The rising cost of education poses a big problem for students and their parents. Tuition fees are not the only source of expenditures of a family, and that is why the opportunity to have a higher education is oftentimes sacrificed for other basic necessities. Fortunately, there is one recourse students and their parents can avail of, and this is student loans.
In line with this, student loans are funds extended to students in order to finance their education. There are two basic types of student loans. These are federal student loans and personal student loans. Federal Student Aid and Loan programs or federal loans are those provided by the federal government to fund the education of a financially incapable student, who wishes to pursue higher education. It comprises not only loans, but also other forms of aid, in which the applicant may be qualified.
The application for federal student loan is not credit-based, meaning the student can apply for this type of federal aid even though he has a bad credit record or no credit record to speak of. This is because the federal government prioritizes education. It does not expect students to have a perfect credit record, or even a credit record, traditionally. Credit will only be taken into consideration in case the student has bad credit due to failure to pay past student loans.
In applying for federal loan, the first thing to do is to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. After a couple of weeks, the student will receive a Student Aid Report or SAR by mail. This includes the mode and amount of payment with the percentage of interest as set by the federal formula. This will be followed by an award letter, also by mail, stating the details of the aid the student will receive from the government. The aid directly goes to the school to be used for payment of tuition fees or accepted personally by sending the award letter back.
On the other hand, private student loans are sources of funds for education provided by private lending entities, such as banks, community groups or credit unions. The main difference of this loan agreement compared to the federal aid is the weight of credit history. Private student loans take into consideration the credit history of the applicant to determine eligibility for the loan. In the event that the student has a bad credit record, the lending agency will require a cosigner having a good credit. Also, some lending companies take into consideration other factors than credit history. This may include projected income that will be sufficient to repay the loan.
Another difference is the amount of interest that the lending company will charge, which may reach up to 6%. Also, the borrower is not required to pay until the grace period set by the lender. In conclusion, educating the citizens is one of the keys in the pursuit of economic prosperity and growth of a country. Every child has the right to be educated, no matter what the cost.
Getting a college degree can drastically improve career prospects, cause one to make significantly more money, and generally improve one’s quality of life. Yet, there are still people who refuse to consider continuing education. Sometimes even taking just one class can help significantly in both career and mental areas. Since it seems as though the excuses for not getting an online education are never-ending, I’ve come up with a list of 6 reasons why you should consider getting an online degree.
1. Career Prospects – As mentioned in the introduction, continuing education can drastically improve your career prospects. Even if you are already established in a good job, sometimes taking a class can lead to that nice promotion. For those who don’t have a college education, getting a degree can often have a startlingly positive affect on one’s career opportunities. What’s more, with online education, you can still hold a regular job, as many online universities allow for extreme flexibility in class scheduling.
2. Wider Range of Degrees – While many traditional universities have a wide range of degrees that can be earned, oftentimes online universities offer a wider range of degrees. This is especially beneficial for those who are in a very specialized line of work, and wish to further their education in that specific area. Also, for those who would rather not have a traditional degree, online education can sometimes be the solution. Remember, when searching for degrees and a potential university, always check for accreditation.
3. Easier on Family Life – If you have a family, then you know how busy family life can be. Many people make the excuse that they don’t have time for continuing education because of family constraints and responsibilities. With online education, this excuse becomes very shaky. The flexibility of scheduling allows many people to take classes in such a way that they can still drive kids to school, run errands, make meals, and so on. Education shouldn’t interfere with family life. If anything, it should improve it. An online education can help ensure that your education helps more than it hurts.
4. Save Money – Now this doesn’t always hold true, but generally, online educations tend to be significantly cheaper than their on-campus counterparts. Some people make the excuse that they can’t afford an education. Online pricing makes it very hard for this excuse to hold up. Many online universities allow students to finance their education using a variety of methods. It’s not unheard of for financial aid to be given out to those in need, or special loans and payment plans. The bottom line is that education is an investment. The old adage, “you have to spend money to make money” often rings true when it comes to education. Don’t limit yourself because of financial worries. Many schools will be more than happy to help work out financial details with perspective students.
5 Self Confidence – I know many people who have gone a significant portion of their adult life without buckling down and getting that college degree. They make excuses and delay as much as possible. However, once people finally get over their doubts, and just force themselves to get that education, their whole lives seem to improve. Education builds confidence. People who have been delaying their whole lives feel a great sense of accomplishment when they finally get their degree. In my opinion, education is forward progress. If you wish to have more self-confidence, and simply feel like you’ve accomplished something, then you should consider getting an online education. While you may have other reasons for doing it (helping out family finances, your boss wants you to, etc), at the end of the day your education is yours. No one can take it from you. Now that’s a pretty strong source of confidence.
6. You Can Start Almost Immediately – Another excuse I’ve heard is that people are always “too late” to sign up for classes. Sometimes I wonder if it’s on purpose or not, however, with online education, this excuse loses even more validity. Many online universities have rolling admissions. Some schools have classes that start every 4 weeks, sometimes less. Online universities know that their students have hectic lives (that’s one reason many choose online education), and so providing as much flexibility is paramount in their eyes. Take the time to look at when classes start, and you might be surprised by what you see. You can always make the excuse that you’re “too late” to sign up, but just think of how good it will feel to finally take the initiative.
I’ve done all I can to convince you of the benefits to an online education, the rest is up to you. Remember that no matter how you say it, education is an investment. The benefits probably won’t be felt immediately, but in terms of career prospects, self-confidence, and overall quality of life, getting a degree, or taking a class can help significantly. If you are stalling, take the time to think about all the options that are available, and what you may be missing out on. It’s not tremendously challenging to do some research. When it comes to your future, you shouldn’t cheat yourself out of a chance to learn something new, and maybe accomplish something you’ve never accomplished before. Those alone are reason enough to consider an online education.
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Heather Johnson is a freelance writer, as well as a monthly contributor for OEDb, a site to help students select among accredited online schools. Heather invites your comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address heatherjohnson2323@gmail.com.
A new comprehensive study shows that sex education delays sexual behavior in teens. The study, which was released this past Wednesday by researchers at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, analyzed responses from over 2000 teens, making it the most comprehensive study of its kind on the effects of sexual education.
The research, which was reported this week by ABC news, shows that teens who receive sex education are less likely to have sex before the age of 15. Further, the study confirms that all types of sexual education has a positive effect, whether it is comprehensive, or an abstinence-only program.
Statistically, the study found that teenage boys were 71% less likely to have a sexual experience before age 15 if they had received some type of sexual education at school. Girls within the same age group were 59% less likely to have sex before 15 if they had been exposed to sexual education.
The study also found that having some type of formal sexual education reduced the risk of teens having unprotected sex. Boys in particular were three times more likely to use condoms, though no similar association was found in girls of the same age.
Tricia Mueller of the Center for Disease Control said in a statement, “Sex education should be continued to be supported in formal settings, such as schools, and to be the most effective, should occur before youth engage in sexual intercourse for the first time.”
The study was the most comprehensive analysis of sexual education programs carried out in the United States to date, and presents a clear picture of the benefits of sexual education in lowering teen pregnancy rates, and reducing actually transmitted diseases.
The study seems to put an end once and for all to the mistaken belief that sexual education in schools could “give teens the green light” to have sex earlier. And although similar studies have shown exactly the same outcome in countries as diverse as Canada, United Kingdom, Belgium and Spain, several religious groups in the United States have resisted the idea of formal sexual education for children on the grounds that it could lead to an increase in sexual behavior.
But with experts from around the world hailing the new study by the CDC as the last word on the effectiveness of sexual education in schools, many former skeptics may be finally forced to admit what health experts have been saying for years: sexual education in schools works.
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Knowledge is power, and two heads are better than one. That’s why collaborative knowledge has become the battle call of different websites aiming to teach other people about what they know. By writing what they know online, not only do they teach people on what they know, they also invite other experts in the field to add more or change some information that might be a little bit off the topic. In this information driven world, we all need to have our daily dose of information and become smarter and knowledgeable everyday. That’s why Wikipedia, Answers.com and DIY websites are very attractive since they provide us with up-to-date information compiled by experts.
Given the importance of such collaborative knowledge sharing, the leader of almost anything in the internet has even widened its horizon. According to the latest post of the Google’s official blog, different bloggers and leaders in the industry have been invited to try out their own collaborative knowledge website called “Knol” which they refer to as a unit of knowledge. When it was launched in private closed beta, different bloggers who have been invited gave their opinion about the latest offering of Google, and it looks promising. Wikipedia may be in big trouble because of this latest offer of Google as it works almost the same as Wikipedia.
Since it was just announced in Google’s official blog, it could take some time before we could have a glimpse of this technology. In my opinion, Google is really fast in developing this type of technology so it could be available for beta testing in the first quarter of 2008. But Google was able to provide us with a good screenshot of what do we have to expect from “Knol.” It looks like Wikipedia only with different tweaks. Google ads will be on the right site of the website and the author on top of the ads. This is something different when you compare it against Wikipedia. As Google said it in their blog, “The key idea behind the knol project is to highlight authors.” Using Knol, experts on a specific subject should be able to maintain their popularity on the subject. People who will come in looking for information will know who wrote on that, making the Knol more trusted compared to Wikipedia.
On the other hand, Google will not edit any of these articles. All information will be primarily given and edited by the author. In terms of who moderates who, we just have to wait on how those things will work when it is officially released.
Some see it as a way for Google to earn more money and take away the popularity of Wikipedia. By tapping into credible authors in a specific field, they might do something that Wikipedia cannot. We just have to wait till the next year and find out whether the buzz that started by Google is worthy enough to be followed. The year 2008 will be a great time for more and better knowledge for everyone.
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We all know what good education can do for us. With better education, we can be successful in our career, be more influential in our society, and lead a more affluent and quality life. However most of people, especially parents can’t really get into a proper education because there are lots of things that are tying them up; work, kids, home and even financial considerations are keeping them from getting a degree.
Good thing is there’s now online education. In early years, distant learning using snail mail is a very slow process. We couldn’t even go ahead as fast as we want as we have to mail, wait for the response and mail them all over again. But online, all you need is an internet connection to check the latest activities your professor would want you to do.
Almost all universities across the country offer online distant learning programs. These programs are aimed for adults that can’t find time to be in classrooms for a most part of the day. These are all module type of education and you’ll find yourself thinking of your homework and activity while doing your regular work. You’ll also have “classmates” wherein you can join various discussion boards online, even chat with them regarding the subject at hand.
The options of courses are unlimited but you have to think twice on this, especially those that will require technical skills. If you don’t have a faint idea about computers, don’t get a distant learning program with a degree related to computers. It’s just not the same as with the classrooms. Most online programs preferred by people focus on business-related subjects since they can be studied even without any prior experience.
Just like in college, you’ll have an option if you want to have a diploma, certificate, degree, masters or doctorate. From the diploma to a degree program, you can finish required courses solely online. However for the masters and doctorate degree, you will be required to go to the school and appear for some formal classes. But this will only happen at least once each semester or depending on the requirement of the school. As for the exams for accreditation, masters and doctor degrees could be conducted in a certain area with a proctor to guide you through the exam.
One big advantage of online education is savings. Instead of paying the regular tuition, it’s going to be a lot cheaper. All you have to pay is the tuition and that’s it.
On the downside, it could be a challenge especially if you’re not really into studying all by yourself. Classroom instruction is really different since the push or pressure from the professors won’t be always there. But the rewards are endless if you dedicate yourself to learning.
All in all, distant learning is a great program that you should try out, even if you don’t have the time. Additional education will open its doors for you without you even leaving your home for a long time.
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Being a life coach could be one of the best careers that you’ll experience. As the name would suggest, you don’t really do much but you play a very vital role in the life of someone who choose you as their coach. Everything or nothing could come from you. That means that the person could get really frustrated with the things that you say or they could really be happy.
If you really want to be a life coach, the first thing that you should do is study about it. There are two things that you can do: one is to read as much as you can about life coaching and the other thing is study about it. The idea of self study is only good if you already have a college education in dealing with the person’s psyche. An ideal degree would be as a psychology. As a psychologist, you know what the other people’s flow of thinking is. Psychologists will just listen to you and tell you what’s going on, but doesn’t give any suggestion. It’s their job to listen to all your rants and tell you what’s going on with your life and what course you are probably taking. It’s up to you to change it if it’s bad or continue them if it’s good. But a life coach, you don’t just listen but you also offer alternatives and options on what you can really do to your life. You just take a next step of telling people what to do.
Without a degree, you may not be able to present yourself to someone that needs a life coach. However, in case you’re just starting out as a life coach and considering doing that in your part time, do remember that there are people that don’t really care about the papers, but do care about your experience. If you don’t have any experience and you don’t have a degree either, you should consider getting a certificate from the many life coaching schools that you can find online or in your local community. But don’t be afraid of the number of schools that you should choose from. Even before you decide to go on a life coach school, you already have something in mind to help you with you career.
After getting the certification, then it’s time to market yourself to people who need help. This is the hardest part for someone who is just starting since no one would want to be helped by someone inexperienced in the field. The first thing that you can do is to create a blog about yourself. This is the perfect platform for you if you really want to be noticed online. You can write about what you think in your life. You can also use article websites as a marketing tool.
Once you get a client or two, do your best by keeping them as long as possible. It’s a rule of thumb that it’s cheaper to keep a client than to look for another one. So bank on your clients and start your way up from there.
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Student are always looking for information sources for their classwork. Nowadays there are many free resources on the Internet that are very useful, but you may not know about them. This is a list of free resources that anyone doing research will find helpful.
The Library
Your local library is much more than just books. The librarian is an information professional who can point you to reliable information sources and save you a lot of time. Almost all libraries provide online databases for use by its patrons. These databases will be readily available via official library websites, and contain much more reliable information than what you will find typing key words into a search engine.
Take advantage of the resources at your library by signing up for a library card and then take a library tour or class. You’ll learn about all the library has to offer. More than likely you’ll learn how to access international newspapers, journals, magazines, ebooks, audio books you can download to your MP3 players, and much more. Many of their services can be used from home. The Reference department at most public libraries receives questions all day from ‘What’s the temperature?’ to ‘Who invented airplanes?’ The best thing is that this service is free.
Google
Google is much more than a search engine. Google offers several services that anyone looking for information will find useful–
Google Books. Huge collection of digitized books. If you are studying an obscure subject, don’t be surprised if you find lots of information here. It’s an amazing resource. Recent books will not have full text, but you should be able to read a few pages to see if it will be useful to you. Older books on which the copyright has run out will be available in full text.
Google Scholar. Looking for scholarly resources for an upcoming paper for class? Search from thousands of scholarly research papers. You will find peer reviewed papers, and detailed citation reports.
Google Video. While many of the videos are of questionable value, many subject experts create content so you may find scholarly or professional video on the subject of your choice.
Google Suggest. Stumped for a subject for your next project? Type some keywords into this interface and Google Suggest will supply suggestions based on previous searches.
iTunesU
How would you like to hear lectures from world renowned professors at top tier universities? iTunesU offers lectures from professors at institutions like Brown, Berkley, Harvard, and Yale to mention a few. Whether or not you’re a student or just interested in a particular subject, these presentations will easily capture your attention and deepen your understanding and appreciation of the topic.
Other than scholarly lectures, iTunes offers podcasts—audio on a variety of topics. Search the iTunes store for free podcasts on any subject you can think of. Many experts create podcasts on their favorite subjects and you will find people willing to share information about everything from archeology to the paranormal.
In addition to all these research tools, there are any number of productivity tools you can download for free. Instead of paying hundreds of dollars for a word processor or spreadsheet program, try Openoffice which is a suite of programs compatible with more popular software. There are many free resources out there. With a little search and ingenuity you’ll be able to be quite successful without spending a lot of money.
While it used to be known as the predecessor of the online library Nupedia, Wikipedia is now known as the biggest online encyclopedia in the world. What makes this website truly unique is that all the articles on this website are user-created. These submissions are all free and the company itself lives on donations alone. The submissions created by someone can also be edited by anyone who has created the account.
Therefore, the information being placed on the site is constantly updated. Currently, Wikipedia has 252 versions in terms of languages, and all of them are also user submitted. Since it’s freely used and edited by virtually anyone, Wikipedia has volunteers based on their headquarters in Florida to check the accuracy of the information given. This is done to prevent online defamation and article vandalism. There are currently 1,831,159 articles in English language alone.
However, Wikipedia is not known only for it’s free articles. Read on and you’ll see the other services Wikipedia has to offer to visitors.
Wikepedia only has articles for you to read. Even though they are complete in themselves, many are still lacking information for people who want to know more than the general information. Don’t worry, Wikipedia has thought of that, and has launched something that will rival it. Wikibooks is an online library which stores books that are freely given because they are all freely created. These books were also created through the collaboration of various writers who are experts in the subject. People can freely check into the website and look at the finished books and download them as PDF files or sometimes as Document (.doc) files. You can also register to join in the collaboration in creating books for any of the subjects you are trained in.
The next feature of Wikipedia targets not only information lovers, but also teachers and professors as well. Wikiversity is a part of wikipedia that deals not only with articles and books, but on learning materials for all kinds of subjects at any grade or skill level. There is also a free curriculum for anyone who wants to learn something online. You can browse various courses online and download all the materials necessary to “graduate” in this course. There are also unfinished projects that are currently worked on by volunteer professionals. You can also take a peek at what they are currently worked on. All of these are for free.
Lastly is the Wikispecies. This free content site is dedicated in indexing all known living forms in the world. Each of them is classified according to their kingdom and classification. There are living things that have pictures and complete information about the species. But there are obscured living beings that are only known through their scientific name and location.
Wikipedia has single-handedly shown us the power of collaboration. If everyone around the world would help each other, There would be no one left uneducated and everyone will prosper slowly, but surely.
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The Chinese have been recognized by the whole world for quite a number of innovations resting on their laurels. From medicine to science, this race has certainly proven its worth when it comes to contributing to the world. However, there is one thing that this magnificent race isn’t too good at. Enter English.
English is the world’s international language. As such, more and more countries are starting to feel the need to master this language, to further enhance their chances at gaining international growth. China is no different from all these nations. As of the moment, the country has a booming economy, promising future and insurmountable workforce. Apparently, the mastery of the English language is the one and only vital element that this Country needs to complete its voyage to success.
Foreign teachers are being hired in China as you read this article. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if you yourself might be considering the challenge. However, what you must know is that teaching in China is far more complex and complicated than just staying there for a visit or two. The life of a foreign English teacher is way more challenging, so to speak, than that of a tourist. It consists of hard work, a whole new environment and all other issues that come with settling down in a new place. As such, it would be best to pack as much knowledge as you need before you fly to the land of the Dragon.
For starters, it would greatly help if you knew what the Chinese preferred when it comes to the teachers they hire. Most English learning institutions prefer natural born speakers. As such, they put citizens of America, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and England in very high regard. It is likely that a 17 year old American high school undergraduate will get a teaching job in China than a very capable English speaker who graduated college, from countries like India or the Philippines. As such, you must stack up your resume with more pizzazz such as graduating with honors or working for multinational schools or companies. Make your credentials to stand out as much you could.
You must also be ready for a myth breaking experience if you go to China to teach English. Contrary to common notions of “serendipity in a teacup” or the tall Shanghai buildings you saw in Mission Impossible III, one can actually say that living conditions as a foreign teacher are not as exorbitant as one may think. Most foreign teachers are assigned to far off rural areas. Unlike the common factories one would usually think off, these far off provinces actually resemble lack of industrial progress. Most of these provinces live an agricultural lifestyle, which spell the absence of lavish bathrooms, spacious sleeping quarters and extravagant decorations. If it’s any consolation though, Chinese food will still taste good anywhere you go.
There’s also a steady decrease when it comes to the average salary of foreign English teachers in the country. Contrary to how it used to be four to five years ago, most public Chinese schools and universities only pay as little as RMB 3000. Even private institutions that used to pay RMB 15000 to RMB 18000 have downsized salary to an average of RMB 4000.
On top of that, an average foreign teacher will usually have to pay half of her sleeping quarters and phone bills. As such, a portion of your possible salary will certainly be allocated to your living necessities. In short, being an English teacher in China is no longer as promising as it used to be a few years ago in terms of monetary aspects. However, more laws and safety measures have also been set up by the government in order to protect teachers from illegal recruiters and even human smuggling. This is something you should consider when it comes to assessing the positive aspect of being an English teacher in China.
Now that you know all these, you can prudently assess whether you still want to push through with going to China. With these pros and cons, your expectations and readiness will certainly be at the right levels.
As a person who lives in an apartment, I can honestly tell you that it is not easy to find the perfect apartment for you. Often times, you will end up finding out things about your living space that were not evident before you moved in. With that said, if you go into the apartment searching process with the right mindset and the correct information, you can always locate a nice place. In this article, I will discuss how to find the perfect apartment. In particular, college folks need to think specifically about the type of living space they occupy.
The basics of finding a good college apartment include figuring out exactly what you want in that apartment. You must know a little bit more than that, though. You have to figure out exactly where you want to live and what sort of surroundings you are looking for. If you start your apartment search with these things in mind, you should have a much easier time. Search all of the resources that you can think of as there are good ads in both print and electronic media. Many times, internet sites such as craigslist will feature message boards where former residents can leave comments about their experience. This is where you will find out the things that flyers do not tell you. Apartment owners will be quick to let you know about the basics of their experience, but what is it really like? What are the people like? If you like to party, you can find out if there are lots of parties going on at this apartment complex. Likewise, you can find places where the atmosphere is a little bit more laid back.
You must be able to make good observations when you consider your apartment choices. Remember that you are going to be living a hectic college lifestyle. Will this apartment hold up to that lifestyle? Is this where all of the cool folks live? All of these things will be important to you down the road. When you are looking through the prospective apartments, try to consider all of the things about the apartment on the inside and the outside. Since you are going to have to live in this place for an extended period of time, you will need to envision yourself living there for a while. You have to consider how your stuff will fit in the apartment. Will my chairs and tables look good in here? How do I like that window? These are things to consider. Most of the time, you will want to envision yourself in this place. Think about how your things will look in regards to the floor plan. The little things are often the most important when considering an apartment. Be very skeptical when you are going through a search. After all, these folks should be selling their property to you. Let them know what you are looking for in an apartment and give them a chance to explain how they fit those needs.
When you pick out an apartment, you had better know for sure that the place is where you want to live. You will not get a second chance after you sign that lease. You should never be forced or pressured into making a dumb decision. Make sure it is exactly what you want, without any doubts. Take your time and make an informed decision. Do not take an apartment because you feel it is all that is left. Homes are not leftovers, they are where you will be living. In this same light, never feel pressured by a seller to close quickly on an apartment. If they are extremely overzealous in getting you into a property, then there is a good chance that the property will be available later. Sellers like that are often desperate to get folks into their empty apartments. Use your common sense and realize that these apartments may have been empty for good reason.
If you feel inclined, then an apartment broker might be the best thing to look for. They are often times looking to help out college students as this can build customer loyalty on your part. They can, however, be fairly costly at times. If you feel competent, you can find a good apartment on your own. The best thing you can do is figure out the specifics of the apartments in your area and go from there. Gather all of the information and every detail that you possibly can. Do not be afraid to ask questions at every stop. Stay alert and you will end up satisfied with your living space.
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