Are you having a tough time studying? You probably need some tricks to help you remember things better. Try a couple of these, and you may see a positive change in your studying ability.
Instructions
1. Visualize. If you're having trouble remembering facts about Bill Gates, picture Bill Gates with things in his hands and in the background. For example, you can picture Bill Gates with a Microsoft logo, standing in front of a bunch of computers. It's an oversimplified example, but it shows that by using a picture, you can jog your memory.
2. Create acronyms. For example, to learn the the musical notes that are on the treble clef, create an acronym. Since they are E G B D F, you can say Every Girl Buys Dumb Fashion, or something silly like that. (You can use a standard one, like Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge, but making one up may help it stick in your mind better.)
3. Make a song or poem out of what you need to learn. You'll remember the beat and pattern, so you can remember thoughts more easily with the reference. To tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb, you can say, "Oranges and apples too, Lots of grapes, and kiwi, I know lots of yummy fruit, because it's good for me. Once again, simple example, but the concept works.
4. Bring thoughts together. It may be hard to remember lots of separate thoughts, but if you can bring them together, it may help your studying. Even if thoughts do not match well, you can still associate them.
5. Have a friend quiz you. By answering the question out loud, it may stay in your mind. Plus, studying is much more fun with a friend.
6. Write down important tips as you study. Writing things down often helps people remember, because you're applying what you know.
Tags: Bill Gates, Bill Gates with, Gates with, picture Bill, picture Bill Gates
IRS Form W-4 is filled out by employees to direct their employers on how much federal withholding to deduct from their paychecks.
Instructions
1. Obtain a W-4 Form. Most employers will supply a new hire with a form. If they do not, download the form from the IRS website.
2. Fill in biographical information. The first part of the form (in the center of the page) simply asks for the employee's name, address, Social Security number and marital status. Married employees can designate their preference for the higher single withholding rate to be applied to their pay.
3. Complete the Personal Allowance Worksheet. The top half of the full W-4 Form contains lines A through H, on which the employee calculates his total number of allowances. The first several lines relate to whether the filer is a dependent, married, claiming dependents or the head of a household. Lines E and F relate to child-care tax credits.
4. Itemize deductions on Page 2, if necessary. If the employee intends to itemize his deductions, this is done on the Deductions and Adjustments Worksheet on the second page of Form W-4.
5. Combine income from multiple jobs on page 2, if necessary. A filer who has more than one job, or is married to someone who also works, and if the combined earnings from all jobs exceed $40,000, must complete the Two-Earners/Multiple Jobs Worksheet on page 2 to avoid having too little tax withheld.
6. Fill in lines 5 and 6. Line 5 will be the number from line 10 of the Deductions and Adjustments Worksheet, if that was used. If that Worksheet was not completed, line 5 will be the result (line H) of the Personal Allowance Worksheet. Use line 6 to have additional amounts of tax withheld from each paycheck. The entry on line 6 of Form W-4 will be the final result (line 9) of the Two-Earners/Multiple Jobs Worksheet if this area was filled out.
7. Complete the remainder of the form. Line 7 allows an employee to claim exemption from withholding if they meet the two qualifications. There are also spaces for the employee's signature and contact info to be filled out by the employer.
8. Tear and submit. Separate the bottom half of page 1, which is the only part of the form that needs to be filed. The completed W-4 should be submitted to the employer.
Tags: Adjustments Worksheet, Allowance Worksheet, Deductions Adjustments, Deductions Adjustments Worksheet, Jobs Worksheet, Multiple Jobs Worksheet, part form
The federal government offers both subsidized and unsubsidized student loans.
College students who would like to receive financial aid in the form of federal student loans need to fill out the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Based on their responses on this form, students are offered either subsidized or unsubsidized federal loans. Although both types of loans are provided by the federal government, they differ in a few key areas.
Types
Subsidized federal loans come in two major forms, the Stafford loan and the Perkins loan. The federal government also offers unsubsidized Stafford loans for students and unsubsidized PLUS loans for parents or graduate and professional students. All of these types of loans are either Direct Loans from the Department of Education or Federal Family Education Loans guaranteed by the government but provided by a private lender.
Paying Interest
Subsidized and unsubsidized loans are differentiated by how interest is addressed while the student is in school. With a subsidized loan, the federal government pays all of the interest on the loan while the student is in school. With unsubsidized loans, students are responsible for paying interest even while they are in school. Lenders allow students to defer interest payments while they are in school if desired, but the accrued interest is all added to the principal amount when the loan enters repayment after graduation.
Interest Rates
Federal subsidized loans generally have much lower interest rates than federal unsubsidized loans. Subsidized Stafford loans for undergraduates have an interest rate of 4.5 percent for those taken out for the 2010-11 school year and 3.4 percent for the 2011-12 school year. Perkins loans, all of which are subsidized, carry a fixed interest rate of 5 percent. Unsubsidized or graduate student Stafford loans have a fixed interest rate of 6.8 percent as of 2010. Unsubsidized PLUS loans have an interest rate of 7.9 percent through Direct Loan or 8.5 percent through the Federal Family Education Loan program.
Obtaining Loans
Students must fill out the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, to apply for any kind of federal loan. Unsubsidized Stafford loans and PLUS loans are available to all students and families who submit the FAFSA, regardless of financial need. Subsidized Stafford loans and Perkins loans are only offered to students who the government judges to have significant financial need. Two-thirds of the students who receive subsidized Stafford loans come from families with an adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less.
Amount
The limits on how much money can be borrowed are smaller on subsidized federal loans than on unsubsidized federal loans. Limits for subsidized loans range from $2,625 per year to $8,500 per year, depending on the student's dependency status and year in school. Students who receive subsidized loans and still have additional financial need can also obtain some unsubsidized loans to make up the difference. The limit for unsubsidized loans is anywhere from $2,000 to $32,000 more than for subsidized loans.
Tags: Stafford loans, federal government, federal loans, interest rate, interest rate percent, rate percent
Attorneys who specialize in medical law deal with medical malpractice, managed care, health-care delivery and the discovery of medical advances. Attorneys who want to practice health and medical law may pursue a combined Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Public Health, a Master of Laws (LL.M.) or a Doctor of Juridical Sciences (SJD or JSD).
Medical Law Degrees
Students who desire a career in medical law should pursue a dual degree in law and public health. Known as a Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health (JD/MPH) degree, students take classes in law and public health, preparing them for a career as both a lawyer and a health expert. Students who want to specialize in medical law but do not want an MPH can pursue their Master of Laws. While not a master's degree, an LL.M provides expertise in a specialized field of law, and can be obtained through a one-year program, versus the two years it takes to acquire an MPH. The highest degree obtainable in law, a Doctor of Juridical Sciences, requires completion of both a JD and LL.M before entering a JSD program.
Admission Requirements
For students to enroll in a JD/MPH program they must first be accepted into a university's law and public health programs. Prior to applying, students need to possess a bachelor's degree in a related field, take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), obtain letters of recommendation and complete any required admission essay. Students may also be required to complete the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) as part of the public health program's admission process.
Employment and Salary Expectations
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the field of law is expected to grow 18 percent from 2008 to 2018. Current expansion of health-related fields could increase opportunities for individuals possessing their JD/MPH. As of May 2008, the median yearly salary for attorneys was $110,590, with the top 25 percent earning over $163,320 annually and the bottom 25 percent earning under $74,980, according to the BLS.
Other Degrees
Students who wish to practice both medicine and law must obtain their Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Juris Doctor degrees. After completing their MD coursework, students who wish to practice medicine must complete their residency at a hospital to obtain their license. A two-year residency is required in most states in order to establish an independent practice. Students who obtain their JD must successfully pass the Bar exam before practicing law in any state.
Tags: public health, Juris Doctor, obtain their, Degrees Students, Doctor Juridical, Doctor Juridical Sciences, Doctor Master
In order to file taxes, establish a business and open a bank account while you’re living in Spain, you’ll need to apply for residency. Residency is not citizenship, but it is necessary for extended periods of stay in Spain. Proof of residency is required for many important forms, including opening a bank account, getting a gym membership or for video rentals. In order to gain residency in Spain, you’ll need an NIE number ((Número de Identidad de Extranjero) and a Residency Card (Tarjeta de Residencia), which provide proof of residency and vital information on your personal details. Both EU citizens and non-EU citizens are issued an NIE. Applying for residency is a relatively easy process, but it can take months to get all the paperwork in order and filed, so you should do it immediately upon your arrival.
Instructions
1. Go online. Visit the Oficina de Extranjeros (Office of the Interior) online and read through the document requirements. Write down the opening hours and if possible, print out the residency application form.
2. Prepare for your departure. Before you leave for Spain, contact the Spanish Embassy in Washington DC. If you’re staying in Spain for more than 3 months, a Visado de Residencia must be requested from the Spanish Embassy before you leave. You will not be able to begin the residency process upon your arrival in Spain without this.
3. Get your paperwork in order. Make sure to bring with you, a current passport and a photocopy of your passport, three recent passport-style photos with your name clearly written on the back (you can get passport photos in many metro stations photo booths), the completed application form and three photocopies of it and a medical certificate from your home country. You may be asked for different items in different offices, so check with the local branch for their requirements.
4. If you have Spanish family members, bring that family member's Libro de Familia and DNI (or Residency Card), Empadronamiento, and proof of medical insurance.
5. Do your research on the different types of residency requirements. For contract, self-employed and unemployed expatriates, bring your employment contract or proof that you are capable of filling the requirements of self employment. In order to be self-employed or unemployed in Spain, you must be able to prove that you can support yourself without work in Spain. Unemployed residents must have proof of medical insurance.
6. If you are studying in Spain, bring proof of matriculation at an accredited school. You can get a certificate from the admissions office. Tell them it’s for your residency card. Students must also provide documentation of their financial support and proof of medical insurance.
7. Find the best office to apply in. Every Oficina de Extranjeros processes candidates locally, so you should ask people who have recently experienced the process for advice on which offices to go to. Coworkers and students in your classes will be very helpful or you can visit the American Embassy for help. A complete list of Oficinas de Extranjeros is available on the Ministerio del Interior website.
8. Apply for residency. Find your local office nearest you and get there before it opens. There will be a lot of people waiting in line, so get there before the doors open to join the line. Bring all of your paperwork, even the things you may not need, so you are fully prepared.
9. Renew your residency. You will not receive a reminder for renewal for your residency, so make sure you know when your card expires. In general, you will be granted one year after first applying, but once you renew it, you’ll have 5 years. In order to renew your residency, you’ll need two passport photos, original residency card (tarjeta de residencia) and one photocopy and the application with three photocopies. If you are not an EU citizen, you’ll need a residency visa and a medical certificate as well.
Tags: your residency, medical insurance, proof medical, proof medical insurance, application form
Athletics plays an important role at Boston College.
Established in 1863, Boston College is ranked as one of the nation's top universities. According to the college's website, the institute of higher learning offers more than 4,000 degrees each year in more than 50 areas of study. Athletics plays an important role at Boston College as the college participates at the NCAA Division I level and offers more than 30 varsity athletic programs. The more than 700 student-athletes attending Boston College can take advantage of the many sports scholarships that exist.
Flynn Fund
In 1998, Boston College established the William J. Flynn Fund as a way to support Boston College athletes. The fund supports all of Boston College's varsity programs. The college solicits funds from parents, friends, and past athletes who can designate donations for scholarships in any program of their choosing. The athletic website states that a $25,000 donation provides an athletic scholarship for a student-athlete for an entire academic year. The fund is named in honor of William Flynn, a 1939 graduate of Boston College. Flynn was connected with the college for nearly 70 years in various roles, including student-athlete, coach, and athletic director.
Boston College Athletics
Conte Forum
140 Commonwealth Ave.
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Women's Scholarships
In 2006, Boston College athletics director Gene DeFilippo and his wife Anne created the DeFilippo Family Scholarship with a donation of $100,000. The annual scholarship is presented to a female student-athlete who demonstrates financial need. Boston College offers other athletic scholarships geared to women, including The Botica Family Endowed Scholarship Fund for Women's Athletics, The Gerald McGovern and Family Women's Track Scholarship, The Bill and Kate McLaughlin Women's Athletics Scholarship Fund, and the Barbara F. McManama Scholarship Fund for Women's Basketball.
Boston College Athletics
Conte Forum
140 Commonwealth Ave.
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Hockey Scholarships
Boston College has a long tradition in hockey. The college offers numerous scholarships for deserving hockey players who are in need of financial assistance to attend Boston College. Hockey scholarships include The Angelo V. Berlandi Hockey Scholarship Fund, The Maureen and Edward F. Coakley Hockey Scholarship Fund, The John P. Cunniff Memorial Hockey Scholarship Fund, and the The Schiller Family Men's Ice Hockey Scholarship Fund.
Tags: Boston College, Scholarship Fund, Hockey Scholarship, Hockey Scholarship Fund, more than, Athletics Conte, Athletics Conte Forum
A well-written thesis statement gives all of the information you need to write your paper.
A thesis statement on literature is the main point of the paper or essay you are attempting to write. A thesis statement should state your main idea specifically along with the main points you wish to address. There are several ways to write a thesis statement on literature. Having a well-written thesis statement makes writing your paper or essay easier, because it is a short way of listing exactly what you will end up writing.
Instructions
1. Examine the assignment to make sure you know what you should be writing. If the assignment is for a thesis statement on its own, this is going to be different from an assignment that asks for a thesis statement along with an essay or paper.
2. Decide on your opinion or point of view regarding the literature assignment. In order to have a thesis, you must have an opinion or point of view; the thesis statement will state that opinion. Even if your opinion is, "This piece of literature is good," it is still an opinion. If your assignment asks for a specific type of essay, such as a comparison piece, or asks you to do something specific like chose a side in a literature debate, your answer for the assignment will be your opinion or point of view.
3. Decide on a few reasons or main points that you will address in your essay. For instance, if your main point is that Kurt Vonnegut wrote literature that can be considered timeless, choose a few examples of this. These are the points or examples that you will attempt to prove during your essay.
4. Write your thesis statement. Begin with the opinion or view you are taking. Then add the reasons you have listed as proof. This is your finished thesis statement.
Tags: thesis statement, thesis statement, opinion point, opinion point view, point view, your opinion
The SAT math section includes questions that involve arithmetic, algebra, geometry and some algebra II. The test does not include trigonometry problems. The math section contains 54 questions, and test-takers have a total of 70 minutes to complete them. Students may also use a calculator on the test if they desire. The test scores on a 200- to 800-point scale. Most questions are multiple choice, though the SAT math section also features 10 grid-in questions.
Instructions
1. Take the PSAT, which is a practice SAT test offered at most schools. Your PSAT scores do not count toward college entrance requirements, but you receive a detailed score report that helps you pinpoint the areas in which you need the most practice. It can be particularly helpful to know which types of math problems you need to review before taking the actual SAT.
2. Sign up for the Official SAT Question A Day through the College Board SAT website (see References). The site sends a daily email with an SAT-style question to practice. Although you receive verbal section questions as well, the math questions help you to practice problems for a few minutes, a few days a week.
3. Obtain practice materials from the College Board. The College Board provides free practice materials to all students who sign up for the SAT. You can access a free practice test on the College Board website, or you can buy an official test preparation book or sign up for a study course online. Use the math problems in these materials to practice. The more you do, the more confident you will feel on test day. SAT prep books also include practice tests.
4. Look for more SAT practice materials. Test prep companies like the Princeton Review and Kaplan publish SAT preparation books. You can buy these at your local bookstore or on the company websites listed in the Resources section. These books include practice problems, tips and an overview of what you can expect on your test. Use the math sections of these books to help you practice the problems.
5. Complete the practice tests. It's important not only to have a good grasp of the math found on the SAT, but also to build up your test-taking stamina so that you can get through a large number of problems at a reasonable speed to finish your test. Practice tests help you with this, so take as many as possible.
6. Get a tutor to help if you're having particular difficulty with SAT math practice problems. Sometimes, schools provide lists of tutors for their students to contact. You can also take an SAT prep class through Kaplan or another test prep company.
Tags: College Board, practice problems, math section, practice materials, Board website, College Board website, free practice
Winning a scholarship can have a major impact on your educational and professional career, marking you as an outstanding candidate for advancement. Scholarships indicate that you are worthy of confidence and can be expected to perform well in competitive environments--qualities that employers look for in a job prospect.
Economic Advantage
The first and most immediate benefit of a scholarship is economic--receiving a cash award for your efforts reduces the pressure to maintain yourself while you dedicate your energies to study. Some scholarships can be quite large--MacArthur Fellows receive, for example, $500,000 over five years--but even smaller scholarships can be helpful.
Freedom to Study
The point of a scholarship is to allow a student to focus on their studies rather than paying the bills. The U.S. Board of Labor Statistics reported in 2009 that 45 percent of college students have jobs while progressing through school, leaving less time for study. A scholarship can make it possible for you to concentrate on your first responsibility as a student, with a long-term payoff.
Snowball Effect
Scholarships can have a snowball effect--if you can list a scholarship or two on your CV (curriculum vitae, a term often used for academic resumes), you are more likely to win another when your CV is reviewed by a scholarship committee. Demonstrating that another committee found your application worthwhile reinforces the quality of your scholarship application.
Employment
Translating that CV into an employment resume is the end goal of your education, and having a few scholarships on the resume can make a big difference with a potential employer. The size of the scholarship really does not matter--if you can demonstrate that you have achieved excellence and stood out from other students, your resume will stand out as well.
Self-Esteem
On a more personal level, a scholarship can reinforce your self-confidence and give you greater powers of resilience. You may not be able to win every scholarship you apply for, nor will you get an offer of employment for every position you seek, but a scholarship is a concrete way of demonstrating that you are a valuable commodity--if you did not succeed this time, you're likely to succeed in the future.
A chief medical examiner is an investigating officer whose job involves finding out the cause(s) of sudden or suspicious deaths.
A chief medical examiner is the official in charge of investigating unexpected, sudden, suspicious or violent deaths. He seeks to establish the cause of death. He is also responsible for providing pathological and toxicological services necessary to assist in the investigation of deaths that raise public inquiry. The chief medical examiner takes up a supervisory role, overseeing the work of medical examiners.
Education and Training
In order to qualify for the post of chief medical examiner, you must complete a four-year bachelor of science degree. You must also attend medical school for four years in order to get a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree or Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. This is followed by five years training in clinical and anatomic pathology and one year residency in forensic pathology or four years training in anatomic pathology and one year of forensic pathology training.
Certification and Licensure
A chief medical examiner must get certification from the American Board of Pathology. Even though each state may have varied licensure and certification requirements, the American Osteopathic Association and the American Board of Medical Specialists require that you sit for a final examination after your residency in order to get certification. On the other hand, you must be a graduate from an accredited medical school and pass the licensing examination.
Responsibilities and Duties
The chief medical examiner works with other medical examiners by reviewing the pathology functions they perform.
A chief medical examiner's main responsibility is to review all the forensic pathology functions performed by medical examiners. The duties, therefore, include keeping an eye on unnatural and sudden death investigations. Chief medical examiners also offer consultation related to forensic medicine and pathology and provide resources for forensic pathology as well as general information about forensic science. A chief medical examiner may also testify in court, providing conclusions and facts revealed by the autopsies carried out by the medical examiners.
Compensation
A chief medical examiner's salary varies by state. According to SimplyHired, a chief medical examiner in New York earns an average of $63,000. In California he earns $60,000 annually. In New Jersey he earns $62,000, in Texas he earns $50,000, and $59,000 in Washington D.C. as of June 10, 2010.
Desirable Skills
A chief medical examiner's job requires excellent communication skills.
The chief medical examiner comprehends scientific rules and methods and is able to implement them in problem solving. He has good communication skills necessary to relay information efficiently. He is also able to motivate and direct people as they carry out their duties while maintaining a good working relationship.
Tags: medical examiner, chief medical examiner, chief medical, medical examiners, forensic pathology, chief medical
If you have a master's degree, you might consider getting a doctorate degree. You may feel you do not have the time to devote to the degree, however, due to obligations at home, work and in the community. A popular solution to this problem is to get an online doctorate degree. Although generally more expensive and held in lower esteem than their mortar and bricks counterparts, online doctorate degrees provide a much-needed niche market for busy professionals.
Instructions
1. Investigate online schools that offer doctorate degrees. Some of the most popular and well known include the University of Phoenix, Walden University and Argosy University. Make sure the school you wish to attend is accredited and that the doctorate you eventually receive is acceptable at your company for purposes of raises, promotions or advancements.
2. Decide on the program of study you would like to undertake. Although you will find online doctorate degrees in a variety of fields, some of the most popular include Business, Education and Public Health. If you desire to get a doctorate degree in a very specialized field, you may have a hard time finding an online program of study.
3. Apply to the college(s) of your choice. Like traditional schools, most have application fees. Some may require admissions tests, a certain GPA at the master's level, a certain number of years of professional experience and personal recommendations. Upon acceptance, you may have to pay the first semester or year's tuition. Some schools offer financial aid; many do not. Financial aid usually comes in the form of loans or grants; rarely do online universities offer traditional scholarships or "full rides."
4. Begin your program of study. Depending on the college, you may have to complete a residency program during some or all summers in the state in which your college's home office is located. Some programs require a traditional dissertation; some allow candidates to complete a project or real-world work experience involving research and observation in lieu of a dissertation. Depending on the number of classes taken, an online student can generally complete his or her doctorate in 5 years or less.
Tags: doctorate degrees, online doctorate, program study, doctorate degree, most popular, online doctorate degrees
A college education can be one of the most rewarding investments that a parent or a student can make. With increasing tuition expenses, room and board costs, and additional educational fees, a college education can also result in a large amount of loan debt. Depending on financial aid and the use of loans, the amount of debt could be higher or lower. A college's academic reputation and its private versus public status can also influence the amount of debt that a parent or student incurs.
Federal Loan Benefits
One of the most influential factors affecting the average college loan debt is whether a student has qualified for and accepted federal financial aid. The use of federal loans can greatly increase the average amount of college loan debt even though these types of school loans generally have low interest rates. According to Finaid.com, two-thirds of all four-year students who graduated in 2007-08 with a bachelor's degree incurred some sort of college loan debt. According to that same site, the average graduating senior who had received federal financial in the form of a loan had an outstanding debt of $17,878. That amount included Stafford, Perkins and other federal loans.
PLUS Parent Loan Considerations
To accurately assess college loan debt, student loan amounts and parent loan amounts must be considered. Average college loan debts increase when PLUS parent loans are included in the statistical analysis. According to Finaid.com, including parent PLUS loans in the total college loan debt incurred in 2007-08 increased the average cumulative debt. With student loans and PLUS parent loans combined, the average college loan debt totalled $27,803. According to that same site, about two out of every 15 parents borrowed PLUS loans for their children's college education. For those parents who chose to use the PLUS loan, the average college loan debt for just the PLUS portion was $23,298.
Significance of Private Vs. Public Colleges
Private colleges tend to have higher tuition rates than public universities. However, many private colleges offer generous financial aid packages and work-study programs that help decrease college loan debt. According to collegewithinreach.com, while private colleges are awarded some federally funded financial aid, they also have access to private sources of funds like grants and endowments. According to that same site, tuition may be higher, but private colleges tend to provide additional aid to students and generally give students larger financial aid packages than public colleges. Students attending private universities are eligible for both federal loans and private funding sources. As a result, the average college loan debt could be lower with a private university.
Risks Associated with College Loan Debt
Education loans, both privately and federally funded, must be paid back. Loans are not grants or scholarships, so the funds must be paid back in full with interest. However, most college loans do not have to be repaid until after the student has graduated. Federally funded loans have relatively low interest rates that make most payment plans affordable. In order to lower monthly payment amounts, the duration of the loan repayment usually takes 10 years or more. Defaulting on these loan payments can result in poor credit and the inability to get any type of a loan in the future. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, loans do bring some risk. Since the borrower is agreeing to years of monthly payments, it's a good idea to minimize the loan amounts when possible.
Effects of College Loan Debt
As with any loan, the greater the amount of indebtedness, the more difficult it will be to qualify for other types of loans. An average college loan debt could impact a graduate's ability to purchase a car, a home or any other type of personal property. Average college debt loads can also make continuing education a less appealing goal. Even though loan repayment plans may not start until after all educational goals have been completed, the increasing loan amounts and deferred payments can become overwhelming for a young graduate.
Tags: college loan debt, college loan, loan debt, average college loan, college loan
If you love facts, lists and numbers, a career in statistics may be for you. Take your love of numbers and combine it with your attention to detail and become a statistician. Start your career with an undergraduate degree. Follow these tips to earn an undergraduate degree in statistics.
Instructions
1. Read about the job of statistician and the qualifications needed to work in this field. Check government websites because they often employ statisticians. Find out what qualifications are needed. Take the courses that will enhance the value of your degree.
2. Research the universities you are interested in. Find out what degrees are offered. You may want to combine a statistics degree with another degree like social science, math or computers.
3. Determine what field you want to work in. Statisticians are found in a variety of fields like biology, math, computers, science, economics, business and engineering. Take courses that get you into your field of interest.
4. Learn the requirements for entering university in the area of statistics. Tailor your high school education to cover the courses you will need to enter the field of statistics at an undergraduate level.
5. Keep your math marks high in high school. You want high marks in algebra and statistics. Be sure and take computer courses as well.
6. Take courses in communication. This is very important in the field of statistics. You must be able to communicate your statistical information to those who need the numbers. Make writing courses part of your undergraduate studies.
7. Make sure your statistics degree includes theory and methods. Also try to find a program that includes practice or an internship.
8. Research the value of your degree. Determine if you need an undergraduate degree or master's degree to do the work you desire.
Tags: Take courses, courses that, field statistics, Find what, high school
If you're in the sixth grade and you want to get a girl to like you, then you should use some specific techniques to make your moves. Girls in sixth grade can be picky when it comes to guys; they might be looking for a Prince Charming because of all the fairy tales they hear when growing up. Look like a knight in shining armor and win a girl's heart.
Instructions
1. Start by talking to her every now and then. Say "Hi" when you get to class and say "Bye" when school ends. Make her notice you by making light conversation.
2. Listen to her. If she talks to you one day and you get into a conversation, try to actively listen. Girls like when guys pay attention to what they say instead of interrupting.
3. Ask her if she wants to study with you for the next exam. This activity will bring you a lot closer if you are spending time studying after school. You can find out her likes and dislikes.
4. Compliment her by saying her outfit is nice or her hair looks great. Be subtle and don't go overboard and become mushy, since it is a big turn-off for girls.
5. Stick up for her if she ever has any complications with other students. She will like you for your heroic attitude.
6. Write her a poem. A girl is charmed by poetry and the arts. Pull her aside and read it to her in private. She will love the effort you are making to express yourself.
Work on the technical skills to go with your fashion sense.
For individuals pursuing an education in fashion design, there are many accredited colleges to consider such as the Art Institute, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, American InterContinental University, the Academy of Art University, and the International Academy of Design and Technology. Graduates of these programs often go on to become fashion designers, retail and visual merchandise designers, fashion editors or writers, merchandise planners, sales professionals, and fashion shoot producers.
The Art Institute
Fashion and art go hand in hand.
The Art Institute offers degrees in Fashion Design, Accessory Design, Fashion Marketing, and Fashion Management. Not all are offered at each location. The colleges that have areas in fashion design are the Art Institute of Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Tucson, Colorado, Dallas, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Schaumburg, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New York City.
The Art Institute hosts a Passion for Fashion Competition every year. The two categories are Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing and Merchandising. The grand prize for each category is a full scholarship to the Art Institute, a VIP trip to Fashion Week in New York City, a shopping spree, and a visit to Seventeen magazine's New York City's offices.
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
Use your fashion knowhow on the runway.
FIDM offers Associate of Art degrees in fashion with locations in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and San Francisco. Some courses offered are Applied Pattern Drafting, Design for Form and Function, Writing Business Plans, Advanced CAD Techniques, and Marketing Essentials. There are over twenty creative majors to choose from.
The television series, "Project Runway" has been filmed at FIDM, and several students that graduated from FIDM have been contestants on the show.
American InterContinental University
Set fashion trends with your designs.
American InterContinental University offers fashion degrees in Weston, Florida; Los Angeles, California; and Atlanta, Georgia. The Los Angeles location offers Associate of Art degrees in Fashion Marketing and Fashion Design. The Weston campus offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Marketing and Design. The Atlanta campus offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, or Fashion Marketing and Design.
AIU students have the opportunity to showcase their work at different events, get internships at established companies, design clothes for boutiques and other designers in the field, and participate in the graduation fashion show.
Academy of Art University
Enjoy the scenery to inspire your fashion creativity.
The Academy of Art is located in San Francisco, California and offers degrees both on location and online. You can earn an Associate of Arts degree, a Bachelor, or a Master of Fine Arts degree. Graduates from this college have been hired by companies like Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton ,and GAP Inc.
The Academy of Art fashion design students have participated in New York's Fashion Week and in the yearly graduation fashion show.
International Academy of Design and Technology
Imagine your designs on the catwalk.
The International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa, Florida offers an Associate of Science or a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design. Students are given the opportunity to create a signature line, and at the end of the year, they show it off at the Imagine Fashion Show hosted by IADT.
Tags: Fashion Marketing, Fashion Design, Fine Arts, Academy Design, Academy Design Technology, American InterContinental, American InterContinental University
Finding out who your student loan lender has now been made easier, thanks to new federal student loan policy enacted in 2010. The federal government makes all new student loans and keeps the information in one place through the its Direct Loan website. Even if you borrowed from a bank originally, all information is now housed in a federal database called the National Student Loan Data System, or NSLDS. Information on balances, loan status and payback terms can be found in one place once you've received a PIN.
Instructions
Finding Your Student Loans
1. Go to the NSLDS website to register and receive a PIN.
2. Enter a user name, the last four numbers in your social security number and other information requested.
3. Click on "Apply for a PIN" and the system will assign a PIN number that you can have sent directly. You'll be provided with the choice of an electronic message or regular mail. You will not be able to go into the database without your PIN.
4. Once you've received your PIN, return to the NSLDS site and click on "Financial Aid Review". A screen titled "Gathering Your Information" will come up, along with a Privacy Statement. Click "Agree" after reading the statement.
5. On the next screen, enter your PIN and Social Security number, along with the first two letters of your last name and date of birth to confirm your identity. You'll be taken to a "Financial Aid Review" screen that lists all of your loans, dates of loans, prior lender and outstanding principal and interest as reported to NSLDS.
Finding Your Stafford Loans
6. Stafford lenders can be found by logging into "Loan Locator" from the "Students" section in the National Student Clearinghouse website.
7. Click on "Where are my student Loans?"
8. Enter your Social Security Number and date of birth as prompted.
9. Click on "Primary Loan Contacts" page. This will list out all of the organizations that have your Stafford loans.
Tags: along with, date birth, Financial Review, Financial Review screen, Finding Your, National Student, Review screen
Changing your computer's default language is easy to do.
When you first set up your computer, you have the ability to pick the main language, location and keyboard input method to better suit your needs. If you find yourself needing to change the input language because you made a mistake, want to sell your computer or need to accommodate someone else living in your household, you can easily do so through the Windows Control Panel.
Instructions
1. Click the "Start" button and choose "Control Panel."
2. Click the "Clock, Language, and Region" link.
3. Click "Region and Language > Keyboard and Languages."
4. Click the "Details" or "Change Keyboard" button. Click the "Add" button and select the language you wish to use by selecting the check box next to it. Click "OK" once you have finished. Using the input language drop-down box, select the language you will use most often from the list.
5. Click the "Formats" or "Regional" tab. Using the "Format" drop-down box, select the language you just switched the keyboard input method to. When you have finished, click "Apply" followed by "OK" to save your changes.
Tags: select language, your computer, Control Panel, drop-down select, drop-down select language, have finished, input language
Your FICO score determines whether you can get credit.
Your Fair Isaac Corporation score, or FICO score, often referred to as simply your "credit score," is a measure of your creditworthiness. In other words, your credit score tells others how trustworthy you are, to help them decide whether they want to lend you money. There are only three credit reporting agencies, and they all calculate the score differently. So in order to find your true score, or your composite score, you'll need to get all three scores and average them. Luckily for you, federal law mandates that you be provided with a free credit report once a year if you request it.
Instructions
1. Visit the AnnualCreditReport Web site, which is the only authorized source of free credit reports under federal law. (See Resources.)
2. Choose your state from the drop-down list and click the red "Request Report" button.
3. Fill out the Web form you are presented with and click "Continue." You will receive your credit reports from all three agencies.
4. Once you have the credit scores from the three agencies--Equifax, TransUnion and Experian--add them all up. For example, if your scores are 500, 600 and 700, their sum is 1800.
5. Divide your answer from the previous step by 3 to find your composite credit score. In the example, 1800 / 3 equals 600, a fair credit score.
Acknowledging that a child may need special help in school is difficult for a parent or a teacher. The key is to recognize what causes concern academically or behaviorally. The definition of special education is broad. A basic understanding of the concept of special education and the services special education programs provide are the keys to understanding the need, if any, for testing.
Instructions
1. Learn exactly what special education is. Understand the concept of special education through a professional definition and description. The United States Department of Education's Individuals with Disabilities Act website has an excellent method for identifying specific learning disabilities.
2. Learn the expectations for children at various stages of development. Know what an appropriate developmental milestone is at a specific age and what are considered delays or gaps in physical and academic development. The University of Michigan's Health System has an informative article in their online library about developmental milestones in children and adolescents.
3. Talk to professionals. If your child is in school, go to the counselor or teacher. If your child is too young for school, look for child psychologists or educational psychologists in the area who specialize in testing. Special education testing within the public school system is free.
4. Do not overreact. It may be a very stressful time for you and your children. If your behavior reflects anxiety or misgivings, your child picks up on this.
5. Remain positive. If you find your child needs special education services, this is not a time to give up hope. When special needs are identified, realize one step is out of the way and many more of your questions will be answered as the process continues. Plans and accommodations are now in place to help your child succeed.
6. Know the law. Children who are identified as needing special education are afforded special rights under the law.
Tags: your child, special education, concept special, concept special education, education services, special education, special education
Are you interested in earning your distance learning college degree? Choosing an online college instead of a traditional college degree is a big decision. The great news is, for some people, it's easy to earn your bachelor degree through distance learning. If you like being self taught and working through your homework at your own pace, distance learning may be a great option for you. Read the steps below for information about prepare for your online bachelor degree.
Instructions
1. Make sure that distance learning is the path that you want to take to complete your bachelor degree. Choosing a distance learning college degree is a big decision - you will be choosing a path which provides a flexible schedule, but lacks face-to-face interaction and an on-campus environment. If you think distance learning is the right choice for you, go for it!
2. Choose an accredited distance learning institution. A distance learning bachelor degree is only worth pursuing if the college that you receive your degree from is accredited.
3. Choose a major that you can complete through an online college environment. Choose a major that you will be able to complete with minimal guidance. With distance learning, you will be teaching yourself a lot, since you will not have face-to-face interaction with your professors.
4. Learn the policies, procedures, information and requirements of the bachelor degree online program that you would like to complete. How many weeks long are classes? Will you have an academic adviser? Will this online college degree allow you to continue on to higher level educational programs, like a master degree?
5. Apply for the distance learning bachelor program that you would like to earn your diploma through. Make sure to have any past transcripts sent to the college of your choosing.
6. Apply for scholarships, if you'd like. There are plenty of scholarships available. With some essays and applications, you may be able to obtain free money to pay for college.
7. Obtain financial aid, if necessary. Student loans are a great option, and since many distance learning college degrees are not incredibly expensive, you can probably take out a minimal amount of loans.
8. Set a goal for how long you want to take to complete your online bachelor degree program. Setting this goal will help you complete it in the intended amount of time.
9. Set a schedule each week for when you will complete your homework. A schedule will help you keep on track with your distance learning educational goals.
10. Choose how many classes to take at once. If you work full time, consider starting with one class at a time. If you work part time or are not working, you may want to take one or more class at a time towards your bachelor degree. The more classes you complete at a time, the sooner you will complete your degree.
Tags: distance learning, bachelor degree, college degree, complete your, distance learning college
The trick to writing a successful personal essay about yourself is to offer something to the reader.
Writing an essay about yourself seems like it would be easy. After all, you know the subject. The hazard is that talking about yourself can be boring. The trick to writing a successful personal essay about yourself is to offer something to the reader--a lesson, a bit of information, even just the pleasure of understanding something about another person. This "take away" is what will help you structure and write your essay in a way that will make it engaging and valuable for your reader.
Instructions
Outline
1. Determine what you want a reader to take away from reading this essay, such as a serious life lesson or a funny anecdote. Write your goal at the top of the page. Keep it short and simple.
2. List the points you want to make, facts you want to include, quotations, short anecdotes, details and so on.
3. Arrange the points and supporting material in a logical order.
4. Examine your material. If something doesn't support the goal you wrote at the top of the page, delete it.
5. Write a thesis statement; explain in one sentence the point of your essay as you would tell the reader.
Write the Essay
6. Follow your outline and write the body of your essay. Start with the second paragraph if you are not sure how you want to introduce the essay.
7. Write an introduction. Some tried-and-true introductions include brief anecdotes, a description of a scene, a pithy statement or a general observation.
8. Write a conclusion. Your essay might lend itself naturally to "book-ending" (referring to the introduction in the conclusion), but you don't need to restate your case. If you end your essay in a much different place than where you started, an image or a summarizing sentence or two might work best.
Finishing Touches
9. Read over your essay and make sure it tells the story you set out to tell and accomplishes your goal. If anything seems out of place or meandering, delete or rewrite it.
10. Read your essay out loud to help with the flow of your language and identify any awkward spots.
11. Proofread for basic spelling, punctuation, missing words, capitalization and any other mechanics.
Tags: your essay, about yourself, essay about, essay about yourself, about yourself offer
Nurse practitioner students can earn additional certification in wound care.
According to the University of Virginia's website, there is an increased need for nurses who can provide specialized care to patients with wounds, particularly in acute and long-term-care environments. Wound care certification programs can be completed as part of a master's-level nursing program or by nurses who already hold a master's degree. Graduates of wound care programs are prepared to sit for the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society certification exam.
University of Virginia
The Wound, Ostomy and Continence (WOC) program at the University of Virginia includes 160 hours of clinical experience completed at the university's medical center. Applicants need a GPA of at least 3.0 in all prior college work; prospective students with master's degrees are eligible, as well as those who are enrolled in a nurse practitioner program at the University of Virginia and wish to specialize in wound care. In addition to the degree requirements, applicants need to hold an R.N. license and submit a resume and three recommendations. Coursework consists of courses in wound, ostomy and continence nursing, along with the clinical practicum.
UVa School of Nursing
McLeod Hall
202 Jeanette Lancaster Way
Charlottesville, VA 22903
434-924-0141
nursing.virginia.edu
LaSalle University
LaSalle University offers a wound care program that can be completed by students in two ways. The split option required a student to take weekly classes at LaSalle's Philadelphia campus and complete required clinical work at a site close to home. The online option consists of taking classes online and spending three days in Philadelphia for each course taken. As with the split option, clinical work is completed at a site near the student's home. Coursework covers topics including professional practice and management of wounds resulting from conditions such as ulcers and diabetes. Applicants need a bachelor's degree, at least one year of nursing experience, a valid CPR license and two letters of recommendation as part of the admissions requirements.
LaSalle University
1900 W. Olney Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19141
215-951-1430
lasalle.edu
Emory University
Emory University's Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing program offers options that can be completed online, on-campus or in a combination of on- and off-site learning. Students complete 120 hours of clinical experience regardless of the program option selected; those who select the split or online option work with a faculty adviser to choose a suitable site for clinical experience. In addition, students in the Emory program can select to focus their study on wound care only, or wound care in combination with ostomy and/or continence care. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and provide a valid R.N. license.
Emory University
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Education Program
Room AT732
1365 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30322-1013
404-778-4067
surgery.emory.edu
Tags: Ostomy Continence, University Virginia, wound care, Wound Ostomy, Wound Ostomy Continence
Use cooking classes in the kindergarten and high school curriculum to teach the relationship between foods, health and fitness. Test your students' understanding of the subject matter by utilizing a wide range of testing methods. Keep the lessons and tests age-appropriate yet challenging. Make cooking a life skill where the real test is how the students use the information in real life.
Instructions
1. Review instructional objectives of your cooking curriculum. Choose a test format that best assesses your students' knowledge of the subject matter. Take into consideration available facilities and time restraints.
2. Adapt your testing methods to your students' age and grade level. Vary the level of difficulty of the test questions to evaluate the depth of your students' synthesis of the educational materials.
3. Consider using a demonstration format for much of the cooking curriculum. Create take-home demonstration tests if facilities are limited. Ask your students to create a nutritional snack at home and then explain why they chose certain foods. Grade students on how well their snacks conform to the lessons taught in the classroom.
4. Emphasize the interrelationship between the elements of the cooking curriculum. Draft questions or projects that determine if the students have grasped the relationship between a healthy heart and diets rich in fat. Ask why some foods make you sick while others keep you healthy and what cooking methods can be used to keep food healthy.
5. Visit the "Student Contest" section of the SHAPE California Network website for contest and test ideas for a cooking curriculum (see Resources below). Consider using a contest test format to assess your students' absorption of the subject matter.
6. Read through the Teaching Tips website to refresh your test-writing skills (see Resources). Choose the best test methods and formats for your students.
Tags: your students, cooking curriculum, subject matter, Consider using, contest test, relationship between
With the U.S. House of Representatives' passing of 2009's Simon Study Abroad Bill, the issues of foreign language education and the importance of study abroad programs have been brought more sharply into focus. Primarily, the bill concerns itself with not only supporting study abroad, but also the factors that impede a student's ability to study abroad including lack of money.
While the bill concerned itself in part with the funding of study abroad over the next ten years, students interested in studying abroad now need not wait that long. Study abroad grants already exist to help students pay for a summer, a semester or even a year abroad.
Considerations
Money to study abroad comes in many forms. First and foremost, a student wishing to receive a grant to study abroad should have already filled out a FAFSA form and filed it with their financial aid office. Many study abroad grants are distributed through a school's financial aid office and are considered part of a student's financial aid for the year. Additionally, many schools will make a financial adjustment to a student's aid, meaning that a student is usually awarded more money in financial aid for the semester or a year in order to pay for study abroad.
Secondly, grants specifically earmarked for programs abroad also exist, not only from the U.S. federal government and from other governments around the world, but also through an individual student's college or university. A student should plan on meeting with both a financial aid counselor and a representative from the school's international office as soon as possible to find out what kinds of funding are available.
Types
According to the Boise State University's International Programs website, quite a few study abroad grant programs are already in place. This list represents some of the grant funding available to students interested in studying abroad.
The Benjamin A. Gilman Award:
According to the program's website, "This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide."
Students can receive up to $5,000 to study abroad for an academic school year. Students interested in studying critical languages like Arabic, Russian or Chinese will be considered for an additional $3,000.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD):
The DAAD funds a variety of study and work abroad programs for students attending university, for doctorate and post-doctorate students, and for special programs that promote special interests like journalism, special research and others. The amounts of the awards vary.
Bridging Scholarship:
The Bridging Scholarship funds students interested in studying in Japan up to $4,000 for a whole school year.
Phi Kappa Phi:
The Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi offers scholarship to members for study abroad. According to Phi Kappa Phi's website, funding falls into the following categories: Fellowship, Phi Kappa Phi Scholar and Artist, Study Abroad Grants, Literacy Grants, and Love of Learning.
National Security Education Program (The David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship Program):
This program is specifically suited for students who, according to the program's website, wish to "focus on geographic areas, languages and fields of study that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad."
The Fulbright:
This program is the crème de la crème for students at the master's or Ph.D. levels. Students interested in the Fulbright should talk to the program's representative on their campus.
Geography
With the exception of countries that are forbidden by the U.S. government because they pose a danger to U.S. travelers, students have the choice of studying almost anywhere in the world they wish to study. One of the most fun destinations for study abroad isn't a destination at all in the traditional sense. It's the semester at sea program. The program's location changes daily for students on these floating barges of knowledge.
Misconceptions
Many students believe that they would not be eligible to go abroad because of money or constraints put on them by grades. However, this is not always so. In this case, what a student doesn't know could hurt him. Students should always check with their school's international programs office or financial aid office to find out what funding is available.
Expert Insight
A non-traditional student who received full funding twice for study abroad programs, I would tell students interested in studying abroad to make an appointment with their international programs office right away.
Tags: study abroad, interested studying, abroad programs, study abroad, financial office, funding available
Even though Chicago's school district is the third-largest in the nation, getting a job as a teacher in Chicago is tough. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, the city of Chicago hired 2,000 out of 25,000 applicants in 2008. The process to apply is fairly easy, requiring only one application to be reviewed by all Chicago public schools.
Instructions
1. Make sure you fulfill the requirements to be a teacher within the Chicago Public School system. According to the Chicago Public Schools website, to do this, you will need to be eligible for employment in the United States, have an Illinois teaching certificate and have completed an education program which required student teaching as part of its curriculum.
2. Fill out your online application as prompted by the site.
3. Upload a copy of your resume along with your application. For more on what your resume should look like and include, check out the Resources section below.
4. Search the job openings provided once you finish your application, and send your information directly to the principles of the schools with kindergarten teacher openings.
5. Follow up on your job search by contacting principals by calling or visiting schools after submitting your application. Meet with them and let them know why you are a prime candidate for teaching kindergarten specifically.
6. Look for private school listings as well. See the Resources below for some sites which list private school openings.
Tags: your application, Chicago Public, private school, your resume
There are many people who love the study of history. These people often believe the only careers available to historians are college professor positions. However, for historians with the right qualifications, there are many fulfilling job opportunities. Many of these opportunities require additional years of study and work experience.
Instructions
1. Decide whether you really have the aptitude and interest in history to become a historian. Make sure you have a sustained interest that will take you through many years of study.
2. Take steps to determine how you can finance a college career, as this is prerequisite to most any historian related position.
3. Apply and do your best to get into one with a top-notch history department. Do your research to find the best fit, and begin at a college with graduate degrees in history, to avoid having to transfer later.
4. Take all of the required history courses for your major, but also take plenty of writing courses to help in your future career. Take electives that will boost your understanding of your historical interest areas.
5. Get your undergraduate degree in history with the highest possible GPA. Take the GRE to get into a graduate history program, and apply to graduate program.
6. Earn an master's in history to get a job in historical societies, museums, libraries and other venues that need historians on staff. Continue your education for a PhD in history to become a professor of history.
7. Publish historical papers, reports and books whenever possible to establish yourself as an expert in your special interest area.
Titrations are a way to determine exactly when a reaction ends to figure out how much of a reactant is in the solution. During a titration, a burette drips one of the reactants, whose concentration is known, into a solution whose concentration is unknown. All that is needed to be known is whether the unknown solution is acidic or basic.
Instructions
1. Prepare the setup by placing the solution of unknown concentration in the beaker and the known solution in the burette. Record the volume of both the solution in the beaker and the solution in the burette.
2. Add the indicator to the solution. When the solution turns a light pink, the reaction is complete.
3. Drip the solution slowly into the beaker containing the unknown solution. As you get closer to completing the reaction, allow drips to fall one at a time.
4. When the solution turns a light pink, the reaction is complete. At this point, determine how much of the known solution has been used by subtracting the amount that is left in the burette from the original amount.
5. Multiply the concentration of the known solution times the volume used. Then multiply by the volume of the unknown solution. This will give you the concentration of the unknown solution. For example, if you used 1 milliliter of a 0.5 M base to neutralize 2 milliliters of the acid, multiple 0.5 times 1 to get 0.5 and then multiply by 2 to get 1.0 M. 1.0 M is the concentration of the unknown acid.
Even though federal stipulations state that you cannot access the money in your 401k plan before you reach the age of 59 1/2, it is possible under certain circumstances to use your 401k money to pay for school. Individuals facing difficult financial situations qualify for emergency access to their 401k funds.
Instructions
1. Approach your employer about a 401k loan program if you plan to continue working while you go to school. The terms of an employer-sponsored 401k loan are much more advantageous than taking the money directly out of your 401k account. Often, employer loan programs charge an interest rate on a 401k loan that is roughly equal to the interest rate the money is invested at while in your retirement account.
2. Be prepared to offer proof that you have no alternative way to pay for school other than taking money out of your 401k plan. 401k accounts are set up to be difficult to access before you reach retirement age.
3. Review the terms and conditions under which you are allowed to access your 401k money by asking your account administrator to provide you with your 401k's Summary Plan Description (SPD). Get clarification from the administrator or a financial professional if there are items contained in the SPD you don't understand.
4. Pay the taxes and penalties, as set forth by the IRS, for taking money out of your 401k early, if you qualify to do so and cannot secure a 401k loan from your employer. The standard fees break down like this: you will pay income tax on the amount of money you take out of your 401k as though it were normal earned income, and you are also subject to a 10 percent penalty on top of the amount you access. Thus, taking $10,000 at a 25 percent tax rate would leave you with $6,500 after the 10 percent penalty is applied.
5. Pay your tuition with the money you were loaned or advanced from your 401k plan. You should save any receipts you get to prove the money you borrowed was in fact spent on educational expenses.
Tags: your 401k, 401k loan, 401k plan, money your, money your 401k, taking money
Severe weather preparedness begins with education.
Often, high school earth science courses include a unit on severe weather or other meteorological topics. For public safety as well as for educational purposes, it is important for students to understand severe weather patterns. Reinforce reading and classroom instruction with activities that apply and practice the concepts of severe weather.
Weather Response Plans
Challenge students to prepare severe weather response plans. Importantly, have students develop different plans for different severe weather patterns, so that they think critically about the different kinds of weather hazards and the best methods of protection for each. Alternatively, have students review the school's existing response plans and critique these plans. Challenge the students to identify changes or improvements to the plan and to support their modifications with facts and information.
Emergency Kit
For a creative and fun class activity, have students prepare a severe weather emergency kit using objects in the classroom. Divide students into small groups and identify the severe weather emergency (e.g. hurricane or tornado). Give students time to discuss in groups their ideas for useful objects in the classroom. Then have each group present their kit to the class. As a class, discuss the best choices and explain why these objects would be effective or useful.
Severe Weather History
Have students learn the history of severe weather in the local community or state. Organize the class into small groups and assign each group a severe weather pattern. Instruct each group to research the weather pattern's effect on the school's city or state. For instance, have the group gather data about the frequency of the weather pattern, the most severe instance of the weather pattern and other relevant facts. This information can be gathered from meteorological websites and other online reference tools. Have students compile data and create a visual presentation to share with the class.
Fact or Fiction
As a class, view a movie or read a novel involving a severe weather disaster. For instance, watch the movie "Twister." Then discuss how realistic or factual the representation of the weather disaster is. Also, use the film or book to contextualize vocabulary or terminology. For instance, challenge students to identify the scenes in which a particular stage or phenomena is depicted.
Tags: severe weather, weather pattern, each group, have students, severe weather
Immerse yourself in Korean culture and practice the language.
Korean is spoken by more than 71 million people on the Korean peninsula. Several million more Korean speakers live outside the peninsula, especially in China and Japan. If you would like to communicate with them, practicing the language is vital to learning speak fluently. Daily practice with a native speaker is the best way to become proficient in Korean. Immersion in the culture or online language exchanges offer opportunities to learn Korean from native speakers. This will improve your pronunciation and grammar, as well as build your vocabulary. Many Korean language learning resources are free and available on the Internet.
Instructions
1. Join an online language exchange such as "My Language Exchange" or "ITalki." Meet regularly online with a native Korean speaker who wants to learn English. You will meet online using voice and text chat. You may have to offer English lessons in some language exchanges in order to attend Korean lessons. Ask your Korean-speaking language partner to correct any pronunciation, word choice, and grammar you have problems with during your meetings.
2. Immerse yourself in the Korean language by spending time in South Korea. Attend a Korean language course during your time there, and practice Korean in your daily life outside of class. The "Go Abroad" website maintains a list of Korean language schools in South Korea.
3. Listen to and read the news in Korean. The "Multilingual Books" and "Stars21" websites have links to online sources of Korean news, radio, and television. Most of these are free. Follow along to transcripts in Korean as you listen to news stories online. The "MBC Radio Lite" application for your Apple mobile device lets you watch Korean movies.
4. View Korean language lesson videos online. "Korean Class 101" and "Learn Korean Online" are websites that have videos available to help you learn and practice Korean. Rewind the videos and listen to parts that you need to hear again. Watch speakers' mouths to better learn pronunciation if the speakers are shown in the video.
5. Hire a Korean tutor. Many companies and individuals offer online Korean language lessons with private tutors or in small classes. Some private tutors can be found on "Edufire," "Fortemall," and "Buddy School." Home Korean tutors can be found on tutoring websites such as "WyzAnt," and language institutes offer Korean language classes as well. For example, the ABC Language School in San Francisco, the Korean Language Center in New York City, and the Boston Language Institute all offer Korean courses.
Tags: Korean language, Korean language, during your, Immerse yourself, Immerse yourself Korean, language exchanges
Writing is a fun way to express the creative side of the mind and demonstrate a strong command of the language. Adults looking for a career change or to just brush up on grammar will find writing courses can improve workforce marketability while learning new techniques to express themselves.
Business Writing
Business writing courses show students write formal letters, reports, memorandums, official minutes and other types of correspondence found in the business environment. They also teach students write directly and clearly, unlike much writing that is done for courses in English, science or history. It is critical to be able to write well in order to be successful in business. In many cases, a letter or report might be the first piece of literature a client may receive, so it's important the writer does it correctly.
Creative Writing
Creative writing gives adult students the opportunity to reflect on life experiences. Raising a family, working full-time, combined with years' worth of life's triumphs and struggles all make for rich content in both fiction and nonfiction form. Courses in creative writing are not as structured as other writing courses -- students can be free in their approach while still following the basics of good grammar. This type of writing benefits people working in education, journalism, advertising and public relations. Courses also help those wanting to write for fun or just to be creative!
Grammar
Grammar courses refresh students in basic grammar and structure. Many students stop taking grammar courses in the 8th grade, thus reinforcing bad habits along the way, and when they become adults, they still struggle with good grammar. The benefits of good grammar and structure go beyond writing, with implications stretching to the workplace. Grammar affects how people speak and how others perceive them when they speak, according to an article in The New York Daily News. Taking an online grammar course can help students figure out where they need work.
Writing for Social Media
Writing for social media is short, simple and direct. These courses teach adult students communicate in the online world and be effective on websites like Twitter and Facebook. According to Careerbuilder.com, because people spend so much time tweeting, texting and on social media sites like Facebook, good written communication skills are essential to surviving in the workforce and career advancement.
Tags: good grammar, writing courses, adult students, grammar structure, students write, when they
Painting is one of many fields you can study at an art school
With hundreds of colleges and thousands of programs to choose from, applicants to art school can have a hard time knowing where to start. The process can be overwhelming, but there are a few art colleges that consistently stand out from the rest. Studying at a top ten art school can give a student an enormous competitive advantage after he finishes his studies. Researching these programs can help a prospective art school applicant determine which program is right for her. As with other programs, checking the US News & World Report is a good place to start.
Rhode Island School of Design
The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) consistently tops lists of the best art schools in the U.S. Nearly 150 years old and sharing a campus with neighbor school Brown University, RISD offers 16 majors and a worldwide reputation to its undergraduate students.
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI
risd.edu
Yale University
Home to the Yale School of Art, Yale University's art department offers both the prestige of the Yale name and the talents of a department that has graduated such students as Chuck Close, John Currin, and Mark Rothko.
Yale University
New Haven, CT
yale.edu
Bard College
Bard College's innovative multi-disciplinary approach to art as well as its idyllic location make it an excellent choice for students looking to break free of a big city while still receiving a top-notch art education.
Bard College
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
bard.edu
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Connected to the renowned Art Institute of Chicago, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has a stellar faculty and offers unparalleled access to one of the world's greatest art collections.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL
saic.edu
Carnegie Mellon
In addition to offering an impressive range of courses, Carnegie Mellon's College of Fine Arts (founded in 1905) can also boast that it is the oldest college of fine arts in the United States.
Carnegie Mellon
Pittsburgh , PA
www.cmu.edu
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts (or CalArts, as it is commonly known), located in Valencia, California, and originally founded by Walt Disney, offers a collaborative and nurturing community uncommon at prestigious art institutions.
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
calarts.edu
UCLA
Students looking for a world-class education in math, science, history, English, or any number of other subjects in addition to their art studies need look no further than the University of California-Los Angeles, which offers excellent academic resources in addition to its famous art department.
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
ucla.edu
Columbia University
Prospective students who want a prestigious name on their diploma while studying art should check out the programs at Columbia University. Located in New York, arguably the art capital of the world, Columbia has the added advantage of being an Ivy League school.
Columbia University
New York, NY
columbia.edu
Pratt Institute
With a list of notable alumni that includes Eva Hesse and Patti Smith, Pratt offers students several campuses in the New York City area, talented faculty members, and an unparalleled location in the center of the art world.
Pratt Institute
New York, NY
pratt.edu
School of Visual Arts
With over 3,000 undergraduate students and two Manhattan locations, the School of Visual Arts (SVA) is an excellent choice for students who want to be in the center of New York City.
School of Visual Arts
New York, NY
schoolofvisualarts.edu
Tags: Institute Chicago, Bard College, California Institute, California Institute Arts, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia University