Social disorders inhibit a student's ability to interact with classmates and teachers effectively.
Attending college is stressful enough, let alone if you are suffering from a social disability, such as generalized social anxiety. Although common, social disabilities are often unrecognized. A person who suffers from a social disability can experience high levels of fear and anxiety when placed in a classroom. This can lead to panic attacks and cause the person to avoid going to class. Many schools have disability clinics with trained professionals to help students with social disabilities cope with academic life.
Instructions
1. Meet with a doctor to have your social disability clinically diagnosed. Your doctor will help you decide a method of treatment that can lessen the impact of your disorder. Possible treatments include stress-relieving tactics and medication. Once you have been diagnosed with a disability, such as anxiety disorder, your school's disability clinic will be able to offer assistance.
2. Contact your school's disability clinic to find out what services they offer. Once you meet with your disability counselor and are accepted, staff at the clinic will set out a plan to help you complete your college semester. They can provide any special school supplies you might need, or even offer you with special treatment for writing tests and exams. Your disability counselor's job is to help you obtain a college degree, while minimizing the stress placed on you as a result of your disorder.
3. Inform your teachers of your disability, if you feel comfortable doing so. By keeping your teachers informed, they will be able to gear the course load in your favor. For example, if you have social anxieties that prevent you from making oral presentations, your teachers might arrange for you to complete an alternate assignment. The more your teachers knows, the more they will be able to help you as a student.
4. Meet regularly with your counselor to track your progress and help you deal with any pitfalls you might encounter along the way. If you are having problems with a specific teacher's course, or with students, talk to your disability counselor to find out how the situation can be resolved.
5. Switch your enrollment to part-time status if you feel the workload and constant interaction with classmates and teachers are still too much for you to handle. Consider lessening your course load. Although it will take you longer to complete your program, you will have fewer courses to stress about in one semester.
6. Apply for college bursaries and grants that offer money to students with disabilities. There are many programs designed specifically to help students pay for their college education.Talk to your financial aid services center to find out what grants you are eligible for.
Tags: your teachers, disability counselor, will able, classmates teachers, clinic will, complete your
Make a list of your debt starting with the lowest balances first.
Whether your loan is a mortgage, student loan, car loan or personal loan, freeing yourself from debt can be liberating. It's especially important to pay off high interest loans quickly, the only caveat is if there are steep penalties for early repayment, as is the case with some mortgages. If you put your mind to it and make some lifestyle changes, you can pay off loans quickly, leaving you with more money to spend on the things that really matter.
Instructions
1. Stop spending. Obviously, you need to pay your bills and buy food, but in order to have extra money to pay off your loans, you will need to tighten the purse strings. Give yourself a weekly or monthly budget for non-essentials like a latte at the coffee shop or a lunch out and stick to your budget. Once that money is gone, stop buying anything that isn't necessary for that month or week.
2. Pay the smallest balances first. This is called the "debt snowball" technique. Start by paying the minimums on all of your debt and loans, then pay as much as you can extra on the loan with the lowest balance. This loan will be paid off first, giving you a sense of accomplishment and freeing up more money that you can pay toward the next loan with the lowest balance.
3. Pay more than the minimums. In order to pay off loans and debt faster, you will need to pay off more than just the minimum. If you are scraping by as it is, you will need to find a way to make more money to put toward your debt.
4. Increase your income. Take a second job, work overtime or hold a garage sale; do anything that you can to increase your monthly income. Use this extra income solely to pay on your loans. If you only make $100 more a week, that's $100 a week off the principal of your loan balance. It adds up over time and saves you interest charges.
5. Borrow money. Perhaps you can borrow money from a friend or family member, allowing you to pay off your loan and then make payments without (or with less) interest. You may also be able to borrow against your 401k at work, your life insurance policy or your home equity. Make sure the benefits of paying off your loan early outweigh the detriment of taking on more debt.
Tags: your loan, more money, will need, with lowest, your debt, anything that
Some courses assign textbooks that go largely unused.
It goes without saying that students welcome anything that can help relieve some of the stress on their limited budgets. If you are an university student who will have to spend hundreds of dollars on buying new textbooks, there are enormous savings if you are willing to settle for used copies. Furthermore, you may even be able to get free copies of your textbooks and other course materials if you are willing to exercise a little creativity. Although you will never be able to get all of your textbooks for free, each dollar saved is a dollar that could go towards better things.
Instructions
1. Check with your university's library to see if they circulate any copies of the textbooks on your curriculum. If there are no copies available, see if the library offers any inter-library services and check with those services if copies are available with the library's partners. Place holds to check out copies if they are not immediately available.
2. Check with the library to see if they have any copies of the desired textbooks for in-library use. You might need to compete for limited copies with many people, but you might also use the chance to talk them into a group study session.
3. See if you can find and download a legitimate copy of the textbook or course materials online. There are many websites out there that specialize in offering free books on a wide range of topics. For example, if you need a copy of "Beowulf" for an English literature class, you don't need to buy a copy when you can download a copy from Project Gutenburg.
4. See if you can find copies of articles already published in academic journals if your course materials include anthologies. Your tuition probably already pays for free access to a number of academic databases containing hundreds of thousands of publications. Get a librarian to help you if you don't know access these services.
5. See if you can convince one of your friends to gift or lend you the textbooks if they have already finished the course. Even if you can't get the textbooks for free, this is a good way to get a discount on used textbooks. Some universities might even have established networks to facilitate such exchanges between students. Take advantage whenever and wherever possible.
Prepare for the United States citizenship test by studying key documents along with the country's history and government structure. Employ strategies as you would for any other test. It's a good idea to start studying for the exam right after you apply for citizenship.
Instructions
1. Set up a study plan. Once you have filed the INS-400 application form for citizenship, you should know when your test date is. Allow yourself enough time to fill in any information gaps, get some help, if necessary, and to review.
2. Understand the topics. Review items such as government structure, history, the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, your responsibilities as a citizen and your basic rights. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website has all this information.
3. Find a non-profit adult education center near you. Some community adult education centers have courses, preparation materials and sample quizzes or tests on paper or on their websites.
4. Immerse yourself in the news. Watching television, listening to the radio and reading newspapers help you understand more about the federal government, state governments and civics in general. It also helps improve language skills, if you need more practice in that area.
5. Take sample tests. There are practice questions on the USCIS website and practice tests available through citizenship courses or available online.
6. Use flash cards or quick questions and answers pulled from study materials. The USCIS website has downloadable flash cards. You also can order the flash cards by phone. Have a friend or family member quiz you frequently.
Tags: flash cards, USCIS website, adult education, government structure, United States
Upload files to your Dropbox account from any computer.
If you have ever lost important files because of a hard drive failure or if you have forgotten an important presentation file because you couldn't find your thumb drive, you know the importance of backups. Dropbox provides file-backup services for your desktop to deal with these scenarios by automatically backing up your files. It also grants online access to your files when you are away from your desktop. In addition, the service features the option to directly upload your files to the site.
Instructions
1. Log in to the Dropbox account using your username and password.
2. Select the "Upload" link from the navigation bar. A pop-over box will appear with options to select the files you want to upload.
3. Select the "Choose files" link. Navigate to find the files you want to upload. Click "Open." Dropbox allows you to upload one or more files up to a download limit of how much available file space you have on your account.
4. Select the "Start Upload" button. Alternatively, if you use the Dropbox desktop application, you can drag or copy files to your "My Dropbox" folder.
Tags: your files, Dropbox account, files want, files want upload, files your, files your Dropbox
A properly formatted and engaging resume makes the transition from the classroom into the workplace much easier. New graduates, often having little or no relevant job experience, may be at a loss of build their resume. Considering that the skills necessary for academic success frequently coincide with "preferred qualifications," a new graduate only needs to learn transfer their college or high-school history into relevant skills and experience.
Resume Sections
The three most common resume sections are education, skills and experience. Recent graduates, who may not have enough related work experience, should showcase their skills and education. The education section includes the name of the institution from which you graduated, date of graduation, degree achieved, dates of attendance, and location. Dates of attendance will be written as a range; month and year enrolled to the month and year graduated. If you have a high GPA, or graduated with honors, include this information as well. If you graduated from one college and are currently enrolled in another program (such as graduate or professional school), list the institutions according to relevancy. Also, add an expected date of graduation and use "present" instead of date graduated when filling out dates of attendance. When including information about classes and campus clubs, always list full names and course titles instead of acronyms and course numbers. Refer to relevant coursework and use bullet points to describe applicable aspects of the class.
The skills section is most important when your work experience is not related, or if you have little or no work history. First, identify all of your transferable skills; these are skills that are useful in a wide array of industries. Transferable skills include: written and verbal communication, numerical (math and data entry), sales, problem-solving, leadership, analytical, computer (typing speed, Internet and software), time-management (punctuality and the ability to meet deadlines) and networking. Specificity is key; each skill should be supported with an example of how you learned or executed the action. For example, written/verbal communication may be supported by writing papers, class presentations, jobs with a high level of customer service (cashier or sales associate) and campus club activities. Second, skills are listed as bullets with a colon separating the skill title with its support (Software: Advanced Microsoft Word, Outlook and PowerPoint; Proficiency in Excel; Skilled in Picasa and photo editing). Last, when listing your skills, rank them according to relevancy. Job descriptions often have a list of qualifications desired; list your skills in the order the employer used.
The experience section includes any employment and volunteer history. All positions should be listed in reverse chronological order and include: your title, company's name, dates of employment, and location. This section may also be split into "relevant experience" and "other experience".
Tailoring
Gathering all of your experience, skills and education in one document is a useful step in the resume process. When applying for individual positions, however, each resume submitted should be tailored to fit the job description. Recruiters spend an average of 30 seconds to one minute on each resume; your resume should be easily scanned and full of keywords. Keywords are the skills and experiences listed in the "qualifications preferred/necessary" section of a job posting. Avoiding long sentences and paragraphs allows prospective employers to quickly read your resume. Using job-specific keywords will catch their attention. In addition, many companies use software to scan resumes; more keywords you use in your resume means increased chances of an interview. Ensure that all of your phrases begin with an actionable verb.
Tags: your resume, according relevancy, date graduation, dates attendance, each resume, into relevant
College dorms are notoriously small and difficult to decorate, especially when you're sharing space with a roommate. Whether you're living in a dorm or a small apartment, if you're a college student it's likely you need some quick, creative solutions for improvise a few pieces of furniture. Read on to learn more.
Instructions
1. Optimize existing furniture pieces by doubling up on function. Use your dresser or a chest of drawers to hold your TV, get a small cushioned block for both storage and an ottoman, or get a chest of drawers to use for storage and as a coffee table.
2. Select large, inexpensive shelving for books or electronics. You can get a lot of storage space on a budget with large, cheap shelves. Dress them up with some fabric draped behind them as a backdrop to match your room.
3. Use crates for storage, shelving and as an emergency table or chair. Crates can be stacked as shelves or turned upside down and used as a table. You can drape a small square of fabric over it as a table cloth or just leave it natural.
4. See what you can get at yard sales and in the classified ads. People often give away furniture when they move, and you may find certain pieces of furniture that you can use. You can even use furniture for unconventional uses, like using a simple table as a desk, a desk hutch for floor shelving or a bar stool as a plant stand.
5. Alter any pieces of furniture fit your room with paint or fabric. You can change furniture to fit your decor by covering it with fabric or painting parts of it to fit the color scheme of your room. Unrelated items can quickly become a matching set.
Tags: pieces furniture, your room, chest drawers, furniture your
College summer internship programs are a fast track to a well-rounded education. Internship programs allow students to work side by side with professionals to experience real-world applications of their favored degree topic. Check with the human resources department of any medium- to large-size corporation for detailed information on summer programs.
Nike Corporate Internships
Nike offers a paid internship that includes other employee benefits like access to its world-class gym facility and discounts at its stores. Internships are part of a 10-week program with options for U.S. and international locations. Applicants can request a general or design internship. Design internships require the submission of a portfolio. Internships are offered in just about every department for both undergraduates and graduate students. Applications are filled out by signing up for a free job search account at the Nike website.
Nike World Headquarters
1 Bowerman Drive
Beaverton, OR 97005
503-671-6453
nikebiz.com/careers/internships
Genentech Internships
College internship programs with biotechnology giant Genentech offer paid positions for 10 to 12 weeks. Genentech actively recruits interns at college campuses across the U.S. each semester. Applicants also can apply through the company's online postings. Internships usually are available in the following departments: engineering, law, medicine, science, business and computer science. Students receive hands-on experience and work side by side with professionals. Interns may be considered for full-time work, depending upon available positions. Genentech targets students with the following degrees: B.S., M.S., M.B.A., Ph.D. and J.D.
Genentech
1 DNA Way
South San Francisco, CA 94080
650-225-1000
gene.com/gene/careers/university/internships/
Southwest Airlines Internships
Southwest Airlines provides real-world experience through its college internship program. Interns are treated like any other employee and are included in a list of impressive opportunities such as writing for the in-flight magazine "Spirit," assisting with photo shoots for ad campaigns or helping with marketing strategies. Tell Southwest what you are interested in and they will find a department that fits you. Internships are paid and benefits include free travel during the internship to anywhere Southwest flies. Internships take place at Southwest's headquarters in Dallas, Texas.
Southwest Airlines
P.O. Box 36647 -- 1CR
Dallas, TX 75235
214-792-4000
southwest.com/careers/internships
Tags: Southwest Airlines, careers internships, other employee, side side, side side with
An economics degree can prove financially rewarding for recent graduates.
For a college major that is intellectually stimulating, opens doors to a wide range of career options and holds the potential for a strong starting salary, economics is hard to beat. The American Economic Association and "The Wall Street Journal" both reported that economics majors, on average, earn higher starting salaries than majors in many other fields, including many business concentrations.
Average Salary
In a 2008 survey of starting salaries by academic major, "The Wall Street Journal" reported thateconomics majors earned an average starting salary of $50,100 a year. The survey revealed that economics majors earned higher starting salaries than majors in the other social sciences, such as political science, anthropology, sociology and psychology. Starting salaries in these fields ranged from $35,900 a year for psychology majors to nearly $41,000 a year for graduates with political science degrees.
Economics vs. Business Majors
The Journal also reported that economics majors, on average, have higher starting salaries than business majors. Compared to the average starting salary of $50,100 a year for economics degree recipients, starting salaries for majors in accounting, finance and business management averaged $46,000, $47,900 and $43,000 a year, respectively. Although it is not occupation-specific, a degree program in economics provides the intellectual base for a successful business career. The problem-solving and analytical skills taught in economics courses apply to many jobs in business, according to the American Economic Association.
Ranking
In a 2007 study of starting salaries by academic major, the American Economic Association reported that economics ranked fifth highest, trailing engineering and computer science majors, but exceeding business and other social science majors.
Potential
In addition to a strong starting salary, an economics degree provides excellent preparation for graduate-level study, leading to even greater career opportunities in a variety of fields. The American Economic Association reported that a bachelor's degree in economics prepares students for master of business administration (MBA) studies, law school and graduate studies in economics.
Tags: reported that, that economics, American Economic, American Economic Association, Economic Association, economics majors
To manage a medical front office effectively, whether a small practice or large clinic, comprehensive, clear procedures must be developed and implemented that address necessary tasks and responsibilities. Office procedures should highlight various employees' duties, such as describing what receptionists should do when the office opens and closes. You should understand how the medical office works to tailor procedures appropriately.
Basics
Office procedures should convey interact with clients. Relevant topics include standard client greetings (e.g., in person and over the phone), the management disgruntled or angry clients, client confidentiality (e.g., HIPAA regulations) as well as appointment setting and notification. Strong customer service skills are required for most medical office employees. Thus, the procedures should distinguish "good" from "inadequate" customer service. Standard procedures in the event of an emergency or natural disaster, like a fire or flood, are needed. Create a separate employee handbook to discuss policies about dress code, attendance, sexual harassment, payroll, vacation and benefits.
Records
A successful medical office manages its patient records efficiently. Backup procedures should be mandatory for paperless offices (e.g., with patient information stored online or on a computer program). The front office manual needs to explain create, update and store client records. The manual also should include procedures about make records inactive, such as when patients move. Another important aspect involves physician calendars. For instance, by scheduling two patients each hour, a physician might have 20 to 30 minutes of free time. The procedures should explain schedule an appropriate number of patients on an hourly and daily basis. Procedures also might depict a standard way of assigning exam rooms.
Billing
Front medical office procedures should detail collect payment from patients. If a patient uses insurance, the procedures should explain what information is needed to verify the insurance and to collect a co-payment, if needed. The procedures should explain whether to obtain payment before or after the visit when a patient is paying out of pocket. Also, describe the necessary steps to get timely reimbursement of insurance claims. For instance, explain who will code or identify medical procedures for patient records as well as billing. Procedures should specify handle past due accounts, such as those that remain outstanding for 6 months or 1 year.
Tags: procedures should, medical office, procedures should, procedures should explain, should explain, customer service, front office
Landscape architecture, also referred to as horticultural or landscape management, addresses the physical design of outdoor spaces. Landscape architects plan and build attractive and functional public places that serve both people and the environment. Several schools offer degree or certificate programs in landscape architecture and horticultural management through a flexible online distance education format.
Texas Tech University College
Texas Tech University College offers a graduate certificate program in horticultural landscape management online. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and submit a statement of interest. Coursework includes arboriculture, weed science, pesticides, herbicides, nursery management, plant nutrients, soil science and the administration of landscape architecture. A Bachelor of Science in Horticultural and Turfgrass Sciences and a Master of Science in Horticulture are also offered online.
Texas Tech University College
605 Indiana Ave
Lubbock, TX 79409-2191
800-692-6877
depts..ttu.edu
Penn Foster Career School
Penn Foster Career School offers a diploma program in landscaping through online, self-paced home study. Coursework includes plant biology and health, soil science, fertilizers and pest management, tools and equipment, horticulture, and landscape design. This program may be completed within six months of part-time study. Penn Foster Career School is licensed by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools.
Penn Foster Career School
925 Oak Street
Scranton, PA 18515
570-961-4033
pennfoster.edu
Ashworth College
Ashworth College offers a career diploma in landscape design that prepares students for employment opportunities with landscaping companies, garden centers and nurseries, golf courses, and public gardens. Coursework includes site analysis and design, plant selection, graphic techniques, irrigation, xeriscaping, maintenance and business management. Ashworth College is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).
Ashworth College
430 Technology Parkway
Norcross, GA 30092
800-957-5412
ashworthcollege.edu
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
The University of Massachusetts at Amherst offers an online certificate in urban landscape and garden development that focuses on sustainable design within both public and private urban settings. Coursework includes urban landscape design, plant materials, soil science, water management, open spaces, renewable energy, project management and community gardens. A practical internship is also required.
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
200 Commonwealth Avenue
Amherst, MA 01003
413-545-0111
umass.edu
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University offers an online graduate certificate program in horticulture science. Applicants must hold a baccalaureate level degree with a major in horticulture, crop or plant science, or a related subject. The program's curriculum is designed by the student in conjunction with a faculty advisor. Course options include nursery and greenhouse production, crop management, permaculture design, viticulture, breeding methods, weed management and ornamental horticulture.
North Carolina State University
920 Main Campus Drive
Raleigh, NC 27695-7113
919-515-9030
ncsu.edu
Tags: Ashworth College, Career School, Coursework includes, Foster Career, Foster Career School, Penn Foster
The military services offer the Student Loan Repayment Program as an incentive to many service members when they enlist or re-enlist. It can be difficult to take advantage of the program, however, because of the extensive paperwork and the eligibility requirements. But you can get the funds to pay off federal student loans if you follow the correct procedures.
Instructions
1. Determine if you are eligible for the program. The SLRP is an incentive given to individuals enlisting or re-enlisting in the Army or Army Reserve. In return for a three-year commitment, the military will repay up to $65,000 of your college loans. If the program isn't offered and accepted by you as a part of your contract, however, you can't add it on later. To check if you have it, review your enlistment or re-enlistment contract. If you have it, there will be an attached addendum stating that it was included.
2. See if your loans are eligible. The SLRP can only be used to repay student loans from the federal government, not third-party loans. Remember that receiving a government loan through a third party (like a bank) is different than receiving a separate loan (like a collegiate loan) directly from the bank. Generally, the SLRP covers subsidized Stafford loans and unsubsidized Stafford loans. Fortunately, these are usually the first loans offered to you as a student, and are likely the loans you have.
3. Check the date of the loan disbursement and the date of your military contract. You must be serving in good standing to receive SLRP. You must also meet two further criteria: You must have been serving for one year and your loan must be at least one year old. You must submit for SLRP each year of your service.
4. Go online to access Army paperwork to apply for the funding. To begin, navigate to the Army Web-Enabled Education Benefit System (see Resources) and log in. Navigate to the "My student loan repayment" portion.
5. Print out DD 2475, which is the primary form for SLRP (see Resources). This form has three portions, the first of which is filled out by your unit administrator confirming that you are a service member in good standing. The second is filled out by you, containing your personal information.
6. Fill in your loan information in the third section of the form. Here it is helpful to have the master promissory notes for each of your loans. Record your account number and be sure to mark which loan this is from your total number of loans. For example, this is the second of 11 loans. Finally, fill out the address of the holder of the loan and mail both the form and a copy of the master promissory note.
Tags: eligible SLRP, good standing, Loan Repayment, Loan Repayment Program, master promissory, Repayment Program
Obtaining a higher education is a very expensive endeavor.
According to finaid.org, 65.6 percent of graduating college seniors in 2007-2008 had at least some student-loan debt. The average amount of student loan debt was $23,186. Graduate students often borrow even more, with average student loan debt ranging from $30,000 to over $100,000. With so many students graduating with student loan debt, it is important to understand the laws surrounding student loan debts.
Loan Forgiveness
The federal government has programs provided for in the U.S. Code that will forgive student debt, in whole or in part, under certain specific circumstances. Individuals who engage in public service, including military service or programs such as AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps, are eligible for loan forgiveness. The federal government loan forgiveness program forgives debt after 10 years of public service. Any remaining principle and interest are often forgiven under the terms of this program after 120 payments have been made. There is also a loan forgiveness program for teachers and those who become doctors or lawyers in the public service sector.
Deferment and Forbearance
It is legal for both public and private loan providers to postpone loan payments in specific circumstances. According to the AAMC, loans issued by certain providers such as the federal government automatically defer repayment until six months after a student’s date of graduation; however, other loan providers start issuing invoices for payment immediately. Additionally, loans can be deferred or placed in forbearance in the event of extraordinary circumstances in which an individual is not able to make payments. These temporary solutions are much better for an individual’s credit than if the loan was to go into default. During forbearance your loan provider simply allows you to stop making payments for a set amount of time. During this time, the amount of your loan grows, as interest nor principle is being paid. During deferment, your loan provider gives you permission to stop paying for your loan, and the government pays your interest for a set amount of time.
Future Employment
Some employers, including some branches of the federal government, pay back student debt for their employees as a retention or recruitment incentive. U.S. law, 5 USC 5379, specifically allows agencies of the government to set up student loan repayment programs for employees, and many businesses in the private sector have followed suit. In the federal government, the agency is not allowed to pay more than $60,000 toward an employee’s student loans.
Tags: federal government, student loan, your loan, loan debt, loan forgiveness, public service
Applying for financial aid can oftentimes seem like a daunting and complicated task, especially when filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is the cornerstone of most financial aid programs. Without properly understanding this document and how it relates to overall income, thousands of dollars of grants and scholarship may be overlooked.
Non-taxable Requirements
In order for the scholarship proceeds to be considered non-taxable, they must meet certain eligibility requirements to be considered a qualified expense. First and foremost, the student must be in a degree program and attend an accredited educational institute. Expenses must be used to cover tuition, fees and books in order to be considered qualified. Room and board, travel expenses, research and clerical assistance are not considered qualifying expenses.
Calculating the Taxable Portion
To determine the taxable portion of the scholarship, first calculate the entire amount received from all scholarships, grants and fellowships. Subtract the amount that the scholarship requires to be used on non-qualifying expenses. Then subtract the amount spent on qualified expenses. The remainder is the taxable amount of the scholarship proceeds.
Pell and Fullbright Grants
Both Fullbright and Pell grants are treated as scholarships and therefore must meet the qualifications to be considered non-taxable. This principle holds true for all other grants, regardless of need.
Service Academies
Payment received as a cadet at any of the nation's service academies is not considered a fellowship or a scholarship. This is considered income for personal services and is reportable income.
Veterans Benefits
Educational and training payments received through the Department of Veteran Affairs are not considered taxable income and should not be included in annual tax returns. That being said, these benefits may reduce the payments received through other need-based programs.
Tags: considered non-taxable, considered qualified, must meet, payments received, payments received through, received through
Students of American Indian descent can get financial help for college tuition.
American Indians who apply to college have access to several excellent forms of tuition assistance that are uniquely available to them. Tuition waivers, grants and scholarships can help students who are members or descendents of American Indian tribes. Waivers eliminate a student's tuition obligation; grants are cash awards that can be applied toward tuition; scholarships are often private, competitive awards based on merit or that have very specific qualifying criteria.
Tuition Waivers for In-State Students
Some states waive tuition for resident American Indian students who enroll in an in-state college or university, with some requiring students to be members of a tribe within that state. For example, California, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oklahoma, Utah and Washington offer waivers to American Indian college students and residents. Massachusetts offers the waiver to state residents who are members of a historical state area tribe; in Michigan, students must be members of a Michigan tribe. In Maine, a student must be in a tribe or have a parent or grandparent in a tribe, and the waiver also covers room and board.
Waivers Without Reference to State Residency
Some universities offer tuition waivers to Native American students regardless of their state residency. Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., for example, offers waivers to students who are 1/4 American Indian or who are in a federally recognized tribe, or directly descend from a tribe member who lived on an Indian reservation prior to June 1, 1934. Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas offers waivers to those who can document 1/4 or more tribal ancestry. Some North Dakota universities offer "diversity tuition waivers" to American Indian students.
Scholarships
There were over 50 scholarship programs available in 2011 to help promising college students of American Indian descent. Each program has specific deadlines and eligibility criteria, including tribal affiliation, need and special talents or academic achievement. For example, the Minnesota Bois Forte Scholarship provides $5,000 awards to students accepted into a Minnesota or out-of-state post-secondary school, who are members of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwa. The Truman D. Pickard scholarship awards $2,000 to students with academic merit and financial need who are in a federally recognized tribe or Native Alaska corporation and intend to pursue studies in natural resources. The Native American Journalist Association provides $500 to $5,000 per year to a promising student of journalism enrolled in a federally recognized tribe.
Grants
Certain grant programs specifically help Native American college students, such as the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs Higher Education Grant program, and those that are more widely available to college students that American Indian students can apply for, such as the Federal Pell Grant Program. The BIA grant is available to students who are a member or at least 1/4 descendent of an American Indian tribe that is eligible for BIA programs and services and who are admitted to a nationally accredited higher-education institution leading to an associate's or bachelor's degree. Students must also demonstrate financial need. Pell grants are federal grants generally available based on financial need to students accepted for admission to post-secondary institutions.
Tags: American Indian, college students, American Indian students, federally recognized, federally recognized tribe, financial need, Indian students
The requirements for teacher certification differ from state to state, but there are fast track options for teacher certification in every state. According to a 1985-2008 study conducted by the National Center For Alternative Education, the state that consistently certified the most teachers through alternative routes was Texas. Other states that use alternative certification frequently are California, Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey. Three common types of fast track certification programs are four or five year programs, emergency certification, and associate licensure.
Four and Five Year Programs
Four and five year teaching programs offer students a bachelor's degree in education and a teaching certificate. These programs tend to be faster than earning a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in teaching. In addition to passing academic courses, students must also pass their state's basic skills exam in order to receive a license.
Emergency Certification
In some situations school districts need teachers quickly and will fast track employees for certification. Often people who receive emergency certification are teachers who need to be endorsed in a particular subject area quickly. In some states, teachers in training are contracted teachers for their time student teaching. The details of emergency certification by state can be found at the website of the National Center For Alternative Certification.
Associate License for Paraprofessionals
Several states provide accelerated teaching certification opportunities for paraprofessionals. Because paraeducators often have years of classroom experience, they are sometimes offered the option of becoming certified while enrolled in an undergraduate program. Paraeducators who are bilingual will have an advantage in many states.
Tags: emergency certification, bachelor degree, Center Alternative, fast track, National Center, National Center Alternative
Online classes are a convenient way for an individual to earn her degree. There are many assignments, quizzes and papers that your professor might give to you through a designated platform like Blackboard. With Blackboard at your disposal, you can easily maintain your online classes.
Instructions
1. Get your login information from your school. Each school has its own Blackboard log in gateway and information. Typically, you should be given all of this soon after you sign up for classes, but there might be an error that wasn't caught.
2. After logging in, make sure all of your classes appear. They might only be available the day before your classes start. If, by that time, you do not see all of your classes, contact your school.
3. Spend 30 minutes or more getting used to Blackboard. If you are new to this platform, it may take some getting used to. Explore the many features that Blackboard has available to you. Don't forget to search through your classes to see what your professors have put there.
4. Check to see the posts that your professors have included with each class. These will appear often and you can see them by clicking on each individual class or by viewing your Blackboard homepage.
5. Download important documents. Your professor should post a syllabus, at the very least. Other information that should be downloaded are notes, slides shows, lectures and rubrics. If there is a download available for you within the class' Blackboard pages, you should look at it. If it's important, download it or print it out.
6. Use the calendar. There is a calendar on Blackboard that many students forget about. You don't have to buy a planner, you can just use the calendar that is provided for you. It should be visible on your Blackboard homepage. Pull up your syllabus from each class and start marking important due dates on your calendar.
7. If you must find your professor's email address, use the email feature on Blackboard. You don't have to log in to your email account to send emails. In many situations, you cannot receive emails through Blackboard though.
8. Participate in the discussion boards. Discussion boards are used in place of class conversations. It's like an active way to participate in class. You will get assignments that require you to post a certain amount of original threads or responses to your classmate's threads.
Tags: your classes, Blackboard homepage, each class, getting used, professors have, that your
UST has taken a number of tasks that used to be book based and made them electonically accessible.
UST e-Leap is the University of Santo Tomas e-Learning Access Program. It is part of the Blackboard Academic Suite located at Blackboard.com. The e-Leap system was designed to allow for current, active students to participate in e-Learning opportunities from the University. As might be expected, because of the nature of the information within this system, you need a current username and password for access to its' courses.
Instructions
Resetting a UST e-Leap Password
1. On Friday, December 3, 2010 all UST student passwords for the UST e-Leap site were reset. This is a standard process that occurs before the start of every semester. What this means is that all students who have registered for the upcoming semester at UST must reset their e-Leap password.
2. All registered UST students will receive new passwords for the second semester of the 2010-2011 academic year. Students can find their registration information and current password on their invoice form.
3. If a student enrolled at UST after November 18, 2010 -- or if they were not enrolled at UST during the previous semester -- they should stop at the e-Leap Technical Support Desk located at the UST EdTech center to reset their password. The EdTech desk is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7p.m.
4. Students who can not get to the EdTech center, can ask a professor to reset their current e-Leap password.
The muscular system is responsible for the body's movement. It consists of 206 bones, along with joints, ligaments and cartilage. The muscles promote movement within the body and its various functions to work and perform. Teaching children about how this system works and the importance of keeping bones strong may be imperative to a child's health. Demonstrating to children what to eat and care properly for their bodies may provide greater benefits over just a simple explanation.
Instructions
1. Explain to children about muscles in the body. There are two kinds of muscles. Voluntary muscles are those muscles that people intentionally use on a daily basis such as when walking, running or even reaching out and picking up a spoon. Involuntary muscles work to help carry on the body's daily functions without a person consciously trying to make them move. An example of an involuntary muscle is the heart beating.
2. Describe how muscles work in pairs. While one muscle contracts, the other muscles relaxes. A contracting muscle bunches up, whereas a relaxed muscle thins and lengthens. This process is how movement occurs. The muscles work when chemical impulses and nerves inside of the muscle carry a message back and forth to the brain. Each time a muscle warms up, it is burning energy.
3. Teach preschool children about the muscular system through exercise. Young children are often on the go, jumping and running from one place to another; therefore, exercise in most cases is not a problem. Show the children the tone and strength of the muscles as an exercise is done. Explain that daily exercise and good nutrition will help keep muscles healthy. The more you exercise, the greater a muscle will strengthen and become more toned.
4. Help school-aged children appreciate their bodies and muscular system. Inform them how the muscles in the body burn food energy while working. This process of burning energy creates the wastes that are carried out of the body. A child's body may also get weary and sore from playing too hard. Talk about warm baths and a how a massage may help ease the soreness from the muscles.
5. Explain why older children and teens require so much food. Their bodies are growing and in need of proper nutrition to continue the muscles' growth. Teens may become lazy and want to relax on the couch. Encourage that teen to get outside and accomplish some sort of physical exercise. Proper movement and exercise may help promote the teen's muscular growth.
Tags: children about, muscles work, burning energy, muscles body, muscular system, Teach Children, This process
Starting college early is a great way to expand your educational horizons.
Some students feel that classes are not challenging enough in the latter years of high school, and these bright young minds could benefit from greater academic stimulation. When this situation occurs, early enrollment in a community college or university is a good option. Although the requirements for early enrollment in college vary from state to state, all states have some form of program to aid students who desire to get started with their college careers early.
Instructions
1. Talk to your guidance counselor to find out what requirements and regulations there are for starting college early in your state of residence. Discuss options for nearby colleges at which you can take courses early. Ask for the application packets and other materials you need to get started. Request copies of your high school transcripts from your guidance counselor at your appointment as well.
2. Call your county or parish's Board of Education and ask if successful completion of college coursework while still enrolled in high school will substitute for a portion of high school coursework. Ask if your state offers any kind of testing to shave time off your high school requirements as well. Register for the test(s) and take them if your state participates in such a program.
3. Begin your concurrent enrollment in college. Complete your coursework successfully with a passing grade. Follow up by informing your high school that you have passed your college courses and allow time for your high school administrators to apply the credit to your high school transcripts. Meet with your high school guidance counselor once again to determine how much time you have cut from your high school requirements.
4. Graduate from your high school early. Have administrators send your completed high school transcript and copies of your diploma to the college you have been attending. Register for a normal course load beginning with the next regular semester and start attending your college classes early.
Tags: high school, your high, your high school, from your, guidance counselor, your state, college early
You may need a copy of your high school transcript to apply for college.
High school transcripts are an important document, and misplacing your transcript can be frustrating. If you attended high school in Maryland, you may need a copy of your transcript for various reasons. Whether you're transferring schools, applying for college, filling out applications for scholarships or student loans, the state of Maryland makes it easy to obtain a copy of your records. Some schools may charge a fee for the copy of your transcript, and individual fees vary by school.
Instructions
1. Launch the Internet browser on your computer and go to "marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/schoolsystems".
2. Click the name of the school system that corresponds with the school you attended. From the school district page, locate and click on the "Schools" link, and then choose "High School".
3. Click the name of the school you attended to see contact information for your school.
4. Call your former high school and ask to be transferred to the student records department. Request a copy of your transcript. The student records department for your school will provide you with information about fees, if applicable.
Tags: copy your, your transcript, copy your transcript, high school, Click name
Most highly ranked marketing graduate programs are at business schools.
Master's degrees in marketing are often concentrated degree options within Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) programs; therefore, someone who is looking for graduate programs in marketing should look most closely at business schools. Top business schools are scattered around the country, from Harvard University on the east coast to Stanford University on the west coast; however, in terms of marketing specifically, the most highly ranked degree programs are at Northwestern University, the University of Pennsylvania and Duke University.
Northwestern University: Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern University's top-ranked Kellogg School of Management offers students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in marketing M.B.A.s through both one- and two-year programs. The school, which opened in 1908, prides itself on offering a consistently rotating selection of elective courses, in addition to a traditional business school core curriculum. At Kellogg, students can major in the highly regarded marketing or marketing management concentrations by choosing most of their electives in those departments, though the school states that marketing management is best for those who see a clear future in marketing specifically, while marketing can lead to more varied options upon graduation.
Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern University
2001 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208
847-491-3308
kellogg.northwestern.edu
University of Pennsylvania: Wharton School
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania prides itself on its well-known rigor and emphasis on interdisciplinary coursework. With more than 250 faculty members and 18 majors at Wharton, including marketing and marketing and operations management, graduate students who wish to concentrate in marketing have an array of courses to choose from, and the school encourages students to major in one or two different specialty areas. Wharton states that marketing majors will be prepared to enter into consulting, entertainment, advertising and general management careers.
Wharton School
University of Pennsylvania
420 Jon M. Huntsman Hall
3730 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-898-6183
wharton.upenn/mba/
Duke University: Fuqua School of Business
The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University provides its graduates with the fundamentals to build a successful career, with the strength of a global perspective. Marketing is one of 12 possible concentrations that Fuqua students can choose from and is consistently ranked highly by the "U.S. News and World Report" list of graduate business marketing specialty programs. Additionally, Fuqua students can complete their M.B.A. (with a concentration in marketing) within one-and-a-half to two years, depending on which program they pursue (the Daytime M.B.A., the Cross Continent M.B.A., the Weekend Executive M.B.A., etc.).
Fuqua School of Business
Duke University
1 Towerview Drive
Durham, NC 27708
919-660-7705
fuqua.duke.edu
Tags: Duke University, Northwestern University, University Pennsylvania, business schools, Fuqua School, Fuqua School Business
Stenographers are also known as court reporters. They're required to take notes verbatim of conversations and speeches, such as in a courtroom setting. Because most people talk faster than they write, stenographers take notes in shorthand.
Definition
A stenographer transcribes dictation in shorthand, e.g., in a courtroom trial. Stenographers are usually employed in courtrooms. Stenographers can also be used in other settings such as meetings and conferences.
Word Origin
The prefix "steno" means "narrow" or "small" and the suffix "graph" means to write or record.
Function
Stenographers often use machines called stenographs to take notes. Stenographs are similar to typewriters, but are especially designed for taking shorthand notes. Some also use voice-captioning software to do their job.
Education
Depending on the type of stenography, a professional stenographer can expect to spend at least one year in school. On average, it takes 33 months to become a real-time court reporter.
Wages
As of May 2008, stenographers earned $49,710 on average.
Tags: take notes, Stenographers also, Stenographers often
Do you dream of graduating from a top law school? Of being courted
by the most prestigious firms even before you get your J.D.? Sounds
great, but there's no guarantee you'll be happy at one of these schools.
Before you jump in, study the culture to see whether you truly want to
attend an Ivy League or comparable school. If you do, apply early, stay
on top of the paperwork and show what a valuable asset you'll be.
Instructions
1. Attend a college that successfully feeds students into the top law schools (see 150 Get Into a Top College or University). The best bet is to get your undergraduate degree at Harvard, Yale or Princeton, but other colleges are devising ways to make their students attractive to top graduate schools. Pomona College in California, for instance, has upped its success by helping students with interviews, letters of recommendation and more.
2. Strive for a 3.5 or above grade point average (GPA). Be aware that a 4.0 at one school may not be comparable to a 4.0 at a less-competitive school. Admissions directors look at the level of your coursework, too. Major in English/literature, philosophy, history or political science/government. Be able to write well.
3. Take a good look at the law schools you think you want to attend. Harvard, for instance, has a premier reputation and just about guarantees you a big firm job, but will you like the large classes, busy faculty and fellow students? Find out all about highly ranked law schools in America's Best Graduate Schools from U.S. News & World Report (www.usnews.com).
4. Understand that good grades aren't enough--you need to ace the Law School Admission Test (LSAT.com). Look into LSAT preparation courses (which can cost upward of $1,000) on Web sites such as PrincetonReview.com and Kaplan.com, and take practice tests. Be aware that effective studying for the LSAT usually takes at least 50 hours. See 151 Ace the College Admissions Tests and 157 Prepare for the Bar Exam for study tips.
5. Take the exam in June or October of the year before you plan to enter law school. In theory, the LSAT is a consistent measure for an admissions officer to compare all applicants with each other. Scores range from a low of 120 to a high of 180. You'll want to score 164 or above to stay in the running. (The national average is about 152.)
6. Register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS), which will compile a report about you and send it to any law school you want. The LSDAS report includes your official test scores, transcripts and recommendations, and it's a requirement at nearly every law school approved by the American Bar Association (abanet.org).
7. Request applications from the law schools you want to attend-- you can often download them from the schools' Web sites. To make it easier, start a Web account with LSDAS or buy its CDROM so you can electronically access the application of nearly any law school you can imagine.
8. Get all your ducks in a row and submit your application early. By the end of summer, request transcripts and line up letters of recommendation, which you'll need to send to LSDAS. Ask the people who recommend you to be specific about what makes you a great candidate and how you stand out from other students (see 152 Organize Your College Applications).
9. Apply by November of the year before you want enter law school. This is especially important at schools such as Harvard that have rolling admissions. They make a decision on each application as it comes in, and the class starts to fill up as the months go by.
Tags: aware that, enter school, from schools, letters recommendation, want attend, year before
A scholarship can help you to be able to afford college.
Scholarships have long been given to students who exhibit strong academic backgrounds, as well as those who have other positive traits to offer. The Internet allows students to earn scholarship money online, both by filling out traditional scholarship applications online and entering to win others with scholarship points. A scholarship or two can mean the difference between having to attend a small community college versus being able to attend the college of your choice.
Instructions
1. Go to scholarshippoints.com. Here, you will be able to earn points and use them to enter to win various scholarships. Sign up and enter all the required information to open a free account. Complete activities presented on the site. Each activity will give you a code that gives you the points you need to enter drawings. Make note of each code. Sign into scholarshippoints.com and click on the "Redeem Bonus Codes" page. Enter each code one at a time to earn your points. Go to the "Enter Scholarships" page and select the scholarships you are interested in winning. Each point acts as a raffle ticket for that scholarship. Enter as many points into each scholarship as you would like.
2. Visit scholarships.com. This website allows users to search available scholarships for the right fit for you. Click on "Search for Scholarships." Enter the required information, including your grade level, birth date, zip code and email address. Choose a password so you can return to your search in the future. Once your account is created, the website asks for further information to narrow down your search. Fill in the required fields, such as your address, name and grade point average and fill in any other additional details you wish to on each page. Click "Continue" after each page. Evaluate each scholarship option and visit the websites that appeal to you for application information.
3. Go to scholarshipexperts.com. Fill in your information on the left side of the screen to create an account. Click "Next Step." Fill in all the required information and any of the optional information you would like considered in your search. Evaluate the list of scholarships that match your profile. Choose the ones you would like to apply for and follow the directions for each to apply.
Tags: required information, would like, your search, each code, each page, each scholarship, Fill required
You can make money grow faster through mutual funds compared to other kinds of investments. The key is to select the mutual funds that fit your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. The process isn't difficult, but it does requires attention to detail. Follow these steps to make money grow faster through mutual funds.
Instructions
1. Take a look at where your money is now. If it is sitting in a bank checking, savings or money market account, then it is probably only earning a tiny bit of interest. If it is in certificates of deposit or bonds, then it may be making a tiny bit more, but your money may also be tied up for a set period of time. Mutual funds can make your money grow faster than these kinds of investments.
2. Decide how much you want to invest. Understand that you are putting this money at greater risk and hoping that it will grow faster through mutual funds. Only invest money that you don't need for several years.
3. Calculate your time horizon. Will you need this money in 3 years or 30? Is it for retirement or an upcoming purchase? The longer the time horizon, the more aggressive your investment can be.
4. Understand how mutual funds work. Mutual fund companies invest in a variety of stocks, bonds, cash and other products, then sell shares to investors. Different mutual funds have different proportions of each. Some invest entirely in blue chip company stocks, some take a balanced approach, and some focus on sectors like technology, small companies or foreign stocks. Chances are there is a mutual fund that fits your investing profile.
5. Find mutual funds that suit your needs. The most popular mutual fund companies are no-load. That means they don't charge a fee to buy or sell their products. No-load mutual fund companies include Fidelity, Vanguard and T. Rowe Price. All of them sell a wide variety of mutual funds and will advise you on which may be best for you. They fully disclose which mutual funds are higher and lower risk investments. You can view all their products online at their websites (see Resources below).
6. Open an account with the mutual fund company of your choice. You can do this online or through the mail. Select which mutual funds you want to invest in and send them a check. Sit back and watch your money perform.
Tags: mutual funds, grow faster, mutual fund, mutual funds, your money, faster through mutual, fund companies
International students can still study in the United States. "America's welcome mat is still out," for students who wish to come to the United States to continue their education, says the U.S. State Department. Because of heightened security and new regulations, the process takes longer and can be confusing. Complete each required step and you will be joining the incoming freshman class at a U.S. college or university.
Instructions
Get Admitted to a College or University
1. Select five to 10 schools that fit your interests and your financial situation. You can get advice from the Peterson's or the Princeton Review websites. Request or download the admissions packet for international students.
2. Choose a credential service based on the school's recommendation or get a referral from the embassy.
3. Pay to send your transcripts to an academic credential evaluation service. They will forward them directly to your selected schools in America when they are finished. You should also request an unofficial copy for your records.
4. Take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT) exam. Each school will inform you which test they prefer for applicants.
5. Register to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test or obtain alternate certification of your English proficiency. The exam is normally mandatory for students from non-English speaking countries and non-native English speakers, regardless of country of residence.
6. Identify and apply for scholarships and fellowships available to international students.
7. Submit financial statements to prove your family's ability to cover all of your education and living expenses for at least one academic year. This form will be sent to you after you have been admitted. It must be signed by your parent or guardian, if you are not independent.
Get an International Student Visa
8. Contact the closest Education USA office in your country or region to get more detail about application requirements and the process in your country.
9. Apply for the F-1 student visa at the United States embassy or consulate office that serves your country. Choose one school before you apply for the visa. You will need the Form I-20 that your selected college in America sent you.
10. Assemble all other required student visa application documents.
11. Make an appointment for a visa interview at the closest U.S. embassy. Contact the embassy as soon as you receive the I-20. Appointment wait times vary by country and by season.
12. Arrive on time for your student visa interview. Bring all requested documents with you. The embassy will let you know soon after if your visa was approved.
Tags: United States, your country, student visa, that your, visa interview, your selected
Math is challenging for almost everyone, no matter your age-so it's no wonder so many kids struggle with math. Sometimes it's difficult just to maintain the focus to help your kids with their math homework! It's no surprise that so many people look for ways to make math fun and easy for kids at any age. Whether it's addition, multiplication, division, or fractions, these steps will help you make math easy for kids.
Instructions
1. Know what they're learning. To make math fun for kids at any age you need to understand exactly what they're going through. The easiest way to do that is to learn the math yourself. After all, if you're kids ask you for help and you simply tell them "I was never very good at math," you're not going to be much help. In order for you to make math fun for kids, you need to understand it yourself and be able to explain it. Take a look at their math text, spend a few minutes reading it, and then you'll be much better prepared to make math fun for kids.
2. Show them the Shortcuts. As almost any math student will tell you, there's a hard way to do things and an easy way-given the choice who would take the hard way? Look for ways to reduce the numbers, or simplify the algebra to make the math easier. It will be easier to make math fun for kids if it's simple enough that they can understand. Often times there's just something complex and foreign about the math problems, so if you break it down for them and show them a simple way to solve the problem, they will be much more likely to enjoy math. Making the problems as easy as possible will help you make math fun for kids at any age.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice. You've showed your kids the easy way to do the problems, now let them have a go at it. The easiest way to get better and truly learn the math is to practice it. Once your kids understand the math, it won't be such a terrible thing to do math homework. Before you can make math fun for kids at any age you need to give them plenty of practice. Don't stop at one or two math problems. Give them 5-10 problems to make sure they really understand it. Come back after a few days and do a few more problems to review and really make sure they understand the topic. They may not be excited to do the problems at first, but once they understand it, the math will be fun for kids of any age.
4. Review. Now that you've learned do the problems you need to review to keep the information fresh. To make math fun for kids at any age, you need to remember what you've learned in the past. After all, math tends to build upon itself so it's crucial that you remember what you've learned.
Tags: make math, math kids, kids need, make math kids, math kids need
Anyone interested in attending law school must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT.) How you score on the LSAT impacts your selection of law schools and your future earning potential as an attorney. Here are some guidelines to help you survive the LSATs.
Instructions
1. Attend one of the many preparatory classes offered online or in a classroom setting to help you survive the LSAT. These courses will expose you to the various concepts found on the LSAT.
2. Search the Internet for local preparatory courses and study guides, especially those that include sample LSATs.
3. Brush up on the rules of logical reasoning and common logical fallacies to get ready for the logical reasoning portion of the test.
4. Learn read actively and extrapolate the essential points to survive the LSAT's reading comprehension segment. You will be successful by using only the information that is given.
5. Complete the analytical reasoning portion by reading and grasping the conditions that mark the relationships in the "game" or question. One way to do this is by illustrating relationships via a diagram.
6. Organize your ideas in an outline prior to beginning your writing sample. This will give your essay clarity and help you determine if you have adequate information to support your position.
7. Concentrate on answering every test question since your score includes only on correct answers. Incorrect responses don't affect your score.
8. Avoid using your own knowledge and experience when answering test questions. Instead, surviving the LSAT calls for using the information provided within the questions.
9. Focus more on why answers are incorrect rather than correct. Eliminate as many choices as possible to increase your chances of selecting the correct answer.
10. Practice taking previous LSATs. Taking the entire test (rather than individual sections) as if it was the real thing will help you survive the LSAT.
11. Stay calm and relaxed on test day. This is paramount to surviving the LSAT.
Tags: help survive, survive LSAT, help survive LSAT, logical reasoning, rather than, reasoning portion
A wealthy college is less likely to care about your financial aid status.
On every college application, there's that one question sure to give parents pause: Will the applicant apply for financial aid? If you say yes, does that mean a cash-strapped university may deny your child's admission in favor of students who can pay their own way? On the other hand, if you say no, are you foreclosing on financial assistance you may need in an era of skyrocketing admissions? Simply put: Does applying for financial aid impact whether you'll be accepted? The answer to that, as with many aspects of the college admissions process, is somewhat opaque, and depends on the type of school to which your child is applying.
Wealthy Schools
Elite, wealthy schools often attract students whose parents don't need financial assistance, but almost all still have student-aid budgets to spend, which means that their admissions offices aren't likely to discriminate against those who need grants to pay tuition. Thus, these schools can truly afford to be what's called "need-blind" in their admissions, and checking the financial aid box on the application likely won't hurt your prospects --- after all, many of these schools are looking to attract at least some degree of socioeconomic diversity.
Admissions Ratios
Many universities claim to be need-blind, but in practice this isn't always the case. One criterion that factors into how colleges are ranked is the admissions ratio --- or the proportion of students who are admitted to a university who choose to actually enroll there. So for colleges worried about moving up in ranking, admitting more students than they can support with limited financial aid budgets would be counterproductive, as this would diminish those proportions. If a student declines a school's admissions offer because the school doesn't offer any financial aid, in other words, it makes the school look bad in collegiate rankings, so these students are sometimes rejected instead.
Schools that Factor Need into Admissions
Very few universities admit to factoring financial assistance into admissions, though some do. The Chronicle of Higher Education, for instance, in 2010 quoted the vice president of admissions, financial aid and enrollment at Union College in New York as admitting that, at least at the margins, his school does take aid into account. It measures the need of its applicants against its available funds to ensure each of its needy enrollees can get at least some assistance. So at Union, checking "yes" on the application's financial aid form may, in fact, hurt your chances at admissions --- at least compared to a similarly qualified student who doesn't need the school's help.
Tell the Truth
It's hard, if not impossible, to know how your answer to the financial aid question will affect your child's application. That's because it's not always clear to what degree schools consider financial aid requests. It doesn't hurt to ask: Call the admissions office and see if it will tell you how it factors in financial aid. Regardless of the answer, or whether you believe it, the best advice is simply to tell the truth. If you need aid, say yes. If not, say no. Saying no shouldn't preclude you from access to merit-based scholarships or government-backed loans.
Tags: financial assistance, your child, hurt your, least some, their admissions, these schools
Flying RC helicopter is really very exhilarating. Their versatility gives a RC pilot a complete access to the three-dimensional space in such a way that no other machines can! I have played RC helicopter for more than one year but still find that I have just learnt a few tricks that it can perform.
There are generally two micro-helicopters ( indoor ) in the RC market. I have already planned to buy one of them as they can fly inside the living room and even take off on ours hand. Unlike those operated by gas, these electric helicopters are very clean and give out no terrible noise at all. In one nightfall, I visited a web site, which is about make a hand made RC helicopter. I was totally impressed and started designing my own helicopter. Here is my helicopter:
The plan of the helicopter had finally been completed. It is not very well drew. The current plan available is only for the fixed pitch design. Please click the above photo for the plan.
Instructions
1. Making the main body
The material that I use to make the main body of the helicopter would make you feel surprise. It is the circuit board ( after removing the copper layer ) that purchased from electronic shops. It is made of a kind of fiber which gives abnormal strength to it. (1)
2. The circuit board is cut to the rectangular shape as above( 98mm*12mm). As you can see, there is a hole on it which is used to house the main shaft holding tube as below: (2)
3. The main shaft holding tube is made from a white plastic tube (5.4mm*6.8mm) and two bearing (3*6) are installed at both ends of the tube. Of course, the ending of the tube are first enlarged in order to house the bearing firmly.
Up to now, the basic structure of the helicopter is completed. The next step is to install the gear as well as the motor. You can take a look at the specification first. The gear I used is from Tamiya gear set that I bought long long time ago. I drill some hole on the gear in order to make it lighter and have a better look.. (3)
4. Would you think it is just too simple? Well, it is really a very simple design as the tail rotor is powered by a separate motor. This eliminates the needs not to construct a complicated power transfer unit from the main motor to the tail. The tail boom is simply fixed on the main body by 2 screws together with some epoxy adhesive:(4)
5. For the landing gear, 2mm carbon robs are used. Totally 4 holes are drilled on the main body ( each end 2 holes ).(5)
6. All the robs are glued together by instant glue first and then by epoxy adhesive.
The skid set is made from balsa. They are very light and can be shaped easily. (6)
7. Making the Swashplate
Swashplate is the most sophisticated part of a RC helicopter. It seems to be a simple unit of a factory one. However, it is a whole new thing of making one by yourself. Here is my design based on my own little knowledge about the swashplate. What you need includes:(7)
1 ball bearing ( 8*12)
1 plastic spacer (8*12)
rod end set ( for holding of the aluminum ball in the swashplate )
aluminum ball ( from ball linkage set 3*5.8 )
aluminum ring
epoxy adhesive
8. The rod end set has first been cut into a round shape. It is then inserted into the plastic spacer as shown below:
Make sure that the aluminum ball placed in the rod end can be moved freely. 2 holes were drilled on the plastic spacer in order to house two screws that used to hold the ball linkage.(8)
9. The back of the swashplate (9)
10. In my design, the swashplate is fixed on the main shaft. This is simply done by applying some glue between the aluminum ball and the shaft (10)
11. # be careful when applying epoxy to this tiny unit or you would get every part being glued together.(11)
My instructions are too confusing? Here is my draft of the swashplate which might help you. I still find that my design is a little bit too complex. If you have a better design, please let me know!
12. Making the rotor head
For the rotor head, I choose the same material as the main body - the circuit board. First of all, I have to claim that the rotor head must be sturdy enough to withstand any vibration or it could be very dangerous.
The control system I used here is the Hiller system. In this simple control system, the cyclic controls are transmitted from the servos to the flybar only and the main blade cyclic pitch is controlled by the flybar tilt only.(12)
13. The first step is to make the middle part:
It is actually a 3mm collar which can be fit into the main shaft. A 1.6mm bar is inserted horizontally into the collar. The above unit makes the rotor head movable in one direction.(13)
14. There are two holes just above the collar which is used to, as you can see, house the flybar. All the parts that I used was first fixed together by instant glue. They are then fixed firmly by tiny screws (1mm*4mm) as shown below.(14)
15. In addition, I add epoxy adhesive. The rotor head will spinning at very high speed. Never overlook the potential for causing injury this little machine has if anything got loose. Safety is paramount! (15)
16. Making the cyclic control system
As I mentioned before, the Hiller control system is used in my design. All the cyclic controls are transmitted to the flybar directly. (16)
17.There is a metal bar ironed perpendicularly to the flybar. It holds the metal ball of the ball link in position. Here is how the ball link is made: (17)
18. The rob ends are shortened and a metal bar is used to connected them together. the metal bar should be inserted deep into the rob ends and fixed with epoxy adhesive.(18)
19. In addition to the ball link, an "H" shaped anti-rotating unit is a must for the control system. It helps to keep the ball link in position. The materials needed are showed in the above photo.(19)
20. In order to stop the lower part of the swashplate from moving, an anti-rotation unit is also needed here. It is simple a small board with two pins inserted on it.(20)
21. Making the tail rotor
The tail rotor consists of a motor, tail blades, tail shaft holding tube and a blade holder. The tail control is managed by changing the RPM of the tail motor. The drawback of this kind of control system is its sluggish response as the rotor pitch is fixed. However, it makes the whole design much more simpler and reduces a lot of weight.
In an ordinary R/C helicopter, the gyro work together with the tail servo. However, in this design, the gyro has to work together with the ESC (electronic speed controller). Will this work??? At the beginning, I try this with an ordinary gyro ( the large one for the gas helicopter). The result is really bad that the RPM of the tail rotor changes from time to time despite the helicopter is standing on the table. I buy a micro-gyro later which is specially designed for small electric helicopters and to my surprise this works great.(21)
22. Here is the measurement of the tail blade. It can be shaped easily from a 2mm thick balsa. the tail blades make an angle of ~9°on the blade holder (22)
23. The photo shows all the things that the tail part consists. The two balsa blades are hold by a hardwood holder which helps to give a fixed tail pitch. It is then secured on the gearwheel by 2 screws. The motor is simply glued on the tail boom by epoxy adhesive and the tail shaft holding tube with the same way on the motor.
The tail blade is made of balsa. They are covered with heat shrink tube in order to reduce the friction between the blade and the air.
The pitch and the weight of the two blades must be exactly the same. Tests must be performed to ensure that no vibration occur.(23)
24. Installing the servo
Only two servos are used in my design. One is for the elevator and the other one is for aileron. In my design, the aileron servo is installed between the motor and the main shift holding tube. In this way, the tube has made use of the sturdy plastic case of the servo as one of its supporting medium.
25. This arrangement gives extra strength to the main shift holding tube as one side of the servo is glued to the motor while the other side is glued to the tube. However, the mobility of the servo as well as the motor is lost.(24)
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In order to make the whole structure sturdier, an additional support is added to the main shift holding tube. It is also made from circuit board with some holes drill on it.
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Electronic Components
Receiver
The receiver I use is GWS R-4p 4 channel receiver. Originally, it is used with micro crystal. However, I can't find one which fit with my TX's band. So, I give my try to use the large one from my RX. It eventually works great and no problems have occurred up to now. As you can see in the above picture, it's really big when compared with the micro receiver. The receiver is only 3.8g ( extremely light weight ) which is very suitable for indoor helicopter.
#Although the receiver has only four channels, it can be modified to a five channel RX. (25)
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The tail Esc
Here you can see the speed controller that is used in my helicopter. It is placed at the bottom of the gyro (see the photo below). Woo!! Really small size with only 0.7g. It is a JMP-7 Esc that I bought from eheli. I really can't buy one from local hobby shops here in Hong Kong. Also, this tiny Esc works great with the gyro. I just simply connect the signal output of the gyro to the signal input of the Esc. (26)
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The micro-gyro
This perfect micro-gyro is made by GWS. It is temporarily the lightest gyro that I can find in the world. Unlike the previous GWS gyro that I used in my gas helicopter, it is very stable and the center point is very accurate. If you plan to buy a micro gyro, it would certainly be a good choice for you! (27)
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The tail motor
The motors in the above photo are 5v DC motor, micro DC 4.5-0.6, and micro DC 1.3-0.02 ( from left to right ) In my first attempt, the micro4.6-0.6 is used. The motor burns out quickly ( or I should say that the plastic component in the motor melts) as the power demand of the tail rotor is much larger than that I expected. At the moment, the 5v motor is being used in my helicopter which is still in very good condition.
The current tail motor is a 16g GWS motor which provide much more power. For more information, please go to the page "flybarless CP modification II" (28)
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The main ESC:
?
The first photo shown above is a Jeti 050 5A brushed electronic speed controller. It was used to control the speed 300 motor in my helicopter before. As the speed 300 motor is now replaced by a CD-Rom brushless motor, the Jeti 050 had been replaced by a Castle Creation Phoenix 10 brushless ESC. (29)
The following diagram shows how the components are connected to each other. The connections at the receiver is not in order. The GWS R-4p is originally a 4-channel Rx. It is modified in order to provide an extra channel for the pitch servo.
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In a fixed pitch design, only 2 servos are needed.
A computerized Tx is needed as the the tail control must be mixed with the throttle control. For a Piccolo micro helicopter, this task is performed by the Piccoboard. For my design, this is done by the function "Revo-Mixing" in the Tx.(30)
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now you can play with your home made heli.... enjoy it.
Tags: holding tube, control system, epoxy adhesive, main body, rotor head, tail rotor