Sat Scores Requirements For College Entrance

SAT score requirements vary drastically, and while some top-notch colleges require high scores, there are many schools that hardly pay any attention to the scores.

History of SAT

The test was created in 1901 to even the playing field for students of varying socioeconomic backgrounds.

General Significance

The test is in three sections: reading, mathematics and essay writing. Each section is scored on a scale of 200 to 800. The average total score is between 1500 and 1600, and most colleges want to see scores around that mark. However, colleges look closely at separate scores, and they keep in mind what program you are interested in and give more weight to the corresponding section of the SAT.

Colleges With High SAT Score Expectations

Colleges are ranked in tiers, and the tier system is a good way to familiarize yourself with what schools have higher and lower expectations. Ivy League schools accept only incredibly high-achieving students. They require that your SAT score is at the top of the pool. For example, Harvard students get scores almost entirely between 600 and 800 on each section.

Schools That Hardly Value SAT Scores

There are several colleges that do not believe in ranking students based on standardized test scores, and they allow a written piece instead.

How Can I Improve My Score?

There are many SAT prep programs available. The two major companies distributing these kind of preparatory materials and classes are Princeton Review and Kaplan.

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The Best Ways To Pay Off Your Bills

office.microsoft.com

Thinking about pay off bills is often on almost everyone's mind. It can be very frustrating when the bills keep increasing, even though they are being paid. Certain strategies can help you decrease your bills.

Budget

Making a budget is one of the first steps to take when preparing to pay off your bills. Make a monthly budget which will limit the amount of money you spend. Try to adhere to that budget each month. Excess spending is one of the leading causes of debt. Adding more expenses to your bills will make it more difficult to pay them off. Using cash instead of credit cards can bring you one step closer to achieving your goals. When credit cards are used to purchase items, monthly finance charges are added to the ending balance. These finance charges can add up fast if the balance is not paid off quickly. One suggestion is to leave the credit cards at home when you are going shopping. This will eliminate the chance of you using them to make purchases.

Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation is another way of helping to pay off your bills. When bills are consolidated, they are combined into one monthly bill. A debt consolidation company will assist you by contacting your credit card companies and negotiating with them to lower the higher interest rates to a more reasonable rate. A lower interest rate will be applied to the unpaid balance on the credit cards. Each month, the payment will be made to the consolidation company instead of the credit card companies. This will dramatically help reduce the debt in a shorter period of time.

Refinance

Refinancing your home may be a good option for you. Before refinancing, certain important things have to be considered. You will have to determine a few things such as how long ago you purchased the house, the new interest rate (it should be lower than the existing one on your mortgage), how long you will be living in the home and your credit score. If you have decided to refinance your home, you can use the equity in the home to pay off debts that have high interest rates. Refinancing will not only help to pay off your bills, but will actually improve your credit score as your debts decrease. You will also save money by paying less each month on your mortgage.

Paying off higher interest rates

High interest rates on credit cards can increase your bills each month. When paying your bills, it is a wise idea to pay off the ones with the highest interest rates first. This way, you will be saving on finance charges. The savings can then be applied to other bills.

Tags: credit cards, interest rates, your bills, finance charges, This will, your credit, bills will

Get A Degree For Free

Attending college doesn't have to break the bank.

Debt and a college education seem to go hand-in-hand. It does not have to be that way. With a little work and creativity, there are ways to bring your tuition bill to zero. It may take some digging to find the opportunities, but they are there waiting for you.

Instructions

1. Attend a low-cost or tuition-free institution. Community and junior colleges often have in-state tuitions low enough to be covered completely by government grants. These grants do not have to be paid back. Some community and junior colleges even offer four-year degrees. There are some North American colleges that are tuition-free. Finding and applying to these takes some legwork, but is worth it when you can graduate debt-free.

2. Check into work-study. Work-study programs give you spending and tuition money in return for working on campus. This is one way to make up the difference between grants and tuition, and can pay for things such as books and room and board.

3. Look into scholarships. There are thousands available, and often people do not apply so no one gets the scholarship. Your school counselor can direct you to a list of scholarships and help you learn apply for them. Collect some letters of reference from people you know, and work on writing a good essay.

4. Work at a college or university. Often employees are allowed to take classes tuition-free. If your parents work for a university or college, their free-tuition benefit may extend to you as well.

Tags: junior colleges

Microsoft Office Certification Testing

Increae your earning potential by become a certified Microsoft Office Specialist

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) is a certification available to administrative assistants,office managers or anyone who use an office computer. Individuals can increase their productivity and enhance their resumes with the well respected MOS certification. To become a Microsoft Office Specialist, MOS candidates have to prepare for and pass certification tests administered through Microsoft Authorized Testing Centers.

What is MOS Certicifications

Microsoft Office Certification Testing is related to certifying individuals to be Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS). A Microsoft Office Specialist is a person who has demonstrated proficiency at Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook and Project. Individuals can get certified for Word only or all six. The most popular and widely used productivity software are Word and Excel and represent the bulk of MOS certifications.

Why get Certified

Traditionally, Microsoft certifications is for computer engineers looking for certification in programs such as the Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE). MCSEs are individuals who set-up and manage computer and information system at corporate offices. Contrary to this, the MOS is for anyone who use a computer at work, such as administrative assistants and office managers. The Microsoft Office suite of product are office productivity tools where, by getting certified, individuals can increase their productivity at work. Increased productivity supported by a well respected certification means recognition, more promotions, better job offers and more income.

Skill Requirements

MOS candidates can get a MOS certification as an office specialist and expert specialist. Office specialist is available for all six office productivity software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook and Project. Expert is available only in Word and Excel. A Word office specialist must show proficiency in formatting text, paragraphs, creating tables and other basic Word functions. An Excel office specialist must be proficient at formatting cells, worksheets, formulas, working with multiple worksheets and other basic Excel functions. However, as an expert Word or Excel specialist, MOS candidates are required to accomplish more advanced task, such a creating sophisticated tables in Word and creating macros in Excel necessary to automate repetitive task.

The Certification Exam

The MOS exams are hands-on where candidates apply knowledge using simulated Microsoft office programs. No pencil or paper is required; the test is completely computerized. The test are administered at Microsoft Authorized Testing Centers. Test performance is scored immediately and candidates need to get 80 percent right to pass the exam.

Prepare

The best way to prepare for the exam is to first understand the structure and format of the exam. Candidates can do this online at Certiport. Also, candidates can get additional test taking tips at CertCities (see References for both). Next, candidates should learn the objective and goals of the test associated with each application. This is done at the Microsoft Specialist Web site. When ready, candidates can also find locations of Microsoft Authorized Testing Centers at Certiport.

Tags: Microsoft Office Specialist, Word Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office, Office Specialist

Get A Football Scholarship

Football is increasingly becoming the national pasttime. This is especially true at the collegiate level, where stadiums are packed with upwards of 100,000 people, cheering and screaming on every play. College ball is incredibly hard to attain, yet earning a scholarship will give you a leg up on the competition.

Instructions

1. Focus on less popular positions. Quarterbacks, for instance, are going to have much more competition than tight ends or linemen. By focusing on a less competitive position, it's easier to stand out to recruiters.

2. Decide on a list of schools you'd like to play for. Create one list for your ideal universities and colleges, a second consisting of second choices and a third of last resorts.

3. Focus on Division III schools, where the likelihood of making the team and thus getting a scholarship is much higher than at a Division I or II institution.

4. Research every school on your lists and find out their minimum academic requirements and test scores. It doesn't matter what position you play or how great an athlete you are. If you don't qualify as a student, they're not going to be in a position to give you a free education.

5. Build an impressive resume. Since talent alone might not be enough to earn you that scholarship, you have to make sure you're as well-rounded an applicant and student as possible. Focus on extracurricular activities and community service.

6. Get coaches and other individuals involved in the sport to recommend you, either by writing letters, sending tapes or calling prospective colleges. This increases the chances of catching a recruiter's attention.

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What Are The Steps For Writing A Research Report

Research papers can seem overwhelming, but attacking them step by step makes them approachable.

While research papers are among the most dreaded school assignments, a methodical, step-by-step approach makes the process bearable. Each step in the process must be completed; more importantly, writers must always be ready to return to a previous step. Writing is a recursive process, which means it is often necessary to re-research, re-draft or rewrite. Not taking the time to backtrack will result in future steps taking longer.

Planning

To determine a research topic that is neither too general nor too specific, it is best to start with a cluster diagram or an idea web. The topic of the paper should have a reasonable number of subtopics on the web: enough to cover the assigned paper length, but not so many that a complete essay would be double the target length. The planning process ends with drafting a thesis statement. While the thesis will be revised after research is complete, this provides a starting point for the research.

Questioning

When the thesis is looked at from a reader's perspective, questions will arise. A researcher takes on the role of a skeptic, and lists all the major questions that must be answered to prove the truth of the preliminary thesis. These questions are the subtopics to be researched; numbering them will simplify the prewriting step.

Researching

While researching, each source should be listed and coded with a letter for tracking. Each note card will then be coded with the both the information source and the subtopic. The best practice for recording information is including an exact quote from the source and a paraphrase, to avoid both plagiarism and misunderstanding quotes taken out of context.

Pre-Writing

Pre-writing begins with sorting out note cards. Cards are broken out by subtopic, and subtopics put into the most logical order. Then, cards within each subtopic pile are put in a logical order for writing. Cards with information that is duplicative of other cards or no longer relevant can be set aside. Gaps in the information are noted and re-researched.

Writing

The most efficient way to write a research paper is to begin with the body. Once the body is complete, the thesis should be revisited, to make sure the information reported still supports it. Once all the information is in place, it will be clear what information needs to be introduced in the introduction and summarized in the conclusion.

Revising and Editing

Writing should never be revised immediately after it has been written; any assignment should rest for a minimum of 24 hours, preferably more. The best revision also allows a second person to read and comment. Revision is an attempt to "re-see" the paper, to find any remaining gaps in logic or information. This is distinct from editing, which involves finding and correcting errors in grammar, spelling and mechanics.

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Buy A Graduation Gift

Buy a graduation gift

Graduation is an exuberant milestone. Receiving the announcement isn't necessarily a call for gifts, but if you choose to give one, here are some ideas to help your grad celebrate both his or her magnificent accomplishments as well as the opportunities that lie just ahead.

Instructions

1. Mat and frame the diploma. College grads may appreciate a framed photo of their campus. (See Get a Picture Framed.) Have the graduate's initials and graduation date monogrammed on a picture frame.

2. Inscribe a classic hardcover book, dictionary or encyclopedia with a note of love and pride. Students graduating from grade school or junior high will enjoy a copy of Dr. Seuss's Oh, the Places You'll Go.

3. Buy custom stationery with a college grad's newest letters after his or her name (see Order Custom Invitations and Announcements).

4. Give money or gift certificates, always appreciated by those in a cash-poor phase. For the grad entering the business world, spring for a briefcase (see Buy a Briefcase), Montblanc pen, leather desk set or business card holder. Perhaps best of all, work your network for job leads and present a few key introductions, listed in a gift card.

5. Splurge on a special grad with a cell phone, personal digital assistant or even a laptop (refer to the Computers and Home Electronics chapter). Sterling silver key chains, cuff links or a money clip are other classy options.

6. Feather the nests of both high school and college graduates with essentials like comforters, lamps, clocks, microwaves, mini fridges, basic cookware, towels and bathroom necessities. High school grads will appreciate sweatshirts, hats, fleece throws and backpacks emblazoned with the insignia of their college-to-be.

7. Celebrate a new chapter in life with something fun--a bicycle, CD or DVD player, digital camera, television and VCR combo or audio system. Leather luggage tags are also keepers.

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What Do Teachers Get Paid In Texas

Texas elementary teachers earned an average salary of $51,090 each year, according to a salary survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2010. Middle school teachers there earned $51,230 on average, and high school teachers made $53,160. Teachers in Texas' major cities earn salaries close to these averages. These salaries do not include special education, vocational or kindergarten teachers.

Amarillo

Amarillo's population as of 2010, according to the website Sperling's Best Places, was 188,414. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average annual salary of an elementary teacher was $46,650, and that middle school teachers made an average of $46,920. High school teachers earned an average annual salary of $48,830. The cost of living in Amarillo is 22.5 percent lower than the national average, according to Sperling's Best Places website at the time of publication.

Houston

People in Houston numbered 2,235,760 as of 2010, according to Sperling's Best Places. The average annual salary of an elementary teacher in Houston averaged $52,600, and middle school teachers brought in $53,080 on average each year, as of May 2010, according to the BLS. High school teachers earned an average salary of $55,620 each year. The cost of living in Houston was 8.9 percent lower than the national average at the time of publication.

El Paso

El Paso had 614,882 people as of 2010, according to Sperling's Best Places website. The city's average salary for elementary teachers was $51,930, and middle school teachers earned $51,370 on average each year, according to the BLS as of May 2010. High school teachers earned $53,060 on average. The cost of living in El Paso is 13.9 percent lower than the rest of the country, at the time of publication.

San Antonio

Sperling's Best Places reports that San Antonio's population in 2010 was 1,310,777. The average annual salary for an elementary teacher was $54,290, as of May 2010, reports the BLS. Middle school teachers earned an average of $54,300. High school teachers earned $55,860 on average each year. The cost of living in San Antonio is 16 percent lower than the national average, reports Sperling's Best Places as of May 2011.

Dallas

The population in 2010 in Dallas was 1,256,588, states Sperling's Best Places website. The average salary of an elementary teacher was $54,440, as of May 2010, according to the BLS. Middle school teachers earned $54,340, and high school teachers made $57,310. The cost of living in Dallas was only 3.1 percent lower than the national average as of May 2011, according to Sperling's Best Places -- much higher than many other large cities in Texas.

Tags: school teachers, Best Places, earned average, Sperling Best, Sperling Best Places, teachers earned, school teachers earned

Register And Pay For Online Classes At Webster University

Registering and paying for online classes at Webster University is easy.

Registering and paying for online classes at Webster University is easy and convenient. Webster University offers lots of online classes its students to choose from, so you won't have to take a number and stand outside of an advisor's door for hours only to have to sign up for classes that you never wanted in the first place. All you have to do is log in, search for your classes, and fill in the registration data. It's as easy as that.

Instructions

Register for Class

1. Go to www.webster.edu.

2. Click "Connections" on the Webster University menu.

3. Enter your Connections username and password.

4. Click the "Student" tab. In the "Student Academic Services" tab, click "here."

5. Enter your Webster University username and password in the "Authentication Required" dialogue box that pops up.

6. Click "Course Schedules Online" under Student Info on the left-hand side of the Web page.

7. Click "Online" on the Course Schedules page.

8. Enter the session, year, term, department and program data you are looking for. Click "Enter data."

9. Locate the course you are looking to sign up for and write down the Course Section information. Course Section is the leftmost column. Return to the Webster University Connections Web page.

10. Click "Registration."

11. Enter at least one payment option.

12. Enter course information into the "Course Number" and "Section" fields below the payment information. Your will now be registered for your course, and it will appear at the bottom of your registration screen.

Pay for Class

13. Follow steps one through three in Section One to log into your Connections account and arrive at the Connections home screen.

14. Click "Statement/Pay Online" under Student Info on the left-hand side of your screen.

15. Click "Make Online Payment."

16. Click "make payment" on the upper right-hand side of your screen.

17.Click the term you would like to pay for under "Your account currently has the following charges."

18. Click "Continue" and then click "Checkout."

19. Select your method of payment and enter your information. Click "Continue Checkout."

20. Verify your payment information and click "Submit Payment."

Tags: Webster University, screen Click, Click Continue, Course Schedules, Course Section, Enter your, Info left-hand

Thesis Statements

Crafting a solid thesis statement is crucial to good writing at all levels.

Learning to write an effective scholarly thesis statement is essential for doing well in writing courses at all levels of education. Outside of the classroom, thesis statements can also be useful in the workplace because they teach you focus your content and organize your thoughts. For a distinct advantage in writing, learn craft a good one.

Thesis Statement Purpose

One way to describe a thesis statement is that it acts like a topic sentence for an entire essay. Just as the topic sentence tells readers what will be discussed in a particular paragraph, the thesis statement alerts readers as to what to expect from the rest of the essay. However, the thesis statement is not only helpful for readers. Writers are assisted by the thesis statement because writing one forces them to give their ideas more focus. For example, if you are writing an essay about the death penalty, you cannot write the thesis statement without determining which side of the issue you're going to take or whether you're going to provide a balanced look at the argument. The thesis statement typically provides the basic skeleton for the organization of the essay as well.

Parts of the Thesis Statement

A good thesis statement is going to contain three parts: the general topic, the attitude towards that topic, and the main points being covered in the essay. Using the death penalty example again, you might write the following thesis statement: The death penalty should be abolished because innocent people are sometimes executed, because the costs are higher than for life imprisonment and because murder is never justifiable. In this example, the general topic would be the death penalty. Your attitude toward that topic would be that it should be abolished. Finally, the main points being covered are listed at the end of the statement.

Essay Organization and the Thesis Statement

The thesis statement will help you give your ideas and research focus and will be useful in organizing the essay. The arrangement of the main points in the thesis statement should reflect the organization of the points covered in your essay. Referring to the previous death penalty thesis statement, the body of the essay would first cover the execution of innocent people, the higher costs of capital punishment, then the wrongness of murder. For this reason, the main points listed in the thesis statement should be arranged carefully. In most cases, the point should be arranged and presented from least to most important. However, sometimes chronological organization is more appropriate.

Generating a Thesis Statement

Brainstorming a thesis statement can be a challenge, especially since it should be the first step of the drafting process. In most cases, you'll already have ideas for two of the three necessary elements--the topic and your attitude toward the topic--but determining the main points can be more difficult. Using pre-writing techniques, such as listing or free writing, to come up with possible essay points is a good idea. From there, you can evaluate the different options. Look for options that can be combined or that are repeated to narrow your list of choices. Then choose the three you find most interesting or important. Number these according to how you want to include them in the essay. Remember that your thesis statement is not carved in stone. As you write, you can always revise your thesis statement to reflect changes in your main points and in your organization.

Common Thesis Statement Problems

One common problem is writing a thesis statement that is too general. For example, you might write "The death penalty is wrong." While this could be the start of a strong thesis statement, the main points are missing, which makes it incomplete. Another problem is not keeping all of the elements in a single sentence. Writers sometimes worry because the thesis statement ends up being very long so they try to break it into multiple sentences. While more experienced writers may be able to get away with this technique, students should keep the thesis statement to a single sentence.

Tags: thesis statement, main points, death penalty, thesis statement, thesis statement, attitude toward

Online Medical Transcription Degrees

Medical transcriptionists have administrative skills and know medical terminology.

Medical transcriptionists work in clinics, hospitals and physicians office to type recorded doctor comments into patient charts, reports and correspondence. Candidates must acquire a well-rounded knowledge of medical language and legal requirements to perform the functions of the job. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical transcriptionists earned a median hourly wage of $15.41 nationwide in 2008.

Kaplan University

Kaplan University offers a 90-credit hour associate degree in medical transcription on-line and on-campus in Davenport, IA. Courses in the program include health care professional academic strategies and professional development, law, software for medical professionals bioethics, anatomy, keyboarding, medical terminology, human body diseases, and pharmacology. Students get hands-on experience with a five-credit practicum course. Core prerequisites include communication and mathematics courses. The school provides program information by phone or via live chat on the company's website.

Kaplan University

1801 East Kimberly Rd., Suite 1

Davenport, IA 52807

563-355-3500

866-527-5268

online.kaplanuniversity.edu

Penn Foster

Penn Foster offers a medical transcriptionist career diploma program that students may complete in up to two years. Students can get assistance from faculty and technical support by e-mail, postal mail and via telephone from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST weekdays. Self-paced courses have final exams and students may take classes online, via postal mail correspondence or a combination of both. Courses in the curriculum include such topics as introduction to allied health, office procedures, interpersonal communication, ethics and law, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, business English, body systems terminology and patient confidentiality. The course tuition includes all materials such as textbooks and DVDs.

Penn Foster

925 Oak St.

Scranton, PA 18515

800-275-4410

pennfoster.edu

U.S. Career Institute

The U.S. Career Institute divides the medical transcriptionist certificate program in five instructional modules. Part one includes topics in word parts and root words, prefixes and suffixes, dividing and combining medical terms, forming plurals, proper names and acronyms, abbreviations, grammar, listening skills, human biology and anatomy. Part two addresses concepts in anatomy, tissues, specialists, diseases, medical reports, skills and tools for transcribing, integumentary system and musculoskeletal systems. The third part discusses neurological, cardiovascular, immune, respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, reproductive and endocrine systems. In part four, students learn about pediatrics, neuropsychiatry, ethics, electronic records, the pharmacy and laboratory. The final chapter explores pathology transcription, diagnostic images, e-mail security and report editing. The school has business accreditation awarded by the Better Business Bureau.

U.S. Career Institute

2001 Lowe St.

Fort Collins, CO 80525

866-250-6851

uscareerinstitute.edu

Tags: Career Institute, Kaplan University, Penn Foster, medical terminology, medical transcriptionist

Raise Your Overall Gpa

Aim to make the Dean's list with your improved GPA.

Raising your grade point average (GPA) is important for scholarships, applying to graduate school or getting a good job. According to AchieverPoint.com, you will need a GPA of 3.0 to 3.3 to be accepted into master's programs, while doctoral studies require a 3.3 to 3.5 GPA. As well as the external affirmation of having a good GPA, it will also give you a personal sense of satisfaction to know you did the best you could. Raising your GPA doesn't happen magically; it requires a plan and action.

Instructions

1. Set a manageable target GPA. If you currently have a 2.2 GPA, aiming for a 4.0 is

unrealistic. Set your goal for a more achievable 2.7, and work your way up to 3.0 for the following term.

2. Establish a daily study schedule. Block out time you need to study everyday and don't be distracted by television or other background noise. Stay focused and concentrate on your reading and assignments.

3. Go to classes. Too often students skip classes to visit with their friends or watch a sporting event. Don't allow yourself miss class for any reason, as this is a primary cause for a low GPA.

4. Set up a study group. Find other students like yourself who are serious about their GPAs. Arrange to meet twice a week to share study tips and to offer each other support.

5. Take care of your health. Get enough sleep, exercise regularly and eat well. Avoid junk food, such as chocolate bars and chips. While these foods will give you an initial energy hit, it eventually drops and will leave you feeling tired and sluggish.

6. Take copious notes and review often. AcademicTips.com warns that people forget most of the information they learn within the first 20 to 60 minutes. Quickly review your notes after class and then again during your daily work time.

7. Sit in the front of the class and ask relevant questions to demonstrate you are paying attention. Teachers can gauge how serious students are by where they sit. Those who want to learn are in the front of the class; those who sit in the back row may as well not attend.

8. Get to know your teachers. Stopping to chat for a few minutes after class or making a comment on how you found the lessons helpful is something instructors remember when they are marking your exams.

9. Monitor your grades as you go along. Instead of waiting until the end of the term to calculate your GPA, keep track of the small assignments and quizzes as the term progresses.

10. Promise yourself a reward for reaching you target GPA. Your goal for getting a GPA of 3.5 could be to buy yourself a new computer. Tape a photograph of the computer you want over your desk and look at it often to remind yourself of your target GPA.

Tags: after class, front class, Raising your

Get A Cosmetology License In Colorado

If you are interested in providing a customer services for their hair styling, nail care, skincare and makeup, then you need to get your cosmetology license. If you live in Colorado, follow these steps to learn how you get your cosmetology license.

Instructions

1. Look at the Beauty School Directory website and choose "Cosmetology" as your field of choice and "Colorado" as your region choice to find available cosmetology schools. Click on the "Find Schools" link.

2. Choose the city where you want to study. There are four cosmetology schools in Denver, two in Colorado Springs, Littleton and Westminster, as well as eight other schools spread throughout the state.

3. Click on the "Request Info" link for your chosen school. Fill out the provided information form and click on the "Send Info Request" link. This information starts the process of enrollment in your beauty school, but it does not obligate you to attend.

4. Enroll in your beauty school. The national average for full time cosmetology students is between 1400 and 1600 hours. In Colorado you must have 1450 hours. You can expect to finish a full time cosmetology school in less than two years.

5. Visit the "Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetologist Licensing" website. You need to apply for and pass a written exam. The Promissor website gives information on request an exam, where the test can be taken, how much the different tests cost, as well as a "Record of Completion" form to fill out.

Tags: beauty school, cosmetology license, cosmetology schools, full time, full time cosmetology, time cosmetology

Apply For A Pell Grant In Illinois

Pell Grants provide undergraduate students across the country with up to $5,550 per year for college costs. Although the federal government awards Pell Grants to all students who qualify, regardless of how early they submit the application, you are best off submitting your application early in Illinois if you want state-based financial aid, as well. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission awards its grants and other financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis, so you should submit your application as soon as possible after Jan. 1 of the year in which the school year begins.

Instructions

1. Gather your and your parents' W2 statements from the previous calendar year. If they have not arrived yet, use the last pay stub of the year for each job to estimate your year-end earnings.

2. Fill in this year's income in place of last year's on a copy of last year's tax return.

3. Go through the tax return and substitute this year's numbers for last year's in every step. You need an estimate of this year's adjusted gross income and tax liability from your tax return to apply for financial aid. If you have completed this year's tax return in full, use that instead of your estimate.

4. Go to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid website and start a new application by typing in your name, Social Security number and date of birth.

5. Fill in all parts of the FAFSA with the personal and financial information the application requests.

6. Go to the Federal Student Aid PIN site and apply for a PIN so you can electronically sign your FAFSA. This is the fastest way to have your application processed in Illinois.

7. Type your PIN to sign the application and submit the FAFSA. The federal government will pass it along to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Tags: this year, last year, your application, Assistance Commission, federal government, Federal Student

Answer A Law Evidence Question

Law books

Answering a law school hypothetical on an exam is one of the toughest academic assignments that could be asked of anyone. Nevertheless, you should be able to handle the task reasonably well as long as you know the law and can organize your answer using the "IRAC" method--issue, rule, application and conclusion. Certain features of your answer, however, will reflect particular aspects of evidence law.

Instructions

1. Remember the two foundational issues that must be resolved before evidence can be admitted into court--it must be relevant (it must make a factual proposition at issue in the case more or less likely to be true), and its value as evidence must outweigh any potential adverse emotional impact on the jury. Remember also that juries are free to disregard admitted evidence--the only issue in admitting evidence is whether or not they will have the opportunity to examine it.

2. Identify the issues. A law school hypothetical may have several major issues. Tease them apart and identify each one specifically. Be specific--for example, "whether or not evidence that the city's subsequent sealing of the drainage pipe may be admitted as evidence to establish that it was negligent for not repairing it before the accident."

3. Create an IRAC outline for each issue. If your hypothetical has five issues, for example, you should organize your outline as a series of five "issue, rule, application and conclusion" sequences.

4. Identify the legal rule that is applicable to each issue. If you identified five issues, you should identify at least five rules--for example, "Evidence of subsequent remedial measures cannot be admitted to prove negligence on the part of the defendant." You may also identify any relevant exceptions to the rules.

5. Apply the rule to the issue in analytical fashion. For example, "Since the fact that the faulty drainage pipe directly caused the accident is undisputed, and since it was repaired only after the accident, the sealing of the drainage pipe constitutes a subsequent remedial measure."

6. Take a stand on the issue on way or the other. For example, "Accordingly, the sealing of the drainage pipe by the city should not be admitted into evidence."

7. Apply the IRAC formula to each issue that you identified in the hypothetical. Number each section, and perform a final check for grammar and spelling errors.

Tags: drainage pipe, each issue, sealing drainage, sealing drainage pipe, admitted into, application conclusion

Write A Tax Court Case Brief

Write a Tax Court Case Brief

Law students read commercial outlines, create outlines, read hornbooks, practice with flashcards and create case briefs in order to learn and memorize the various rules of law. A case brief is a synopsis, or summary, of a court opinion that states the essential and most pertinent information of the case and is used for in-class discussions and to integrate rules of law into a law school outline. Case briefs are particularly important in a course on taxation because there are many rules in tax law and case law is complex.

Instructions

1. Write the title of the case and the case citation. The title of the case is structured as: petitioner's name (the person bringing the suit) v. respondent's name. For instance, "Jones v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue". The case citation is a series of numbers and descriptors used to retrieve the case, such as "2004 WL 29302 (U.S. Tax Ct.)". This citation states that the case occurred in 2004 and can be found using Westlaw at case 29302, and that it is a United States Tax Court case.

2. Summarize the facts of the case. The facts of any case, particularly a Tax Court case, can be very long and contain some nonessential information. Summarize the facts by writing down only the pertinent data: the names, dates and actions that ultimately determine how the case turns out.

3. State the issue or issues that are presented in the case. These issues are what make the case important enough for the Tax Court to hear it. Usually the issue statement can be formulated by beginning with the word "whether" and then stating the question to be determined in the case, such as "Whether a person realizes income when she sold her house for $250,000 and she has a cost basis in the house of $240,000." Another possible format is the "Under-Does-When" format, stated as: "Under the Tax Code, does a person realize income when she sold her house for $250,000 and she has a cost basis in the house of $240,000."

4. State the court's holding. The court's holding is the decision that the court made, such as: "The petitioner realized an income of $10,000 when she sold her house for $250,000 and she had a cost basis in the house of $240,000."

5. List the rules of law. There are rules of law that the Tax Court uses in arriving at its holding. List these rules in your case brief. The rules are often either statutes, such as "gross income means all income from whatever source derived," which is the Internal Revenue Code section 61; or the holding from previous case law, which will be accompanied by a case citation.

6. Summarize the court's rationale. It is important for law students to understand why the Tax Court arrived at the decision that it did, and to do this, they should write a brief summary of the court's rationale.

Tags: basis house, case citation, cost basis, cost basis house, house cost, house cost basis, income when

Jobs In Mediation

Mediation is a growing field.

Mediation is a field that is growing in different directions. As a consequence, the demand for qualified mediators is strong and will remain that way. If you are seeking a job as a mediator, you will need to familiarize yourself with the types of positions that are available. By understanding all your options, you are in the best position to make an educated decision regarding employment in mediation.

Family Law Mediation

Mediators are in high demand in the family law arena. Indeed, some courts now require mediation in all divorce cases. These courts mandate a submission of any issues that spouses cannot resolve on their own to a mediator before a judge schedules a particular case for a divorce trial.

Family law mediation includes resolving issues pertaining to custody and parenting time with children as well as child support. Mediation is also used to resolve disputes between spouses, involving assets and debts, alimony and other issues that arise during the course of a divorce case.

Family law mediators are becoming specialists within that arena. For example, there are now jobs in family law medication focused specifically on child custody issues or financial issues. Therefore, if you have a particular interest in a segment of family law, you can find specialized mediation positions.

Contract Mediation

Another arena in which jobs in mediation is found involves resolving contract disputes. Mediators are involved in contract disputes that deal with issues including breach of contract, interpreting contracts and failure to pay money due and owing, pursuant to the terms of an agreement.

Many contracts today actually include clauses that require the parties to agree to participate in mediation (or arbitration) to resolve disputes. The demand for mediators, therefore, with experience in dealing with contract disputes is significant in many locations across the country. Moreover, some judges now require parties to a contract dispute to submit to mediation before they set cases for trial.

Employment Mediation

Mediators are also in demand in regard to resolving employment and workplace disputes. Employment mediation encompasses everything from wage and salary issues to allegations of discrimination in the workplace.

A growing number of employment contracts includes mediation clauses. These provisions require the parties to attempt to mediate a dispute before pursuing some other type of legal remedy or action. The mediation process actually proves effective in resolving certain employment disputes, allowing the parties to avoid the time and expense of litigation and a trial.

Tags: contract disputes, require parties, issues that, Mediation Mediators, resolve disputes

Find A Job Or An Internship

Searching for a job takes persistance.

If you're looking for an entry-level job, an internship is a good first step in the door of a company. Internships look good on your resume and will give you valuable experience. An internship is a temporary position with a company that gives you the chance to learn a job. Internships can be paid or unpaid, but both types are invaluable to your career. These opportunities won't come to you. There are a number of ways to find internships, so exhaust every avenue possible.

Instructions

1. Get in touch department heads, professors, advisors, and career services employees at your university. There are a number of people on campus who are trained to help you find employment and who know about opportunities for jobs and internships. Many companies get in touch with universities before they post an entry-level position, so this is definitely a resource you want to consider.

2. Check job and internship postings listed for a variety of jobs. When you find one that you are interested in, send an e-mail. Some companies might indicate to send something other than an e-mail. Be sure to do what the company asks. This may mean sending a simple query or a resume. Following directions on apply for the internship might be the first step a company uses to see if you are qualified. Follow directions!

3. Answer many job postings. It really is a numbers game, so you'll want to apply for as many positions as possible. Many companies won't respond, orwill reject your query, so you can't get hung up on one or two.

4. Contact hiring managers at companies that you're interested in, even if no internships are posted. If you contact a hiring manager and let the manager know that you want experience and will work for free, he or she more likely to ask you in for an interview. This way, you are in the work environment of your choice and learning, gaining invaluable experience.

5. Be prepared for the interview process. An impressive resume is a great start, but you'll have to present yourself well in person also. Buy some nice professional attire, practice your answers, and be prepared to sell yourself.

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America'S Best Online Colleges

America's best online colleges offer degree and certificate programs.

Since 2007, the Online Education Database (OEDb) has been publishing a list of America's best online colleges. The database ranks each online college on criteria such as acceptance rate, graduation rate and financial aid. Some of the online colleges that make it on the OEDb list for 2009 also rank in the 2010 "U.S. News & World Report" Best Colleges list. The top five online colleges on OEDb's 2009 list offer students undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs.

Nova Southeastern University

Chartered in 1964, Nova Southeastern University is OEDb's number one online college of 2009. Nova's online college lies within the university's distance-learning program. Students can earn graduate certificates as well as undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees online. The Southern Regional Education Board's Electronic Campus certified 76 of the online degrees the school offers, according to Nova Southeastern University.

Nova Southeastern University

3301 College Avenue

Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Florida 33314

800-541-6682

nova.edu

Regent University

Regent University, established in 1978 by Dr. Pat Robertson, ranks number two on OEDb's 2009 list of top online schools. Regent offers more than 30 undergraduate and seven graduate programs online. As a member of the Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership, this Christian-based university provides online education for naval officers.

Regent University

1000 Regent University Drive

Virginia Beach, VA 23464

757-352-4127

regent.edu

Champlain College

Founded in 1878, Champlain College ranks third on OEDb's top online colleges of 2009 and made it onto the 2010 "U.S. News & World Report" Best Colleges list. Champlain's online learning program offers different levels of education, including accelerated courses that last seven weeks. Online learning students can complete a certificate program, associate's, bachelor's or master's degree.

Champlain College

163 South Willard Street

Burlington, VT 05402

802-860-2700

champlain.edu

Upper Iowa University

Upper Iowa University ranks number four on OEDb's list of best online schools of 2009. The university's online learning offers five certificate programs, 17 majors in undergraduate degree programs and three master's degree programs. Students can enroll in the "two-at-a-time" curriculum, which lasts eight weeks, and enrollment occurs anytime during the year.

Upper Iowa University

605 Washington Street

Fayette, IA 54142

800-553-4150

uiu.edu

LeTourneau University

Founded in 1946 by R.G. LeTourneau, LeTourneau University ranks as the fifth top online college on OEDb's 2009 online college rankings list. The university is recognized by "U.S. News and World Report" as one of "America's Best Colleges," according to Letourneau's website. The online learning program offers students the chance to obtain an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree or a state of Texas teaching certificate.

LeTourneau University - Admissions

P.O. Box 7001

Longview, TX 75607

800-759-8811

letu.edu

Tags: online college, Nova Southeastern, Nova Southeastern University, online colleges, Regent University

Make A Church Budget

Creating a church budget is easy to maintain from year to year. It does take a little time to set up in the beginning, however. You have to compile information from several departments and take a look at over all giving. You need to know a basic budget structure so you can fill in pertinent information. Read on to learn more about make a church budget.

Instructions

1. Open a word processing program on your computer to begin creating a budget. You could do it by hand, but it is much easier to add information in to a budget on the computer as you receive it from various departments. Make sure all departments are aware that they need to submit their expenses to you. Ask each department to let you know if they ever have money left over from year to year or if they are finding that they are in need or more money. This will help you to see if that department should have a larger portion of the budget or if their department could stand a cut in funds.

2. Start off with your obvious expenses. These would be gas, electric, phone, water, sewer, Internet, among others. These expenses will be the ones that won't change or that you must have money for.

3. Continue with expenses for the building and what you think you will need for any repairs during the year. You should always include money for anticipated renovations or unexpected repairs that may occur in the future that you are saving up for.

4. Add in your pastor's salary and any associate pastors you may have on staff. Also include the pastors health plans, housing allotments, pension and traveling expenses. List all other paid workers of the church such as the janitor and the secretary. Most churches also pay organists, choir directors and even some nursery workers.

5. Create a category for supplies. hat would include paper, bulletins, postage, Bibles, Bible Study materials and Sunday School materials--basically anything you would need for you office or the church's classrooms. You can categorize this as office expenses or office supplies.

6. Now you need to add the totals from the various committee's. Some committee's you may have are the evangelism committee, missions committee, children's ministry, benevolence ministry, youth groups, among others. Each group should tell you how much money they feel they would need for the next year.

7. Finish off by adding any miscellaneous expenses. Every church should have a miscellaneous expense for unforeseen items they may need. This category could prevent a church from taking on any debt.

8. Now gather together the records of past giving for a year. Compare that to the totals you have from all of your listed expenses. Is the amount more than the expenses? If so you are in good shape and you can use the budget you created. If your amount is less than the average giving for a one-year period then you are going to have to cut some of your categories until your giving equals your expenses.

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Stepbystep Music Score Analysis

Step-by-Step Music Score Analysis

The study, or analysis, of a musical score is akin to the analysis of a piece of literature. To analyze a music score, you need to look at many elements of the score to determine its worth in the context of your analysis. These elements include structure and key, instrumentation, and lyrical subject matter if any exists. Analyzing musical scores can be an effective way for music students to gain a better understanding of the composition process and how musical elements work together.

Melodic and Harmonic Elements

Look at the key signature of the musical composition you want to analyze. Make notes regarding the use of melody and harmony and how they relate to the key signature. A list of questions such as "Does the composer stay within the written key signature?" and "How does the key play a role in the composition's overall mood?' are important for you analysis. Preparing a list of questions before you begin can help prepare you.

Instrumental Roles

Make notes about the instruments the composition includes. Answer questions such as "Which instruments support the melody and which act as supporting characters?" Look at the role of each instrument in the song composition to see whether the musical parts function as part of the harmonic makeup or if it helps develop the melody. What are the instrument choices? Why did the composer write for those particular instruments? Would alternate instruments have had the same effect? These are all important questions to answer when you do a music score analysis.

Compositional Characteristics

Determine the period of the composition. Decide if the composer wrote to the characteristics of a specific period, such as baroque or classical. Determine if the composer shows influence by Mozart, Bach or other major composers. Make notes about the composer's success or failure in these areas.

Score Analysis Summary

Grade the musical score. Was the piece unified? Grade the effectiveness of the composer's ability to show a a knowledge of modal theory and the range and abilities of the instruments he included in his composition. Determine if the composition was well structured and whether it captured the intended emotions. State whether you feel the overall piece was enjoyable and if it demonstrated the composer's skill in a negative or positive way.

Tags: Make notes, Score Analysis, list questions, Make notes about, Music Score Analysis, musical score

What Student Loan'S Qualify For Bankruptcy

Very few student loans are dischargeable through bankruptcy unless you meet certain qualifying standards of undue financial hardship or have a permanent and total disability. You may claim your student loans in Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings to include them as a part of your debt repayment plan. If you are having trouble making your federal student loan payments, the United States Department of Education has various programs to help you either lower or postpone your payments until your financial situation improves.

Federal Student Loans

You cannot discharge student loans from the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid program through bankruptcy. Federal student loans include Stafford, Perkins, Direct loans, Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) and any loan through the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). Statutes of limitations do not apply to federal student loans. Meaning, you are legally responsible for federal student loan debts as long as you have an outstanding balance.

Private Lender Loans

Private lender student loans are dischargeable through personal bankruptcy. However, to qualify for bankruptcy discharge, the funds from your private lender loans must come directly from the lending institution. The U.S. Department of Education provides funding to many private lender student loan programs. Private lender loans funded through the U.S. Department of Education or those funded through a nonprofit agency do not qualify for bankruptcy discharge. To determine if you have a private lender loan, you need to contact your lender.

Undue Hardship

You may qualify for cancellation of your outstanding student loan balance if you can prove that making your student loan payments would cause undue financial hardship. You must file an undue hardship motion with the bankruptcy court. You must provide proof that making your student loan payments would prevent you from maintaining an adequate and minimum standard of living. You must also provide proof that your current financial situation will remain the same and not improve in the future.

Disability

If you cannot repay your student loans due to a disability, you may qualify for a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge. Your physician must provide certification of your permanent disability and that your disability prevents you from earning an income. U.S. military veterans have additional allowable TPD discharge standards that include service-related injuries. The U.S. Department of Education refers to this type as a Veteran's Disability Discharge. These standards fall under the Veteran's Disability Discharge policy. Veterans must obtain a Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) Rating Decision letter when applying for a Veteran's Disability Discharge.

Tags: student loans, Department Education, student loan, your student, loan payments

Write A Personal Statement For A Biological Phd

Biology students seeking advanced degrees rarely fret over complex equations and formulas, but when asked to write a personal statement in support of their PhD program admission, they may end up staring hopelessly at their computer screen. However, there are guidelines that can help you compose a statement that will impress the admissions committee and increase your odds of gaining admission into the biology program of your choice.

Instructions

1. Call the biology departments at the universities where you want to apply and request guidelines for personal statement writing or ask for tips. Analyze each school's requirements to determine whether you can use your own format for drafting the essay or whether you must respond to specific questions posed by the PhD committee. Understanding what the graduate school's biology department wants in a personal statement is key to writing one that's on target.

2. Ask friends and family to help you make a list of the reasons you would make a great PhD candidate in biology. They will likely recall unique experiences and honors that you might be too modest to include. Think about and make notes about biologists who have influenced and mentored you because they saw in you something unique.

3. Outline your statement. Tailor each statement to the individual biology departments based on what you learned in Step 1.

4. Expand your statement by describing extracurricular activities you've volunteered to undertake in pursuit of your future career. For example, volunteering at a day camp to teach youngsters about indigenous frogs or helping inner-city kids tackle rudimentary biology projects they might never have been exposed to at their schools shows the committee you're dedicated to the field and take seriously your responsibility for being a role model.

5. Describe experiences that will show the PhD committee what kind of person you have become during your undergraduate years. Losing a year of college to help care for a dying grandparent or taking on a low-paying job with the local parks and recreation department to help pay some of your tuition shows you're serious about being an active participant in your education and distinguishes you as an ethical, caring person who possesses strength of character. Such explanations can help turn what could be seen as a negative situation (dropping out of school for a year) into a positive one.

6. Find ways to pair your biological interests and experiences with facilities, faculties, specialties and unique geographic regions of the schools to which you're applying. For example, if marine biology is your passion, explain why a Florida or California institution has exactly the type of academic environment you require to get the best training for your future aspirations. Use the name of the school frequently in the essay. The more you align your goals with each school, the more convincing your personal statement will be.

7. Make sure your opening and closing paragraphs are strong and powerful and eliminate any fluff so it doesn't appear that you're using filler in place of meaningful history.

8. Double-check spelling and punctuation, then ask a friend or relative with good proofing skills to read it. Errors will certainly take away from the quality of your essay.

Tags: biology departments, each school, personal statement, personal statement, personal statement writing, statement writing

Set Up A Residence In North Carolina

Establishing North Carolina residence is not difficult, but it requires time.

If you are interested in attending college in North Carolina, applying for state scholarships and grants or if you would like to pursue a certain job opportunity in North Carolina, chances are you will need to set up residence in the state. You would also need to set up or verify residence if you plan to apply for certain programs or benefits offered in the state of North Carolina. Setting up residence in North Carolina is virtually the same process as setting up residence in any other state. It does take some time to establish residency, but it involves basic tasks any resident can complete.

Instructions

1. A North Carolina home address is key to setting up a residence.

Establish a home address in the state of North Carolina. A North Carolina home address will serve as an important basis for all other actions you take to set up residency. Sign a lease on an apartment or other long-term rental home in the state, or purchase a home in North Carolina, if possible. You may also use the address of a family member or friend if you will be staying in the home for at least part of the year.

2. Phone, cable or electric should be in your name for residence.

Set up at least one home utility in your name. If you rent an apartment or purchase a home you can expect to receive utility bills for electric and gas from Duke Energy, Dominion North Carolina Power, EnergyUnited or other North Carolina energy co-op. Keep recent copies of these items in addition to bills for water and sewer or property taxes so you can show proof of your home address in the state of North Carolina. If you plan to live with someone else, request permission to have your own Bellsouth, Windstream North Carolina or CenturyLink telephone line installed, or offer to have one of the utility bills transferred to your name so you can help set up residence.

3. Car registration is often used to check residence.

Register your car with the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Visit the local DMV where you reside or plan to reside, and request the correct paperwork to legally register your car in North Carolina. Update your driver's license with the state of North Carolina as well. You will need to show proof of your North Carolina residence such as a home utility bill or other mail sent to a North Carolina address.

4. Update the addresses on all of your legal paperwork.

Change your identification paperwork to reflect your new address in North Carolina. If you do not have a driver's license or social security card, contact the immigration department or US passport office to change the address on your passport or visa. You can also update a student identification card to show you are a resident of the state of North Carolina.

5. You may need to wait several months to establish residence.

Send change of address forms to all of your banks and financial institutions, your insurance company and cell phone provider. Maintain at least six months of utility bills, paycheck stubs or other documentation showing your address in the state of North Carolina. If you are asked to show proof of North Carolina residence, most organizations want to see at least six months to one year of residency.

Tags: North Carolina, state North, state North Carolina, home address, address state

Doctorate Of Nursing Education

After earning a doctorate in nursing education, you can teach others become a nurse.

A doctorate degree in nursing education is one type of specialty degree offered at some nursing schools. This is a degree program for those who would like to teach others become nurses. Most students who pursue this route are already nurses and may already be teaching nursing students and want to teach at a higher level. Future jobs can be at colleges or technical schools with nursing programs. Typical courses include curriculum planning, teaching strategies and sometimes apprenticeship programs working with nurse teachers.

Curriculum

Earning a doctorate degree in nursing education requires students to take courses that will prepare them to educate future nurses. Some basic courses that students are expected to complete include classes on ethics, biostatistics, research and technology. There also are courses in education, leadership, faculty roles, evaluating effectiveness of educational programs and strategies.

Job Possibilities

After completing the degree program, nurses with Doctor of Nursing Education degrees can teach undergraduate students as well as students in master's and doctoral courses. They can also teach new practices to nurses who are furthering their education.

Nurse educators have solid job security because the nursing field is growing, according to AllNursingSchools.com, and with that comes a demand for more teachers. There also are opportunities for nurse educators to conduct research while teaching classes.

Salary

Once education is completed, professionals with this degree earn a median of between $84,743 and $114,705, according to Salary.com. In most cases, nurse educators earn much more than nurses with bachelor's degrees, on par with other nurses with advanced degrees.

Universities

Fewer than 20 universities offer doctorate programs in nursing education in the United States. However, there are degree programs online as well as in most regions of the country. There are universities in Florida, California, the Midwest and East Coast that have this program.

In most cases, the program takes 90 credit hours, which can be completed in three years for students attending classes full-time. Students can apply for admission into the programs after completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Normally, admission applications are due in late winter or early spring for a summer admissions. Applications are commonly evaluated on prior experience, references, grade point averages, entrance exams and interviews.

Alternate Certification

Nurses who want to become nurse educators do not always need to get a doctorate in nursing education. Instead, they may pursue a master's degree or doctorate in a specialized nursing field and then apply for their teaching license. This is how most nursing educators started their teaching careers. Now, universities also offer the specialized doctoral degree for educators.

Tags: nursing education, nurse educators, nurses with, become nurse, courses that, degree nursing, degree nursing education

Federal Grants For Dui Related Programs

Federal grants are the primary source for funding DUI-related Programs.

The task of addressing the social cost of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is the responsibility of state and local law enforcement, prosecutors and courts. Various programs are used to address DUI-related issues, ranging from sobriety checkpoints to alcohol and drug treatment programs. State and local jurisdictions look to federal grant money for funding, which, in many cases, is the primary source of funding. Federal grants are provided in block form, funds that can be used for any law enforcement purpose, including DUI-related, and competitive grants intended specifically for DUI-related programs.

Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program

The leading source of federal funding to support state and local law enforcement activities is the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program, or JAG. This is a block grant program that is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice through its Bureau of Justice Assistance office. Each fiscal year, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) calculates the minimum allocation of JAG funds for every eligible jurisdiction based on a formula set by Congress. These funds are used to support a wide-range of law enforcement activities involving public education, crime prevention and prosecution. All state and locally run DUI-related programs, such as sobriety checkpoints and DUI-offender schools, can be funded using the JAG grant.

Grants for Adult Drug Courts

The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, which is a division of the Department of Health & Human Services, administers grant programs that are designed to improve the quality and availability of treatment and rehabilitative services regarding substance abuse, including those that are DUI-related. The grants administered by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are competitive grants that require eligible applicants to submit grant requests for review and possible funding. With regard to DUI-related programs, SAMHSA grants are available to fund substance abuse treatment programs through the court system, such as DUI-related education programs that convicted offenders can be ordered to attend and complete.

Federal Highway Funds

Another source of federal grants related to state DUI activity is through the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The general mission of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is writing and enforcing highway safety standards throughout the country. Part of NHTSA's efforts includes administering grants to the states for use in supporting safety-related enforcement activities. Any state can qualify for an increase in grant funds by meeting or exceeding NHTSA safety standards in such areas as DUI-related accidents. For example, under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), states are eligible for NHTSA grants if the alcohol-related fatality rates in the state are less than 0.5 for every 100,000,000 vehicle miles traveled. These grants can be used for any DUI-related program, such as public education campaigns, sobriety checkpoints and court-mandated treatment programs.

Tags: Justice Assistance, enforcement activities, sobriety checkpoints, treatment programs, Abuse Mental, Abuse Mental Health, Assistance Grant

Financial Grants For Cosmetology School

Unlike student loans, grants and scholarships do not have to be repaid.

You're more than ready to pick up some shears and get to work, but the hefty expense of tuition may be holding you back from enrolling in cosmetology school. Don't worry: there is financial aid waiting for you. Both the federal government and the beauty industry provide grants and scholarships to fuel the cost of beauty school so you can keep focused on what matters most: your education.

ACE Grant

The Access to Cosmetology Education (ACE) Grant is the first major industry-wide attempt to aid aspiring cosmetologists with obtaining an education. It is sponsored by three organizations: the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) (aacs.affiniscape.com), the Cosmetology Advancement Foundation (CAF) (cosmetology.org), and the Beauty and Barber Supply Institute (BBSI). To be eligible, you must be planning to attend a school that accepts ACE grants (see list in Resources). You must also be a high school graduate or have a GED, and you must not have started cosmetology school yet. An individual can only obtain the grant once, when starting out at a cosmetology school. The amount varies depending on the school you attend; however, it will not cover the full cost of tuition.

Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship

The Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship (joefrancis.com) is award based on both your financial need and academic aptitude. To receive this grant, you must fill out an application that includes an essay explaining why you need the grant and what your cosmetology goals are. Unlike the ACE grant, both new and current college students may obtain this grant. If awarded, you will receive $1,000 to help pay for tuition only. The application period is between January 1st and June 1st of each year.

American Health and Beauty Aids Institute Scholarships (AHBAI)

The AHBAI Scholarship is awarded to cosmetology students who are already in school. To be eligible, you must have completed at least 300 hours of cosmetology school and have a cumulative average of at least 85 percent. When you apply, the AHBAI Institute (ahbai.org) will also consider your involvement in extracurricular activities, community service and your overall performance at school. If you win, you will receive $250 toward your education.

Federal Grants

The Federal government awards grants to students on both the basis of financial need and merit (studentaid.ed.gov). The main grant, the Pell Grant, serves low-income students and awards up to $5,550 per award year. You must be enrolled in school at least half-time and you cannot have already earned previous bachelor's or professional degrees. Other federal grants you may be able to obtain include the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) for students living in extreme poverty, the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) for students who completed honors or advanced programs in high school, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant for students whose parents or guardians died in service after September 11, 2001. Have yourself screened for eligibility for all of these grants by applying for federal aid online (see Resources).

Tags: cosmetology school, eligible must, financial need, Francis Haircare, Francis Haircare Scholarship

Psychology Doctoral Programs Online

Probing the brain for problems is a concern for clinical psychologists.

Online doctoral degrees in psychology vary in emphasis, from general studies to clinical psychology counseling programs. Online degrees are increasing in popularity and in number due to the increased need for students to continue to work to maintain family obligations while going to school. A Ph.D. in psychology from an accredited online college or university can give you the flexibility you need to complete a degree while helping you get ahead in the job market.

Walden University

One online university offering doctoral degrees in the field of psychology is Walden University. Walden University is an online university that has been growing in stature over the last several years as Internet courses have increased in prevalence. Walden University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Board of Education.

Doctoral degrees offered by Walden include a Ph.D. in psychology. Students have the option to pursue one of several areas of emphasis. All doctoral programs at Walden combine both theory and practice within the curriculum so that students have the opportunity to receive hands-on training while learning the theoretical aspects of the discipline. Ph.D. specializations include general psychology, organizational psychology, health psychology, clinical psychology, general research evaluation, counseling psychology and general educational psychology.

Walden University

155 Fifth Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55401

866-492-5336

waldenu.edu

Capella University

Capella University is another leading online institution of higher learning. Offering a wide array of degree programs, Capella University has an extensive online doctoral psychology program. Also accredited by the North Central Association, Capella offers two different doctoral degrees in psychology, the Ph.D. and the Psy.D.

The Psy.D. program at Capella is in the field of clinical psychology and prepares students for careers in psychotherapy, psychopathology and research. Ph.D. psychology programs include general psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, educational psychology and counselor education and supervision.

Capella University

225 South Sixth Street, 9th Floor

Minneapolis, MN 55402

888-227-2736

capella.edu

Northcentral University

Northcentral University in Prescott Valley, Arizona, also offers online doctoral programs in the field of psychology. The School of Behavioral and Health Sciences at Northcentral offers Ph.D. degrees in the areas of psychology with emphases in general psychology, gender studies, health psychology and industrial and organizational psychology. Related Ph.D. fields include those in marriage and family therapy such as the general family therapy specialization or others such as couple therapy, child and adolescent therapy, medical family therapy and therapy with military families. Northcentral is also accredited by the North Central Association.

Northcentral University

10000 East University Drive

Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

866-776-0331

ncu.edu

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Grants For Cosmetology

Cosmetology is an ever-popular field. Whether it's a hair style for a wedding, makeup application for a special occasion, a facial for skin health or a pedicure for a relaxing moment, cosmetology services are in constant demand. If you are interested in entering this field or furthering your involvement, you will be happy to know numerous grants are offered in the area of cosmetology.

Schools

The first place for cosmetology students to look for grants is at their own schools. Many beauty schools offer scholarships to students based on need and merit. For instance, Fullerton College in California offers two scholarships for cosmetology students: the Shirley Juell Memorial Cosmetology Scholarship and Elena Stock Scholarship. Check with your school to see if there are scholarships available.

National

There are also a few scholarships given nationally to cosmetology students. The American Asssociation of Cosmetology Schools, or AACS, offers a number of scholarships to students around the country. Most of these are funded by product manufacturers and are awarded to students attending schools that are members of AACS.

Specialties

The AACS and National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers, Distributors and Associations, or NCEA, offer a $1,000 grant for esthetician students attending AASC member schools. If you have a specialty within the cosmetology field, look for grants particular to that interest.

Salons

After a cosmetology education, there is sometimes a need for grants for salons. Although there are not a lot of startup funds for businesses, there are emergency funds. The Salon and Spa Relief Fund provides grants to salons impacted by hurricanes.

Considerations

As with all grants, it's important to look at all the options. Don't limit yourself to cosmetology if possible. Look into government or private grants for students of all fields. Consider grants specifically for women or specifically for men. If you are getting a business degree to start your own salon, research grants for business majors.

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