This year Dr Joyce F. Brown celebrates her 20th year as president of New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, the SUNY arts and business school whose high-profile alumni include Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, Joel Schumacher, Frankie Knuckles, Nina Garcia and Michael Kors. Before becoming the first woman and the first African-American to serve as president of FIT, she was vice chancellor of the City University of New York, New York City deputy mayor for public and community affairs, and a professor of clinical psychology.

We talked to Dr Brown about how she got here, how she works, and how to make decisions in an academic environment.

When I headed off to university (longer ago than I care to admit), my dad and I made a deal where he would cover 90 per cent of the cost of tuition and room and board, provided I maintained a 3.0 GPA, didn't move in with any boys, and we sat down before every semester and talked about my career goals and financial plans after university. That last part I hated when I was 18, but I think was something that set me up for success, and I'd recommend anyone that is paying for their child's tuition (or even if you aren't) to do.

I get it -- textbooks are weighty tomes that feel like they're more useful as a defensive weapon than an engaging read. But it's still important to actually read them instead of treating them as a "find the potential-test-answer" word search.

I struggled with writing papers as a student, but then one day I became an instructor and had to read this garbage. Geez, guys.

Harvard University recently rescinded its acceptances of 10 students for posting "obscene memes". Evidently some members of the class formed a Facebook group in which they posted images and memes that mocked the Holocaust, sexual assault and child death (child death aimed at particular ethnic groups, as if plain ordinary child death weren't bad enough); were busted for it; and are... going somewhere other than Harvard for university.

They sound like great kids, right? Leaders of men.

For $US100 ($136) a year, you can pay for a widget to screen your social media accounts for embarrassing posts that could damage your chances of getting a job or getting into university. Startup BrandYourself provides online reputation management software that allows you to "minimise negative search results and build a positive web presence".

Many high school students get part-time jobs to help pay for expenses or start saving for university. In her book Make Your Kid a Money Genius, author Beth Kobliner suggests students shouldn't work more than 15 hours a week, though, citing a University of Michigan study.

Exams can drain your focus and mental energy fast, so it's best to get the tough stuff out of the way first. This super simple approach to test-taking can help reduce your stress and improve your test scores.

Fighting off the freshman fifteen doesn't mean your choices are limited to treadmills and weights. University fitness centres are filled with surprising, fun amenities to help you get in shape, develop healthy habits, and even de-stress before a big exam. Best of all, for many students it's all free or heavily discounted.

Throughout my four-year college education, I held a number of jobs, both during the school year and in the summers when I returned home to where I'd grown up. My roles ranged from restaurant server to writing-center staffer. When it came time to cobble together my first professional resume, I was initially nervous about my lack of real-world experience.

Most university students are neither layabouts nor high-achievers, but instead fall somewhere in-between. Despite the best of intentions, it's all too easy to skip the occasional class for more socialising and/or bedtime. If this sounds depressingly like you, here's a foolproof tip that should galvanize you into attending each and every class from now on...

Since students are super-busy writing papers, studying, and surviving finals, the GoCollege Weblog says that you shouldn't have to venture far off campus to get a good job. In fact, one of the most in-demand positions is a campus network technician. Many colleges also offer a "residential network" program, also known as ResNet, where students can get help from fellow students on computer network troubleshooting issues (wired or wireless) at any time of the day. All you need is to make an appointment. Benefits include working face to face with college students and being able to maintain a real flexible schedule. What other jobs do feel are ideal for college students? Share your past positions or best tips in the comments. The Best Jobs for College Students

If you've been hard at work in school and haven't had the time to study for an exam, then perhaps you should set aside time the night before to cram for the exam. Depending on what type of learner you are, you may feel comfortable cramming by rereading your course notes, reviewing summaries in college textbooks, recording critical information into a tape recorder (or computer), or applying memorization techniques. Quiz yourself to review the information you've retained. Sure, it might be better to space out your studying over a few days, but if that option fails, cramming might be your only option—and these suggestions should get you on your way. What are your best cramming techniques? Let's hear them in the comments. How to Cram for a College Exam

Web learning site Education Portal points to 10 universities (and semi-universities) that offer free online writing courses. Covering everything from fiction and screenwriting to technical documentation, the offerings range from course notes and texts to full lecture videos. For anyone looking to get started in the field or just explore their creative side, it's a helpful list of resources to keep in mind. For more higher learning at very low prices, check out Wendy's trip through the .EDU underground and ten universities with free online courses. 10 Universities Offering Free Writing Courses Online

Ever feel supremely stiffed after paying good money for a textbook or paperback copy of a book that's been in the public domain for decades? The Public Domain Books Reprints Service acts as a go-between for sites like Project Gutenberg, Google Books' public works, and other copyright-free sites and self-publishing service Lulu.com, which charges fairly decent prices to print nice-looking tomes. It's not free, but it could save you a bit of cash on textbooks, or help you find a paper copy of any obscure works you're looking for.
Public Domain Books Reprints Service

The web has democratised a lot of things since its birth, including the learning previously available only with a hefty tuition cheque. College site Education Portal has a handy list of the colleges that offer the most comprehensive course material online, including open-course trailblazers like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Tufts University, and programs like Stanford's lecture podcasts on iTunes U. You can't get a sheepskin for free, but you can further your knowledge and training for less than even the cost of a book. For way more college-based free learning, check out Wendy's comprehensive guide to the .edu underground.
Universities With the Best Free Online Courses

For many of you, finals are right around the corner. If you're starting to prepare, the College Scholarships blog has six considerations to account for when you're getting your learn on. Avoid caffeine and other stimulant drugs, especially if you've exceeded the normal usage amounts as you wouldn't want to crash during the exam and end up performing poorly. Choose your study area carefully: is a setting with music better or worse for you? Make sure your study setting accommodates your wants and needs. Don't stress and be positive. Remember, your exams will all be over soon. Prioritise and put your most important classes first on your list. Manage your time efficiently. Study alone or with your classmates, but avoid hanging with your crush. It's a distraction you'll want to avoid.
If you have additional study tips, feel free to share them in the comments.
6 Things to Remember when Cramming for Finals

College grad Jon Morrow busted his butt to get straight A's in college, but his 3.92 GPA didn't do much for him in the "real world." Now he regrets spending all that time worrying and working on his grades. I was told that having a high GPA would open all kinds of doors for me. But you know what? I interviewed with lots of companies, received a total of 14 job offers after graduation, and none of them asked about it. They were much more impressed with stuff like serving as Chief of Staff for the student government and starting a radio station run by 200 volunteers. Of course, a high GPA is important to students going onto grad, law, or medical school, but for the rest of us, it looks like being a well-rounded student will do more for you in the long run than being a straight-A student.

Twentysomething: Why I regret getting straight A's in college

Easily build your upcoming spring semester student schedules—complete with courses, lab work, and extra-curricular activities—with webapp CollegeRuled. The site requires an .edu address to register, but once you're in you can input data pertaining to coursework and activities with ease. The site also has a built-in "Assignment Pad" and discussion boards that are designed for students to collaborate with each other. Despite a few bugs I encountered when entering my courses, the application runs well and looks pretty good.

CollegeRuled