| |
CHICAGO – March 31, 2008 –
Now that spring break has come to an end, the notion that college life is almost over will sink in for many soon-to-be graduates. However, before taking those final steps toward their diploma on graduation day, Apartments.com today announces one final exam for the Class of 2008 that will result in the ultimate payoff to give them a leg up in the real world, especially during a time when the U.S. economy faces some uncertainty.
To find out if The Class of 2008 has what it takes to make it after graduation, Apartments.com™—working in conjunction with CBcampus.com™, the collegiate job channel for CareerBuilder.com, and FreeCreditReport.comTM— will calculate the FQs or “Freedom Quotients” of spring graduates this year by launching the “What’s Your FQ?” Sweepstakes. Offering the break of a lifetime, that pays the rent, catapults careers and supplements first-year income, one lucky graduate will win a prize package worth nearly $25,000—almost as much as an average entry-level salary.
Surveys show new graduates will turn their tassels before tackling real-world challenges like finding a job and renting an apartment. Some of the wake-up calls most 2008 graduates will face include an average student loan debt of $21,0001, an entry-level salary of $30,0002 and moving back home with mom and dad where sixty-five percent of college graduates find themselves— hoping for free room and board while searching for a job3.
“Many soon-to-be graduates feel unprepared to enter the real world,” said Tammy Kotula, public relations and promotions manager, Apartments.com. “Fortunately, life after college doesn’t have to be a scary transition. With the right tools and resources to educate young adults for the many ‘firsts,’ to be encountered, they will be poised to rent their first apartment, launch their career and manage their finances with confidence.”
IQ and EQ scores have become essential for measuring personal development, and the “What’s Your FQ?” Sweepstakes promises nothing less for pending graduates by revealing if they have what it takes to make it after graduation.
How to Enter
College students graduating between March 31 and June 30, 2008, who visit www.WhatsYourFQ.com can enter the Sweepstakes by taking the FQ Quiz, nine humorous questions testing soon-to-be graduates’ knowledge of renting and apartment, searching for a job and managing credit and debt. Once the quiz is completed, entrants will receive a tailored and fun analysis, scoring their personal “Freedom Quotient” and readiness for the real world. Additionally, each entrant will receive customized tips and articles based on their FQ Quiz responses—provided by experts at Apartments.com™, CBcampus.com™ and FreeCreditReport.comTM—to better prepare themselves for life in the real world. The “What’s Your FQ?” Sweepstakes will accept entries between March 31, 2008 to May 4, 2008.
Win The Break Of A Lifetime
To spring one lucky college graduate to the head the 2008 class, the grand prize winner of the ”What’s Your FQ?” Sweepstakes will receive a prize package worth nearly $25,000 including free rent for a year from Apartments.com™, a Career Fast-Track Pack from CBcampus.com™ and $10,000 in cold, hard cash. Three runner-up winners will receive free rent for a month from Apartments.com and Job Jumpstart Packs from CBcampus.com™. The grand prize winner and three runner-up winners will be announced on or around May 15, 2008.
About Apartments.com
Apartments.com is the most visited national apartment Internet listing subscription service with more than 50,000 unique addresses representing more than three million rental units from managed properties, newspaper classifieds and for-rent-by-owner properties. With personalized searches, highly visual ads featuring 360-degree virtual tours, professional photography, and comprehensive community listings, Apartments.com makes it possible for renters to access apartment rental inventory from across town or across the country. Leads from highly qualified, ready-to-rent prospects are delivered to Apartments.com customers, increasing closure rates and decreasing the average cost of leasing an apartment. The site's foundation of solid partnerships with the local newspaper and television station Web sites of more than 10,000 newspaper affiliate and strategic partners across the country include Yahoo! Real Estate, the Chicago Tribune (www.chicagotribune.com), The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) and the Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com). Apartments.com is a division of Chicago-based Classified Ventures, LLC.
About CBcampus.com
CBcampus.com is a division of CareerBuilder.com, the nation’s largest job site with more than 23 million unique visitors and over 1.6 million jobs. College students and alumni can quickly target job and internship opportunities for their experience-level from the nation’s top employers. They can also post resumes, get the latest news on companies and industries, sign up for automatic job alerts, view local career fairs and tap into advice on everything from writing resumes to on-the-job success. For more information, visit CBcampus.com.
About FreeCreditReport.com™
FreeCreditReport.com part of a family of online consumer credit reporting sites belonging to ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., an Experian® company. ConsumerInfo was founded in 1995 to give consumers quick, easy, and inexpensive access to their credit histories. It is now the leading provider of online consumer credit reports, credit scores, credit monitoring, and other credit-related information. ConsumerInfo provides credit monitoring to its more than 3.1 million members and has delivered more than 20 million credit reports on the web. As part of the Experian family, it continues to grow its membership base and develop innovative products to help consumers better understand their credit.
Sources:
1Student Loan Debt—How To Get Relief, CNN.com, March 5, 2008
2 CareerBuilder.com 2007 College Hiring Forecast
3Boomerang Kids Keep Coming Home, CBS Evening News, January 9, 2004
###
|