Notes in the Margins: Roommates, essays and net-price calculators

College freshmen turn to Facebook to find roommates Over the next several weeks, many freshmen will arrive at dormitories to move in with roommates they already know, even if they have never met or talked on the phone. (The Washington Post)

New 'net price calculators' required by law may bring sticker shock to families planning for college As local colleges prepare to meet the guidelines, some counselors warn that the new tool at students’ fingertips still may not give an accurate picture of college price tags. (Flint Journal via University Business)

For a Standout College Essay, Applicants Fill Their Summers Students preparing to apply to college are increasingly tailoring their summer plans with the goal of creating a better personal statement. (The New York Times)

For-profit colleges respond to increased scrutiny These are new times for the industry that now accommodates one in every eight American college students, either in class or online. (Associated Press via The Boston Globe)

Six ways the debt deal could hurt students College is already expensive. Now the government's 11th-hour agreement to raise the debt ceiling is set to push costs higher. (Associated Press via Ventura County Star)

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