All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

career colleges, careers

Renewable Energy: Red Hot College Majors to Investigate

 

renewable energy

Too many parents complain that their student’s college major is unemployable after graduation. With the cost of college rising, it means families are conscious of the value of higher education and it’s ROI (return on investment). Even though ROI is not the most crucial criteria for choosing a college and a major, it should certainly be a factor in the college choice.

Renewable energy jobs are red hot right now. Whether you’re looking for a hands-on job in the field such as solar installer or a highly educated position such hydrologist, it’s important to create an education road map to make sure you reach your goals.

Renewable energy sources include wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower, and capturing those resources for energy requires many levels of skill sets: construction crew, technician, project manager, research scientist, mechanical engineer, lawyer, financial expert and beyond. While construction and technician positions may only need trade school or associates degrees, many higher-paying positions will require specialized degrees taking four years or more.

Map your green and renewable energy career with these three detailed resources explaining career opportunities in the solar, renewable energy, and green industries:

Breaking into the Solar Industry – http://www.letsgosolar.com/consumer-education/solar-jobs-careers-certifications/

Renewable Energy Degree Programs – http://www.letsgosolar.com/consumer-education/renewable-energy-degrees/

Green Careers Beyond Solar – http://www.letsgosolar.com/consumer-education/green-careers/

college guidance, college prep

It’s a Match: Fall in Love with Your 2nd Choice College

 

This article was originally published on Smart College Visit as part of my Parent College Coach tips. In honor of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to repost it.

 

2nd choice college

A song by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, “Love the One You’re With”, brings me back to my teen years. Yes. It dates me. But it reminds me of a good piece of advice my mother once gave me: you can’t always get what you want, but what you need is often better.

This might be a strange parley into today’s tip, but it got me thinking about college acceptances and the inevitable rejections that often arrive. Students all over the country who applied regular admission are biting their nails waiting to hear from their first choice colleges. Will they be accepted? Will they be wait-listed? Or will the college they dreamed of reject their application and not offer admission.

What do you do when that happens? First you let your teen grieve, and maybe you grieve, and then you move on. If you crafted a good college list, there are some perfectly wonderful colleges on that list—they may not be the first choice, but they are often the best choice. Your student may not be “in love” with those other choices, but it might be time to love the one you’re with and move on.

Here are 5 good reasons to fall in love with your 2nd, or 3rd, or 4th choice college:

1. Everything happens for a reason–How many times have we all said this to our children? There could be a dozen reasons why their 1st choice college didn’t offer them admission or enough financial aid to attend. Admissions counselors tell us that each application is a subjective process and they can’t admit everyone. While it might seem like a rejection to your teen, in reality it’s their decision that your student might not be a good fit for their college. Take that as a cue to move on and find the college that feels they ARE a perfect fit!

2. In the light of day everything seems different–College choices are often made based on peer pressure, parent pressure and status. After all the hype and stress of applying, it’s easier to sit down and look at the choices your student made in a more objective light. The pressure of applying is now gone and all you need to do is thoughtfully evaluate those colleges that have offered admission. The ball is now in your court–you get to decide!

3. A closer look might reveal a hidden gem–Take some time and diligently investigate the colleges further down on the list that have offered acceptance. Compare offers, visit their campuses again, talk to current students and be open to discovery. You never know what you might unearth in the process.

4. Those other colleges on your list are more than sloppy seconds–Your 2nd and 3rd choice college made the list for a reason. Don’t look at them as sloppy seconds, but realize that they could have been your 1st choice all along. How many of us have passed over life choices, only to realize later that we discounted their value and missed out on amazing opportunities.

5. What you NEED is always better than what you WANT–It’s true. We often want things that aren’t always the best for us. We teach our kids to pursue needs before wants; the same can be true for the college choices. Your teen may want an Ivy League logo on their vehicle, but what they need might be a small private university with smaller classes and individual attention.

online learning, Uncategorized

Is Distance Learning Right for You?

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distance learning

When it comes to studying, the most typical method we take is to go to a college, university or similar school and just learn. We speak to our lecturer, teacher, or advisors and we learn from them. We buy books, study them, write up documents and complete tests to prove that we’ve learned something. That’s the standard way and for many years that has been the norm. However, we’re seeing a shift in learning practices thanks to technology and we’re now able to not only learn online but even study for a degree.

There’s no questioning the effectiveness, reduced costs and the convenience of studying from a distance. You get an equal level of education studying from home, you don’t pay as much because of no travel costs and resources are readily available online, and you don’t have to rent a student accommodation or move closer to your campus. The best part about it (arguably) is that you can study in your own time. There’s no attending lectures or classes, and you can study whenever you have the time meaning it’s great if you also work from home or have a job.

There is a lot to study

In addition to studying for an online bachelor’s degree, you could resort to less formal methods such as consulting online guides, tutorials and free lectures that are recorded by major educational institutes such as MIT. No matter what you want to study, there’s bound to be an online course or lessons you can study that suit your needs. However, if you want to have a qualification at the end of it, then you’re going to need to go through formal channels to ensure that you get a degree or qualification at the end of it. But if you’re learning for the sake of picking up new skills and hobbies, then you can do that without much money involved and by using free resources.

There are some downsides

Depending on your personality, learning in solitude might not be your thing. You won’t get to experience university life. You won’t be attending a campus, you won’t be meeting friends and you probably won’t be getting out much if you have to study from home. This means there’s very little communication and the only person you’ll really speak to is your lesson planner or teacher. Some online study services have communities where you can chat with fellow students, but it’s not the same as meeting them in person and sharing study notes or going for a coffee. However, this might be seen as an upside for people who are introverted learners.

You have to be self-motivated

Since you won’t have friends to help you out or face-to-face contact with your teachers, you probably won’t be getting much motivation or support. This means you’ll have to be self-sufficient in most cases and you’ll have to formulate your own plan when it comes to organising your lessons, when you have to study and how to study for tests or examinations. If you aren’t good at organising and motivating yourself, then online study might take awhile to get accustomed to.

campus security, financial aid, scholarships

Scholarships That Pay All Your College Expenses

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scholarships

Everyone wants a free ride for college. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Even athletic scholarships rarely provide students with a full ride for athletes.

Scholarships that pay all college expenses are available, however, if you know where to look. Here are four ways your student can win enough scholarship money to pay for all their college expenses.

Colleges with merit-aid

Good grades, good test scores, a stellar volunteer record and essay, can mean thousands of dollars in merit aid from the college. If your student is applying to one of the colleges on this list, he or she could score enough money to pay for all their college expenses.

Merit Aid Scholarship Directory

Colleges with great scholarships for National Merit finalists

The PSAT is one way to win a full-ride scholarships. If your student is a National Merit finalist (which isn’t that difficult with a little preparation), he or she would be offered a full-ride scholarship and more. Here’s a list of colleges that offer scholarships to National Merit finalists.

Colleges With Scholarships for National Merit Finalists

Colleges with full-ride scholarships

Full-ride scholarships are offered to the students who are at the top of the applicant pool. The bar is set pretty high, but if your student is one of them, they could score a scholarship that pays all their college expenses. How does your student get to the top of the applicant pool? Apply to colleges where their SAT scores and GPA are higher than other students. This list will help you find those schools.

Comprehensive List of Full-Ride Scholarships

Winning multiple outside  scholarships

If your student works hard at applying for scholarships, it’s entirely possible to win enough scholarship money to pay for all their college expenses. Monica Matthew’s son, with her help, won $100,000 in scholarships. If you want to know how she did it, read her story and while you are there, purchase her simple how-to guide.

Finding and winning full-ride scholarships can be done. But it takes some effort: searching for the right colleges, doing the work in school, and applying for scholarships.

careers

What Are the Career Options for Students with a Law Degree?

 

law degree

When your child goes to college, there may be times when he or she becomes uncertain about their career path.  This is a common predicament, and should not be met with major concern.  After all—choosing what you want to do from nine-to-five for until retirement at eighteen can feel overwhelming.  Sometimes, it is best to open up opportunities to them that they may not have realized in their degree.  If your student is pursuing a law degree but is unsure whether they want to become a lawyer or judge, luckily there are a vast array of career options they may have not considered.  Below are some career options for students with a law degree.

Entrepreneur

A legal education is an excellent platform to enter the world of business.  Whether your child is inspired to jump into a large business investment, or a small business niche, a law degree will give them an advantage that other business owners will not have.  Other business owners will have to hire professionals or spend a lot of time reading up on the subject of business law, tax law, and a host of other local, state, and federal laws to make sure they are staying within their boundaries. Education in law will also sharpen your child’s critical thinking and creativity skills so that your child can navigate through potential obstacles in the future.

Enrolled Agent

If your child has a special interest in tax law or working for the IRS, then becoming an enrolled agent may be the perfect avenue for them.  Certified enrolled agents are granted unlimited rights to represent on behalf of clients before the IRS.  Enrolled agents specialize in tax law and work with clients to resolve or settle tax issues.  To become an enrolled agent, you do not need a college degree.  In the event that your child wants to take a break between undergrad and graduate school, becoming an enrolled agent will utilize their skills while giving them valuable experience.  To become an enrolled agent, your child has two options: work for the IRS for a number of years, or take the enrolled agent exam.  The EA exam takes hours of studying, but your child can aid themselves by pursuing the best EA review courses, which include resource materials and practice exams.

Real Estate Agent

The arena of real estate is once again becoming an appealing choice for those looking for a lucrative career.  With the real estate market on the rise, more young people are entering the job market in this field.  There is a required exam to gain a licensure, but your child will already have the advantage of understanding law practices, which will give them the knowledge to stay within legal boundaries of real estate.  The analytical skills they will gain will also help them analyze the housing market and how to gauge pricing with both buyers and sellers.

Non-Profit Manager

Your child might have a passion for a fulfilling job related to human rights, saving the environment, immigration, or other venture.  In this circumstance, your child might be thrilled to know that they can work for a non-profit.  As an attorney, your child can gain a leadership position to help the non-profit direct through legalities.

Politics

If your child is pursuing a law degree, they likely have a mind for debate.  He or she may love debating you at the dinner table—much to the chagrin of your family. Help them channel their passions into a life in politics.  A deep knowledge of law and history, coupled with critical thinking and creative problem solving, will give them the understanding they need to enter politics.  Many of our presidents including one of our most acclaimed, Abraham Lincoln, had law degrees.

If your child is pursuing a law degree, help them peruse the variety of career options available.

online learning, study tools

7 Ways to Boost Your Grades by Studying Online

 

studying online

The concept of learning has changed; students are often using an online learning platform to improve their grades. The online platform is now a tool for students to further their education. Everyone can get free information about any course from the online school system.

For efficient studies, students should make a habit of studying on a daily basis. Here are 7 solutions to boost your grades studying online to prepare for exams effectively and also perform better on the exams when you are actually taking them.

1. Find online tools

As we endure to grasp technology, the traditional trend of learning from textbooks are becoming obsolete. Online learning has become more user-centered and fluid. Sometimes, students can’t get benefit from textbooks because they can’t fix text into their minds until they find the best real tools for that syllabus which can guide them step by step. For example, Udemy, BookRags, Hippocampus, Bookwolf, Pink Monkey, Study Stack, Quil and much more are valuable tools to study online to improve your grades in that selected subject. Even you can get courses at negotiable prices from these websites, some of them are free. Grab these courses to enhance your grades.

2. Go to websites

 

There are various websites which are specially designed to help the students study every topic. Grab these opportunities and enhance your learning with free websites such as, Coursera (to make education available to anyone), Udacity (for brainy types), Open Culture (educational media and top-notch quality cultural), Ted-Ed (the powerhouse of amazing lectures), Memrise (education based on science and community), and Learnist (an interactive platform just as Pinterest).

3. Find an online tutor

 

Another way is to find an online tutor who will help you with assignments and problems. Online tutoring sites have gained more popularity around the globe. Online tutoring is a valuable solution for students as it can be executed at home on a PC or mobile. Students can get experienced teachers by searching online. You can find a tutor at homework help today.

4. Join online forums

 

Online forums provide a high-quality education for everyone. The panel allows learners to collaborate in an online learning environment. If students can’t find the solution for a given assignment or solving any course question, then they can join these forums to get the required answers from experienced, educated persons. Students can get multiple answers to their queries by just posting a question in the forum.

5. Online test prep

 

You can take online quizzes to prepare for your tests or final exams according to your subjects. It helps with evaluation and text preparation. There are practice tests available for free in many subjects, including standardized tests.

6. Use search engines

 

Another solution to boost your grades is use search engines to get more help, such as Google, Bing and Yahoo. One of the second leading search engines is YouTube which provides a wide variety of knowledgeable videos with bountiful information on every topic. The mentors in these videos explain each and everything in detail e.g explanation of math solutions in depth, programming step by step, mechanics and many more other subjects.

7. Use social media

 

Students can organize themselves into study groups and pages by using social media. Social media provides a new way of learning through educational groups and pages where they can discuss study tactics and options on any subject.
Bonus Tip. Try to get at least one A each class or semester. This A will change your perspective for future classes or semesters and will change how you think about yourself.

study abroad

5 Things To Check Before You Plan To Study Abroad

 

study abroad

Education, as a sector, has brought down the walls of geographical confinement that marred the industry as well as the growth of students and academics in general. However, now is the time to consider foreign education, because it opens up the world for you to enjoy the best educational infrastructure and career opportunities. That said, your planning for foreign education must be accompanied with due diligence on the course to choose, the universities to apply to, the finances involved, the timelines involved, and a whole lot more. Let’s tell you more about the five things you need to check as you get on with the phase of making preparations for foreign education. 

The three most important considerations for any foreign education decision are – the timing, the course and university, and the costs.

Understanding Timings and Planning accordingly 

Firstly, determine which semester suits you the most ; for instance, weigh the opportunity of working for a few months and earning something before joining a foreign course, or joining early and budgeting additional 4-5 months for job search after course completion. Note that most foreign institutions have students-intake in either the spring session or the autumn session. Institutes invite applications up until 4 to 5 months of session commencement. Also, the joining date is generally close to two months prior to the beginning of session.

Identifying The Most Suitable Courses and Universities 

Secondly, shortlist the courses that align well with your skills, interests, and aspirations. Once done, check which universities that offer the best Bachelor degree programs in Law, for instance, Business, Information Technology etc. in the course, and the course structures. 

Questions to be answered are:

  • How good are employment opportunities relevant to the course?
  • In which region is the industry concentrated? 
  • What’s the duration of the course? 
  • How relevant will the degree be in your home country? 
  • What is the research and employment specialization of the university you’re considering? 

The Critical Question of Expenses

Thirdly, plan and prepare a budget for the expenses that will be involved in your foreign education. Note that apart from course fees, you need to plan for expenses related to lodging and living (check if the university offers on-campus lodging), travel expenses (some courses necessitate International or domestic travel, so check if that’s sponsored or not), and course material (some universities don’t include course material costs in course fees).

Scholarships and part time jobs are highly relied upon by foreign students, because these help them reduce the load of hefty expenses. Teaching assistance programs, internships, and small project with stipends – all are significant financial aids for students in nations like USA and UK. Apart from these, students can explore options such as freelancing and paid online surveys etc. to earn a decent income stream and keep finances under check. 

Language Exams, Certificates, and Forms

Most foreign universities follow standards and norms to enable students to apply and enroll without problems. However, you need to be aware of aspects such as English (or any other language) exams you need to undertake to be able to apply for a course. TOEFL and IELTS are among the most commonly accepted English language tests. Apart from these, you’d do well to understand other specific concern and requirements from the university, in terms of forms such as medical history, police verification, and net worth certificate. Procuring these forms is time consuming, so plan well in advance.

Scholarships 

We briefly mentioned scholarships, now is the time to explain them. International students can apply for and seek scholarships from the institution, the government, and private institutions that offer scholarships and fee waiver programs. Among globally renowned scholarships are The British Commonwealth Scholarships, Fulbright Fellowships and Rhodes Scholarships.  Students can significantly reduce the costs of foreign education by targeting scholarships, although this needs due diligence, academic brilliance, and the ability to research and find information. 

We’ve tried to cover five of the most important factors that you need to understand and plan around to make your foreign education decision a success. Be smart, be aware, work hard, and you will make it through and enjoy great success riding on a coveted educational degree from a sought after foreign institution.

essays

Typical Essay Mistakes to Avoid

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essay mistakes

Whether you actually enjoy it or not, writing essays must be done! It’s almost a rite of passage no matter what level of schooling you are currently at. Writing a good essay is hard work, so it’s worth it to get it right the first time around.

To stand out from the rest and make your work the best, you’ll want to avoid these typical essay mistakes when writing an essay.  Efficient writing is no more a dream!

Not Proofreading

The biggest mistake people make after writing an essay it doing nothing! You write it and you’re done right? No!

To make your essay be good, it shouldn’t have any grammatical or spelling errors. No awkward or run-on sentences either. The absolute best ways to take care of these things is

  1. Make sure your spell check tool is on
  2. Read it out loud to yourself and you’ll hear the edits you need to make
  3. Have someone look it over if possible

Whatever you turn in or keep for yourself should be error free.

Not knowing your audience

Who are you writing for? A typical mistake made is the writer not setting the correct tone or using the right language according to who will be reading the essay. Make sure you get this accept right or the whole piece will be off.

Not answering the prompt

This may seem obvious, but many essays tend to get off topic. It’s important to always refer back to what question you are answering or what statement you are discussing. Don’t go off on a tangent.

The easiest way of making sure you stay on track is by tactfully connecting the point you’ve made in your paragraph back to your thesis.

Formatting

  • Are there specific requirements for the essay?
  • Are you meeting them?
  • Are the citations correct in text and on the citation page according to the style?
  • Is it in the right font?

These are all considerations that must be taken into account. These very simple mistakes will affect you in a negative way, and all it takes is some extra time and care to fix them.

This list should give you the start you need in avoiding some typical mistakes. The things that are overlooked are often what need to be reassessed! Pro tip: Create a checklist of these items to use with each essay you write and it’ll ensure that there aren’t any more mistakes!

Well, if you still feel weak, check the best custom writing and get your essay done in a wink!

_____________________

Our guest blogger, Lucy Adams, is an outsourcer from edublogawards.org. She’s a diligent author who never refuses fruitful collaborations with websites that adore guest blogs. Lucy provides deep research on most burning and exciting topics. Feel free to share your ideas with the blogger and get a high-quality paper in return in no time!

college books, Sponsored posts

Textbooks Made Easy

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This post is sponsored by Barnes & Noble. All content and opinions expressed here are my own.

textbooks

When my first child went to college, I almost died when I got the bill for her textbooks. Some of them cost close to $200, and the total cost for all her textbooks the first year was close to $1,500. I was not prepared for this added expense. At the time, students were forced to buy books from the bookstore without many other options available. Even used textbooks were pricey and some professors used new books that weren’t available used, but the times have certainly changed.

Students can now purchase new and used textbooks at huge discounts or rent them with flexible rental periods. Once they are done with the course, they can sell the books for cash and recoup some of the cost. With the help of Barnes & Noble’s textbook program, it’s a win-win for parents and students.

Below is a screenshot of an art history textbook. As you can see, when you click on the book’s title, you’re given three options: new, used, or rent. In addition, you have the option of purchasing the book in the marketplace from users who are also selling it.

textbooks

New Textbooks

It’s a shock when your student’s professor decides to use a new textbook and you see the cost. New textbooks can be pricey, but Barnes & Noble has a large selection of new textbooks available. They offer low prices, so you can get the most for your money. Their textbooks are listed up to 30% off sticker price, plus they offer free shipping on all new textbook orders over $25. Check out their huge selection of new textbooks here.

Used Textbooks

Used textbooks are your best bargain when available, and Barnes & Noble sells only the highest quality used books. It’s just like purchasing a used car: you aren’t paying the high sticker prices, but you’re getting a high-quality book at a great price–some up to 90% off. You can search for used textbooks here.

Rented Textbooks

Why buy when you can rent? It makes sense, especially since the book will only be used for one semester. My daughter chose to save only the books that applied to her major and renting would have been an excellent option for those required courses that didn’t interest her. At Barnes & Noble, there are thousands of textbooks available to rent with flexible periods up to 130 days. Your student can extend the rental period or opt to purchase the book at any time. Once they are finished with their course, they can ship it back for free! Check out their selection of rentals here.

Selling Your Textbooks

Even if you must purchase a new textbook, you can sell it back if it’s in good condition to Barnes & Noble and recoup some of the cost. They provide prepaid shipping labels. For details on which books they will accept and what type of condition they need to be in, click here.

When it comes to paying for college, most parents plan for tuition, room and board. It’s added expenses like books that can put a strain on your budget. By using these available options, you should be able to cut textbook costs and use some of that money for more important things like a plane ticket for Parents’ Weekend!

test prep

Parents Guide to the SAT and the ACT

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Wouldn’t it be great to have all the test dates AND registration deadlines in one place, along with tips on how to support your high school student during testing season? Magoosh thought so too! They created the Parents Guide to SAT and ACT Testing.

Below is an infographic with “everything you need to know about standardized tests but were afraid to ask”. Also, check out their High School SAT & ACT blog: https://magoosh.com/hs/ with resources there for both parents and students to help them learn more about the SAT and ACT, how to prepare, and what to expect on test day.

 

parents guide