CNN Living recently published a list of "10 Offbeat College Essay Topics." I think my favorite comes from the University of Chicago where they ask, "How did you get caught?" It might be dangerous to be too honest...

For samples of some quirky essays, check out this essay on milk published on MSNBC last year. And on this site, take a look at Felicity's essay on Lisa Simpson and vegetarianism, or Lora's essay on eating eyeballs.

Do you have ideas for an offbeat essay? Share your thoughts below.

The Yale Daily News reported this week that the number of early applications dropped 5 percent from last year's numbers. This isn't necessarily cause for early applicants to celebrate -- last year was a record high, and the percentage of early applicants who are accepted is expected to remain near last year's low 13.4 percent.

In general, acceptance rates for students who apply early decision and early action are higher than those for students who apply through regular admissions. Some high profile universities such as Harvard, Princeton and the University of Virginia have eliminated early decision because of concerns that the early application process privileges affluent students.

Last week I discussed the financial and enrollment pressures facing the California State University system. An article in today's Silicon Valley Mercury News looks at problems in California's community college system. The article reveals that only 4 out of 10 students who enter community college with the goal of transferring to a four-year college actually ever reach that goal. The difficulty of the transfer application, the increasing competition for transfer admissions, and financial challenges were cited as significant factors in the low percentage of students going on for a bachelor's degree.

California is not unique in facing these problems. The combination of decreased funding for public education and increased demand for low state tuition means we probably haven't yet seen the worst when it comes to challenges facing community college students.

A press release from the California State University reveals that the stabilizing economy doesn't mean the end to financial woes. Applications to Cal State have been rising steadily, but the system's budget was cut by $564 million for this fiscal year. In response to the funding cut, 4,000 fewer students were enrolled this fall, and spring admissions have been eliminated. Further enrollment decreases are planned for the fall of 2010.

This picture is particularly ugly because to date freshman applications for the fall of 2010 have increased 32% over last year, and community college transfer applications have increased 127%. CSU is asking the state to restore some of the funding cuts and to cover operating cost increases, but given the dismal condition of California's economy the success of these funding requests is certainly in doubt.

What does all of this mean for prospective students applying to public colleges and universities in California? For one, students planning to attend community college and then complete a four-year degree at a state university should recognize the difficulties they might face during the transfer process. Also, four-year graduation rates are already quite low for the California State University system, and those numbers certainly won't improve under the current cutbacks. University budget crises typically mean fewer courses to choose from, long course wait lists, larger class sizes, and less financial aid. All these factors make it harder to earn a degree in four years. Also, the decreased enrollment in the Cal State system is going to put a lot more pressure on California's community college system.

One suggestion in the face of this mess--don't rule out private colleges and universities. Graduation times are often much shorter, and financial aid can be significant. I'd recommend applying to a mix of public and private institutions, and then wait to see what the financial picture really looks like.

Related Reading

• The Hidden Costs of Community College
• The University of California System
• SAT Score Chart for Admission to Cal State universities