Education | Not Limits

Online Degrees

A college education is becoming increasingly more important to today’s employers, especially in current economic climate of unemployment and high competition. For that reason, even those who did not initially go to college right out of high school may find themselves looking for ways to expand their educations. One of the best solutions for working adults is the online degree. There are a large number of online schools like earnmydegree.com, and even traditional colleges and universities that are now offering online degree programs. Students can select from a rather large group of major courses of study and complete a bachelor’s degree-or even a master’s-from the comfort of their own home. Taking college courses online means that you do not have to lose time at work in order to go to school. Your lessons, assignments and tests are all completed online, at any time of the day or night. It is, however, important to realize that there will still be deadlines for work and exams to be completed.

Many students who have taken both in-person classes and online classes will attest that there are some differences between the two methods. While online classes may be more convenient, and require no travel to the school, the work in these courses can be much harder than class on a physical campus. This is because the student must be self-disciplined enough to do the required reading and take adequate notes in order to fully understand the material. While instructors are still available to direct and answer questions, students will likely not have the same interactions with classmates. A person’s learning style is a definite consideration when thinking about taking online college classes. However, online classes do open up a world of opportunities for those working adults who cannot afford to take less hours or quit their jobs altogether.

Filed Under: Education, Online Education Tagged With: Distance education, eLearning, online degree programs

School Is What YOU Make Of IT.

A school had a group of students who graduated. They excitedly walked across the stage receiving their diplomas and then went out into the big, bad world.

All of the graduates went through the same program and they had mostly the same teachers and classes. Nevertheless, when they graduated one student secured a job paying about $68,000 and another was able to get a job paying only $23,000. The average for the whole class was about $36,000 which is not bad for a starting wage from a bachelors program.

The question that stands out is why did the one get a job for $68,000 and the other could only get one for $23,000. That is a big spread.

The answer could only be application. The one student took every class and applied himself to understanding it. He studied and asked questions and helped other students to understand the material. The other students knew this student would know the answer and asked him questions, thereby reinforcing the difficult concepts further into his mind.

The $23,000 student showed up at class, sometimes. Sometimes did the homework, labs and tests. He barely passed his classes and was barely able to graduate. When his potential employers made inquiries into his scholastic abilities they found he barely coped. He is now paid what he earned.

The school is not the only determining factor of how well graduates do when they finish school. The graduate himself or herself can make more of an impact than which school they attend. Place yourself into the right school and then work hard at your studies. The reward is not really grades but the economic and professional stimulus you receive when you are done.

Filed Under: College, Education Tagged With: Graduation, School, Student

Selecting College Electives

Regardless of the declared major, all colleges and universities require a number of elective courses to be completed as part of the degree program. Electives are usually those courses outside of a student’s major field of study and should be chosen so as to compliment the education provided. Most students have difficulty selecting electives and will often simply take whatever courses are available to fill in empty time slots during their schedules. However, with a bit of foresight and some planning, you can choose college electives that not only compliment your major course of study, but will also be interesting and enjoyable to you.

Most colleges require that your electives be chosen from a number of different course prefixes. The prefix in a course number indicates what department that course is a part of. If you are a math major, but also like to read, you may be able to choose an elective in literature or pop culture. If you like movies and are interested in the theater industry, a course or two in film history or drama may provide you with an interesting elective. Students who are interested in exploring alternative religions or the history of civil rights will also be able to find electives that satisfy the curiosity.

Another way to select a great elective is to look at any other classes offered by professors you have enjoyed in your required courses. For instance, if you find a particular lecturer fascinating, ask them what other courses they teach. You may even find a new interest or hobby. Through the selection of several elective courses from various departments, some students may even realize that there are subjects far more interesting to them than the majors originally chosen. Taking your electives early provides amply opportunity to explore a number of fields of academics, lessening the chance that you will end up changing your major late in your college career.

Filed Under: College, Education Tagged With: Colleges and Universities

The Task of Moving Away From College

For many students, college seems to fly by. Many college students leaving college are truly baffled at how fast four years can pass them by and and many more are baffled at how much stuff they have accumulated over the years. For most students the first year at the dorms is a thing of the past by the middle of their first college summer. Whether moving into a shared apartment or a shared house, certain things are accumulated or inherited through past roommates or relatives. By the time the last year rolls around, many students find that they have enough furniture to furnish their own first apartment, once they leave college and find their first real-life job.

Normally, these possessions would be divvied out to the remaining friends they have in college, but since economic times are tight many students choose to hold on to their accumulated furniture and possessions instead of buying new furniture, which may prove too costly. When leaving college students must decide how they wish to move their belongings and how they plan to pay for that move. Many college graduates who do not have jobs waiting for them choose to store their non-essential belongings near their college apartments, so they do not have to endure the cost of moving their furniture twice. If the student is lucky enough to find a job before graduating then they have the enviable task of getting a few moving quotes and moving swiftly into their new home near their new job. Surprisingly, moving is not as bank breaking as many assume and there are plenty of reputable companies that can help students when they need to move their belongings. As with any move, the task at hand for these college graduates is deciding what to keep, what to throw out and most importantly, where it needs to go.

Filed Under: College, Education Tagged With: Apartment, Furniture, Student

Useful Computing Accessories for College Students

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Many of us often feel that it was a great time when we were in the college. However, for those who are still in the college, it is usually the time when you need to deal with laboratories, professors, class rooms, assignments, projects, and reports on a daily basis. Whereas almost all of this can keep you entirely engaged, there are some computing accessories other than your mobile phone, music players, and television that could make your college life easier. Several electronic devices, such as computers (including notebooks and desktops), printers, printer ink, cartridges, portable disk drives (such as USB flash drives), are present today that can help you to complete your college-related tasks with much more convenience.

It is indeed very important to have an understanding of these beneficial computing accessories with their relative pros and cons and of course, cost-effectiveness. For instance, a notebook may cost you significantly more than a desktop PC with the similar configuration, but is handier if you are a research student and your research involves travelling. On the other hand, if you are a computer science or multimedia student, a more powerful yet cheaper desktop alternative would probably suit your needs better. Similarly, a printer can be a very useful if you take online notes, or need to print your research reports, or if you’re enrolled in an online classroom.

The whole point is about understanding the value a computing product would add to your work as well as the way it will impact your budget. Of course, you need to take the budget aspect into a serious consideration while thinking of buying computing accessories as well. For example, buying the printer ink in bulk when there is a good offer running is a wise choice because you know that you’re going to need it at some point in near future. Choosing the right computing products considering their importance can really make routine college tasks easier.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Printers

What is on Your Transcript

The transcript is the permanent record of your experiences in high school and any colleges you have attended. Your academic transcript will hold a wealth of information about you and your grades, and is usually sent directly to those who request it in sealed, confidential envelopes. The transcript that is released directly to you will supply all of the same information, but most colleges and employers will not accept a transcript that you hand deliver.

Your transcript will show your name, and any other names you may have earned a diploma or college credits under, such as a maiden name for married women. Your graduation status, degrees earned, declared major and minor course of study and any honors conferred to you will also be listed prominently at the top of your transcript. Next, your transcript will usually show a breakdown of your GPA, or grade point average. If your college does not use the typical 4.0 system, the transcript will also indicate the maximum average possible under their system.

The next and largest section of your transcript will list all of the courses that you have attempted at the institution, including those failed or withdrawn from. The course name, number, description and number of credit hours will be listed along with your grade and hours earned. It is typically a good idea to request an official copy of your transcript before you authorize an employer or another school to receive it. This will allow you to review your records for any errors and to submit requests for correction or review. It is important to note that if you fail a course and then re-take it, most schools will post only the most recent grade on your transcript. For that reason, it is always advisable to re-take any failed courses prior to applying for graduation.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Transcript (education)

Get Prepped For A Higher Salary

There’s a reason why so many people buy lottery tickets every week. They want to wake up a millionaire the next morning. If only it were that easy. You stand a greater chance of getting hit by lightning than winning the lottery, but we still buy those tickets. There actually is a proven method to make a higher salary in your career, although it’s going to be a bit more involved than a scratch-off ticket. Adding to your education credentials with a MBA degree is going to open a lot of doors for advancement. First things, first. You’re going to need to take a GMAT exam. Think of that as an SAT for an MBA!

Before there was online learning, the only resources students had was at their local library. Now the library is just a click or two away. An online GMAT prep course is the best method for getting you ready to take this exam. Colleges and universities will look at your GMAT score and assess what program is going to be the best fit for you. The higher the GMAT score, the broader the range of your learning options. This is why studying in advance is going to give you a leg up on the competition.

An online GMAT prep course is going to let you get inside each of the exam categories and show you the best approach for taking them on. You will be given essential study tips for the verbal, quantitative and essay sections of the GMAT. And you won’t be doing this alone. Unlike picking up a book and hoping you get it right, this online course has interaction with an instructor. If something isn’t making sense, you get to ask questions just like a real classroom. By the time you finish the prep course, taking the GMAT will be a breeze.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: GMAT

Majors for Secondary Education

Teaching secondary school in America can be a very rewarding career, and most teachers are sincerely happy with the career choices they have made. Deciding on a subject for secondary education is usually a matter of the student’s preference and natural aptitude. For instance, those who do well in literature and history will probably find themselves much more capable of teaching those courses, while those who excel in math and the sciences can find themselves teaching algebra or biology. Most colleges that offer degrees in secondary education require the students to select the general subject area for their majors in order to provide the specialized education needed to teach those subjects.

Those who major in English for secondary education may find themselves teaching a range of subjects from literature to poetry to basic grammar and composition. Many teachers will probably have a few different classes, each with a slightly different focus. Secondary education in science majors may teach a number of courses including biology, earth science, chemistry and physics, depending upon the school’s requirements and the teacher’s specialization. Secondary education in math teachers may teach basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, or even the more advanced subjects of calculus and trigonometry.

There are also majors in secondary education for those who would prefer to teach subjects in the arts, such as art history, drawing, music and drama. However, when schools are forced into budget cuts, it is often the subjects in the arts that suffer worst. For that reason, choosing a more practical major and adding a minor in secondary education in the arts may provide the best background for American public school teachers. Also, the teaching of foreign language is becoming more important in today’s global climate. Those who are able to teach Spanish, French and German are usually able to find positions within public schools without much difficulty, given a good background, education and skills.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Secondary education

Writing a Good Recommendation

If you are a teacher, professor or manager, you will at some point likely be asked to provide a letter of recommendation for someone. While you might believe that for good candidates, this is an easy task, writing letters of recommendation can be much harder than they look. The reason behind this is that you will need to anticipate the type of information that the recipient of the letter is looking for and be able to provide the answers to their assumed questions. If you are asked to write a letter of recommendation for a student or employee, there are a few simple steps you can follow in order to provide the best recommendation possible.

You should begin your letter of recommendation by introducing your subject. You will also want to state how long you have known this person and in what capacity. If your subject was a student in a number of your classes, or was a long-term employee, be sure to state the growth that that candidate obtained over the full period of time that you worked with him. Instead of simply saying that your subject did a good job, or was reliable, or excelled in subject matter, state exactly how he attained those accomplishments. Be sure to be descriptive and provide concrete and measurable results for the best possible recommendation.

If your letter is for a former employer, be sure to mention how the employee left your place of business. If his termination was due to a downsizing or mass layoff, you will want to emphasize that his loss was tragic and unavoidable. If your letter is for a student, make sure to mention any future plans the student confided in you, and how you feel those plans may coincide with potential employment. Thorough planning and an understanding of your subject’s need for a letter of recommendation will ensure that you are able to provide the best possible endorsement.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Employment

Parents In College

You were going to go to college. Maybe you even started college, but did not get to finish. Along came a spouse, a mortgage, a couple of kids and years later, here you are. Life has been good, but you never did get that degree and you have been thinking about it a lot lately. You are realizing that those who are getting the best paying jobs and the company cars are those who did finish college. Years ago, a degree was not anywhere near as important as it is today. The boss could show you the ropes and you could stay with the company right through to retirement. However, without that degree, you will be passed over for promotions and your climb up the corporate ladder will be limited.

You want to be the best you can be. You definitely are smart enough for college. Who has time to go to college when your days are spent lining up kids videos and deciding how to get the latest stain out of your laundry? The kids need you; the PTA needs you. College is for kids.

No, it is not. Never before has the expression, “It’s never too late!” been so relevant. More and more adults are going back to college. Colleges are making courses available at all times. You can get an entire degree from home on your computer. Online courses are not only becoming more accepted, there are also many online degree programs available through the Internet. You can take courses when you have the time and work at the pace you need to work at. You can work around the kids’ schedules with all the support you need. No more excuses.

Getting that degree will help you get a better job, being the best you can be. A degree and a better job mean a better life for your kids. Isn’t that every parent’s ultimate goal?

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: College, E-learning, Education, online degree programs