, 2020
As a valedictorian graduating from Iowa Falls-Alden High School, I never took community college off my radar. In fact, I looked at them first before four-year colleges. The Smart Choice Close to Home Ellsworth has a 2+2 program, meaning I can graduate with my Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts and transfer seamlessly to the University…

Relax: The Best Stress Relief Methods for Students
October 6, 2020
The countdown has begun. You have finished almost two months of classes and finals are approaching. Don’t let the stress of classes and juggling everything going on in your lives over take you. Make sure you take some time to relax. Unplug Okay. You are probably stressing at just the thought of unplugging for a…

7 Things to Keep in Your Dorm This Fall
September 3, 2020
The cold weather is coming even if we don’t want to believe it. You can make those cold days a little easier with these seven simple things to keep in your dorm room this fall until that nice spring weather returns. 1) Hoodies are a must! Layers, layers, layers. Those first couple of days in…

What Employers Think When They See Co-Curricular Activities On Your Resume
August 11, 2020
The activity fair is right around the corner – it’s a great chance to get involved on campus. But, you are also focused on life after college – will getting involved on campus help you land your ideal job after you graduate? Will spreading yourself thin be worth it in the end? Co-Curricular vs. Extra-Curricular…

Campus Life: How to Stay Safe After Dark
July 28, 2020
When you step on campus in the fall, your safety is a priority for Iowa Valley. And we can boast some of the safest campuses anywhere in the U.S. The reason for that? Campus safety is a conversation we have at all levels, from housing and campus life to parents and students. Providing a safe…

7 Ways to Get Involved While Social Distancing
July 16, 2020
Whether you are living on campus or commuting to college for class this fall, there are countless ways to get involved and make your college experience amazing! And there’s a good reason to get involved. It can be a fun way to meet new people, develop new interests, and teach skills that you won’t pick…