Get A Cna License

Getting a certified nursing assistant (CNA) license is often the first step on the long journey of professional health care. Registered nurses, technicians and even some doctors start their careers as young nursing assistants. As a CNA, you are required to provide patients with any daily care they cannot provide for themselves. Your duties range from feeding and dressing to changing briefs and emptying catheters. While some home health agencies will hire nurse aides without certification, those with certification are generally paid more and enjoy more job stability because nurse aides are often in short supply.

Instructions

1. Check your state's guidelines for licensing requirements, as each state has different requirements for CNA candidates. First check to ensure you naturally fit the qualifications, as per your age, schooling and criminal history.

2. Search for CNA training classes in your area. Some health care facilities are required to hold CNA classes every three to six months. Visit your local hospitals and nursing homes and ask when their next class is. You may need to be hired by the facility before receiving training.

3. Contact your state agency for nurse aide training (see Resources) if you are unable to find classes near you. The agency will not only be able to find training for you, but may also inform you of grants, scholarships or free programs you could attend. Obtain training for free whenever possible. The cost of CNA training and licensing is anywhere from $300 to $900, depending on your state.

4. Fill out a "Verification of Training" form to send to your local Nurse Aide Registry once you have found training. The form will take four to six weeks to be processed, which is why you must send in the form before your training. This way you can go to work as a CNA as soon as you complete your training. The registry will then verify that you have received your training from an accredited program and will approve your license. Most training programs will ask you to fill out this form at the beginning of training and will send the form for you.

5. Attend classes and follow directions. Whenever possible, observe fellow nurse aides at work. Every CNA must undergo a practical and theoretical exam before given a license. Although a caring sensibility is much appreciated by trainers, knowledge and precision is what ultimately matters.

Tags: nurse aides, your state, your training, health care, send form

Write A Fee Waiver Request Letter

Students often send fee waiver request letters to colleges they apply to.

Many students write fee waiver request letters to include along with their college applications. The student's letter petitions the university to waive its standard application fee which, on average, is $35, according to College Board. Colleges often consider these requests and generally base their decisions on certain criteria such as financial hardship. The National Association for College Admission Counseling offers a standard form called the "Request for Application Fee Waiver" which is available for this purpose if students don't write a personal letter.

Instructions

Write Your Own Letter

1. Address the letter directly to the dean of admissions at each college apply to. If you don't know his name, look it up on the college's website or call the admissions office.

2. Include your personal information -- your full name, address, phone number and grade in high school -- in the letter. Mention your intended college major as well.

3. Indicate in the letter that you are requesting the application fee to the college to be waived.

4. Clearly state your specific reasons for requesting the waiver. Colleges generally base their decision on the financial conditions of the applicant. Explain your current living situation. Include your family's size and annual taxable income. Include any other pertinent details regarding your financial situation.

5. Sign and date the letter before mailing it to the college.

Use the NACAC's Fee Waiver Form

6. Log on to the NACAC's website. A link, provided under "Resources," will take you to the correct form.

7. Print the form and fill it out completely, answering all required questions.

8. After completing the form, sign your name and mail it to the college.

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Solutions To Financial Aid Problems

Financial aid is almost always a necessity to attend college these days. Tuition costs continue to rise and college students are becoming less likely to afford the costs even when their parents are helping defray the expense. In fact, the tuition at a four-year university increased by more than 6 percent in 2007. That is double the increase of inflation. Whether it is a federal loan, grant, scholarship, work-study program or other form of aid, finding extra money for college can help students get the education they need to compete in a tough job market.

History

Financial aid for college is nothing new. In fact, the concept has been around for hundreds of years. In 1643, Lady Anne Radcliffe Mowlson provided the funding so Harvard University could award the very first scholarship.

In 1954, 95 private colleges and universities formed the College Scholarship Service. This organization created a system to analyze and determine the financial needs of students who want to continue their education after high school. This was the basis of the philosophy that aid should be based on a student's needs. When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, Congress blamed the American educational system for allowing the United States to come in second in the "space race." As a result of that, there was a greater emphasis placed on higher education and the funding needed to allow more students to go to colleges and universities.

The next year, the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) was enacted. It provided financial aid to educational institutes in the United States. This helped stimulate many areas of study, including mathematics, science, geography and more by providing about 90 percent of the funds needed to give students low-interest loans for their college education. The NDEA established the National Defense Student Loan Program (NDSL) which is currently known as the Federal Perkins Loan Program.

Throughout the next few decades, many programs and acts of legislation were created to make financial aid easier to get. Lyndon B. Johnson's Economic Opportunity Act, the Higher Education Act and the Middle Income Student Assistance Act were just a few of the pieces of legislation focused on giving financial aid to qualified students.

Types

There are several types of solutions you can apply to your financial aid problems. Scholarships are one of the most common solutions because students do not have to pay these back and they are often awarded for several semesters of study. Scholarships are generally based on need, academic transcripts, fields of study and family background. There are several scholarships through the government and private contributors and the school of your choice may even offer their own scholarships.

Grants are another solution to financial aid problems because grants are basically free money. Like scholarships, grants are also based on financial need and transcripts. Students must meet certain qualifications (usually a full-time status with a "C" average or better) or else the grant will be revoked.

If you do not qualify for scholarships or grants due to your family's financial situation or your academic transcript, you can check into loans and work-study programs. Work-study programs are ideal for students who may not have great academic transcripts because these programs are neither loans nor grants. Students work part-time at the university or at a job related to their course of study.

Time Frame

Whether you are just entering college or getting ready to graduate, you should find solutions to your financial aid problems as soon as possible. If you are getting ready to enter college, the sooner you find the financial aid to pay your tuition, the sooner you can attend classes. Most colleges and universities give you until the first couple weeks of classes before making you pay your tuition, but you don't want to waste your time going to classes and then find out that your financial aid didn't go through. After graduating, you want to find solutions to your financial aid problems rather quickly so you can pay off your debts before the interest accumulates. Federal loans give you a six-month grace period and three one-year terms of deferment if you have a financial hardship.

Benefits

There are several benefits related to financial aid solutions. When you are eligible for financial aid, you have the opportunity to go to a college or university and continue your education. As a result, you can learn the skills needed to go into the career or job field of your choice.

Another benefit of financial aid is that you may not have to work while you are in college. If you receive enough money through a loan, grant or scholarship, you may be able to use any money after paying for your books and tuition for living expenses. This allows you to focus on your studies, get better grades and be a better prospect in the job market after graduation. Or, if you decide to go to graduate school, it helps you be a better candidate for admission.

Warning

Student loans are one of the most common solutions to financial aid problems. However, these loans come due soon after graduation. Many students do not keep track of the loans they are accumulating during their academic career. After a few years, you could rack up thousands and even tens of thousands of dollars in loans. The interest rate on those loans doesn't stop even if you are in deferment. One solution to put off paying those loans for a short time is to go back to school and take some classes. Most federal loans allow you to delay payments interest-free if you are in school for at least half time.

Tags: financial problems, your financial, colleges universities, There several, your financial problems, academic transcripts

Scholarships & Grants For Tall People

Students can use height to their advantage to score money for college.

Good grades, an impressive resume and involvement in community and extracurricular activities can all earn students scholarships to help pay for college. Sometimes, students can also use personal attributes like height to help win them money for school. As of 2011, only one scholarship awards money for being tall. Tall Clubs International offers a scholarship based mostly on a person's height, along with other factors like financial need, grades and activities.

Source

Funding for the Tall Clubs International Scholarship comes from the Tall Clubs International Foundation. The foundation receives private donations, and each of Tall Clubs International's 56 local clubs across the United States and Canada also contribute to the foundation.

Features

Tall Clubs International provides $1,000 scholarships to tall students each year. The number of scholarships offered depends on the funding the Tall Clubs International Foundation receives. Scholarship winners are determined by a scholarship committee, based on the applicants fulfilling eligibility requirements and their academic record, activities and essay responses. Winners are announced at the annual Tall Clubs International Convention, held each year in July.

Eligibility

To qualify for a Tall Clubs International Scholarship, a male student must be at least 6 feet 2 inches tall; the standard is at least 5 feet 10 inches for women. Students don't have to be a member of a Tall Clubs International branch to apply, but must be sponsored by a local club. Students can search the Tall Clubs International website to find the club nearest them to contact about sponsorship. Along with meeting the height requirements, students must be graduating high school seniors or current college students under the age of 21.

Process

Applications for the Tall Clubs International Scholarship can be found online at the Tall Clubs International Foundation website or through the student's local club. A student must turn in the scholarship application to the club, which then submits it to the main organization to be considered. Along with the application, students must include an official grade transcript, two letters of recommendation, a one-page essay entitled "What Being Tall Means to Me" and a release form to publish the winning essay.

Tags: Clubs International, Tall Clubs, Tall Clubs International, Clubs International Foundation, Clubs International Scholarship

Colleges With Good Graphic Design Programs

Graphic design students study the role of visual art and typography in communication and artistic expression.

Visual arts and typography, commonly referred to singularly as graphic design, is a communication discipline utilized in a wide variety of professional realms including marketing, entertainment and logistics. College-level graphic design programs can range in duration from two to four years. There are a myriad of higher learning institutions in the United States offering graphic design programs.

Carnegie Mellon University

The communication design program at Carnegie Mellon School of Design is offered at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The undergraduate course is grounded in analysis of design principals, theories and artistic skill. Coursework includes digital imaging, kinetic typography and interface and interaction design. The school's graduate program in Communication Planning and Information Design covers advanced topics in interactive multimedia, internet communication and print communication.

Carnegie Mellon University

School of Design

5000 Forbes Ave

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-268-2082

design.cmu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in graphic design, each with a focus on contemporary designs systems technology, modern art trends and international outreach. Undergraduate students hone analytical skills through diverse problem solving methodologies and creative research in courses such as sequential motion design and publication and print design. Graduate students are charged with preparing theses grounded in historical perspective and an active integration of ethical issues in art and design.

Virginia Commonwealth University

Department of Graphic Design

325 North Harrison Street

Richmond, VA 23284

804-828-1709

vcu.edu/arts

Rhode Island School of Design

The Rhode Island School of Design's undergraduate program in graphic design is constructed to ebb and flow with the ever-changing definition of visual communication in society. Through courses like visual form-making, design history, communication theory and systems design, students are encouraged to apply traditional artistic methods with contemporary creative strategies in problem solving. The school's broad range of elective coursework spans across illustration, industrial design, photography and printmaking.

Rhode Island School of Design

Department of Graphic Design

30 North Main Street

Providence, RI 02903

401-454-6171

risd.edu/graphic

Pratt Institute

The Pratt Institute's associate degree program in graphic design is instructed by a faculty comprised of professional designers. The program fosters artistic proficiency for use in fields such as advertising, marketing, package design and publishing. Coursework includes rendering, figure drawing, computer graphics, interactive media and 2-D computer graphics. Students are also trained in contemporary design software applications in tandem with traditional studio fundamentals such as typography, drawing and color design.

Pratt Institute

200 Willoughby Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11205

718-636-3600

pratt.edu

Tags: School Design, Carnegie Mellon, Commonwealth University, Island School, Island School Design

European Schools Offering Online Degrees

A number of European schools offer online degrees.

As Internet use has expanded in the past decade, so has the number of European schools offering online degrees. Online learning, or distance learning, continues to attract more students worldwide. Many European schools offer bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees in a wide variety of subjects.

Swiss Management Center University

Swiss Management Center University (SMC University) specializes in degrees in business administration. The university is located in Zurich, Switzerland, and also has a learning center in Vienna, Austria. The university has obtained accreditation by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Some of the core subjects include microeconomics, business law, and international economics, among others. Students may also select specialized courses focusing on corporate finance.

Entrepreneurship and International Business and Trade

Swiss Management University

Seestrasse 445b

8038 Zurich

Switzerland

+41 (0)41 500 16 22

swissmc.ch

University of Liverpool

For those who wish to pursue a master's degree, the University of Liverpool has included online learning in its curriculum. Founded in 1881, the University boasts a reputation as one of the top 20 research-led schools within the United Kingdom. Working in partnership with Laureate Online Education, the University of Liverpool has developed an e-learning program that allows students to complete 100 percent of their master's requirements online. Master's degree programs are available in the areas of management, medicine, information technology, and law.

University of Liverpool

Liverpool L69 3BX

United Kingdom

+44 (0)151 794 2000

liv.ac.uk

Horizons University

Located in Paris, France, Horizons University has online courses at both graduate and undergraduate levels. The university offers bachelor's programs in international marketing, global business, French, and European culture. Master of arts programs include intercultural communication and French with a focus on language, literature, and culture. Master of business administration courses concentrate on international marketing, with a focus on luxury and e-commerce, as well as tourism and international management. The Ph.D. program specializes in French, and international marketing and management are available in the doctorate of business administration program.

Horizons University

242 Boulevard Boltaire

74011 Paris

France

+33-142772066

horizonsuniversity.org

Institute of Public Administration

The Institute of Public Administration provides distance-training programs tailored to public administration and public management. The Institute is recognized and accredited by the National University of Ireland (NUI) and has certificate, diploma, and degrees tailored to the needs of adult learners. Bachelor of arts programs are available in the fields of local government, human resource management, healthcare management, and justice administration. The institute also offers a diploma in public management (DPM), a bachelor of business studies (BBS), and a masters of arts program.

Institute of Public Administration

57-61 Lansdowne Rd.

Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

+353 1 240 3600

ipa.ie

Tags: University Liverpool, business administration, European schools, Horizons University, Institute Public, Institute Public Administration

Free Graphic Design Programs

Start learning the basics of graphic design with these free programs.

The term "graphic design" covers dozens of individual disciplines. A typical graphic designer uses a handful of powerful programs to manipulate and create digital content; however, professional programs are expensive. Photoshop, the industry-standard raster image editor, costs $700 USD retail as of 2011. If you can't afford that kind of investment, you can get started with a collection of free, community-supported programs. The following programs are divided by category and all download links are in the Resources section.

Raster Image Editors

Raster image editors modify static images on a pixel-per-pixel level and are the most commonly used graphic design programs. Examples of retail software include Adobe Photoshop and Corel Paint Shop Pro. The most powerful free alternative is called GIMP. GIMP features almost all of the primary functions of Photoshop while being free and open source. The interface is difficult to navigate at first, but learning it is well worth the effort. GIMP is available for Windows, OSX and Linux .If you don't need all the features offered in GIMP and you want something easier, Paint.Net falls somewhere between Photoshop and Microsoft's free Paint program as far as capability and difficulty is concerned. Paint.net only runs on Windows PCs.

Vector Editors

Vector images are created with algorithmic functions of lines, rays and points. Vector editors are used often in scalable design, like logo creation, signage and typographical modification. The standard professional vector editors are Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw. The best free alternative to these programs is Inkscape. Inkscape offers most of the capabilities of its commercial counterparts and uses the standard SVG vector file format. Inkscape is available free for Windows and OSX computers. Another free alternative is DrawPlus Starter, a feature-limited version of the commercial software DrawPlus. It's available on Windows and OSX.

Web Design Software

Some graphic designers double as Web developers and use software packages to help them code websites. The most commonly used programs for Web design are Microsoft Visual Studio and Adobe Dreamweaver. Free alternatives to these programs include Aptana and KompoZer, both available for Windows, OSX and Linux. Microsoft also makes a free, limited version of Visual Studio called Visual Web Developer Express for Windows users. It's important to note that you don't necessarily need a special program to write code (any text editor will do), but they're often helpful for beginners and those with complicated projects.

3D Design

Graphic designers sometimes need to take their work into three-dimensional for industrial or animation projects. The leading 3-D design programs are Autodesk Maya and 3DS Max. The most powerful free alternative is called Blender. Blender's interface is very challenging -- but all of the 3-D programs are challenging to learn -- and it has enough features to compete with the commercial offerings. Blender is available for Windows, OSX and Linux. If you need something simpler, Google Sketchup can handle basic 3-D modeling and animation, and it has a more user-friendly interface. It is available for Windows and OSX.

Tags: available Windows, free alternative, available Windows Linux, graphic design, Windows Linux, alternative called, commonly used

Tips On Writing Essay Sentences

A superior essay incorporates different types of sentences into a cohesive, edifying text. A few simple tips for writing essay sentences can take an essay from passable to extraordinary. When writing essay sentences, keep the following tips in mind to achieve a successful essay.

Purpose

When writing essay sentences, determine what purpose each sentence has in the essay. Writers use sentences for four different purposes:

A declarative sentence makes a statement: I ran the Boston Marathon.

An imperative sentence issues a request or command: Have a seat in the waiting room, sir.

An interrogative sentence asks a question: Who will lend me 500 dollars?

An exclamatory sentence forcefully issues a declarative, imperative or interrogative sentence: I ran the Boston Marathon! Have a seat in the waiting room, sir! Who will lend me 500 hundred dollars?!

A combination of these four types of sentences will effectively communicate the writer's ideas and result in a successful essay.

Active Voice

Use of the passive voice is a common and easily correctable error made by essay writers. A superior essay uses sentences with vibrant, active verbs. When writing essay sentences, begin with the subject that is performing the action, use active verbs and limit forms of the verb "to be" (is, am, are, was, were).

Passive sentence: The fly ball was caught by Jeff.

Active sentence: Jeff caught the fly ball.

Shifts

Shifts within a sentence cause the reader confusion and result in a choppy, poorly constructed essay. When writing essay sentences, keep point of view, verb tense, mood and voice consistent.

Examples:

Shift in point-of-view: In cooking class, when we learned to bake bread, you were also graded on cleanliness of your work area.

Consistent: In cooking class, when we learned to bake bread, WE were also graded on cleanliness of OUR work area.

Shift in verb tense: I couldn't stop the car in time. Just as I was about to hit the curb, my son jumps in the front seat and takes the wheel.

Consistent: I couldn't stop the car in time. Just as I was about to hit the curb, my son JUMPED in the front seat and TOOK the wheel.

Variety

Besides the four purposes of sentences (declarative, imperative, interrogative, exclamatory), sentences also differ in their structure. Sentences are structured in four ways, depending on the number and types of clauses they contain:

Simple--one independent clause, no dependent clauses: Life would be boring without music.

Compound--two or more independent clauses, no dependent clause: Life would be boring without music, but life would be meaningless without books.

Complex--one independent clause, one or more dependent clauses: To please the children, we played music during the assembly.

Compound-Complex--at least two independent clauses, at least one dependent clause: The thunderstorm raged overnight, and the dog, who was terrified, hid under the bed.

The tendency when writing essay sentences is to rely on simple and compound sentences. For a more articulate essay, incorporate complex and compound-complex sentences. Try inverting sentences. (Without music, life would be boring. We played music during the assembly to please the children.) Use a variety of sentence openings. (Frequently, we played music during the assembly to please the children.)

Tags: essay sentences, writing essay sentences, writing essay, during assembly, music during, music during assembly, played music

Careers For People With Accounting Degrees

Accounting degree programs provide training in the fundamentals of auditing, accounting and ledger systems, enterprise resource planning systems, bookkeeping and business economics. People with accounting degrees tend to have strong computer skills and are able to create, manage and analyze spreadsheets and databases. Career opportunities are numerous and include public and management accounting, government accounting and auditing and internal auditing. Other possible positions include tax examiners, revenue agents, and bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks.

Public Accountants

Public accountants perform a variety of auditing, accounting, tax and consulting tasks for clients ranging from governments, corporations and nonprofit groups to individuals. While some public accountants advise companies on tax matters and prepare personal income tax returns, others are responsible for auditing financial statements. Public accountants work in forensic accounting, investigating fraud, embezzlement and other financial crimes.

Management Accountants

Management accountants, also known as private, corporate, industrial or managerial accountants, are responsible for analyzing and recording the financial information of the companies that employ them. They often work as part of an executive team that plans or develops new products. Management accounts advise executives on financial information and help them make competent business decisions.

Government Accountants and Auditors

Government accountants and auditors are responsible for examining and maintaining government records, as well as auditing individuals and businesses. They make sure that all financial activity is performed according to government regulations and laws. Those government accountants working at the federal level are often employed by the Internal Revenue Service.

Internal Auditors

Internal auditors are responsible for ensuring that an organization's internal operations are running efficiently, effectively and in accordance with laws and regulations. They do this by monitoring and evaluating information and financial systems, internal controls and management protocols.

Tax Examiners & Revenue Agents

Tax examiners are employed by the local, state and federal government and are responsible for reviewing filed tax returns. They figure out if tax deductions and credits are permitted by law and make and report adjustments. Similarly, revenue agents audit tax returns to ensure that they are accurate and legitimate. However, unlike tax examiners, revenue agents handle the complicated tax returns of large businesses and corporations, including sales, income and excise returns.

Bookkeeping, Accounting & Auditing Clerks

Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerk positions do not often require accounting degrees. However, many graduates take these positions with hopes of promotion. Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks are all responsible for maintaining and updating records, including receipts, accounts payable and receivable, expenditures and profit and loss. While bookkeeping--or managing a general ledger--is done at the small-business level, accounting and auditing clerks are often employed by larger companies and have more specialized tasks.

Tags: accounting auditing, revenue agents, accounting auditing clerks, accounting degrees, auditing accounting

Find Free College Courses Online

There really are college campuses that look like this, and now, they're yours...free!

You can take free college classes online! For credit! At Ivy League universities!

Instead of spending tens (hundreds!) of thousands of dollars for a college degree, you can begin or expand your university education at no cost, though a wide variety of free distance learning opportunities. Here's how.

Instructions

1. **Check Out Carnegie Mellon University Online**

The Open Learning Intiative at Carnegie Mellon offers online courses to everyone at no charge. You'll find it at cmu.edu/oli

These are self-guided courses in a wide variety of topic areas, including introductory and advanced math courses, biology and chemistry, economics, languages, and information technology.

Carnegie-Mellon is one of the top technical schools in the US, and the courses offered are high-quality and challenging. They can be taken for credit if you make the appropriate arrangements with your host institution.

2. **Go Ivy League**

If you've always had a hankering to attend MIT, now you can, online, and for free.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology hosts their MITOpenCourseWare site at ocw.mit.edu. Plan on spending some time here, because they offer almost 2,000 courses online, in fields such as architecture, math, engineering (of course! It's MIT!), health sciences, social sciences, and your mainstream science topics like biology, chemistry, and physics.

But it's not all technology and engineering. MIT also offers courses in business and management, history, political science, and even a course or two in 'gender studies'. Go for it.

3. **Go iPod League**

Another Ivy League school, Stanford University, makes a similarly diverse course offerings available for download, so you can play back courses on your iPod, PC or Mac computer.

Believe it or not, they call it iTunes U, but even though it's hosted at iTunes, all content is free. You can get started at itunes.stanford.edu

If you want the California college experience, but you're more the public university type, visit UC Berkeley's free course listings at webcast.berkeley.edu

4. **Why Not Visit Overseas**

The internet makes international education a breeze.

The UK's Open University at openlearn.open.ac.uk brings a full college curriculum to your desktop. You can take the courses at your own pace, and even join onine groups to share class notes, discuss assignments, or just BS a bit (it is college, after all).

Australia's University of Southern Queensland also offers online course in their OpenCourseWare program (ocw.usq.edu.au). There's a heavy focus on science, computer techology and general IT courses here, but you'll also find courses in career planning, tourism, and teaching.

Tags: also offers, biology chemistry, Carnegie Mellon, courses your, offers online, wide variety

Distance Learning Writing Courses

Home study writing courses allow you to pick up the skills needed to write at your own pace.

Although it's easy to believe that writing is a skill you either have or don't have, many courses can teach you to write fiction and nonfiction to a high standard. Distance learning courses teach the skills required to become a writer over the Internet, and there are many courses online to choose from. Learning about the different online writing courses can give you a good idea about which one you may wish to enroll in.

Gotham Writers' Workshop

Gotham Writers' Workshop is based in New York City and offers many interactive online writing classes. The classes are presented by professional writers and have been chosen as the best writing classes available on the web by Forbes Magazine. The courses aim to teach aspiring writers come up with ideas, create believable characters and beat writer's block. The courses include fiction writing, food writing, article writing, poetry writing, playwriting, scriptwriting and travel writing. The courses take place over six to 10 weeks and can be accessed 24 hours a day.

Writers on the Net

Writers on the Net offers a selection of 10- and eight-week writing courses online. The courses are taught by professional writers, who develop the courses personally and who offer students feedback on the work they produce. The courses generally offer one assignment each week, and there are lessons sent by email that support the assignments. Writers on the Net offers courses on many areas of writing, including short story writing, poetry, writing for new media and food writing. Courses start throughout the year and require only an Internet connection.

Stanford Continuing Studies

Stanford has an Online Writer's Studio, which offers a variety of 10-week distance learning writing courses. Adults of all writing levels can enroll in a course, and the courses can be completed at any time. The courses have been developed by successful writers, and the instructors offer feedback on assignments completed by students. Students are given weekly lessons during the first half of their course, including specific reading lists, discussion points and writing assignments. As the courses develop, the assignments get longer and are reviewed by peers as well as instructors. The course requires around eight hours per week.

Oxford Open Learning Writing School

Oxford Open Learning Writing School offers many different writing courses, all taught by professional writers. The comprehensive creative writing course covers several types of writing, including novels, playwriting and writing for television, and is one of the UK's most successful home study writing courses. The Writing School also offers specific courses in business writing, writing for children, writing romance and memoir writing. You are also backed by their money-back guarantee, which states that if you take the comprehensive creative writing course you will get a refund if you haven't earned the course fees back by writing in the time it takes you to complete it.

Tags: writing courses, courses teach, professional writers, writing courses, Writing School

Does A Savings Account Affect University Financial Aid

Does a Savings Account Affect University Financial Aid?

Understanding the FAFSA

When looking at ways to finance your college education, one of the first things that should come to your mind is the FAFSA. The FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the gateway document to most sources for Federal Financial Assistance. The FAFSA uses an equation to determine how much money you and your family should expect to contribute to your education, as well as how much the federal government should be willing to cover. This number is your EFC or your "expected family contribution."

Your EFC Number

Your EFC or your expected family contribution is the number that your college of choice will be looking at to determine how much financial aid you will qualify for. Things that will be taken into consideration in calculating this number are yours and your families income (or just yours if you are no longer a dependent and over the age of 24), as well as any assets that you have, which would include any money in your savings account. The more assets and income you have, the greater your EFC number. The higher your EFC number, the less financial aid you will qualify for. This is why a savings account may negatively affect the amount of financial aid you receive from your university.

Benefits of a Savings Account

Though your savings account can affect the level of financial you may receive, it can also lighten the amount of federal loans you may have to take to pay for your education. Not all financial aid comes in the form of grants. In fact, most of it comes in the form of low interest federal loans that can be deferred while you are in school. If you plan in advance and save for your education, though you may qualify for for less financial aid, you will be making interest off of your savings instead of paying interest on a host of school loans that you would have had to take out if you relied solely on financial aid.

Tags: financial will, your education, your savings, Account Affect, Account Affect University, Affect University

What Is The Purpose Of Dd Form 13512

To be properly reimbursed, don't forget the paperwork.

Official travel is a part of many Department of Defense (DoD) jobs. At times, the employee must spend their own money for these expenses. Filing proper paperwork ensures that personal money spent for official travel will be reimbursed.

Function

The DoD uses DD Form 1351-2 to pay travel expenses and verify the legitimacy of travel expenses submitted by Defense Department employees. DoD employees must complete DD Form 1351-2 to be paid for personal money spent on official travel.

Required Documentation

In order to receive payment, the employee must submit original travel orders, a copy of tickets used and copies of lodging receipts for the trip. Additionally, receipts are required on any expenses greater than $75 incurred on the trip.

Payment

Employees must be enrolled in Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to receive payment from the DoD.

Government issued travel credit cards will be paid off then remaining funds owed will be deposited into the EFT account specified by the DoD employee.

Considerations

Filing fraudulent claims is a criminal offense and carries severe penalties. Disclosure of information and documentation is voluntary on DD Form 1351-2; however, without this information, the claim may not be paid.

Tags: Form 1351-2, employee must, money spent, money spent official, personal money

Tour Arizona State University

Arizona State University (ASU) has one of the highest enrollments in the nation. It has many well-reputed programs such as business, counseling, engineering and mass communications. Taking a visit to Arizona State University will help you become familiar with the campuses and peek into the life of an Arizona State student. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

1. Plan ahead for your area of studies or potential areas of study. Knowing what your major will be or having an idea of a few different majors will allow you to focus on those program locations and learn more about them. There are four different campuses so make sure you know which ones you want to visit. For example, if you want to study agribusiness you should visit the ASU Polytechnic Campus as well as the Tempe campus.

2. Get a brief overview of ASU by taking a talk and tour. The talk offers a one-hour session that will provide information on admissions, programs, residential life and much more. The tour is a 90-minute walk through the campus, conducted by Undergraduate Admissions counselors and led by students. The talk and tour is ideal for prospective students needing more information on the university. You can make a reservation for a talk and tour on ASU's website.

3. Spend a day at ASU by attending a Sun Devil Day. Sun Devil Days allow perspective students to witness college life, and they provide sessions where you can learn more about housing options, financial aid and other student resources. Any prospective student is welcome to attend and there are Sun Devil Days at all four campuses. You can RSVP online or call (480) 965-2266 to make your plans. Check the ASU website for dates.

4. Take a Sneaker Tour for an up-close, personal look at ASU. Each Sneaker Tour is unique and offers a view at different research facilities and classes. You can find Sneaker Tour dates on the ASU website or fill out a special request for a Sneaker Tour that fits your needs.

5. Check on special events for transfer students on the ASU website. If you are transferring, ASU offers Transfer Thursdays that are geared specifically for prospective transfer students. Search for "Transfer Thursdays" on the ASU website to schedule a visit.

Tags: Arizona State, Sneaker Tour, Arizona State University, learn more, State University, talk tour

Community Colleges In Las Vegas Nevada

Las Vegas is a beautiful, vibrant city with many higher education options.

Entertainment capital Las Vegas, Nevada, has only one public community college, The College of Southern Nevada (CSN). CSN is Nevada's largest higher learning institution and operates three main campuses and nine learning centers in and around the city of Las Vegas. Las Vegas is also home to four other private two-year colleges: Everest College (formerly Las Vegas College), High-Tech Institute, Kaplan College and Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts.

The College of Southern Nevada

The College of Southern Nevada had a student enrollment of more than 43,000 in 2010, quite an increase from its 402 students when it opened in 1971. CSN offers more than 3,000 courses each semester in more than 120 fields of study. In addition to traditional classes, 25 of its degree and certificate programs are entirely online. CSN maintains an open-door admissions policy, so if you are a U.S. citizen, resident alien or qualified international student, you can enroll in any general program the college offers. CSN is the most ethnically diverse college in Nevada. CSN also offers students more than 30 clubs and organizations, an honors program and Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges, two intercollegiate sports (men's baseball and women's fast-pitch softball) and student government.

The College Of Southern Nevada

West Charleston Campus

6375 W. Charleston Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89146

(702) 651-5000

csn.edu

Everest College

Everest College, formerly Las Vegas College, is located just outside Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada. Everest has more than 600 undergraduate students and provides short-term career training with diploma and degree programs in accounting, business administration, criminal justice, massage therapy, medical administrative assistant, medical assisting and paralegal. In 1986, the school earned its license to award associate degrees under its then name---Las Vegas Business College.

Everest College

170 N. Stephanie Street

Henderson, NV 89074

(702) 567-1920

everest.edu

The High-Tech Institute

In 2002, the High-Tech Institute Las Vegas opened, and it offers more than 500 undergraduate students training for medical careers. The school offers diploma programs in the following areas: dental assistant, massage therapy, medical assistant, medical billing and coding, pharmacy technician and surgical technologist.

The High-Tech Institute

2320 S. Rancho Drive

Las Vegas, NV 89102

(866) 385-6700

hightechinstitute.edu

Kaplan College

Kaplan College Las Vegas is located minutes from the famed Las Vegas Strip and has more than 300 undergraduate students. It offers associate degrees in health information technology, criminal justice and computer networking technology. Kaplan also offers diploma programs for medical assistant, medical billing and coding specialist, pharmacy technician and computer support technician.

Kaplan College

3535 W. Sahara Ave.

Las Vegas, NV 89102

(702) 368-2338

las-vegas.kaplancollege.com

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Las Vegas opened in January 2003 and has an on-site, student-run restaurant. The school has more than 500 undergraduate students and offers the following programs: culinary arts, patisserie and baking, hospitality and restaurant management and an online Bachelor of Arts program in Le Cordon Bleu culinary management.

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Las Vegas

1451 Center Crossing Road

Las Vegas, NV 89144

(702) 365-7690

chefs.edu

Tags: more than, Cordon Bleu, Bleu College, Bleu College Culinary, College Culinary, College Culinary Arts

Purposes Of Portfolio Assessment

A portfolio is a formative assessment that measures the progress of a student, as well as his strengths and challenges. A good portfolio will be a broad spectrum of a student's work, and will serve as not only a place to store completed work, but will also include self-reflections and recommendations for improvement. The article below will explain the significance, function, features, benefits and considerations of portfolio assessment.

Significance

Portfolio assessment is important because it measures the progress of a student and examines the instructional process, not just the final product. Authentic educational assessments, such as portfolios, provide multiple levels of learning evidence and demonstrate what a student knows and how he uses this knowledge. Traditional assessments, such as tests, demonstrate how knowledge can be memorized and regurgitated, but portfolio assessments measure conceptual development over a period of time. However, tests and other traditional assessments do have purposes, and can even be included in portfolios. According to Meg Sewell, Mary Marczak, and Melanie Horn at the University of Arizona, "contents of portfolios (sometimes called 'artifacts' or 'evidence') can include drawings, photos, video or audio tapes, writing or other work samples, computer disks, and copies of standardized or program-specific tests. Data sources can include parents, staff, and other community members who know the participants or program, as well as the self-reflections of participants themselves" (Sewell, Marczak, and Horn). From this quote, it is clear that a solid portfolio includes multimedia artifacts, because a cross section of assessment in different learning styles can truly assess a student's development.

Function

The function of a portfolio assessment is to measure progress of a particular process over a specified length of time. Before beginning a portfolio, the student must be aware of the goals she is trying to accomplish with this project. Otherwise, she will be confused as to what artifacts to include. According to Sewell, Marczack and Horn, "If goals and criteria have been clearly defined, the 'evidence' in the portfolio makes it relatively easy to demonstrate that the individual or population has moved from a baseline level of performance to achievement of particular goals." A portfolio functions as a place to store materials so they are not forgotten and so that the student can continuously reflect on her growth in that particular subject area. According to David Sweet, a writer for the Education Consumer Guide Office of Research, "A portfolio may be a folder containing a student's best pieces and the student's evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the pieces. It may also contain one or more works-in-progress that illustrate the creation of a product, such as an essay, evolving through various stages of conception, drafting, and revision" (Sweet, 1993).

Features

Artifacts placed in the portfolio should be carefully chosen to represent the portfolio purpose and the most solid work done by the participant. The work should also show growth and progress, and can even include work-in-progress pieces. Occasionally, a student will flip through her portfolio and remove old work, replacing it with newer work that shows stronger development of a certain skill.

Most importantly however, a portfolio is only complete if it has a reflection, a summary of strengths and weaknesses, and a plan to improve. According to Elizabeth Aurbach, "Use the reflective narrative to make sure your readers quite understand what you are showing. Prepare reflections that place the artifacts in a context and explain why you have included each item" (Aurbach, 2005-2006). Creating a reflection places the responsibility of the learner on the student, allowing her to see, understand and conceptualize her own strengths and weaknesses. A portfolio changes the teacher's role from a one-size-fits all instructor into a mentor who works with each student's individual goals.

Benefits

According to Sewell, Marczak and Horn, portfolio assessment is useful because it "allows the evaluators to see the student, group, or community as individual ... serves as a cross-section lens, providing a basis for future analysis and planning ... serves as a concrete vehicle for communication ... promotes a shift in ownership ... assesses the more complex and important aspects of an area or topic, and covers a broad scope of knowledge and information" (Sewell, Marczak, and Horn). Unlike a test that measures only one type of intelligence and understanding, a portfolio is useful for comparing understanding across intelligences. A portfolio also allows the student to become more self-aware of his learning process. As Sweet asserts, "Portfolios can serve as a vehicle for enhancing student awareness of these strategies for thinking about and producing work--both inside and beyond the classroom," (Sweet, 1993). A portfolio teaches self-awareness and self-responsibility, skills that will serve a person well beyond the classroom.

Considerations

A portfolio is not useful all the time. It does not allow you to assess your students in a quantitative way, nor is it useful for programs "that have very concrete, uniform goals or purposes" (Sewell, Marczack, and Horn). Sewell, Marczack and Horn also assert that portfolios are not useful when you are "comparing participants or programs to standardized norms" (ibid). The main purpose of a portfolio is to measure an individual's progress, so it is best used in that particular context. Portfolios also take time, and that can be the biggest drawback of the entire process. According to Aurbach, "It takes time to get organized, time to gather the pieces, time to cull them, time to digitize them, and time to reflect about each artifact and about the whole collection," (Aurbach, 2005-2006). However, if you have the time and space to store them, portfolios can be a very useful way to assess student progress.

Tags: According Sewell, Marczack Horn, Marczak Horn, Sewell Marczack, Sewell Marczack Horn, Sewell Marczak, Sewell Marczak Horn

Write A High School Scholarship Letter Of Recommendation

Would you please write me a letter of recommendation?

Most scholarship applications request letters of recommendation from persons of authority who can testify to the strengths and capabilities of the applicant. Students applying for high school scholarships frequently turn to their teachers, coaches, religious leaders or after-school employers for a recommendation letter. The strength of the letter usually depends on how well the recommending adult knows the student and what information that adult chooses to share in the letter.

Instructions

1. Consider whether you'll be able to write a strong letter of recommendation before agreeing to write one. If you are the student's soccer coach, for example, you might be able to expound at length on the adolescent's athletic skills but feel you have little knowledge regarding the student's academic skills. Knowledge of the academic skills of the student isn't the only basis for a letter of recommendation. If you have personal knowledge of the student's character and history, you can write to that effect. However, if you don't know the student well, it is best to tactfully suggest the student find a more appropriate person to write a letter of recommendation.

2. Make sure the student outlines your responsibilities as the letter writer. For example, has the student provided you with a stamped envelope for mailing the completed letter or are you supposed to submit the letter online? Are you expected to fill out a form rating the student's strengths in addition to writing a letter?

3. Print the recommendation on letterhead.

Type or print the recommendation on the letterhead of the organization through which you know the student. If you are a teacher or administrator, for example, the letter will appear more authoritative if it is printed on the school's letterhead.

4. Be sure to include details and anecdotes.

Personalize the letter, including details or anecdotes that demonstrate you have knowledge of the strengths of the applicant. Include information about awards or certificates the student has achieved and other hard facts that attest to the student's success but also provide character details that the student might not have listed on his or her resume. Describe the student's weaknesses as well as strengths.

5. Address the letter "To Whom It May Concern" and include the name of the specific scholarship the student is applying for, if appropriate. Edit your writing, checking for grammar and spelling (make sure you have the correct spelling of the student's name) and rechecking any facts. Though you aren't the one being assessed for the scholarship, your recommendation will be considered much more seriously if it is well presented.

Tags: letter recommendation, academic skills, details anecdotes, know student, recommendation letterhead

Physical Therapy Assistant Programs

Physical therapy assistants are in high demand today. With an aging population, many nursing homes now require a full-time physical therapy staff. In order to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA), you must first graduate from a physical therapy assistant program.

Accreditation

Because they are highly regarded and accepted by nearly every health care facility, accredited physical therapy assistant programs are the best choice for PTA education.

Location

With nearly 250 locations nationwide, PTA programs are easily accessible to nearly every student. Currently, there are accredited PTA programs in every state except for Alaska, Vermont and Wyoming. Puerto Rico also has two locations.

Considerations

Because there are so many PTA programs available, it is important to consider all of your options. When looking at different programs, you may want to consider the size of the school, the experience of the faculty, what degree you will earn, how much financial aid is available, how many graduates pass the licensing exam after the first try, how long the program is and what kind of on-the-job training is available.

Required Prerequisite Courses

Since each program is different, there are no specific prerequisite courses required universally from program to program. According to an American Physical Therapy Association survey, however, more than 50 percent of programs require courses like biology, anatomy, chemistry and physics.

Acceptance in a Program

In order to increase your chances of being accepted into a PTA program, it is important to have a high grade point average, particularly in chemistry, biology and physics. You can also increase your chances by volunteering as a physical therapy aide as well as by obtaining a letter of recommendation from a past science teacher.

Specific Program Information

If you're looking for information about a specific PTA program, contact an admissions representative and set up a meeting at the school. Ask if you can speak with current or former students or try to sit in on a class to get a feel for what the program is like.

Financial Aid

Contact the financial aid office at the school of your choice to ask about what specific financial aid is offered for that particular PTA program. For more general information, you can also check on the U.S. Department of Education web site.

Tags: physical therapy, therapy assistant, increase your, increase your chances, nearly every, physical therapy assistant

Write A Cv For A Graduate School Application

A CV for graduate school application is an overview of your academic accomplishments.

A curriculum vitae---Latin for course of life, roughly---is similar in some ways to a resume but is usually longer and has less standardized formatting. A CV emphasizes scholarly pursuits and achievements over professional qualifications. Graduate programs often require applicants to submit CVs. Your CV for graduate school application should provide an overview of your academic accomplishments along with your contact information, professional affiliations, work experience, relevant extracurricular activities and your references. References in this case should include professors and advisers from your undergraduate years.

Instructions

1. Start your CV with your name and contact information, including your address, phone number and email address.

2. Write your personal objective statement. Explain your professional and academic goals in attending graduate school. If you are applying to multiple graduate programs, tailor the personal statement in each CV to the specific graduate program you are submitting it to.

3. Name the university from which you earned your undergraduate degree and specify your majors and minors. Include the year and month that you graduated. Don't abbreviate school names or degree names.

4. List your employment experience, including employer, job title and job description.

5. Describe any undergraduate research projects you had the opportunity to contribute to. If you haven't yet had any significant research experience, mention the research-related skills that you do possess, for example familiarity with statistical programs.

6. Cite any articles that you have had published in scholarly journals. If you have a pending publication, you can list that as well. You can also mention any presentations you've made at academic conferences. Remember to use appropriate formatting when citing your publications---MLA, APA or otherwise, depending on your field.

7. Describe any academic awards or honors you've achieved. Write the full name of the award and the year in which you received it.

8. Describe any community involvement or volunteer work experiences you have had, and include the name of the organization you were involved with as well as the types of projects or services you contributed to.

9. Describe any relevant extracurricular activities or leadership experiences you've been involved in. If you belong to any honors societies or professional organizations that are related to the your field of graduate study, mention these as well.

10. Provide references at the end of your CV. Find out how many references the graduate program to which you are applying requires. Include the name, title and contact information for each reference. Make sure that each of your references is aware that you have provided their names and give each of your references a copy of your CV.

Tags: contact information, your references, academic accomplishments, each your, each your references, extracurricular activities, graduate program

The Five Anchors Of Organizational Behavior

The five anchors of organizational behavior guide thinking about organizations and study them.

Organizational behavior is the study of how individuals and groups behave and interact within organizations. These behaviors affect the way groups and teams are formed, what is considered important or unimportant, and how work environments are managed. Behavioral factors have a strong effect on the efficiency of the organization and on job satisfaction. Research into organizational behavior is guided by five driving principles or anchors.

The Multidisciplinary Anchor

Organizational behavior is a discipline and within it theories and models of behavior are developed. However, researchers in this discipline must also scan a variety of other disciplines and draw from them relevant information and ideas. Some these disciplines include psychology, anthropology, sociology. communications and technology.

The Systematic Research Anchor

Researchers in the field of organizational behavior rely on scientific method in conducting studies. The systematic research anchor dictates that organizations collect information and data in a detailed and systematic way and that statements and assumptions be tested in quantitative ways.

The Contingency Anchor

Different actions and decisions may have different consequences in different settings. The contingency anchor requires an awareness that no single solution will work in every situation and that organizational solutions to problems need to take the specifics of a given situation into account. There is a need to evaluate specific situations and select a solution that fits the situation to which it is to be applied.

The Multiple Levels of Analysis Anchor

This anchor dictates that solutions be evaluated from the perspectives of various organizational levels including that of individuals, of functional teams or departments, of executives and of the company as a whole. Many solutions when applied affect several or all levels of the organization. Analysis of the effects at various levels is critical to success.

The Open System Anchor

Organizations do not exist in a vacuum. The organization and the environment in which it exists are interconnected. The open systems anchor supports a view of the organization that includes its external environment including such factors as the culture in which it is located, the needs of investors, the state of the economy, the political environment and regulatory requirements. It also supports the internal view of items such as communication systems, marketing needs, work processes and the interactions of various subgroups.

Tags: organizational behavior, anchor dictates, anchor dictates that, dictates that, Organizational behavior

How Much Do Bachelor Of Science Nurses Make

BSN nurses may assist surgeons in the operating room.

Registered nurses represent the largest profession in the health care industry, with approximately 2.58 million positions in the United States as of May 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Candidates can qualify for state licensure as a registered nurse by completing one of three educational paths, including a three-year diploma program, a two-year associate's degree in nursing, or a traditional four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree program, and by passing the required National Council Licensure Examination.

Experience

Wages for registered nurses who held a BSN degree were significantly impacted by experience. Median starting salaries for registered nurses with a BSN were $48,681 as of March 2011, according to PayScale.com. Those with more than five years on the job earned a median annual wage of $65,346. Registered nurses with a BSN degree who had more than 20 years experience earned a median annual income of more than $72,000.

Geographic Location

The geographic region where registered nurses practice can play a significant role in determining their level of income. Greater job opportunities can usually be found in areas that have been traditionally underserved by the medical community, such as inner cities and rural areas, but major metropolitan areas tend to pay higher wages, according to the BLS. Registered nurses at all educational levels, including advanced practice nurses with advanced degrees, who worked in California had the highest mean annual wages in the country at $85,080 as of May 2009, according to the BLS. PayScale.com place the median annual wage for registered nurses with a BSN in California at $77,730 as of March 2011.

Specialty

The type of specialty a registered nurse with a BSN pursues can have a significant impact on her earnings. A registered nurse with a BSN who works as a staff RN may expect to earn an annual wage of $52,750 according to NursingPrograms.com. Those working as school nurses earned lower wages at $37,867 per year, while those working as a director of nursing earned $71,619 per year.

Considerations

New employment opportunities for registered nurses should expand by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the BLS. While job opportunities should be excellent for registered nurses from all educational backgrounds, the BLS suggests RNs who hold a BSN are more likely to be considered for advanced positions in administration, research, teaching or consulting. RNs who wish to pursue a career as an advanced practice nurse must typically complete a bachelors degree as well as an advanced degree at the masters or doctorate level.

Tags: nurses with, annual wage, median annual, more than, registered nurse, registered nurses

List Of Good Characteristics For A Student Leader

Student leaders understand the abilities of others in a group and maximize them.

Student leaders get involved in a variety of leadership roles. Some are active in student government. Others take on officer roles in student clubs. Still others lead a fraternity or sorority or serve as captain of a sports team. Regardless of the particular role, good student leaders share some common characteristics.

Integrity

Integrity is the foundation of leadership in any capacity, and it is especially important for students trying to establish themselves as lifetime leaders. Trustworthiness, honesty and the ability to consistently follow-through on promises are all core elements of integrity. If a student leader is not honest in the way that he leads it becomes very difficult for him to get other students to buy in and follow his lead.

Human Relations

In his 2003 New Horizons For Learning article, "Student Leadership Today," Grant Nelson, a school and state association leader while in high school, notes that compassion for others is perhaps the most important trait of a good student leader. A desire to help others succeed and a simple willingness to extend a hand or offer a "hello" to a new student or someone having a hard time is the most genuine trait of a student leader. Showing you care motivates other students to follow your example.

Initiative

Troy University's Eight Qualities That Can Make A Student Leader Great discusses "task effectiveness" and Nelson discusses the importance of leaders "taking action." Both of these relate to a broader leadership trait of initiative. Whereas many students notice opportunities to help others, to make decisions and to lead, student leaders take action and get the job done. They step in when help is needed, they offer support to fellow students and they overcome peer pressure to do what is right. Student leaders are also typically self-starters who push themselves to success.

Vision

Student leaders need to have vision and a sense of purpose to accomplish big things in their roles. Students often take on established leadership positions in a school or organization and simply follow in line with the same activities and behaviors of previous students holding those position. However, effective student leaders develop a plan and have the vision to seize new opportunities and to communication their vision to other student leaders.

Tags: good student, have vision, help others, other students, other students follow

Get Startup Capital Grants For Cosmetology Schools

Cosmetology students learn to provide therapy through beauty.

Loans you apply for to start a business have to be paid back. The interest payments alone could hurt your future profits from that business. Even if you have good intentions, sometimes circumstances prevent you from paying back loans. Defaulting on loans has serious repercussions in terms of getting future loans and getting harassing phone calls from creditors. Instead, start cosmetology school with grant money that does not have to be paid back.

Instructions

1. Ask for advice from a mentor. Contact lawyers, financial advisers and others in the cosmetology industry. Explain your goals and thank them for any guidance they can provide.

2. Search for grants for school programs. Anthony Hollis offers a search strategy in his book "Everything You Need to Know about Grants." He suggests that you start your search by asking for recommendations from the people in your existing network. Also, in the book "The 'How To' Grants Manual," David G. Bauer writes "Grants.gov is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and access to approximately $400 billion in annual awards." After utilizing available resources, search for grants offered within the community. After you've exhausted the local resources, search for grants at the state and federal levels.

3. Collect data on the available grant programs you discover. Organize them in a calendar to mark all the deadlines of the programs that you have found.

4. Hire a professional business writer to help you write a business plan. Determine the amount of funding you need. Make a list of items you will need such as wigs, mannequin heads, and beauty chairs. Use manufacturer's websites such as Veeco Manufacturing to price your items. Add 30% to your total to give yourself cushion for unexpected expenses.

5. Collect data on the performance expectations of cosmetology schools, enrollment and graduation trends and other demographics on cosmetology schools already accepting students. Explain how your school will follow the success and avoid the failures of those other schools. Explain why your school is necessary when there are already other schools operating.

6. Prepare an information request letter also known as corporate letter request. Keep the letter short and professional. Include your request for funding within the first paragraph. Describe your cosmetology school concept in the second paragraph. Describe concisely how the funds will be used.

7. Review the application requirements. Collect necessary documents that you will have to mail along with the grant application, such as Social Security card, resume that describes your experience in the field of cosmetology and any teachers you plan to employ, as well as transcripts and other pertinent documents.

8. Return to the letter and re-write it. Cut out any fat that does not really tell the reader about your cosmetology school plans.

9. Complete the application form. Double check for errors. Ask a friend to check to make sure your application is error-free.

10. Re-write your request letter to make it stronger. Edit it and have it reviewed by a third party to check for errors.

11. Submit your application and cover letter.

12. Attend any face-to-face consultations or meetings required by the grant review board. Dress professionally as if you were going to a job interview.

Tags: cosmetology school, Explain your, check errors, Collect data, cosmetology schools, Explain your school

Phd Programs In Assistive Technology

There are two universities in the United States offering Ph.D. programs in Assistive Technology. Assistive Technology is a field that involves using technology to help the functional capabilities of disabled people.

Illinois State University

The Illinois State University (ISU) offers the Ed.D in Special Education. It is designed to train students in becoming educators and administrators on behalf of people with disabilities.

Courses in the ISU Program

Students should expect to take a minimum of 75 credits: 21 hours of core coursework, 24 hours of specialization, 15 hours of electives and 15 hours of dissertation.

ISU Program's Application Requirements

You would need proof of a Master's degree, plus submit academic transcripts, three letters of recommendation and a personal statement.

The New York University

The New York University (NYU) offers the D.P.S. program in Occupational Therapy. This doctorate degree is more healthcare-focused, specializing in encouraging independence in patients stricken with injury, illness, disability, or psychological dysfunction.

Courses in the NYU Program

The NYU program consists of 36 credits: 6 points each for core and program requirement courses, 9 elective points, 12 points in clinical specialization and 3 points for the terminal project.

NYU Program's Application Requirements

A Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy, three letters of recommendation, GRE scores, personal statement, transcripts and resume comprise the application package.

Tags: Assistive Technology, Application Requirements, Courses Program, Illinois State, Illinois State University, letters recommendation

Will My Mother'S Marriage Affect My Fafsa

Filling out your FAFSA properly helps you obtain financial aid for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the form that you are required to fill out to obtain federal student aid (grants, loans and work study) for post-high-school education. The FAFSA is used to calculated an expected family contribution (EFC), which is the amount that your family is expected to contribute to help pay for your education. Therefore, it is important to know which family members' income should be included on your FAFSA. Divorce and remarriage do have an effect on how you fill our your FAFSA and may ultimately affect the amount of financial aid your receive.

Reporting of Parental Income

Whether or not you are required to report your parents' income and assets on the FAFSA depends on whether you are considered an "independent student" or a "dependent student" under federal financial aid regulations. If you are an independent student, you only report your own income and assets, whereas dependent students are required to report the parents' income and assets as well. Thus, if you are an independent student, your mother's remarriage will not affect your FAFSA. However, if you are a dependent student, it is possible that you will need to report your stepparent's income and assets on your FAFSA form.

Independent Students

You will be considered an independent student if at least one of the following conditions applies:

• You are at least 24 years old on January 1 of the current year

• You are married on the day you apply for financial aid

• You are enrolling in a master's or doctoral degree program

• You are active duty military

• You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces

• You have children or other legal dependents who will receive more than half their support from you

• When you were 13 or older, both of your parents were deceased and you were a foster child, or ward of the state

• You are in legal guardianship on the day you apply for financial aid

• You have been determined to be a homeless youth by your high school, an emergency shelter program, or the director of a homeless/runaway youth center

Effect of Divorce

If you are a dependent student, and your parents are divorced, you must report the income and assets of your custodial parent, which is usually the parent with whom you lived the most during the 12 months prior to completing the FAFSA. If you lived with both parents equally, then the parent who provided the most financial support for you should fill out the FAFSA. This is probably the parent that claimed you as a dependent on the federal income tax return.

Obligation of Stepparent

According to section 475(f)(3) of the Higher Education Act, which governs federal financial aid, if you are a dependent student whose custodial parent has remarried at the time you fill out the FAFSA, then your stepparent must report his or her income and assets on the FAFSA. This requirement is not affected by prenuptial agreements that absolve a stepparent from financial responsibility for your education. If your stepparent refuses to provide the information, it is possible that you will be found ineligible for federal student aid. In this case, you should discuss the situation with one of your school's financial aid officers.

Tags: income assets, your FAFSA, dependent student, independent student, report your

Speech Therapy Homework Activities

Even children can have speech disorders.

Speech therapy helps treat communication and speech disorders in children. This can include physical exercises that can help strengthen the throat muscles. There are also specialized drills to improve voice clarity and sound. Sometimes speech therapy can be costly. Instead, online speech therapy activities are an affordable option to help improve your child's communication skills.

Printable Worksheets

Parents can use the printable worksheets from the Speech TX website. These worksheets help improve your child's articulation, language and literacy skills. There are also online activities that both you and your child can play together. Speech TX also shows you create your own speech therapy activities. The website lists other resources and websites that parents can visit for more ideas on creating speech therapy activities. All of the games, worksheets and resources are free to use.

speechtx.com

Speech Therapy At Home Games

Parents can combine learning with entertainment by using the suggested games through the Speech Language Development website. Games such as "Guess Who?," "Trouble," "Go Fish" and "Whac-a-Mole" are good games to incorporate with speech therapy, allowing your child to practice articulation and clarity skills. The Speech Language Development website also has a blog and tips and ideas section on creating speech therapy activities. One article discusses the common mistakes parents make while teaching their children, and other articles talk about literacy and articulation. All the resources are free to use on this website.

speech-language-development.com

Free Online Speech Therapy Homework Materials

The Tiny Eye website, a site that believes in providing free resources and games, provides parents with the necessary homework activities for speech therapy. Not only do these activities help parents but they help educators, speech therapy pathologists and children with communication disorders. Activities include online games that are entertaining and help teach speech skills. They constantly add and update games throughout the school year. The games also monitor your child's progress and sends the updates to your educator or speech therapy pathologist. Interested parents must register with the website to get information about using these games.

tinyeye.com

Tags: speech therapy, your child, speech therapy activities, therapy activities, creating speech, creating speech therapy, Development website

Addiction Studies Grants

Grants are available for individuals conducting research on addiction.

National Institute on Drug Abuse defines drug addiction as "a complex, and often chronic, brain disease...characterized by drug craving, seeking, and use." Despite continuing research and work with addiction and addictive behavior, there is still no definitive or easy cure for this disease. For this reason, many grants exist for individuals and organizations seeking to obtain grants to research matters regarding addiction and drug abuse.

International Research Collaboration on Drug Abuse and Addiction Research

This grant, provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, is for research proposals on drug abuse and addiction which allow U.S. researchers to use and take advantage of international conditions (environment, resources, populations) to conduct research, in the hopes that it will speed the process of scientific discovery. Each year certain topics of research matter are given priority. For example, in 2009, issues that were given preferences were research projects which focused on linkages between HIV/AIDS and drug abuse, methamphetamine abuse, inhalant abuse, smoking during pregnancy and drugs and driving. Both institutions and individuals may apply. The costs must be outlined and fully explained, with applications asking for $500,000 per year or more in grant funding requiring special application procedures.

Diana Haikalis, Grants Management Branch

National Institute on Drug Abuse

6010 Executive Boulevard, Room 260

Bethesda, MD 20892-8403

301-443-6710

grants.nih.gov

NIDA Translational Avant-Garde Award

The National Institute on Drug Abuse, through the NIH, provides this grant to institutions, organizations and individuals who are seeking to turn research discoveries into medications to treat addictions and addictive behavior. This includes tobacco, cannabis and hard drugs. The product or proposed product in development can be pharmaceutical or medicinal products such as vaccines. They may also encompass physical ailments resulting from addiction, including reducing pain or suffering from withdrawal symptoms, cravings or relapses. The amount of the grant is up to $500,000 per year, for five years.

Pam Fleming, Grants Management Branch

National Institute on Drug Abuse

6101 Executive Boulevard., MSC 8403

Bethesda, MD 20892-8403

301-435-1369

grants.nih.gov

Prescription Drug Misuse

The National Institute on Drug Abuse, along with the National Institute of Mental Health, provide this grant for individuals or organizations working on research projects that aim to prevent the abuse of prescription drugs. Research may include social consequences of the abuse, measuring the extent of prescription drug abuse and populations which are most affected, medications to block or lessen the potential for abuse, ways to identify those at risk, prevention as well as treatment intervention, particularly for health care professionals in the primary care setting.

Edith Davis, Grants Management Branch

National Institute on Drug Abuse

6101 Executive Boulevard, Room 260

Bethesda, MD 20892-8403

301-443-6710

grants.nih.gov

Tags: National Institute, Institute Drug, Institute Drug Abuse, National Institute Drug, Drug Abuse