I entered TCU in the fall of 2003 and have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. In addition to the time I spend learning from the outstanding teachers and students that TCU bring together, I appreciate the opportunities that I am given through extra-curricular activities. I am the president of the band, treasurer of Kappa Kappa Psi band fraternity, a member of the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity and the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization. I am thankful for the opportunities that TCU gives me - academically, professionally and socially.

How much can $26 million buy in today's world? Well, it could buy a really big house, a lot of fast cars or a number of other items. In the case of Anheuser-Busch, $26 million can buy a few commercials during the Super Bowl.I know a million bucks isn't worth what it once was, but $26 million on advertising for one game? I think it's a little steep, even for a multibillion-dollar corporation. It only goes to show that Super Bowl advertising has gotten to the point where it's as much of an attraction as the actual game.

As good Bill Shakespeare once said, "There's something rotten in the state of Denmark." What am I talking about? The ridiculous cartoon that came out recently, originally published by a newspaper in Denmark.Interestingly,...

Applying for financial aid in college may often seem like a complicated process, a flurry of paper involving forms, budgets and many steps that must be completed before moving on to the next one.One group of students that may cause extra concern for some universities when deciding who gets financial aid is students with divorced parents.

Mike Scott, the director of scholarships and student financial aid at TCU, said the university has had problems in the past when dealing with divorced families.

Rarely can you find a student walking across campus alone and not on his or her cell phone. Some would attribute such a practice to insecurity - do you think people will think you are a loser if you're walking by yourself? Is talking on the phone supposed to make you look like you have a throng of friends? Others say that walking across campus alone is boring and, naturally, talking on the phone passes the whole seven-minute walk time. Seven minutes. Seven minutes of quiet time to yourself should not induce boredom, it should help preserve your sanity.

When one professor wanted to create a field-intensive course, he turned to the Strategic Initiative Fund for assistance. With a $140,000 grant over three years, Tony Burgess, professor of professional...

Each year, Becky Ramirez's student loans grow. Even though her tuition payments steadily increase, Ramirez's financial aid has remained stagnant since she was accepted to TCU. She hasn't always been certain that she could stay."I've almost left a few times," she said.

Ramirez, a senior biology major, said TCU's cost, which has increased by almost $12,000 since 2000, and will go up by $1,700 for the 2006-2007 academic year, is what keeps some applicants from deciding to choose TCU.

Money is just one piece of the puzzle.

A diverse campus

TCU is limited in terms of how much money it may award students, Scott said.He said he must look at socioeconomic status and whether the student is from Texas or another state - not just if the student is a minority.

Scott said that cost is generally a top priority when choosing a school.

The office of scholarships and financial aid is trying to let prospective students know of their possibility to afford TCU before they apply, he said.