What Do With A Masters In Psychology

College Graduate

A degree in psychology can open up multiple fields of employment due to its relevancy across different skills sets. An advanced degree in psychology can open up your opportunities even more, as well as increase the size of your monthly paycheck.

Research

One option for a masters degree in psychology is research. Research psychologists have the opportunity to observe and study many different areas of psychology including cognition, physical psychology, social psychology, health psychology, and behaviors. Research psychologists often work in a lab setting, running tests and working with statistics.

Industrial

Industrial psychology is another area where those with masters degrees in psychology can work. Industrial (also known as organizational) psychology associates are professionals who work in companies of all types and sizes helping develop human resource plans and productivity strategies, and may also help with human resource training. You may also have an opportunity to work in marketing research.

Assistant

Though a doctorate is needed to become a clinical psychologist, there are positions open for those with masters degrees to be psychology assistants. Assistants work under the direct supervision of doctorate level psychologists and may help by running research projects or administering psychological tests.

CDAC

Those with a masters degree in psychology may also find a place in the drug and alcohol counseling field. Although a certification is needed on top of the degree, having a masters reduces the amount of years needed to qualify for full certification, and may also help qualify you for higher levels of counseling certification.

School Psychology

Those with a masters degree in psychology may also want to consider the field of school psychology. School psychologists work both in elementary schools and secondary schools and help students with a wide range of problems ranging from disciplinary issues to learning disabilities.

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Best Health Insurance Available To Students

Once a student reaches ages 18 to 25, he or she may no longer be able to subscribe to his or her parents' health insurance plan -- except in special cases.

Most colleges and universities offer Student Health Plans in conjunction with insurance companies like Aetna, to ensure a student's medical needs are covered.

Additionally, student health centers on campus also offer office visits for free or for low costs, including laboratory testing and medications.

Finding the Best Student Health Insurance

The best thing to do is to have the student stay on the parents' health insurance plan until he or she ages off the plan. Most states have health insurance that allows students who are unmarried full-time students to stay on the parents' health plan until the age of 24 or 25.

If the student already aged out of his or her parents' health plans, he or she can look into student health plans at school, which often provides low-cost premiums. Most major four-year colleges offer this option.

Additionally, some student health plans offer discounts for membership with health clubs and for teeth-cleaning.

Remember that full-time status applies to students taking nine or more credits per semester or quarter, while those taking less than nine credits are part-timers.

Make sure you sign up for year-round insurance coverage, not just when you are in school.

Also, make sure your student health plan will cover your medical needs if you are away from school, like during vacations or summer breaks --especially if you attend school out of state.

Remember that maternity benefits are harder to obtain in the student health plan, so be sure to select insurance that will cover your pregnancy needs if you are planning a family.

School's Student Health Plan: Your Best Bet

If your school is connected to excellent health facilities, then you should get the Student Health Plan so you will be covered when you get care at your school's affiliated hospitals. For example, if you attend UCLA, you can sign up for the school's student health plan and will be covered for medical care at UCLA Hospitals.

Many health insurance companies encourage students to consider their school's student health plan because of lower costs.

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Homemade Time Capsules

Homemade Time Capsules

Creating a time capsule to capture a special event or provide a record of what life was like at a specific time gives kids and adults an opportunity to think about what is important to their lives. Choosing items to include in the time capsule takes thought and often prompts creative expressions. Traditional time capsules are buried with the intention of retrieving them in the future, but many are never recovered as it is easy to forget the exact location.

Theme

Consider the theme of the time capsule. Time capsules to commemorate special events like birthdays, weddings, a new baby, graduations and reunions provide a look back when the recipient gets older. Tell guests ahead of time that you will be collecting items for a time capsule and ask them to bring a small item or a handwritten note to add to the capsule.

Current Events

Include newspaper clippings of current events or important issues in the news. Magazine clippings, news reports or other pieces of interest to those present create an archive that may prove interesting in the future. Celebrity figures, sports figures and technology news are good choices as they change rapidly. Don't forget those catchy ads or the going fads. They won't last forever, but your time capsule will keep them safe inside.

Dreams and Wishes

Adding written statements of dreams and wishes for the future is always a favorite as it allows you to look back and see how your views have changed and to see how many of your dreams have come true. Wishes for someone else, particularly in honor of graduations or births, always make interesting reading when the time capsule is opened.

Preparation

Keeping the items in the time capsule safe requires some precautions. Wrap or seal clippings, writing or photos in acid free paper to prevent deterioration in storage. Avoid anything that is liquid or has the potential to spill and ruin the contents. A metal container will resist most wear and is ideal for a time capsule. Reuse those popcorn or cookie tins to create a sealed container.

Storage

Storing the container in a dry attic with clear labels keeps you time capsule safe. Decorate the outside to clearly indicate its contents. Consider having everyone sign the outside in permanent paints or markers or have them draw something related to the theme of the time capsule.

Opening the Time Capsule

Agreeing on a date for opening the capsule, usually five to ten years in the future, allows enough time to pass to add meaning to the contents. People are often surprised by how much their lives have changed in so short a period, sometimes in ways no one would have guessed. The time capsule evokes memories and often produces a few laughs.

Tags: time capsule, time capsule, capsule safe, have changed, Homemade Time, Homemade Time Capsules

Draw A Free Body Diagram In Physics

Draw free body diagrams to solve physics problems

Free body diagrams are an essential tool in solving classical physics problems. Here's draw free body diagrams in physics, set up the problem, and use other physics equations to get the answer you need.

Instructions

1. Free body diagrams in physics usually deal with physics systems. You want to draw a free body diagram when you have a physics problems where forces are acting upon the given system. You generally have a specific variable or item you are trying to solve for. Isolate the object you are interested in. For example, if you have a block on a ramp and are interested in only the block, redraw the block separate of the ramp.

2. Next, draw the forces that are acting upon the object. Recall that force is equal to mass times acceleration (F=m*a). If no external forces are acting upon the object, do not forget about gravity. In this example, mg represents the force of gravity, and N is the normal force of the ramp acting upon the block (remember Newton's 3rd Law which you should know from your basic physics knowledge). Also do not forget frictional forces, Fs (if you are doing problems with friction).

3. Next, break up the forces into components. Use your trigonometry skills and remember use sines and cosines. Do not forget you can rearrange force locations, as long as they remain consistent.

4. Now you can use your kinematics equations to determine things like how long it will take for the block to slide down the ramp. As we can see from the pictures, we know that the friction force, Fs, is equal to mg*sin(?). We can also see that the normal force is equal to mg*cos(?).

5. Most physics problems will have the free body diagram as the initial part of the problem. After you find what variables or equations you need from the free body diagram, you can use your kinematics equations to solve for things like the amount of time it will take for the block to slide down the ramp. Now you can use physics free body diagrams to set up and solve physics problems!

Tags: body diagrams, free body, physics problems, acting upon, body diagram, force equal

What Prerequisites Do I Need For Nursing At Kaplan College

Nursing students at Kaplan College in San Diego must meet specific requirements.

The Kaplan College campus in San Diego, California, offers an associate degree in nursing. The nursing program at Kaplan includes all classes necessary for graduation, including general education requirements. Certain criteria must be met for a student to be accepted into the nursing program at Kaplan.

High School Diploma

Kaplan College requires that all students must have graduated from high school or have acquired a GED. A home study certificate indicating completion of a high school equivalent home schooling program is not acceptable for the nursing program, though it is allowed for other degrees at the college.

Transcripts

Students applying for the nursing program at Kaplan College must obtain their transcripts from their high schools. You can do this by filling out a form with your high school requesting a copy of your transcripts be sent to Kaplan. Some high schools charge for this service. Visit or call your high school for specific information on do this. The transcript should include your date of graduation. If you have attended another college prior to Kaplan, you should also request those transcripts.

High School Proficiency Exam

A high school proficiency exam may also be required for admission to the nursing program at Kaplan. This exam covers much of the subject material covered in high school that would be required to continue on at Kaplan. Failure to pass this can result in denied admission to the nursing program. An entrance exam may be required if you have gone to school in a foreign country and are unable to produce the required documentation.

DD214

If you have served in the U.S. military, you will need to submit your DD214 along with your application. A DD214 proves a release or discharge from the military. This form also includes the date of your high school graduation if applicable. Military members automatically receive this form upon discharge. If you are unable to find this, you will need to request a new copy from the military.

Tags: nursing program, Kaplan College, nursing program Kaplan, program Kaplan, high school, high school, your high

Write A Position Paper Proposal On Teen Parenting

Write the most comprehensive proposal you can to elicit equally comprehensive feedback from your instructor.

It's a rare day when a cause-effect paper deals equally with both elements. Generally, such papers concentrate on developing either the cause or the effect in greater detail. Such is the case with writing a paper on teen parenting. The cause is already known, two teens have become parents, and leaves little room for debate. The core of such a position paper, then, should focus on and amplify the effects, or the consequences, of teen parenting. Though this is only a proposal, err on the side of giving your teacher more information rather than a scant, bare-bones proposal. Write your proposal in full sentences, not words and phrases. The more information you can provide at this stage, the easier it will be for you to write your paper, and make the grade.

Instructions

1. Write at the top of the paper: "Proposal for position paper on teen parenting." Write the working title, if you have one, below this line.

2. Brainstorm ideas for your paper to show your teacher your thought and organizational process. Write the central idea in the middle of the page: two teenagers have become parents. Circle these words as if they were in a bubble: teen parenting. This is the cause. Draw a line downward, connecting this bubble to another. Leave this second bubble blank as you complete the brainstorming process.

3. Map, with arrows, your positions (the supporting ideas, or effects) that extend from the central idea (the cause). These ideas will serve as your position on teen parenting. Without any pressure, you are fermenting your proposal, so be forthright and direct. Remember that your "positions" or opinions belong to you, and you alone. Moreover, the strength of your opinions will determine the strength and viability of your position paper.

4. A confident writer is never afraid to hit the "delete" key if an idea just doesn't work within a paper.

Fortify your strongest positions with precision and details; eliminate those that seem weak or pedestrian. Such positions (the supporting ideas, or effects) might include: "Teen parents may miss more school and work time because of the responsibility of taking care of a child" and "Though they are on the cusp of adulthood, teen parents are not as emotionally mature as adults to manage the responsibilities of caring for a child." If you have any questions about these positions, write them down. As this is a proposal, your teacher will make comments and steer you in the right direction.

5. Read your positions (the supporting ideas, or effects) carefully and with an eye toward forming a thesis statement. Look for commonalities and overlapping thoughts. Is there a solution or at least a conclusion that would address all of these positions? Write a working thesis statement in that second bubble. A working thesis statement for this position paper might be: "Teen parents need an even stronger support system than older adult parents because of their life circumstances."

6. Evaluate whether the positions (the supporting ideas or effects) are supported by the thesis statement. The two components should be cohesive. Still, nothing in this position paper is etched in stone yet, so you can always tweak this statement later. For now, ensure that the thesis statement is sound and reasoned.

7. Write "Proposed conclusion" at the bottom of the proposal and write a working conclusion. Given the topic of this paper, you may wish to conclude with a recommendation, a warning or a call to action to teen parents and their families.

8

Tags: position paper, thesis statement, ideas effects, positions supporting, positions supporting ideas

Letter Of Intent To Apply For Graduate Schools

State your intentions for entering grad school.

When applying to graduate school, you need to include a letter of intent, also known as a personal or goal statement. This is a short paper, usually one to two pages, that outlines your educational career thus far and your future goals and aspirations. It is important to understand aspects of the letter writing process to ensure a well-developed statement.

Letter Concepts

A letter of intent is the part of your graduate school application that introduces you to the department and admissions officer. You must sell yourself and your ideas to the university. Along with helping determine how well you will fit into the program, the letter of intent also assesses your writing abilities. Therefore, developing a well-written, clear and creative letter is imperative to the application process.

Program Guidelines

Although most, if not all, graduate schools require perspective applicants to submit a letter of intent, the criteria guidelines are not necessarily the same. Some universities simply state the need for a personal statement; they expect a letter containing ambitions but are very nonspecific as to what that entails. Other universities have stringent standards, providing guidelines regarding letter length, font size and margins and content. When applying to a program, researching the requirements is vital to a successful letter.

General Format

The first part of the letter is your introduction to the admissions officer. Include your educational achievements -- such as current college, grade-point average and awards. Highlight areas of strength, and be sure to connect past experience with graduate school objectives. Including explicit examples is helpful.

The second part of your letter is where you reflect upon why you are interested in the program and school. Tell why you would be a great addition to the department. Touch on future career goals and aspirations. Conclude your letter with an optimistic statement expressing your enthusiasm to meet with the faculty and discuss further details.

Writing Tips

While writing a letter of intent, apply certain tips to help customize your letter. Research your prospective school to be familiar with the curriculum, faculty and requirements. Make an outline before writing to help organize your topics. Be sure to be confident, honest and enthusiastic, but don't boast. Add examples to your letter to make it more personable. Be specific and to the point. Emphasize your determination. Above all, remember to proofread. It may be helpful to have someone else read your letter to check for mistakes.

Tags: your letter, graduate school, letter intent, admissions officer, goals aspirations

Distance Learning Online Paralegal Degrees

There are many programs of study available to earn a paralegal certificate online or through distance learning, or e-learning. Originally, distance learning was done by mail; now it is done mostly online, though some mail-in courses are still available. Paralegal courses are usually taken post-grad, meaning most require a two or four-year degree to take this specialty field, because it is your best chance of landing a position after course completion.

Classes Needed

Specific courses needed are in the general areas of business law, contracts, litigation and court procedures, and ethics. Some carry targeted areas of specialization, such as real estate, intellectual property, and sports and entertainment law.

Time to Complete

It can take from three months to one year to earn a paralegal certificate online. Though "certification" is rarely a requirement to find a job in this field, it may be an added touch to take and pass the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) examination after finishing the classes.

Cost

The application processes for financial aid are the same as any others, but there are decided advantages to funding for online courses, including not paying for matriculation fees, not borrowing for living expenses and not being subjected to out-of-state tuition costs.

Benefits

Paralegals who finish these courses can find a career in all areas of law, including corporate, criminal, wills, trusts and estates, family law and legal technology, as well as many others.

ABA Approval

Many lawyers and firms desire paralegals who attend ABA-approved schools, both offline and online.

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Post Graduation Courses In Interior Design In India

Interior design focuses on the layout and aesthetic qualities of interior spaces.

Interior designers use their knowledge of design principles and their own aesthetic vision to produce an interior environment that is functional, pleasing to the eye and meets the needs of the people who use the space. Several universities in India offer post-graduate course work in There are several universities in India offer post-graduate courses in interior design.

National Institute of Design

The National Institute of Design in Gujarat is an internationally renowned multi-disciplinary university specializing in the fields of design education and research. According to the institute, Business Week magazine has named the the school as one of the Top 25 European and Asian schools in the world. The school is also recognized by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, part of the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology, as an industrial and science design research organization. The university's mission is to help bring the slogan, "Designed in India, Made for the World" to fruition.

NID offers both a two- and a 2 1/2-year post-graduate diploma program in design, with 14 disciplines, including furniture and interior design. Admission is open to college graduates. Prospective students must pass the All India Examination, a studio test and an interview to be accepted.

National Institute of Design

Paldi, Ahmedabad 380 007

+91-79-2662-3692

www.nid.edu

Industrial Design Centre

The Industrial Design Centre was founded in 1989 under the auspices of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Today, the university, located in Powai, offers both a master's and doctoral program in design. Admission is open to college graduates who have received a minimum of 60 percent passing marks in design, engineering or architecture, or who have a master's degree in arts, science or computer applications. Students must also pass the university's Design Test, as well as an interview, before they are accepted.

Industrial Design Centre

Powai 400 076

Mumbai, India

+91-22-2576-7801

www.idc.iitb.ac.in

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati is part of the India Institute of Technology group. It was founded in 1994 and began classes in 1995. The campus is located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River in the city of Guwahati. The university offers both a doctoral program and a two-year master's program in design. Admission is open to graduates of design, engineering or architecture. To be accepted, students must pass the university's Design Test as well as an interview.

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

Guwahati 781039

Assam, India

+91-36-1269-0401

www.iitg.ernet.in

MIT Institute of Design Pune

Maharashtra Institute of Technology Institute of Design Pune, part of the Maharashtra Academy of Engineering and Educational Research, was founded in 1983. Among its several post-graduate programs, MIT offers students a 2 1/2-year post-graduate diploma program in interior space design. Admission to this program is open to all graduate students. Student must pass the All India Examination, as well as the university's Studio Test and interview.

MIT Institute of Design Pune

S. No.124, Paud Road, Kothrud

Pune 411038

Maharashtra, India

+91-20-3027-3400

www.mitpune.com

Tags: Institute Design, Institute Technology, design Admission, Indian Institute, Indian Institute Technology, Admission open, design Admission open

Help With Starting A College Admissions Essay

A significant factor in the college admissions decision is your essay. Every student is reduced to numbers and letters by your GPA, class rank, grades and standardized-test scores. Your college admissions essay gives you the opportunity to become human to the admissions committee by going into greater depth about yourself and your values than you can on your resume.

What is Important to You?

For most college admissions essays, you have the option of writing about almost anything, so the topic you chose indicates to the admissions office that it is something you care about. If you choose to write about your Barbie or Hot Wheels collection, you are telling the admissions committee that those are still important to you. If you are struggling to come up with an essay topic, write down three things that are important in your life, and then list activities or events that you have done that show how you value them. For example, if making a varsity sports team was important to you, you might write about the extra hours of practice that you put in. If your family is important to you, you could write about how you gave up playing a sport to work to help make ends meet.

What are Your Best Qualities?

While there are some qualities that come through easily on resumes, such as academic ability when you have a perfect 4.0 GPA, there are others that are much harder to convey with just names of activities and accomplishments. Take a while to write down what your best qualities are. If you are struggling, ask others how they would describe you. Then find an event that demonstrates these qualities. The event should be specific; you do not want to rehash your entire resume in essay form for the admissions committee. For example, if you want to show your work ethic, it would be better to use your essay to write about one example, such as your first year on the cross country team when you had to log extra miles to keep up and it paid off at the conference meet. That's better than trying to explain that you worked hard in every activity that you participated in since the day you were born.

How Do You Address Problems?

Everyone has had to make some decisions for themselves by the time they are applying to college, even if it's as simple as what you believe about a current political issue. The way you go about solving problems will tell the admissions office how you process your thoughts and at what level you think. If you write an essay about how you picked a name out of a hat to decide which high school to go to, you are not demonstrating a capability for higher-level thinking. Most colleges want students who already have higher-level thinking skills, so it is beneficial to your application if you are able to show off these skills when you write your essay. If you can show that you spent time researching choices, seeking advice and processing your decision in a logical manner, you will be better off.

Tags: write about, admissions committee, your essay, admissions office, college admissions, higher-level thinking, write down

What Are The Qualifications Of A Coborrower On A Mortgage

Co-borrowers strengthen a mortgage application.

The term "co-borrower" refers to joint applicants on a mortgage application. A young borrower may have a parent serve as a co-borrower on a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan until he establishes a credit history. In such cases the parent effectively becomes the cosigner on the loan until their child's financial situation stabilizes. Lenders look at four factors when approving a mortgage: the size of the down payment, credit score of borrowers, debt to income ratio and financial documentation.

Basic Qualifications for Borrowers

All borrowers must be over 18 years of age. Co-borrowers need to verify income; they can do so by providing pay stubs, bank statements and tax returns. Co-borrowers must not have any judgments, excessive debt or large monthly payments that may reduce the ability to repay the mortgage.

Only FHA loan applicants may have a parent as a cosigner. Basic mortgage applications require that both co-borrowers meet the debt to income ratio on their own.

Down Payment

Co-borrowers on a mortgage may contribute to the down payment. Larger down payments improve the overall strength of your loan application. The size of the down payment demonstrates to the lenders your level commitment. Lenders prefer 20 percent of the value of the loan as a down payment. Borrowers who do not have this percentage may need to add private mortgage insurance (PMI). The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco explains adding PMI to a mortgage allows for a down payment of as little as 3 to 5 percent.

FHA loans typically have a smaller percentage minimum of 3.5 percent. According Bankrate.com writer Tracie Velt, an FHA loan allows mortgage down payment assistance provided by employers, government agencies and relatives.

Credit Score

Co-borrowers with high credit scores will receive lower mortgage rates. As credit rates and mortgage values constantly fluctuate, try to keep up a good credit history prior to application. Lenders understand that younger borrowers may not have much of a credit history. Lack of credit history does not, however, excuse late payments, high amounts of credit card debt and other high-risk behavior. Often FICO scores of 700 and above qualify for much lower rates than those with scores under 600.

Debt to Income Ratio and Income

Co-borrowers serve an important role when lenders calculate the applicants' debt ratio. According to Bank Rate, lenders calculate two types of debt to income ratios. The front-end ratio requires that the average monthly mortgage payment does not exceed 28 percent of income. Co-borrowers who provide additional income in this instance dramatically increase the odds that the mortgage payment will not exceed 28 percent of the income between the two borrowers.

Lenders calculate a back end ratio, which takes into consideration all the monthly liabilities against your income, including the proposed mortgage. Bills such as car payments, minimum monthly credit card payments and child support encompass a small portion of what expenses are considered. The maximum back end ratio for a mortgage is 36 percent of liabilities against income.

For example let's say you and your husband (the co-borrower) apply for a mortgage. You make $50,000 a year; he makes $70,000. Alone your maximum ratios are $1,166 and $1,500. By adding your husband as a co-borrower the new maximums are $2,800 and $3,600 per month.

FHA loans have higher debt to income ratios of 31 to 43 percent.

Tags: down payment, credit history, debt income, back ratio, credit card, debt income ratios

Grants For Women Over 40

In order to increase the participation of women in business, grant makers have developed programs that give special consideration to women applicants for grants. Businesses owned by women are considered historically underutilized businesses (HUB) and may qualify for extra points during the grant review process. Recently, a spate of development programs have targeted women 35 years of age and older. Forty years old, however, is not a common break point for grant eligibility. While 40 may be a traumatic milestone for you, it doesn't appear to give you any special leg up in obtaining grants.

Grantor Goals

Grant makers want to encourage women, especially those age 35 years and older to take leadership roles in business and industry to a greater extent than they have in the past. Unfortunately, women at this stage in their careers may already be beginning to encounter age discrimination. Women may actually face age barriers at a younger age than their male counterparts. Understanding the gender bias women already face in the career marketplace, government and private funders have begun to provide more grant funded training opportunities, financial resources and supportive programs that help women build networks of professional contacts and acquire management skills that help them take advantage of potential career opportunities.

Grant Makers

Federal, state and local agencies and corporate and private foundations all offer grant programs that favor women applicants and may, in addition, further target women over 40 years. These opportunities can be found by searching for requests for proposal (RFP) that are released by federal, state and local government agencies and by foundations. RFPs are the complete application and grant announcement for a particular grant program. Go to your local funding library to search for these grants. Funding libraries may be special sections at a public library, the United Way or a regional nonprofit management center. They have subscriptions to paper and electronic search tools that help you find grants for women over 40 years.

Finding Grants for Women Over 40 Years

First check out Grants.gov, the federal clearing house website for all federal grant opportunities (see References). Sign up for Grants.gov's e-mail alert newsletter. You can select areas in which you have an interest, and their grant alert newsletter will filter out unwanted RFPs and send you only the ones you want. States have similar grant alert sites. Some funds may be available at the local city and county level for women, particularly women-owned or -led organizations working in distressed and underserved areas. It may take some schmoozing with local politicians and meeting with administrative staff, council people and commissioners to find out take advantage of local funding. A search of foundations for those who give money for women's issues may turn up some foundations who give grants that not only fund designated women's programs,but also give extra points to women applicants, older applicants or both.

The Reality

Should you find a grant that does award extra points for being a woman over 40 years, your proposal will still have to meet the requirements of the funder. Grants are always given for specific purposes that serve the general public welfare. Neither government agencies nor private foundations offer general purpose grants to for-profit businesses or to individuals no matter what gender or age. Government and most private grants are awarded almost exclusively to nonprofit charities or to businesses that are contracted to do educational, cultural, scientific, medical, defense, construction or research and development work for the government or in the public interest.

The fact that your organization has women in key leadership positions or your company is owned or run by women and is eligible to provide the work the funder wants done, may give you a better shot at being funded. But, if all you have is a vague business idea you want someone to give you money for, the U.S. Small Business Administration says you have no chance at all to find a grant for your project. Like banks and investor groups, the government and foundations do not fund poor or nebulous ideas.

Beware!

Especially in tough financial times, predatory advertisers will tell you there are millions of dollars in free government money out there if only you are a woman over 40 years, disabled, a senior, jobless or whatever. "Don't buy the hype," says Grants.gov. The federal government doesn't give money to individuals or start-up businesses or nebulous projects. State governments don't. Private foundations don't. Just because you're a woman over 40 years, doesn't mean you are entitled to a grant. Such grants don't exist. If you have a good idea, a great business plan, some money you've already raised, a collaborative project that fills a need in your community, then you may have a better chance to qualify for low-cost loans or even a grant if you're a woman over 40 years. A foundation may give a grant to a woman over 40 years who can do something the government or foundation wants done, like research or development of a new product the public needs, to encourage more women to participate, but you still have to deliver the goods.

If your grant proposal isn't responding to a specific request for proposal, however, it is an absolute waste of time to write letters to funders with an unsolicited idea asking for general grant support. You have a better chance of getting such a grant from your rich Aunt Florence who loves you and won't ask too many questions.

Tags: woman over, woman over years, over years, extra points, give money

Study For The Gre With Ets

ETS can allow you to skip the library time while preparing for the GRE.

Studying for the Graduate Record Exam to prepare for graduate school can be a lengthy and intense process. A few months before the exam, it may seem as though there is too much information to synthesize in time despite writing notecards and practicing math problems endlessly. One of the most underused resources is ETS's own Web site; although ETS administers the exam, it also provides free study materials for those taking the exam. GRE takers should be aware that a revised edition of the GRE will be used in August. Read the ETS site thoroughly to decide which exam to take.

Instructions

1. Sign up for the exam. Having a date to prepare for should help you focus your efforts. You will know when study vocabulary or general math formulas and when to begin taking practice exams.

2. Use the sample questions provided by ETS. There are sections for the Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. Each section provides general sample questions and tips for master the exam. In the Verbal Reasoning section, ETS informs test-takers about the breakdown of questions between reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence.

3. Take a sample test. This gives you a measure of your strengths and weaknesses and takes away any false ideas of how well you will do without any studying. The GRE is not the SAT or ACT; it is meant for graduate-school admission and is, therefore, commensurately more difficult.

4. Practice all of the sample questions. Try going through as many different questions as you can get your hands on; the more you practice, the more comfortable you will be on the day of the exam.

5. Complete another practice exam provided by ETS two weeks prior to taking the exam. This gives you enough time to really focus on building up your weaker areas. You can take an additional ETS practice exam a few days before the test, but this may stress some out more than help. Just be aware of what kind of exam taker you are.

Tags: sample questions, practice exam, taking exam, This gives, Verbal Reasoning

The Best Undergrad Law Schools

Undergraduates who wish to become lawyers should enroll in colleges with strong law programs.

The American Bar Association does not recommend a specific major for undergraduate students who wish to enter law school upon graduation. Law school students come from diverse educational backgrounds. The American Bar Association recommends that students choose majors that they find interesting, and enroll in courses that will strengthen their writing and research skills. Students who wish to pursue a career in law should attend undergraduate universities with strong law schools, as these programs often provide the best training and opportunities.

Yale University

Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, offers the best law program in the country, according to a 2010 ranking by "U.S. News & Report." Although Yale does not offer a prelaw major, undergraduates interested in law may join the Yale Pre-Law Society, a nonprofit student organization for undergraduates who wish to enter law school. In addition, some undergraduates are eligible for combined bachelor's and master's programs in law, though qualifications vary. The program also features an extensive law library, with more than one million law volumes, according to "U.S. News & Report." Students also can get involved in undergraduate prelaw societies, or speak with faculty members of the prestigious graduate Yale Law School. This program has an average annual tuition of $48,340, as of 2010.

Yale University

P.O. Box 208215

New Haven, CT 06520

203-432-4995

law.yale.edu

Harvard University

Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, offers the second best law program in the country, according to a 2010 report by Top Law Programs. Undergraduates enrolled in this university may pursue a major in prelaw and may join one of several prestigious law societies. Harvard University also offers the Leverett House, a prelaw advising organization that helps undergraduates prepare and apply for law school. In addition, seniors at Harvard University may work with advisers from the Dudley House, an academic advising organization that assists students with law school applications and preparing for the LSATs. Many undergraduates of this program choose to study civil procedure, environmental law, government services, human rights, legal philosophy or taxation, according to the university's website. This program has an average annual tuition of $43,900, as of 2010. The program also has more than two million law volumes in the university's library, according to "U.S. News & World Report."

Harvard University

1563 Massachusetts Avenue

Cambridge, MA 02138

law.harvard.edu

617-495-3109

law.harvard.edu

Stanford University

Stanford University, located in Stanford, California, features the third best law program in the country, according to a 2010 "U.S. News & World Report" ranking. Undergraduates enrolled in this university may pursue a major in prelaw. Students also may network with faculty members from the prestigious Stanford Law School. Many undergraduates also have studied civil procedure, criminal law, government services, labor law and international law, according to the program's website. Students admitted to Stanford's Law School have an average LSAT score of 170 and an average GPA of 3.8, according to College Admission Essay. The university has an enrollment size of approximately 25,000 students, and Stanford has an average annual tuition of $44,121, as of 2010. The program also offers 490,073 law volumes in the university library, according to "U.S. News & World Report."

Stanford University

Crown Quadrangle

559 Nathan Abbott Way

Stanford, CA 94305

650-723-4985

law.stanford.edu

Tags: Harvard University, according 2010, according News, annual tuition, annual tuition 2010

Avoid Penalties On A 529 Account

The 529 plan offers one of the best financial vehicles to save for college education. However, it's important to understand that there are penalties involved if the plan is not used in certain ways. Understanding the rules and making sure you follow them will help you avoid most of the penalties associated with a 529 account.

Instructions

1. Ensure that funds are withdrawn from a 529 account for the purpose of paying educational expenses only. Withdrawals for any other reason will make the proceeds taxable. The withdrawal, added to your regular earnings, could even push you up to a higher tax bracket. Additionally, there's a 10 percent penalty.

2. Avoid closing the account if your child decides not to go to college at the usual age. There's no limit on the age of the student for the usage of funds in a 529 account. Keep the account active, in case your child decides to go back to school at a later time. You can also change the beneficiary and use it for your, your spouse's or even your grandchild's education.

3. Don't change the beneficiary to someone outside the family. Doing so makes the funds a taxable distribution to the account holder. 529 plans allow the beneficiary to be changed to any "member of family" as defined in Section 529 of Internal Revenue Code (IRC). You can find out who can be considered a "member of family" by reading IRC 529 available at the website of US Code--Electronic Edition (see Resources below).

4. Consider withdrawing the funds if the beneficiary receives a scholarship and no longer needs the account. Penalties don't apply under such a situation, or if the beneficiary has died.

5. Consult with your plan administrator or fund manager before withdrawing funds. This will ensure that no penalties apply to your withdrawals and that you understand time withdrawal to maximize your tax-free earnings.

6. Withdraw funds based on need only and avoid lump-sum withdrawals. The funds in your account act as an investment for tax-free earnings. The longer they remain in the account, the more they earn.

Tags: change beneficiary, child decides, member family, tax-free earnings, withdrawing funds, your child

Use A Roth For Education Expenses

Roth IRAs can help pay for college.

If you take note of a few simple rules, you can withdraw money, tax-free, from your Roth IRA to pay for qualified education expenses. In order to avoid a tax hit, you will need to make sure you do not dip into Roth IRA earnings prior to age 59 1/2. Only original contributions can come out tax-free. You also need to ensure that you spend the money on college expenses that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows.

Instructions

1. Contact the custodian of your Roth IRA. Generally this is a mutual fund firm, brokerage or bank. In order to use Roth IRA funds to pay for education expenses, you must take a distribution from the IRA. You can usually initiate this process with your custodian over the phone, via the mail or through their website.

2. Be sure you do not cross from deducting original contributions to withdrawing earnings. The contributions you make to a Roth IRA have already been taxed as earned income. When you take them out, you are not subject to paying that tax on them again. Contributions always come out first when tapping a Roth IRA. After you have withdrawn contributions, earnings are released and subject to applicable taxes.

3. Verify that you will be using the money to pay for qualified education expenses. Joseph Hurley of Bankrate.com notes that these generally include tuition at most higher education institutions, mandatory fees, books, supplies, equipment and room and board. Typically, you must pay a 10 percent penalty on all Roth IRA distributions prior to age 59 1/2. The federal government waives this fee when you are paying for permitted education expenses.

4. Make college-related payments as you normally would. Save receipts for payments made for all qualified education expenses. The IRS might ask to see them in the future.

Tags: education expenses, qualified education, qualified education expenses, education expenses, original contributions, your Roth

How Does Clep Testing Work

What is the CLEP?

The College Level Examination Program, or "CLEP," is one of the most exciting programs out there for students getting ready to go to college. It is a compilation of 34 tests that range from College Algebra to Biology, and can be taken in lieu of the corresponding college class. Many colleges and higher learning institutions recognize these CLEP credits as being equal to three (or even six, in some cases) college hours. With the help of these exams, a college student can cut their classroom hours by a great percentage, simply by taking tests on subjects they already know.

Benefits of Taking CLEP Exams

For many college students, particularly those adults going back to school while juggling family and a full time job, CLEP exams are a huge time saver. Instead of obtaining an Associates degree in 2 years, a variety of CLEP exams can help cut that time down to a year and a half, or even less. Or, it can at least allow those 2 years to go by more smoothly, as a full time class load would be difficult to handle.

Money is another big reason why many people choose to take CLEP exams. Each exam costs only $70. Compare that to the $150 or more charged by most accredited community colleges, and there are plenty of savings to be had. Also consider the gas money saved and--perhaps most importantly--the costs of textbooks, which have skyrocketed in recent years.

Take a CLEP

Your first order of business when deciding whether CLEP is for you is to find out whether or not your college will accept the credits. Most colleges do, but not all. Make sure you know your college's policy on this. If they do accept the CLEP credits, make sure you find out how much credit they offer for each exam, and their minimum scoring policies. CLEP exams are scored on the basis of 20 to 80. College Board, the creators of the CLEP, recommends a score of 50 to 60 as passing for many of the tests, but individual colleges are free to set their own standards.

Next, read over the CLEP exams offered by College Board and decide which ones you would be most likely to pass. Of course, the fun of CLEP is that you can study for a test in much the same way you can study for a course exam. There are plenty of study guides out there, many of which are offered by College Board itself.

Finally, find a CLEP testing center near you and make an appointment to take the exam. Many colleges that accept CLEP credit also provide the tests, but this will vary from institution to institution. Find out in advance what the testing center charges, as there will likely be a test fee in addition to the CLEP fee.

Tags: CLEP exams, College Board, accept CLEP, CLEP credits, full time, Many colleges

Graduate School Accounting Programs

For the California to Long Island, colleges in the United States offers many graduate accounting programs

With hundreds of colleges and universities across the country offering education in accounting, future CPA professionals have a plethora of options. Whether choosing to go to school in sunny California, big hat country of Texas or near the hustle and bustle of New York City, students won't need to worry about location when choosing the right graduate accounting program.

University of Southern California

Graduate students of the University of Southern California's accounting program prepare themselves through their studies for careers in public accounting, corporate finance accounting, government and non-profit accounting, or financial services and investment banking accounting. Most students conclude the one-year master of accounting program by taking the Uniform Certified Public Accountant examination. Also in the accounting school, students work towards a master of business taxation. The school requires all prospective students to take the GMAT test before applying and offers merit-based scholarships to full-time applicants. Any applicant to the school is considered for the scholarship, therefore, all prospective students must submit an essay.

University of Southern California

Leventhal School of Accounting

ACC 101, MC 0441

3660 Trousdale Parkway

Los Angeles, CA 90089

213-740-4838

usc.edu

Texas A&M University

At the Texas A&M University's Mays Business School, accounting graduate students work toward earning a master of science in accounting degree. The program lasts 36 credit hours and requires no graduate thesis upon graduation. Most students upon graduating are eligible for to take the Certified Public Accountant exam. The university offers two specialization tracks for accounting students: assurance services and information management and tax consulting and financial planning. Although most students in the masters program already have earned a bachelor degree in accounting, the school will accept students from unrelated backgrounds. To do so it requires a number of prerequisite classes including Principles of Economics, Introduction to Business Computing and Financial Management.

Mays Business School

Texas A&M University

4113 TAMU

College Station, TX 77843

979-845-5014

tamu.edu

Hofstra University

Located on New York State's Long Island, Hofstra University offers a number of graduate programs in accounting. Students either earn a master of science in accounting or an MBA in accounting. The university also gives students the option of earning a dual bachelors degree in business administration and masters degree in accounting. Students graduating from the program find they have many opportunities in New York City and Long Island for employment where some of largest global accounting offices operate. Most students after graduating earn enough research hours to take the Certified Public Accounting exam.

Hofstra University

Department of Accounting, Taxation and Legal Studies in Business

Weller Hall, Room 205

Frank G. Zarb School of Business

134 Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY 11549

516-463-5684

hofstra.edu

Tags: Hofstra University, accounting program, Certified Public, Long Island, Southern California, Texas University, University Southern

Easy Scholarships For College Students

Paying for college isn't easy. Already high tuition prices increase annually at many schools, and the cost of housing and living expenses increases the burden. Fortunately, there are many scholarships available to help students finance their educations, and some are easy to apply for--they don't require lengthy applications, multiple essays and letters of recommendation--making the process far less time consuming.

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

The Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship, presented on academic merit, is sponsored by the titular authors, who've written 11 books on college scholarships and admissions and fund the $1,000 annual award. Applicants must be high school or college students (at the undergraduate or graduate level), American citizens and if not currently enrolled in university, planning to do so full time within the coming 12 months. The scholarship can be used to pay for tuition, housing or living expenses. A short, 250-word essay is all that is needed to apply.

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Student Scholarship

3286 Oak Court

Belmont, CA 94002

650-618-2221

gkscholarship.com

Castle Ink's Green Scholarship

Students who take time to nurture and care for the environment are eligible for a $2,500 scholarship from Castle Ink, a manufacturer of printer ink cartridges. To apply for the award, students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and attend an accredited college of university. Additionally, applicants must write 100 words "describing the things you've done to encourage and support recycling and/or protect the environment," according to Castle Ink. Alternatively, students can create a short video on the same theme, submit a photo or video of a creative use of an old printer or ink cartridge, or send the revamped cartridge directly to Castle Ink.

Castle Ink

37 Wyckoff St.

Greenlawn, NY 11740

917-364-6232

castleink.com

OP Loftbed Scholarship

OP Loftbeds, a company that sells loft beds and loft bed design plans, offers a $500 college scholarship that doesn't "discriminate based on GPA, writing skills, involvement in community or service organizations, or other similar criteria to which many students just don't measure up," according to the company. Instead, judges from OP base their decisions on creative (and short) answers to several questions and prompts on the scholarship application form, among them "what will you ask Santa Claus to bring you for Christmas this year?" and "tell us the funniest true story that has ever happened to you."

OP Loftbed Company

P.O. Box 573

Thomasville, NC 27361-0573

1-866-5OP-LOFT

oploftbed.com

I Don't Want to Pay for College Scholarship

Students can enter to win a $1,000 "I Don't Want to Pay for College" scholarship from Cappex--a website for college admissions and scholarship information--by creating a free profile on the site and answering a few brief questions. The scholarship can be used for study at any university or college and will be awarded to those with a "well-rounded profile," according to Cappex.

Cappex

600 Laurel Ave,

Highland Park, IL 60035

847-748-9010

cappex.com

Tags: Kelly Tanabe, housing living, housing living expenses, Kelly Tanabe Scholarship, living expenses, scholarship from, Scholarship Students

Federal Employee Tuition Reimbursement

Employees of the federal government receive a variety of benefits. Besides health insurance and a retirement program, many federal employees qualify for tuition reimbursement or assistance for job-related education and training. In most cases, the tuition reimbursement is 100 percent. Opportunities for federal employee educational training depend on the particular agency and the employee's career path.

Federal Workforce Flexibility Act

In 2004, President George W. Bush signed the Federal Workforce Flexibility Act, which provides opportunities for and emphasis on federal employee training and development within a particular agency's mission. Each federal agency is responsible for development of training programs to assist in achieving employee educational goals consistent with its mission. These programs and goals may include skill set and technical training, seminars and workshops, leadership and management training and fellowships. Such training and programs work under either a tuition assistance or tuition reimbursement basis.

Program Location

Programs for federal employees eligible for tuition assistance or reimbursement may be held at post-secondary institutions of higher learning near the the employee's work site or conducted on-the-job or at the actual work site. Although "federal government" brings to mind Washington, D.C., only 15 percent of the country's federal employees work in D.C. or its environs. The other 85 percent work in federal facilities all over the nation, and classes for federal employees' further education may be held in community colleges, four-year degree-granting institutions or universities for post-graduate work and degrees.

Federal Employee Tuition Reimbursement

Federal government employees must be U.S. citizens. Employees must be full-time workers to qualify for most federal employee tuition reimbursement programs. Tuition reimbursement usually includes cost of books and related fees along with actual tuition. Before registering for any courses at participating post-secondary institutions, the employee should confirm with superiors that the classes are approved by his agency and the amount of tuition reimbursement and related reimbursement for mandatory course materials and fees. The college, university or technical school is not responsible if the federal employee is ineligible for tuition reimbursement.

Federal Jobs and Tuition Reimbursement

Federal employees work in many fields, but opportunities for additional training and education with tuition reimbursement tend to focus on technical, scientific, information technology and other careers in which skill needs change rapidly and require regular updating. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the federal government is the nation's largest employer, with 2 million workers as of 2008, the latest year in which statistics are available. This figure does not include employees of the U.S. Post Office.

Tags: federal government, tuition reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, employee educational, employees work

Indiana Patient Advocate Salary

Patient advocates battle for those suffering from an illness.

A patient advocate, also known as a patients' rights advocate, serves as a mediator, and represents those suffering from long-term illnesses. A relatively new career, the position is expected to see significant job growth in Indiana and nationwide, especially as the population ages.

Salary

The online career search resource, Simply Hired, indicates that as of July 2010, the average annual salary for a patient advocate in the state of Indiana is $40,000. This is lower than the United States median salary of $44,000 for patient advocates. Both numbers will vary slightly based upon the experience and education level of the employee, in addition to the employer sector and region of the state.

Salary Survey

In another national study in 2008, the Society for Healthcare Consumer Advocacy surveyed 173 patient advocates who reported an average base salary of $51, 895. "Those who held doctorates made the most ($70,000 to $75,000); master's-degreed advocates made $55,000 to $60,000, while those with bachelor's degrees were in the $50,000 to $55,000 range," writes the education website GetEducated.com. Three advocates indicated earnings of less than $30,000 annually.

Outlook

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track the patient advocacy job statistics; instead, it includes the career in the "social work" category, a sector expected to see an increase in employment opportunities of 16 percent between 2008 and 2018.

Tags: patient advocate, salary patient, suffering from, those suffering, those suffering from, United States

Broadcasting Graduate Schools

Some graduate schools offer broadcast experience in the nation's largest media markets.

Broadcast graduate schools train motivated, interested students to become professional journalists in radio, Internet and television. Some schools do not require previous broadcast journalism experience to gain admittance into the master's programs. Many schools -- such as the University of Southern California, Northwestern University and New York University -- offer students real world experience in some of the nation's largest media markets.

Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University

Located in New York City, the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute offers ten graduate levels of study, including News and Documentary; Magazine Writing and Business and Economic Reporting. Another concentration, Studio 20, focuses on adapting journalism to the web. Students and faculty work together to find new approaches to help media partners succeed online. The school program combines course work with career skills to cover a complex, global world. All programs feature an emphasis on Arts and Sciences, as well as lectures and seminars to provide a foundation in journalism. Students can take advantage of professional and pre-professional publication opportunities, according to the school website.

Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute

New York University

20 Cooper Square, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10003

212-998-7980

journalism.nyu.edu

University of Southern California- Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Located in Los Angeles, California, University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism offers hands-on experience in "one of the nation's largest and most diverse media markets." The school offers a master's in broadcast journalism that trains students in news, public affairs, documentary production and electronic media. Students learn the fundamentals of journalism including evaluate and analyze information. The television news courses emphasize strong writing skills for field reporting and news production. Broadcast students have the opportunity to work at "Annenberg TV News", a live nightly newscast, and "Impact," a television news magazine. The student-run radio station KSCR provides on-air and production experience in sports, entertainment and music and news programming, 24 hours per day, seven days a week, according to the school website.

Annenberg School for Communication

University of Southern California

3502 Watt Way

Los Angeles, CA 90089-0281

213-740-3914

usc.edu/admission/graduate/programs/communication.html

Medill School at Northwestern University

Located in Evanston, Illinois, Medill School at Northwestern University trains future leaders with a master's degree in journalism. Medill accepts students for the program three times per year, for the fall, summer and winter terms. Students learn how media businesses function and how consumers use media. The master's 12-month program is divided into four quarters, unless students elect to do a fifth quarter in Washington D.C. or a global residency abroad. Furthermore, students can explore concentrations in reporting, magazine editing and publishing and videography/broadcast. Most classes at the school are small to encourage instructor interaction and intense coaching. During one quarter, students will work at a Chicago newsroom and cover stories on the mayor, city council and courtrooms. Graduates from Medill are recruited by employers in all media sectors including The Associated Press, Google Inc., The Wall Street Journal and ESPN among others as the school website states.

Medill School

Northwestern University

1845 Sheridan Road

Evanston, IL 60208-2101

847-467-1882

medill.northwestern.edu/about/default.aspx

Tags: Northwestern University, University Southern, Annenberg School, Annenberg School Communication, Arthur Carter, Arthur Carter Journalism

Tell Military Time

Military time numbers the 24 hours of the day from 1 to 24, rather than repeating the cycle of 12 hours twice. In several countries, time is kept on this 24-hour cycle.

Instructions

1. Note that the military clock begins with 0000 hours, sometimes called 2400 hours. When spoken aloud, this is said, "twenty-four hundred hours," which is the equivalent of midnight.

2. Name morning hours as follows: 1 a.m. is 0100 hours, called "oh one hundred hours"; 2 a.m. is 0200, "oh two hundred hours"; and so forth. This pattern continues for the morning hours just as with the standard method of telling time until noon, which is 1200 hours ("twelve hundred hours").

3. Remember that military time continues to ascend for the afternoon hours rather than beginning a new 12-hour cycle. Thus, 1 p.m. is now 1300 hours, or "thirteen hundred hours"; 2 p.m. is 1400 hours; and so forth. This pattern continues until midnight, at which point the military clock begins again.

4. Determine afternoon hours in military time simply by subtracting 1200 from them. For example, 1800 hours is 6 p.m. in standard time: 1800-1200=600; 2200 hours is 10 p.m.: 2200-1200=1000.

Tags: hundred hours, afternoon hours, clock begins, forth This, forth This pattern, hours forth

Write An Outline

During some point in your academic career, you will likely need to write a report, thesis or article that may require an outline. A well-constructed outline can serve as a roadmap to help you navigate your subject and its related subtopics to make your meaning clear and your message effective. So, whether you need to prepare a book report or write the next Great American Novel, learn write an outline to help make the writing process smooth.

Instructions

Learn Write an Outline

1. Define your targeted audience. Knowing your readership will help you to determine how much information and supporting facts will be necessary to support your main idea.

2. Determine the type of outline to use. If the piece you're going to write is nonfiction, then you'll want to structure your outline so that your introduction conveys your main point and the subsections contain facts that support your central idea or argument. For fiction, begin with a synopsis of the story line and then break down subsequent subsections as appropriate, such as details about character development, their conflict and how they find resolution.

3. Draft the basic outline by writing out your main points as a list, leaving adequate space between each for subsections. Make sure each point follows a logical progressive order to reach a conclusion. For fiction, this stage of the outline might highlight each turning point in the story.

4. Label each main point in your outline with a Roman numeral. For example, I. Introduction, II. Main Body, III. Supporting Facts, IV. Conclusion. Note that a period follows Roman numerals.

5. Indent five spaces under each main point to add subsections. Then label each subsection with a letter, as in A., B., C., etc. Again, note the use of the period after each letter.

6. Flesh out the subsections of your outline with third level sections (known as tertiary categories or points), if applicable. To do this, label the third level points by number.

7. Write your paper, article or report following the outline you've created.

Tags: main point, your main, your outline, each main, each main point, main point subsections

Teach Children Humane Education

Animals share our world--and the best time to learn to treat animals kindly and coexist with them--is when you're young. Here are some important things for both parents and teachers to include in humane education.

Instructions

1. Go over the basic needs of animals such as food, water, shelter, companionship and health/nutrition. For instance, when discussing companionship, explain why tethering or chaining pets is not a good idea.

2. Explain that although animals can't speak, they experience pain, hunger, fear, loneliness and other emotions similar to humans. Always refer to dogs, cats and other pets as "he" or "she" rather than "it."

3. Discuss the importance of spaying/neutering, including the health benefits, and how controlling pet overpopulation will decrease the number of homeless animals.

4. Teach an easily memorizable slogan such as "Kindness, Care, Compassion." Have the children make posters with these slogans to hang up in their rooms.

5. Visit an animal shelter. Let the children observe how the animals are cared for, and in accordance with what the shelter allows, let them take turns with hands-on duties like dog walking and cleanup. Also visit sanctuaries that house rescued farm animals. Most sanctuaries such as Farm Sanctuary (upstate New York and Northern California), Animal Acres (outside of Los Angeles) and Gentle Barn (outside of Los Angeles) offer guided tours (see Resources below).

6. Take a trip to the park and observe the animal inhabitants such as squirrels, birds and ducks. Discuss behaviors that may scare or harm the animals, as well as things the kids can do that will benefit them.

7. Visit a pet supply store and go over the basics that a pet owner needs in caring for a pet. You might also discuss the pros and cons of different toys and other pet products.

8. If teaching a class, arrange a guest visit from a veterinarian, vet tech or staff member/volunteer from an animal shelter or rescue. If you're a parent, ask permission from your vet to arrange a behind-the-scenes visit for your child and perhaps a friend.

9. Discuss animal issues that are in the news. Talk about new laws that benefit animals.

10. Ask the child to pick a celebrity role model, such as an animal advocate or one who has rescued pets. Explain that the trend for some celebrities to carry their dog around for show is not always in the best interest of the animal.

11. With older children, discuss why it's best not to buy puppies from pet shops and explain the general concept of puppy mills. Encourage adoption from shelters and rescues with catchy slogans for them to remember such as "Don't Shop...It's Kinder to Adopt."

12. Teach "Max's Animal Compassion Curriculum" (MACC), which is geared towards children ages 6 to 8 (first and second grade). It helps teachers, educators and individuals bring animal compassion into the classroom. MACC teaches children the importance of adopting from shelters and inspires them to help homeless pets in need. It also helps build character and confidence by having the children help, and possibly save another being. It is based on the book, "Max, the Shelter Dog," the story of a pit bull named "Max," who was abandoned at a shelter by his family. The story is from Max's perspective as he makes his way through the shelter system hoping to get adopted by a new family. Until further notice, you can order "Max, the Shelter Dog" and receive another free copy that you can donate to a local school or library (see Resources).

In the future, there will be a downloadable document of the MACC curriculum. In the meantime you can request a copy by emailing: nr@maxtheshelterdog.com

13. Urge children to report to you, another adult or teacher any acts of animal cruelty (including from their friends) that they may witness, such as rock throwing or torturing an animal. If you see your own child do something to harm pets or wildlife, make sure to reprimand him/her and teach that it's not acceptable.

Tags: animal shelter, Explain that, from shelters, outside Angeles, your child

Statistics For Professional Athletes With College Degrees

Professional athletics is ranked as one of the top 11 most difficult professions to enter.

Most students who play sports in school from middle school on entertain hopes of turning their love of sports into a career. While this does not happen in most cases, some are lucky enough to go on to college and professional athletics. Those wishing to join this elite group can gain an understanding of which schools graduate the most student athletes, the odds of achieving employment in professional sports, average rates of pay and professional opportunities after competitive careers end by looking closely at statistics associated with professional athletes who have graduated from college.

Top Colleges for Athletes

It is becoming more common for young athletes to use college as a temporary forum to showcase their talents for professional scouts. Tempted by fame and fortune, many now leave without degrees, leaving themselves no safety net. A college degree offers the young athlete greater security and more options in the event of injury or after retirement from competition, according to StateUniversity.com. Statistically, the top five colleges for graduating athletes who go pro are the University of Michigan, which boasted a total of 68 professional athletes playing in each of the five major sports leagues in 2008, Ohio State University with 62, the University of Florida at Miami with a total of 60, UCLA with 59, and Florida State University and the University of Notre Dame, tying at 51 professional athletes each.

Odds of Employment

There are approximately 9,380 major league professional athletes in the United States.

On a list published by CollegeTimes of the 11 hardest jobs to land in America, "professional athlete" ranks fourth. Odds are heavily against becoming a professional athlete, at approximately 24,550 to 1. CollegeTimes asserts that a person has a greater chance of writing a book that makes the New York Times bestseller list, being struck by lightening or marrying a millionaire. Of the approximately 9,380 major league professional American athletes, this translates to an individual .00565 percent chance of reaching the major leagues in American sports. The odds improve if minor leagues and secondary leagues are considered, but these are generally short-lived and poorly paid jobs.

Average Professional Sports Salaries

Of all sports-related industries, spectator sports rank highest in both level of employment (at 8,910 as of May 2009) and level of pay (at a mean annual salary of $97,650), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top states for levels of employment for professional athletes are Rhode Island, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, and Idaho. The top states for mean annual salary for professional athletes are Colorado, New York, Minnesota, California and Washington.

Career Options After Competition

At some point, every athletic career comes to an end either through injury or age. At this point, a college degree paves the way for other professional avenues in sports. A bachelor's degree in journalism, broadcasting or communications lends itself to a career in sportscasting. Someone looking for work as a sports agent needs a bachelor's degree in marketing or business. Someone who holds a bachelor's in marketing can also work as a sports marketing account executive. Sports medicine also offers many opportunities for former athletes. Possibilities range from psychology to physical therapy. A degree at the master's level is likely required for this. Someone holding a degree in public relations, communications, marketing or media relations is a candidate for a sports information position.

Tags: professional athletes, annual salary, approximately major, approximately major league, bachelor degree

What Are Semester Hours

By building schedules that allow for a proper balance of work and relaxation, college students find their experience much less stressful.

Working toward a college degree is a timely and difficult process. To streamline your experience--and to help ensure you graduate on time--it's best to understand the terminology associated with your university. Especially important among this language are the terms "credit hours" and "semester hours." By coming to understand their meaning and your school's requirements, building a schedule each semester will become much easier.

Credit Hours

Dallas Baptist University describes credit hours as "the basic unit for college credit" and notes they often reflect an estimate for in-class time required each week. In short, universities assign a number of "hours" to each class they offer, then use these numbers to track your progress toward a degree or certificate of completion.

Semester Hours

A semester is a unit of time commonly used in the educational system to denote half of an academic year. "Semester hours" are the credit hours for which a student has been registered during the course of a semester. For example, if a student is enrolled in five classes, and each class is awarded three credit hours, that student is enrolled in 15 credit hours for the semester.

Filling Requirements

Different universities and programs carry different requirements for graduation. In many cases, the total number of credit hours needed for a bachelor's degree will range between 115 and 125 hours. Check with your program's specific requirements. To complete a standard bachelor's degree in four years, at 120 total required hours, students need to fill 15 credit hours per semester for eight semesters. Additional certifications, such as a minors or graduate degrees, carry their own credit hour requirements.

Other Considerations

For many universities, the number of credit hours required for "full-time student" status is 12 per semester. Maintaining this number will often affect a candidate's ability to receive financial aid. It is important to note that the number of credit hours a student takes will often affect the cost of his or her tuition. Be sure to check with your college or university to estimate fees associated with credit hours.

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What Are Reasons To Pardon Very Old Student Loans

Bankruptcy courts have discharged debt incurred through vices, such as casino gambling, but student loans are almost impossible to evade because of the possibility of bankruptcy abuse. You can "pardon" student loans in a few cases, but this is usually extremely hard to prove. The most likely scenario to handle your debt is to restructure it.

History

Private student loans became non-dischargeable if the borrower filed a bankruptcy case after October 7, 1998. Even then, a borrower could only discharge student debt after it had been in payment status for seven years and the originator did not receive funding from a nonprofit organization. Federal student loans have always been non-dischargeable except for undue hardship.

Undue Hardship

As of 2010, you can only pardon student loans--federal or private--if paying them back presents an "undue hardship" after Congress passed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. Technically, "undue hardship" can mean anything, but the courts almost always only consider a severely debilitating injury, such as paralysis, an undue hardship.

Other Possible Reasons

The other reasons to pardon old student loan debt are usually less likely than experiencing a severe disability. You can discharge debt, for example, if you die or the college you attended closed before you could complete your degree. Another possibility is identity theft that lead the lender to authorize the loan under false pretenses, such as a forged signature. Some programs, such as Teach for America, allow you to forgo some student loan debt.

Potential

A few bills bounced around Congress in 2010 that would ease the restrictions on discharging student loan debt. While some say it would entice people to take out student loans, get a degree and then declare bankruptcy, some politicians argue that this is unlikely, because nobody likes going through bankruptcy.

Tip

Student loan lenders often trade debts back and forth, so you may owe more than you should and get to object to the balance under a Chapter 13 plan. Alternatively, you might be able to consolidate your loans into one payment under a Chapter 13 restructuring plan. In Chapter 13, you repay debts over three years to five years based on what you can afford.

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