Difference between Online Education VS. Traditional Education

Online degrees are becoming an increasingly popular way to obtain a college education and many students are turning to online education because of the quality of material, convenience and the level of flexibility inherent in distance education programs.


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These days, the internet has grown into a veritable wealth of information for college seekers. Everything from applying for financial aid to taking a course can be accomplished online. Now, a student can even obtain online degrees from one of many schools offering online education as a viable alternative to a traditional classroom education. How different are these two methods of teaching, and do either prove better for the student? There’s an abundance of information regarding online education, and distance education is becoming increasingly popular for students everywhere.

First and foremost, there are some obvious benefits in obtaining online instant degrees. For example, juggling a job, school and a home can be very difficult as far as commuting to the classroom every day. With online education, you eliminate the need to attend classes, and instead access your coursework from an internet website. This presents an obvious benefit to the overworked college student because his commute is basically slashed in half. What’s more, many distance education programs allow students to complete the coursework any time during the day, while still adhering to overall deadlines. This allows for flexibility that a traditional classroom setting can ordinarily not provide.

However, is an online education truly comparable to the type of education a student would receive in an actual classroom? Many professionals in the field say yes, and certainly students seeking online degrees can confirm this response. Not only does online learning provide a stimulating environment for students, but it promotes even interaction among every student because everyone has a say in classroom discussions. What’s more, online education programs allow each student to learn with the methods that work best for them. Plus, many employers respect online degrees as much as a traditional college degree, so there’s really no difference in the amount of education or respect a student will receive when attending an online college.

While traditional colleges will never be eliminated, there’s definitely been an increase in the amount of students attending online colleges in recent years. Many people choose to follow the online education route for the diversity of material they can find, or because the teachers are more approachable via the internet than they would be in a classroom setting. Students definitely need discipline and self-motivation to succeed in obtaining online degrees, but there’s still the same level of help and support from teachers and students online that there would be in a classroom. What’s more, internet college students are learning skills that will be beneficial to them in the workforce and beyond because of the way technology is evolving today.

Online degrees are becoming an increasingly popular way to obtain a college education and many students are turning to online education because of the quality of material, convenience and the level of flexibility inherent in distance education programs. Because there’s no distinct differences between an online education and a traditional education, students are assured they are receiving the same kind of education that they would in a brick and mortar setting. There are definite benefits to online degree programs, and students with discipline and motivation can and will succeed greatly in online education programs.

DeVry University: an honest review

DeVry University has its roots from way back in 1931 as a film and radio repair teaching establishment. Today it is amongst the largest schools run for profit in the United States.


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university,education,online university,DeVry University Online


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DeVry University has its roots from way back in 1931 as a film and radio repair teaching establishment. Today it is amongst the largest schools run for profit in the United States. The University as a company also finds mention in the ‘100 best Corporate Citizen’ list ranked at number 11. Through the years, over a quarter of a million students have graduated from the University. Its total number of enrolments according some estimates is around 50,000, which is a tad lower than that of Phoenix University.

DeVry University boasts of 70 odd locations from where students can take classes. Students can also take online classes. The most important attribute of the University is the range of programs offered. There is something for every body - full time, part time, night study or weekend classes or pure online classes.  By offering both online and brick and mortar classes at a variety of locations, students find they are able to find the combination that best suits their needs.

The university is fully accredited and offers various courses in areas of Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications and Business Administration at both undergraduate as well as graduate levels. This differentiates the school from some of the other online universities, like Capella, that have repeatedly failed to receive accreditation for its programs.  Of particular note, is the business school, which has a strong focus on business management.  Management education is imparted via, the Keller Graduate School of Management and as such is quite focused and current in its curriculum.

Another good thing about the university is the ‘part-time job services’, which offers to find part time jobs for students wanting to earn while they learn. Students can earn from $6.5 to $10 per hour at entry level. But students have often been seen to be complaining about the frequency with which the job postings are updated.  Even the limitations of the job board, however, are a stark improvement over some of its online competitors which do not even offer the service at all.

Online education is imparted in collaboration with CertifyOnline, which provides DeVry with the reference materials, tests and online labs. This enables availability of courses and reference materials in synchronous format with live instructions as well as in archived video media.  The class sizes are small and offer personalized attention.  That said, many students find that the formulated testing and teaching limits not only the creativity of their professors, but also the ability for them, as students, to learn at a higher level.

The overall quality of education is considered to be quite good by both current students and federal regulators.  However, unlike less rigorous competitors, the quality of the education comes at a price.  The school is quick to place students on probation, should the student’s grades fall even a little. Such a strict discipline is perhaps good when you look at the future employability of the student. Tie this with the figure of 90 % of the university graduates (who actively pursued employment or were already employed when they graduated) finding jobs in their referred field within 6 months.  While certainly there is some room for the University to have fiddled with the figures, this number is nonetheless quite impressive. It is important to note, however, that in light of this statistic the University qualifies their 90% claim by omitting some students who were never employed before or during their education at the university, and are finding it a difficult job to get employed. Some students argue that this is because, despite the quality of education, the reputation of the school remains sub-par amongst employers.

The universities price tag and associated fees are on par with its other online competitors, but it is important to note that this does not always mean a bargain compared to other public brick-and-mortar universities.


One of the major deficiencies of DeVry University appears to be its administrative department. Students frequently claim to have difficulty in dealing with the financial aid department as well as with the other student services departments.


Many students express some serious displeasure with the marketability of their Devry degree.  They are finding that despite the quality of education and rigor of the university, that some employers do not yet regard the school as equivalent to a more traditional four year brick-and-mortar school.  Another cadre of students report, however, that they have found the benefits of having the degree a very tangible benefit.  Other than this deficiency, however, it appears that in the actual business of teaching and learning, DeVry surpasses its online competitors.  The question facing incoming students, is however, what is the ultimate purpose of that college degree.

Credit your Prior Experience with Online Life Experience Degrees

In the world today, online learning offers the flexibility and convenience many students need to obtain a college education. Unfortunately, many college transcripts fail to show a student’s real-life experience, even if the student has a lot of knowledge in one particular field but no diploma to show for it. In this case, life experience credits can help students receive the recognition they desire and deserve.


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In the world today, online learning offers the flexibility and convenience many students need to obtain a college education. Unfortunately, many college transcripts fail to show a student’s real-life experience, even if the student has a lot of knowledge in one particular field but no diploma to show for it. In this case, life experience credits can help students receive the recognition they desire and deserve. Life experience degrees can help a student get ahead in the workforce, even if they’ve never obtained a diploma in a particular field of knowledge.  It’s only fair that you be provided with the same opportunities as a student who has obtained experience in a classroom setting instead of the real world.

With life experience credits, you are well on your way to life experience degrees that reflect what you’ve learned outside of the classroom. Whether you’ve taken language classes abroad or worked in a particular field with hands-on experience, there are several distance learning programs that will assess your experience and grant you life experience credits for your work. Not only do life experience degrees credits offer students a chance to be recognized for their work, but it saves time and money because you don’t need to take a course you’ve already mastered elsewhere.

First and foremost, you’ll want to research distance learning schools that will consider granting life experience credits. Also, be sure the school you wish to study from is fully accredited by the proper accreditation boards. Keep in mind that not all distance learning programs will consider life experience credits, but if you look around you are sure to find one that suits your needs. It’s also important to note that there are a lot of scams involving life experience degrees, including “diploma mill” schools that make false claims that a student can receive a degree entirely through life experience credits. If you run into a school that solicits you this way, tread with extreme caution.

Once you’ve found a distance education program that interests you and that offers life experience online degrees credit, you’ll want to contact school officials to see what steps you need to take to apply for these credits. Many online learning programs require students to fill out a life experience application and put together a portfolio of their work experience. Different schools have different requirements as well, so keep in mind when applying for life experience degrees credit you may be asked to provide a list of references, meet with members of the school’s staff or pass a test to receive credit. For more information about online life experience degrees, please visit http://www.speedydegrees.com

Provided the school you are interested in requests a portfolio of your experience, there are several things that may be included for consideration. Naturally, this depends on the subject matter and the life experience you’ve had. For most life experience internet degrees, your portfolio can contain items such as resumes, job descriptions, references, work samples, awards you have received and many more. Once you’ve compiled a portfolio of your work, you’ll want to arrange it in a manner that will convince the College Board that you have sufficient experience to grant you life experience degrees credit.

While going through the life experience degrees process may seem like a lot of work, it’s a much better alternative than paying money for classes you already have sufficient experience in. As long as you are wary of life experience degrees offered through diploma mill schools, you should be able to find an online college that will grant life experience credits for work you’ve completed outside of a classroom. All of the work is worth it, and you will receive the recognition you deserve.

Comparing Online Nursing Master’s Programs

This article compares online masters degree programs in nursing.


Keywords:
online, nursing, search, university, nurse, RN, LPN, degree, education


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When comparing online nursing master’s programs, be prepared to find many programs of interest. It is important to know what one is looking for when trying to find a program that is the best choice. Knowing which area of nursing one would like to go into is probably the best way to determine which program to enroll in. There are many areas of nursing that a person will find interesting. From home health care programs to nursing administration and nursing education, one will be able to go into an area that is interesting and intellectually challenging.

Make a list of all the schools that are of interest and note which ones offer the programs of interest. Contact all schools to obtain further information. These schools are very helpful and will provide additional information when comparing online nursing master’s programs. The length of the program should be another consideration. Many programs can take up to a year to complete. But there are others that can be completed in less time. It depends on the curriculum and how quickly a person can finish courses. Determining how much time a person can spend on a program will determine which school to choose.

Comparing online nursing master’s programs can take some time, but in the end it is worth it. Finding a program that one is comfortable with will make learning much easier. Contacting the people in charge of the program is the best way to find out everything one needs to know about the program. Also, if possible, contact those who have gone through the program to see what they thought of it. Many times if those people were satisfied, then others will be as well. Other people are usually very willing to talk about their experiences. After researching different programs and gathering as much information as possible, choose a program that offers the kinds of courses one is most interested in taking and is of the right length of time.

Colleges: Traditional vs. Unconventional

Did you know that the word "college", as in one definition supplied by Webster's Ninth New Collegiate dictionary, is "a group of persons considered by law to be a unit."

That's easy enough to take in. I doubt that anyone would find much disagreement with that statement. However, there are differences in colleges -- often very pronounced differences -- in curriculum, based on traditional approaches to learning vs. more unconventional, or unstructured styles.

Ever since t...


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Did you know that the word "college", as in one definition supplied by Webster's Ninth New Collegiate dictionary, is "a group of persons considered by law to be a unit."

That's easy enough to take in. I doubt that anyone would find much disagreement with that statement. However, there are differences in colleges -- often very pronounced differences -- in curriculum, based on traditional approaches to learning vs. more unconventional, or unstructured styles.

Ever since the times of the philosopher and educator, Rousseau, questioned the theory that education is not the imparting of knowledge but the drawing out of what is already in the student,
there have been both types of higher institutions of learning.

While a number of educational theorists have stressed the benefits of an unstructured or "open" educational environment, others assert that a highly structured learning experience is most likely to produce better educational success.

So, the question becomes, can student interest alone supply a structure for higher education, or must it be imposed by an educator?

Welcome to the debate that continues today, and, if current trends are any indication, they will continue. The good thing is that this is not an official "argument" among educators by any means; there are simply differently recognized ways of learning while also enjoying the college social environment.

Some research has suggested that students learn more if they are actively engaged with the material they are studying. This self-paced kind of curriculum conconsists of website learning, independent study, and mock "on-the-job" scenarios, which include students actively participating in the given material.

By contrast, much can be said of the traditional side of higher learning, in which students, though always encouraged to participate in classroom discussions or events, are largely listening, absorbing, and taking notes on what the instructor is teaching.

The styles are so widely varied, even in subcategories of each module, because educators have learned this for certain: To help college students learn, they must be prepared to offer courses that are more "personality-driven" than the old one-room-schoolhouse plan. In effect, teachers and professors are also engaged in learning -- learning more about how to best teach and prepare programs of study for individual students; a relatively fresh approach that considers not only SAT scores and entrance exams, but personality tests administered prior to entry.

The world of education, even on the higher learning level, is indeed changing, and if administrators want to bump up the dropout rate, they realize they must structure this "group of persons considered by law to be a unit" into a plethora of opportunities for learning.

And the great thing about this ongoing process is that students are far more involved in the "style" of education they receive; it has become a world of "student centered learning," as opposed to "teacher-centered."

In either case, you can certainly rest assured there will always be a need for teachers -- those who have studied extremely hard to then take upon themselves a position of great virtue, courage, and hard work.

College Years: how to make them unforgettable

College years are the most exciting in one’s life. This is the article for those who wonder what awaits them behind the high walls of their “alma mater” and for those who’ve experienced everything connected with college. Check it out and see if what it says is true.


Keywords:
college term papers, college term paper


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Now that high school is over and you have freedom to choose among different careers, probably for the first time in your life you are to make the most serious choice you’ve ever faced.  You go back and revise your childish dreams in your memory and try to find out where your heart truly lies. And when you do, the most exciting years of your life begin and you become a college student. College is no place to play games and fool around. You are now to think about your future and what’s to become of you. First year students or just freshmen come to their first class with serious facial expressions, already thinking about a day when they get out into the open on their own, with serious educational background and some lessons of life they’ve had during their studies. But on the other hand college is perfect environment to have fun and socialize. The atmosphere gives excellent opportunities to make new useful and interesting acquaintances and have fun doing various sports, cultural and social events. The more time you dedicate to university life the more popular you become among college elite.

Sophomore year is not less interesting than the freshmen year. Once you’ve got used to the ways in the university, know the procedure, have friends and hobbies and know how to have fun you feel perfectly well and ready to continue to do fun things you did before. Some of the fellows seem to forget about studies, but the system is serious and stable. In the dictionary of the dean there are no words “sorry” or “just a few more days”. The result comes real quick and in a day you are kicked out with unsatisfactory progress and a stamp of a looser for the rest of your days. Junior year is as much fun as it is serious. Being old and mature enough, we realize which direction to work in, to achieve everything that you’ve planned. Serious relations may start and distract your attention but studies are the only thing you’re focused on. Your college term paper fly to you in your dreams and when you hear sarcastic “unsatisfactory” you wake up all nervous and have insomnia till the rest of the week. How unwise. If you work hard enough, you’ll be duly awarded at the end of your studies. Senior year is the best one, time that you will never forget. This is time to relax for those who were wise enough to keep up with studies and time to focus for those who lost their heads among various chances to spend their time otherwise. Most probably they will turn to college term papers to fill in the gaps of their studies.

But when the last efforts are made and all the exams are left behind, you feel relief and burning desire to get started to whatever you were prepared for. And after it is all over and look behind your shoulder you ask yourself: is it gone, or has it just begun? Nothing can be changed in the past but there is a nice chance to start your life again, from the blank page to write a good history about a man/woman, who reached success and achieved acclaim.

College Students: Don't Forget About Auto Maintenance

College bound? Here is one more item to add to your checklist before heading off to campus this fall: a vehicle checkup.


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College Students: Don't Forget About Auto Maintenance


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College bound? Here is one more item to add to your checklist before heading off to campus this fall: a vehicle checkup.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) recommends that you make sure your vehicle is in good working condition. Unless you are a dedicated do-it-yourselfer, you'll want to find a reputable shop to take care of maintenance and service for you.

ASE, a nonprofit organization that tests and certifies automotive technicians, offers the following tips on choosing a repair facility.

* Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one.

* Ask your friends and associates for their recommendations or consult local consumer groups.

* Arrange for transportation in advance so you will not feel forced to choose a shop based on its location.

* Look for a neat, well-organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service areas.

* Look for a courteous staff, with a service consultant willing to answer all of your questions.

* Check the shop's policies regarding estimated repair costs, diagnostic fees, guarantees and acceptable methods of payment.

* Ask if the repair facility specializes or if it usually handles your type of repair work.

* Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area, such as civic, community or customer service awards.

* Look for evidence of qualified technicians, such as trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work and certification by ASE.

* Look for the ASE sign. ASE-certified technicians wear blue-and-white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact areas of certification. Their employers often display the ASE sign.

College Scholarships: How to Find Money for School

Many potential college students don't end up attending university due to a lack of money, however there are thousands of college scholarship programs available.


Keywords:
college scholarships, university grants, money for college, college financial assistance


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Many potential college students don't end up attending university due to a lack of money, however there are thousands of college scholarship programs available. Here is a list of the most common types of college scholarships that students can apply for:

• Private organisations
• Corporate awards
• College-specific awards
• Athletic award
• Union funded scholarship
• Military scholarship
• Academic scholarship
• Departmental awards


College scholarships awarded by the college that a student is attending are subject to strict terms of acceptance. This type of college scholarship is constantly re-evaluated throughout the length of the course that the student is funded for and can be withdrawn if the student fails to keep to the agreed terms.

An athletic scholarship is fairly self-explanatory but this type of college scholarship is probably the hardest for a student to obtain. There are hundreds of thousands of highly gifted athletes from a range of sports every year that apply for an athletic college scholarship and the numbers awarded are extremely low. It is worth bearing in mind that only the top flight schools will offer an athletic college scholarship.

The academic scholarships are one of the few that do not actually require the student to apply for them. This is because the college normally awards an academic scholarship based on the college application alone. Obviously, the very nature of an academic scholarship means that a student will require outstanding academic potential to be offered a full academic college scholarship and it is more common for a particle college scholarship to be awarded.

A departmental scholarship is most commonly awarded by a specific department of a college to either attract or retain students for courses run by that particular department. The individual department will provide information as to whether they offer any type of special scholarship or not.

There are many private organisations that offer some form of partial college scholarship. These often depend on the area that a student lives in but national organisations may also offer a student a college scholarship but the competition for these can be fierce.

On the other hand, many corporations actually have a college scholarship program but fail to award them because of a lack of applicants. The corporations may offer a college scholarship to students to attract them into the particular line of work that the corporation is in or simply to offer students in their community the chance to attend college.

Unions have a large amount of money allocated to a college scholarship fund. These are usually aimed at students who are going to enter a field of study related to the type of union.

Finally, the various branches of the military all have an extensive college scholarship program. A military college scholarship is often extremely generous but is awarded in exchange for a pre-agreed length of service after graduation in the particular branch that sponsored the student.

College Scholarships

If you are thinking of attending a college or university within the next year, be sure to research the scholarships available for your line of study or college of choice.  Scholarships normally do not have to be repaid like other forms of financial aid.


Keywords:
college scholarship, scholarships, college scholarships, financial aid


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COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

Due to ever-increasing costs of going to college, it is a good idea to search out available scholarships and apply for them.  Scholarships are one of the most enticing forms of financial aid available today.  This is because they are available to anyone without any repayment requirements!  Many scholarships are overlooked and therefore are a missed opportunity for many students.

If students know about scholarships, they can apply for them, but many students do not know that college scholarships exist.  Most students do not understand that there are scholarships obtainable to them, which could pay a major part of their education.  In fact, the college scholarship can be used for any educational opportunity.  This is includes private or public college, junior college or four-year universities, graduate or certificate programs.

What are college scholarships?

College Scholarships programs come in a variety of forms, which are normally considered free college money.  College scholarships, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid.  Scholarships can be awarded directly to students in a form of a check or to the school itself.  You can receive a scholarship from any of the following types of organizations: charitable foundations, businesses, schools, universities, government agencies, and sometimes-even clubs or groups within the school.

Who can get college scholarships?

Although many scholarships are granted based on grades, this is a misconception.  There are scholarships for less than perfect academics as long as you meet the other requirements.  They range from athletic scholarships, to community service scholarships.

Many scholarship providers want to reward students for choosing a particular school or state.  It is believed by older students that only college-bound high school seniors can apply for scholarship awards, this is not true.  Scholarships are accessible for all levels of college study, from freshman undergrads to graduate students.  You will need to make sure that you check the requirements for each scholarship for which you apply.

How do students find college scholarships?

It takes some time and energy to find and apply for scholarships, but the hard work will most likely pay off.  You can sometimes find them by asking department heads if there are available scholarships, in the department you will major in.

Some student’s use highly regarded and accurate scholarship search services on the Internet to save time in the searching process.  This is highly recommended.  Online resources are a good idea as long as the website offers updated, current data and a way to match the student with the scholarship.

High school students can ask their guidance counselors about their eligibility for local or state scholarship awards.  You should also make sure that you contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend, to see if they qualify for awards issued by the school.  Finally yet importantly, students should ask their parents and friends to be on the lookout for scholarships, while always checking local bulletin boards and newspapers for additional scholarship listings.

College Scholarship Myths You Need To Know

There are several types of scholarship grants out there. And the best part is you can get it everywhere. You can get it from your school academic office, colleges and universities, local government, corporations, institutions, and the internet. But the bad thing is, in spite the availability of these scholarships, applicants seem to be discourage for certain reasons. Here are the common myths you need to know before getting discourage on applying for a college scholarship:

...


Keywords:
scholarships, college scholarship, scholarship myths


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There are several types of scholarship grants out there. And the best part is you can get it everywhere. You can get it from your school academic office, colleges and universities, local government, corporations, institutions, and the internet. But the bad thing is, in spite the availability of these scholarships, applicants seem to be discourage for certain reasons. Here are the common myths you need to know before getting discourage on applying for a college scholarship:

· Scholarships are for highly intellectual students only.

Most students are discouraged with the idea that all scholarship grants are reserved for ‘A’ students. This is 100% untrue. Although many scholarships offered everywhere have something to do with considering the academics performance of students, there are several factors that are also taken into great account. For this matter, scholarship grants can also be available for ‘B’ and ‘C’ students.

Many scholarships also have something to do with any field outside the norms of academic performance and grades. For example, there are scholarships for athletes, artists, performers, and so on. There are some scholarships that consider the weight of the applicants’ involvement in community development. The thing is you don’t have to be an Einstein to win a scholarship.

· Scholarships are only for the underprivileged

While there are many institutions that provide scholarships for the underprivileged, other scholarships do not fall on this condition. Many scholarships are granted for middle class or even for those who can afford. It is true that most scholarships are based on the need; there are some that aren’t. As a matter of fact, there are many scholarships that are based on the merits. This means that an applicant is not measured based on the financial capability but on academic proficiency and extracurricular activities.

· Scholarships involve money right at the application process

Yes, there are groups or institutions that will do all the work for you. They will find the most suitable scholarship for your need and they will process your scholarship application. Be warned that these might be scams. They do not intent to give you the scholarship you need but the money you earned. If you come across this, never give any payment.

· You cannot apply for several types of scholarships

The fact is you can always apply for several types of scholarships you think you are qualified into. Just make sure you give attention on the requirements and you are on the way in getting to a school you always dream of.

College Ranking: Tips for Finding the Best Schools

Finding the best colleges by using a ranking system can be more difficult than it seems. Here are some tips to finding an accurate university ranking list.


Keywords:
best college, university ranking system, choosing a college


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The official university ranking list that is published every year lists the top colleges in the country, however these lists don't go over many important issues to a student. Luckily there are several college ranking guides that are published by actual college students. The most accurate form of ranking colleges places a high importance on student happiness. College students grade their university based on a number of different factors, not just academic qualifications. This type of college ranking process reflects the opinions of current students and recent graduates and is not influenced by the institutions. If you search the internet you will find sites where students have given a college ranking based on criteria such as:

* Parking
* Safety and Security
* Academics
* Athletics
* Campus Dining
* Campus Housing
* Transportation
* Weather
* Campus Strictness
* Computers
* Diversity
* Drug Scene
* Off-Campus Dining
* Off-Campus Housing
* Facilities
* Girls
* Greek Life
* Guys
* Local Atmosphere
* Nightlife

These different aspects of college life all have varying levels of importance for a prospective student and the college ranking for one area may not be of interest but having them broken down into the individual categories allows a student to investigate the college ranking that is of interest to them and not just an overall ranking.

For example, a student without a car will not be interested in the college ranking for available parking facilities but would be keen to find out about the transportation available in the college area. An art student may not be concerned that their first-choice college does not have high speed internet access in the dorm rooms but a computer major would class this as essential.
Female students are more likely to be concerned about a college ranking for security on campus and be especially interested in the levels of campus police but may not be bothered if the school has a low college ranking for the football coaching.

Apart from visiting some of the college ranking websites and reading surveys conducted amongst students it is also useful to attend the colleges that you are considering before making a decision. This will enable you to confirm, or refute the claims made by the college ranking yourself and also offer you the chance to see if the college actually feels right for you before you accept a place.

College Life: Secrets to Getting By

Surviving college life can seem difficult at times but there are tips that can help a student through the tough times at their university.


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college life, college student experiences, university student tips


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When you first begin college, life can be difficult at times so it is vital to have some "university student survival tips" to ensure that you enjoy college life or at the very least, survive it. Obviously, money is going to play an important role in your survival and you need to make sure that you save enough to pay for the essentials before spending it all on enjoying college life.

Most students live in shared accommodation for part of their college life. This can be the first time that many students have had to share their living space with non-family members and how you deal with this can really be the difference between an enjoyable or a hellish college life. The most important point to remember is that you need to develop some boundaries with your roomies. Everyone needs to have their own space and this is a guaranteed way to ensure that you survive college life. If you ensure that you have some time to yourself to catch up on your studies it will mean that you are free to enjoy the more pleasurable sides to college life without resenting the people that you live with. Of course everyone has their own standards but as long as you make sure that you clear up after yourself then it will make college life easier although you cannot change those around you.

College life means that you will meet lots of new people but don’t let this affect your relationships with family and friends back home. You may be away at college for a number of years but remember that you had a life before college life and you will have one afterwards too. Keeping in touch with people outside of college also helps you to have a support network if college life becomes too much at times.

There are no hard and fast rules to settling in to college life but you do need to give it a chance. If you enter into it with a negative outlook and rush back home every chance you get then you will find it harder adjusting to college life. It is also true that some of the best parts of college life happen at weekends so you don’t want to miss out on these opportunities.

College life can be so exciting that you may forget the important things like getting enough sleep. You are going to want to go out and enjoy yourself but it is important that you do catch up on your rest at regular intervals so that you can concentrate on your studies occasionally!

College Interview General Preparation

Lets first think of a college interview, what is it really, why do they even bother to take the time and personally meet each applicant, and what kind of power a good interview has. You have probably conducted your own national college search, and already know your preferences. Colleges have interviews for one simple reason, it works, it works for them – some data shows them that the applicants they personally meet and talk with, on average, succeed in their programs and have...


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college interview


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Lets first think of a college interview, what is it really, why do they even bother to take the time and personally meet each applicant, and what kind of power a good interview has. You have probably conducted your own national college search, and already know your preferences. Colleges have interviews for one simple reason, it works, it works for them – some data shows them that the applicants they personally meet and talk with, on average, succeed in their programs and have been succeeding in their program for some time now. So they know it works. But what is “it”? the college interview is the “it”, and it is no different than a job interview.

The college interview was not thought of as a mean to intimidate potential students, to keep them away, to embarrass and humiliate the next graduates of this college, it is meant for one simple, and very important, reason – to meet and evaluate the motivation and potential of the young person applying to the college. And that’s all it is. There is nothing personal or evil in it, other from the fact these people want to know what you are made of and how serious you are. You need to think of it as a part of your campus tour.

So a college interview is basically like a thoughtful conversation with someone you never met before and that wants to know who you really are, what you went through in your life and where you are heading. But when talking to a stranger about this you can allow yourself to be casual and say some things that you can not say in a college interview, you have to think of how you want to present yourself, and how not to get dragged to the pleasing “tell me what I want to hear” mode.

Preparation will get you a long way, it is the absolute key in getting through the college interview successfully. There is no such thing as over preparing for this, and in fact, if you do this the proper way, you will need to tell yourself at a certain moment that its time to stop preparing.
Let’s go over some of the points in the preparation procedure, things you will want to look into while getting ready for your college interview.

Try and know who your contact is – a simple thing, try and get the name (or names of the persons) that will be conducting the interview, when you will start the interview you will have a nicer way to present yourself and greet the interviewers than most applicants do. It will also show that you prepared in advance and that you are serious about getting this position, this will set you off in the right tracks. When you do your initial national college search, you can also look for the contacts interviewing applicants. No potential harm here. Only good can come out of this one.

Research - can I stress this enough? College interview success – research, research and more research. Lets ask ourselves one basic questions, if someone wants to get into his favorite spot team (any position) will he (or she) not know the names of past hero’s? The teams greatest moments? Its accomplishments? Or course the candidate will know. And you need to show that you are the same, your motivation and enthusiasm to get in to this program will shine when you provide enough evidence to prove you know everything there is to know about the place itself. Ways to get information, research the college web site, search engines for other information, people name search will give you some knowledge about the teachers and their accomplishments, any publications of the college itself are also good. If you are reading this while doing your national college search, you can enjoy the opportunity to add something to your list. Even the ordinary campus tour can give you a chance of finding a little more about the place.

In researching the college you can study materials of the college. College’s course book online, find interesting questions regarding the courses. Some students seem to think that asking questions at the interview might seem presumptuous, but in fact it makes you seem interested and sophisticated. Here are some questions you might consider asking The programs you might be interested in majoring in, construction on the campus and new facilities, financial aid, How the school treats AP tests, how they compare this college with national colleges, the campus tour, school advising, ask interviewers about their opinion of the school, what they like best, and why the courses are better than in other places (no example or names, just say other places).

Your answers – take a look at our “college interview questions” section to familiarize yourself with the potential questions you may face, and practice with family member or friend, keep answers short and sweet, know what you are saying and do not get too personal. Talk slowly, and think about each question before you answer, even if you have been practicing for this particular question for the past two months. Never cut someone when they are talking, not even if you are extremely excited about your answer.

Promoting yourself – think about a few strong points you got, and that you want the interviewer to remember about you, no need to mention these in every answer, but three or four times (with reference – “as I already told you, I think I am very good at managing people… that’s why I took the school paper publishing project”). If you have a problem identifying traits you want to promote – read your resume or application form again carefully and mark the points you think are worth focusing on. You can also try and add some humor to the interview, say something about the campus tour, and your impression of the college.

College Interview – What Questions Should You Expect?

Knowing what to expect in a college interview can often spell the difference between acceptance and rejection. What are some of the frequently asked questions and how should you answer them?


Keywords:
interview, college interview, acing the interview, admissions, college admissions, admissions interview


Article Body:
College interviews are another chance for you to tell the admissions officers more about yourself. You will want to take the interview seriously, because it helps paint a better picture of you as a student.

Although it’s not a good idea to over-prepare yourself for a college interview, you should always anticipate certain questions that interviewers are prone to ask. These questions are designed to find out about your interests and passions. Following are some of interviewers’ favorite questions:

“Why do you want to come to this college?”

This question is to gauge how well you know about the school; i.e your level of interest. Some schools track interest and use it as a criteria for admission, so you’d do well to do research on the school you’re applying to. Read up the college’s literature and website, and tie it with your interests. Mix those with some reasons of your own, like the fact that it has a close-knit student community. If you can give some specific examples, the interviewer is likely to be impressed with your research.

“How would you contribute to this community?”

Colleges want givers. They want people who are able to add life to their campus. So make sure you let them know how you are going to do it. Talk about your skills, your experiences and your contributions. A good tip is to tell them how you plan to give back to the community; whether it’s tutoring fellow classmates in a subject you are strong at, chartering a new community chapter in the campus or sharing your ideas with fellow students.

“Which activities are most meaningful to you?”

Like the essay, you would want to mention activities that are your passions. You want the interviewer to know what makes you tick. But unlike the essay, you can discuss your activities at length without word limits. Resist the temptation to brag though. Talk with a natural style, and if you’re passionate about what you do, it’ll show. Talk about specific anecdotes; interviewers like hearing about personal stories. For example, if you are a music enthusiast, you can talk about your first performance and how you nearly fumbled on stage because you were too nervous. Don’t make up stories though.

“What books have you read lately?”

A lot of applicants think that this is a ‘trap’ question that they must give a book that is either intellectual or have good values. It doesn’t have to be. Just talk about a book you did read. Avoid the usual cliché titles that you read in English class though. Sicne part of the purpost is to gauge your initiative and creactivity, it’s better to pcik a book you found rather than the one assigned to you. Don’t lie about the books you read though; if the interviewer happens to be familiar with a particular book you fabricated, you’ll be in trouble.

In the end, the interviewer wants to know more about you, so just be yourself.

College Corner

Every day that passes offers parents the opportunity to share valuable life lessons they have learned with their college-aged student.


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College Corner


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Every day that passes offers parents the opportunity to share valuable life lessons they have learned with their college-aged student. One of the most important of those lessons is financial management, and the more you talk about it to your students as they enter young adulthood, the more successful they will be during college and throughout their lives.

To help college-bound students manage their budgets, Chase offers resources to guide students on how to manage their finances responsibly from the first day of class to graduation, and beyond.

Financial Management 101

Before they fill their schedules with biology, economics and philosophy, encourage your college-bound students to make room for Financial Management 101, an important life "curriculum," as they go through the school year.

These tips from Chase will help your students get a passing financial grade and may even land them on the financial honor roll:

1. Create a budget for the school year-and stick to it.

A-List out all your income/ loan disbursements

B-List out all your expenses

C-Make sure A is greater than B.

Check this on a monthly basis to make sure you're on track.

2. Know your budget and credit limit before you spend.

3. Keep track of all purchases and plan your use of credit cards.

4. To avoid late fees and build a positive credit history, always pay all your bills on time.

5. Learn about and track your credit bureau information and rating. Go to www.annu alcreditreport.com for more information.

Learning to handle their own finances can be one of life's most important lessons for your students.

College Bound? 6 Tips For a Pain-Free Move

Moving away to college, with all of your possessions in tow, is more than just a headache. It also can be a pain in the neck, back and legs.


Keywords:
College Bound? 6 Tips For a Pain-Free Move


Article Body:
Moving away to college, with all of your possessions in tow, is more than just a headache. It also can be a pain in the neck, back and legs.

Constant lifting and carrying heavy items can overwork your muscles and leave your body stressed, fatigued and in pain. W.F. Young Inc., the maker of Absorbine Jr. pain relief products, offers the following tips to help you alleviate the aches and pains of moving.

* Pack efficiently. Suitcases not only are heavy and cumbersome, they also pose a storage problem in a small dorm room. Pack clothes in laundry bags or trash bags instead. Laundry bags can be folded and stored and trash bags can be thrown away after they are unpacked.

* Use a cart or dolly. Many universities provide carts that students can use to move their possessions into their dorm rooms. The carts are in high demand, however, so there often is a long wait to use one. Purchase a dolly from a home improvement store and avoid the lines.

* Lift with care. Before you lift a heavy item, stand with your feet apart and firmly planted on the ground. Bend your knees and use the power of your legs to lift the object.

* Take breaks. Don't overextend yourself. Taking frequent water breaks and sitting down for a couple of minutes will help you regroup throughout the day.

* Don't do it alone. Take this opportunity to make new friends. Ask your roommate or neighbor for help moving furniture and other heavy items around your room. In turn, ask if he or she needs assistance.

* Plan for pain relief. To treat sore muscles, bring along an over-the-counter product such as Absorbine Jr. This pain relief liquid contains botanical extracts and helps relieve aches, strains and minor arthritis pain.

This antiseptic also is great for college students to have on hand for occasional scrapes, cuts and bruises and to treat the itch associated with athlete's foot.

College Books - Tips and Tricks for Saving Money

College books are getting more and more expensive every year. University course textbooks are one of the biggest expenses of attending college and the average amount of money needed for college books is $800 per year.


Keywords:
college books, affording textbooks for college, university book store


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College books are getting more and more expensive every year. University course textbooks are one of the biggest expenses of attending college and the average amount of money needed for college books is $800 per year. The cost of college textbooks is also constantly increasing by around 6% per year. Textbooks are essential for most college courses and can often seem impossible to afford however, it is possible for college students to save quite a bit of money on their books by shopping smart.

One of the best ways to save on spending a lot of money on college books is to borrow them instead of purchasing them. University libraries have a good stock of required reading books that students can use on the premises throughout their course and help lessen the impact of not having enough money for actually purchasing college books. Naturally the majority of savvy students have cottoned on to the fact that they too can save money on college books by using the ones stocked by the library so it may be difficult to be able to find the book not in use on a regular basis. If you plan ahead and set aside a few different times of the day and week to visit the library you may find the best options for you to be able to use the college books that you want. Not everyone wants to study late in the evenings, especially at weekends, but if your library is open and you are intent on finding ways to save on spending money for college books then this could be the perfect time.

Another avenue that may work to save spending a lot of money on college books is to approach your course professor. They will often have a huge stock of college books that they have acquired through various means over the years and it is a good idea to see if you can borrow a particular book that they may have. Not only may this help but you be able to find out if certain college books are really required for the course or if you are only going to need a chapter or two from them. With this advance knowledge you can obtain a copy of the book for a short period of time from the library or another student who has bought the book and read the relevant chapters without having to fork out the money for college books that you won’t necessarily need.

College - Good Grade Obsession

College applicants often have an obsession with getting good grades and this leads to an absence of extra-curricular activity that really shows who they are.


Keywords:
college


Article Body:
Colleges have been reviewing far too many applications recently that show students are addicted to getting good grades which means they are continuously sacrificing the time to figure out what extra-curricular activities interest them.  These students are becoming more and more robotic in a greatly increasing competitive atmosphere.  Although a student's academic career is the main focus of the applicants, the problem lies when the college has to figure out what to do when they have too many applicants with a grade point average of 3.8-4.0.  There have been several circumstances where the student with the 4.0 does not get into the college and student with the lower grade point average does.

Of course colleges are looking for those students who can do well academically, but they also want their students to come with a certain energy towards innovation.  They want their students to be able to contribute creatively and receive some sort of recognition eventually.  Basically, colleges need those students who can go beyond expectation.  They need the students who have a love in life beyond academics.  They need students who can excel outside of the classroom; at sports, volunteer work, dancing, traveling, and the list goes on and on.  These students also need to be able to present this in a 4-8 page college application.  Now, how do you do this? How does one go about preparing for this task?

It is very important that a student do two things while also maintaining a good grade point average.  They must have personal time to themselves to breathe and relax and they also have to commit to something that they love to do outside of the classroom.  The students who stay committed to one activity for three years show a much stronger level of commitment and motivation than the student that who participates in twenty activities for a short period of time.  However, the students who participate in two or more activities for two or more years show even more potential than those with only one.

When colleges get applications that show various extra-curricular activities with no connection to each other, they question them.  Some of these applications will have all different kinds of activities like "one month volunteering at a homeless shelter, three months at a vet hospital, 6 months in dance lessons" etc.  Although these applications are full of extra curricular activities, these students show questionable motivation and a lack of commitment.  This may simply mean that the student participated in the activities for the sole purpose of filling up that page in the college application.  Sometimes these assumptions are clarified in the student's essay but there are times when they are not and this does not look good for the applicant no matter what his or her grades are like.

Students should always keep in mind that colleges want those students who can think critically.  They want the student who can pursue an idea, not the one who simply follows the rules and meets criteria.  Colleges want the student who can think outside the box.

Choosing An Online Private College And University

Private colleges and Universities are known for their high standards and excellent academic programs. Their online programs are no different. If you are ready to get your Bachelor’s degree, or if you are ready to continue your post-secondary education, consider an online private college or University degree program.

Getting an education through an online private college or university degree program can be an experience that is every bit as enriching, interpersonal, and dyn...


Keywords:
College and University


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Private colleges and Universities are known for their high standards and excellent academic programs. Their online programs are no different. If you are ready to get your Bachelor’s degree, or if you are ready to continue your post-secondary education, consider an online private college or University degree program.

Getting an education through an online private college or university degree program can be an experience that is every bit as enriching, interpersonal, and dynamic as attending college the traditional face-to-face way. A big misconception is that online learning is impersonal. This isn’t the case at all. Programs offered online present the same opportunities for group work, independent study, and interpersonal communication as do traditional methods of learning. In fact, attending college online helps to facilitate the independent learning process, as well as developing time management skills. Attending an online University takes just as much commitment as the old-fashioned way of going to school, and the potential career and personal benefits are just as great, if not greater. As the popularity of attending college online increases, more campus-based private colleges and Universities are joining the fast-growing group of online-only private colleges and Universities in offering several different levels of degrees over the Internet, presenting students with broader educational options, as well as flexibility and convenience.

There are many advantages for a student seeking a secondary education to choose an online private college and University degree program. Proximity is a key factor. A student does not need to live locally to an accredited private college or University. Attending all classes and submitting coursework online eliminates the need for commuting or relocating. Earning a degree from an online private college or University is a convenient way to advance your education and training. A school may offer more sections of popular courses, as well as night and weekend courses, which allows a student more flexibility. This is an ideal situation for those who work full time and/or care for a family. Additionally, if you are a student who is considering returning to school after several years, going to school online is a perfect way to ease into the routine of class work and projects again, and can lessen the stress of feeling the need to fit in with younger students. Besides, who wouldn’t find it appealing to attend college from the comforts of home?

If you are worried that you might not be able to afford a degree from an online private college or University program, there are options. Some employers might offer to pay a portion or even all tuition and fees toward an employee receiving a degree. Also, financial aid in the form of grants, loans, and even scholarships might be available to you. Check with the particular online program of interest to see what financial options are available.

The type of degree you can earn through an online private college or University degree program is vast. Aside from earning Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and PhD degrees, professionals can continue their educations and stay up to the minute in their fields. Online learning is no longer just for web designers and computer programmers. You may study Business, Social Sciences, Criminal Justice, Humanities, Mathematics, Human Resources, Fine Arts, and various Healthcare programs. Depending on the type of degree you are seeking (graduate, for example), there may be certain academic requirements that you have to fulfill to be able to attend. Make sure you do your research when trying to decide on an online private college or University.

With the prevalence of the Internet and technologies such as teleconferencing available today, it is possible to come away from the experience of attending and online private college or University not only with a degree, but also being more in tune with technology, which has the potential to broaden your career opportunities even more. Seeking an education through an online private college or University degree program is a legitimate, convenient, and flexible way for you to advance you education, as well as your career and personal potential.

Choosing a College Degree - What is Best for You?

Choosing a college degree can be a very difficult decision to make. There are many things to consider but it is important to decide on the right college degree for the type of occupation that you want to pursue. You may find that you do not actually need a college degree but that a certificate or diploma will be sufficient, or your chosen profession may require further study after a college degree such as medicine or law.


Keywords:
choosing a college major, which college degree


Article Body:
Choosing a college degree can be a very difficult decision to make. There are many things to consider but it is important to decide on the right college degree for the type of occupation that you want to pursue. You may find that you do not actually need a college degree but that a certificate or diploma will be sufficient, or your chosen profession may require further study after a college degree such as medicine or law.

Certificates or diplomas require a shorter period of study than a traditional college degree and are usually taken by students wanting to pursue a career in an occupational field. Quite often a certificate or diploma can be taken before embarking on a college degree course.

An associate degree is awarded after completing a two-year college degree course. Some community colleges and other universities offer an associate degree program which allows you to transfer to a four-year college degree course after you have been awarded the appropriate associate degree. There are a number of occupations where a two-year college degree is recommended or required including:

• Administrative Assistant
• Automotive Mechanic
• Cardiovascular Technician
• Commercial Artist
• Computer Technician
• Dental Hygienist
• Drafter
• Engineering Technician
• Funeral Director
• Graphic Designer
• Heating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician
• Hotel or Restaurant Manager
• Medical Laboratory Technician
• Medical Record Technician
• Insurance Agent
• Registered Nurse
• Surgical Technologist
• Surveyor
• Visual Artist
• Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

A traditional four-year college degree is the most frequently required qualification for a number of occupations. Some examples of professions requiring a four-year college degree in an appropriate discipline are:

• Accountant
• Computer Systems Analyst
• Dietitian
• Editor
• Engineer
• FBI Agent
• Investment Banker
• Journalist
• Medical Illustrator
• Pharmacist
• Public Relations Specialist
• Recreational Therapist
• Research Assistant
• Social Worker
• Teacher
• Writer

There are also a number of occupations that require a student to obtain a college degree that is longer than the conventional four-year college degree programs. These extended professional college degree programs include:

• Architect
• Biologist
• Chiropractor
• Dentist
• Diplomat
• Doctor
• Economist
• Geologist
• Lawyer
• Librarian
• Management Consultant
• Palaeontologist
• Priest
• Psychologist
• Public Policy Analyst

It is important to choose a college degree course that is suitable for the career path you want to follow. If you are unsure of which field of occupation you want to enter then it is advisable to take a certificate or diploma course first. This will enable you to change disciplines without having spent four years on a degree course that ends up not being something that you want to pursue.

Choosing A College; How To Start

With more than three thousand colleges and universities from which to choose, every student who takes the time to intelligently explore his or her educational options (and adheres to application and financial aid deadlines) should gain admission to at least three or four institutions in which they are highly likely to be happy and successful. Students and parents will therefore not find the college application process an anxiety provoking experience if they understand there i...


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With more than three thousand colleges and universities from which to choose, every student who takes the time to intelligently explore his or her educational options (and adheres to application and financial aid deadlines) should gain admission to at least three or four institutions in which they are highly likely to be happy and successful. Students and parents will therefore not find the college application process an anxiety provoking experience if they understand there is no single "right" college, if they maintain reasonable expectations, do a little planning, and take full advantage of the many informational resources available to them.

It is important to realize that only about five percent of the colleges and universities in the United States deny admission to more than fifty percent of their applicants. Therefore, unless you plan to apply to those highly selective institutions, the odds of your gaining admission to the colleges to which you do apply are probably very strongly in your favor. And, if your grades and SAT or ACT scores are high enough so that applying to the most selective colleges is a reasonable and realistic option for you, you can almost be assured of admission to any number of excellent but slightly less competitive institutions.

The extent to which a college can afford to be selective is a function of its perceived quality and/or popularity. Thus, while it is true that the colleges and universities with the highest academic profiles tend to be the most selective, many fine institutions do not enjoy the luxury of receiving applications from a significantly greater number of students than they are able to admit, and are therefore only moderately or even minimally selective.

Keeping in mind what we have just discussed, you are now ready to begin your college search.

Your first and most important step to identify at least a half dozen institutions which offer the academic programs and co-curricular activities of interest to you, provide a campus environment in which you will feel comfortable, and are likely to offer you admission. Begin by meeting with your school counselor to:

1.solicit his or her college recommendations.
2.discuss the courses you plan to take in future years.
3.sign up for the SAT and ACT.
4.learn which college representatives will be visiting your school.
5.find out about upcoming college fairs in your area.

Don’t forget that the web is a great source of information. Do a few searches for terms like colleges", "college scholarships", "financial aid" and "college admissions" to identify some good online resources.

After completing the above steps, you’re off to a good start. Enjoy your search!

Capella University: an honest review

Online universities are a boon for adults who wish to continue their education despite working. Capella is amongst those names that come to mind foremost when one is considering earning a degree online.


Keywords:
university,education,online university,Capella University Review


Article Body:
Online universities are a boon for adults who wish to continue their education despite working. Capella is amongst those names that come to mind foremost when one is considering earning a degree online. Formed in 1993, Capella University became fully accredited in 1997. With accreditation came a name change and formation of five different schools namely: Education, Business, Technology, Human Sciences and Psychology. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the university offers 650 courses in 70 specialization areas of studies. With statistics such as 650 faculty members and over 550 administrative and personnel staff, the university is inarguably one of the better places to earn an online degree and currently has over 13,000 learners enrolled with it.

There are several upsides and some down sides of studying at Capella. Consider these points for instance:

Capella has a personalized portal for e-learning called iGuide. After enrolling students are given secure access to courses and transcripts which will enable you to join the interactive learning community. On joining the online classroom, which they refer to as ‘Courseroom’ the student has access to online assignments and discussion forums. Most students find this alternative far superior to the cumbersome online chats and perpetually non-functioning webcams of their competitors.  Similarly, the assignment submission protocol through Capella is quite convenient.  Under the system, students have to submit their assignments in zip files or Microsoft Word documents.

The University also offers a number of opportunities that extend beyond graduation.  One, for example is the alumni center located on the online portal. This service offers recent graduates and students access to networking opportunities, professional employment information, and developmental grants. Students are generally pleased with this feature although some have criticized the alumni center as being much more fluff than actual job offers.

While on the subject of employment, it is important to consider that many students in online universities choose that option for the chance to work at the same time.  Unfortunately, however, students are frequently finding that the University does not do much by way of providing employment for students.  Students find the opportunity for work-study rather dismal. The University does not offer much assistance for this except for students who live in the vicinity of the headquarters.

While this type of limitation might be expected from an online university, the school does offer some rather extensive assistance when it comes to special needs for learning.  Capella University provides disability services to physically challenged students in the form of additional learning time, residential colloquia support, including sign language interpreters and mobility assistance.

Regarding other services, however, Capella comes up short.  Capella does have a bookstore, which offers a wide variety of books and software. But it is generally felt that the books can definitely be bought a lot cheaper from other places instead of the university bookstore.  While some students claim that the use of a University book store is merely a means for Capella to generate revenue at the expense of the school, it is rather simple to opt out of this trap by purchasing books online.  And in other respects, the school, regarding cost, is quite competitive with other online universities, and a real bargain compared to its brick and mortar counterparts.

While many of the individual schools within Capella carry quite a strong reputation, the psychology school is regarded as quite unsatisfactory.  The Psychology School has been plagued with some problems concerning its top management. The school has been beset with repeat changes of deans resulting in total lack of coordination. Add to this, the program is till now, not approved by the apex American Psychological Association (APA) despite being in existence for so many years.

But as stated previously, the condition of this particular school should not be taken as an indication of the collective university.  With a faculty numbering 650, many students find the quality and variety of professors a major asset to the university.  Some students have argued, however, that contrary to this, existing students often complain of these very instructors as being part time contractors and as such not dedicated enough to adequately serve their students as teachers and mentors. In fact professors at Capella are often labeled as ‘incapable of online teaching’, a criticism pointing to many professors non-familiarity with the online environment.   An argument in favor of this thought comes from the experience of some students who loved the experience of pursuing an online masters degree with Capella and after coming back for more by enrolling for their doctoral program, were disappointed. They claim an obvious degradation of quality of mentoring at the higher levels.  This may be because the vast majority of students enrolled at Capella do not seek to extend their education that far.

Overall Capella provides students with a bit of a mixed bag.  The format of class teaching and the ease of assignment submissions is a very tangible benefit of this school over its competitors.  In addition, the University faculty has some very able-minded and talented teachers.  But with these positives, come some very serious drawbacks.  The teaching quality at Capella is inconsistent at times, leaving some students with the impression that the qualifications required for teaching are too low.  Additionally, the failure of the school to attain accreditation in some areas, despite its age, can only leave the impression that the quality of the administration has some serious flaws.

Campus Calling - Youth Connects On Online Board

Lost and found, buying and selling, fests and feasts - a virtual notice board connects students across the country


Keywords:
College, Campus, University, india, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata,Pune,Chennai, Anna,Events, Fest, Housing, PG, Jobs, Internship, Part time, Fresher, Books, Notes, Mobile, Tickets, CD, DVD, Furniture, Computer, Service, Tutor, Creative, Web, Design, Lost, Found, Anna University, DU, Delhi University, Bangalore University, Pune University, UNIPUNE, IIT, IIM, Amity, NIT, Manipal, BUC,Bharathiar, BITS, WBUT, Pilani, Mumbai University, SNDT, BVP, Bharatiya Vidyapeeth, DYP, Dy Patil, Shivaji College, Osmania university, University of Hyderabad, Rai University, Utkal University, Christ College, Oxford College, Classifieds, College Classifieds, Social Networking, College Ads, College Information


Article Body:
Not all the writing is on the wall, some of it is also on the notice board. Summer jobs wanted, tuitions available, second-hand laptop for sale, brand new mobile phone lost and found — the college noticeboard is quite the silent chronicler of the life of the student community. But at a time when hundreds of youngsters cross over to the virtual world every day, the notice board is at best a blink-and-you-miss item. And cashing in on this virtual defection is online notice board searchmycampus.

Brainchild of Peyush Bansal, 23, the site was launched last December and has found earnest following among students who are using it to exchange information on everything from accommodation, to car pools, to buying and selling books, bikes, notes, furniture, mobiles..

The genesis of searchmycampus lies in Bansal's experiences at a Canadian university where, he says, he virtually lived on streets, with no clue about accommodation. “I went to McGill University in Montreal at 18, against my parents' wishes. I faced a lot hassles in settling down in the campus. So, when I retuned to India I decided to create this online campus board that would provide students a platform. I believe that only students can solve the problems of other students.”

By way of homework, after returning to India in October 2007, Bansal spent a lot of time traveling, meeting college students all over the country to understand their problems. Co-founder of the site and student of Indraprastha University, Delhi, Parit Gupta, 21, also helped him. Chetna, a student of Sri Ram College of Commerce, points out that besides not having time enough to look up the college notice board there is also the problem of “torn notices.” She has recently put an ad on searchmycampus with a request that someone lend her a copy of Eric Seghal's Love Story.

Kanika Saraff, a first year Economics student of Hindu college, also posted an ad seeking a summer job and was pleasantly surprised when she got a good response. She says, “Most outstation students like me do not know whom to approach for various things such as a good accommodation or summer jobs. This campus board will fill this gap.”

Besides facilitating intra-college communication, the website also promises to create better inter-college communication channels. Take the case of aspiring musician Romi of Delhi University, who wants to form a band. ‘I am a lead singer looking forward to establish a band, but not able to find good guitarists and drummers. Anyone interested may contact me', says Romi's post.

Ankit Khirwal is one of many DU students who are actively promoting the online campus notice board. He says, “I spend a lot of time tracking down all important notices on campus boards in various colleges and post them here. I believe there is so much that students can do for each other through this website.”

A part from Delhi, the site is getting popular in  campuses in other cities such as Bangalore, where students are also offering  lots of gadgets such as, iPods, Laptops, Handsfree, DVDs with pictures of the stuff they are seeking to sell, their  price and a note of on their condition. “The student-oriented online campus is quite innovative. Students from all over the country can post their queries on the site; it has the potential to replace the college notice board in the future,” says Tosha Koshi , who is doing her masters from Christ College, Bangalore.

Bansal says he wishes to bring together the community of 11 million college going students in the country under the umbrella of SearchMyCampus. He says, “This may not be as cool as various social networking sites, but it will surely be highly useful. Now I want to create a category where students can share their emotional problems too, campus life is all about sharing and caring for each other.”

Buying College Textbooks

High school students take having free books for granted. Most incoming college freshman are in for a big shock when they see the price of their new calculus book. In this article I'm going to discuss some of the unconventional means of acquiring your books for the semester.


Keywords:
College, College advice, college textbooks, textbooks


Article Body:
High school students take having free books for granted. Most incoming college freshmen are in for a big shock when they see the price of their new calculus book. That's what my advice is here for. $150 for one book is a lot to swallow, not to mention the $30 lab manual that comes with it. Oh and did you forget the $15 CD too? Buying textbooks is very, very expensive. On average a student buying his/her books from the school bookstore can expect to pay anywhere from $300-$400. So you’re looking at spending nearly $750 for books the whole year. In this article I am going to discuss some of the unconventional means of acquiring your books for the semester.

Nearly all incoming students look up their book lists online a week before class starts and buys their books from the university bookstore. People make fun of freshman because they don’t know any better, and this is a prime example. I’ll admit it, I bought my first semester’s books from the university book store, and boy did it show in my pocket book. University bookstores (or bookstores on campus) have the highest mark-up of all stores. You are a fool if you buy your books from them. The only time I recommend buying your book from the university bookstore is when they are the only supplier. For instance, if your professor wrote his own book and you can only buy it through the school.

The next best method of buying books is from a bookstore off-campus. But even here you will still pay hundreds of dollars for books you probably won’t read. Off-campus bookstores are generally smaller and don’t have the selection size of a university bookstore. If you are buying off-campus be sure to pick your books up early, because they will probably run out.

In my opinion, the best method of buying books is online. You can not beat the prices. If you are new to college an unfamiliar with sites that sell textbooks, please visit Amazon (I have several links to them on my site). Half.com and Ebay are also excellent places to find new and used textbooks. Most teachers post their required textbooks online a few weeks before the semester starts. This is the perfect time to search Amazon for you book. You have to look early because shipping can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks. If you can wait the shipping time, buying online is the best option. I turned to online buying after my freshman year. It was the best money saving method I used all through college. You turn $350 semester book fees into a mere $150 (or less). It’s amazing how so few students are actually buying online. These companies are 100% safe. There is no reason not to buy online.

Now I will go through some of the pros and cons of buying books from our three different means.

On-campus Bookstore
Pro – prime location
Pro – save time
Pro – get the exact editions you need
Pro – offer new and used books
Pro – offer buy back plans
Con – too expensive
Con – you get like $10 buy back for a $100 book
Con – not as many used copies

Off-campus Bookstore
Pro – less expensive
Pro – lots of used books
Pro – offer buy backs
Con – may have older editions
Con – not located nearby (unless you live off campus)
Con – small selections

Online Bookstore
Pro – cheapest books anywhere
Pro – get exactly the book you need
Pro – buy anytime
Con – have to wait 1-2 weeks for delivery

Some other tips on how to save money when it comes to buying books
Tip 1. Share a book with a friend
Tip 2. Always buy used
Tip 3. Buy previous editions (the books don’t change, trust me)
Tip 4. Look if the book is in e-book form
Tip 5. Swap books with other students

If you are going to get anything out of this article, the most important point being made is to be smart with your money. Buy your books online. It is by far the cheapest method. You can buy previous editions of the book you need for a fraction of the price. Editions don’t change from year to year. Buying edition 4 instead of 5 will not make a difference. This is based on my experiences, the pages numbers and writing will be exactly the same. Publishing textbooks is all a big scam. They update editions every year or two and expect us to buy them for $150.

Also, please be cautious when buying books from a bookstore on or near campus. They will tell you “Bring you book back at the end of the year and you will get CASH!” They always make up these gimmicks that put a picture of you stuffing wads of twenties in your wallet. What they don’t tell you is that they don’t always buy books back. If a new edition comes out, guess what, you’re screwed. I would say 75% of the time you will wait in the buy back line and they will say “I’m sorry, we aren’t buying that book back”. If this does happen to you I suggest you make an Amazon account and sell your book online. I’ve done it, and it works.

For more information on how to save money when buying textbooks, or if you have any questions in general, please email me at collegesos@yahoo.com

Busy Schedule? Consider an Online College For Nursing

This article explains why many people who have busy schedules, but still have a desire to learn nursing should consider an online college.


Keywords:
online, nursing, search, university, nurse, RN, LPN, degree, education


Article Body:
When deciding on a master’s degree in nursing, consider an online college for nursing. It may be the answer for those who have reservations about returning to school. The biggest concern for most people is the time they will have to devote to attending classes, finding time for group projects, homework, and taking tests. School can be stressful when trying to balance it with other areas of one’s life. Raising families, working full-time, and taking care of others can leave a person with little time for an education. But an online master’s degree in nursing may help a person be able to complete all tasks during the day.

People consider an online college for nursing because they have jobs, families, and other obligations. All classes are conducted online. Students buy books that are on a syllabus that is provided at the beginning of the class. In most online programs, up to four classes can be taken per semester. This is an advantage for those who can only take one or two. It may take longer to receive a degree, but a person can take the classes that they feel they can handle. For some, this is reason enough to consider an online nursing degree.

All course descriptions are offered before each semester. These descriptions also list projects and other assignments that might be due at the end of the semester. People can choose which classes they would like to take. This is similar to traditional college study. A nurse can gauge how much time they will need to complete the class and how much time they can devote to the class. There are also summer classes available. Assignments are given and even though there are scheduled days when they are due; there is usually more time to complete them. For those who can work with minimal supervision, an online program is the right choice. Consider an online college for nursing when trying to fit in an advanced degree into an already full day.

Burgers, Fries, Tacos and Nachos

Students have many problems they need to face once they are off on their own.  Eating right is one of those problems.


Keywords:
student, college, food, eating, health


Article Body:
One of the many problems that students face while living away from home is their unhealthy diets they live on.  Many students find it annoying or find it too expensive to eat a healthy meal and therefore resort to fast food and junk food because it is cheap and easy to get and clean up after.

Many students don't have the normal schedule as they used to have while they were in grade school.  They don't have a time mandated to them for when they can eat breakfast and lunch and don't get out of school by 3 so they can eat dinner at home.  In fact most college students have very ugly schedules depending on what classes they are taking this semester or quarter.  Some classes begin at 8 in the morning and others start at 7 in the afternoon and end at 9 at night.

Because of these timeslots are all over the place a college student can not always find the time available when they usually eat their meals.  For many students they have a problem of just trying to get the classes they need to take for that quarter or semester so they try to take the classes for the time slot they have free to the best of their convenience but that can conflict with the time when a student usually eats their meals interfering with their diet.

Students who are used to eating at around noon seem to have trouble accomplishing this simple task because they might have a class during that time period or they just finished one class and are heading to their next one.  Feeling hungry a student might end up buying a quick bite to eat at a vending machine or from a fast food vendor during their small interval break.  Grabbing fast food once in a while isn't all that bad but many students now resort to this method of getting food into their system because of the simplicity and quickness.

Because of the excess of junk food and fast food entering their system a student's diet becomes more and more unhealthy the more they rely of fast food and junk food to curve their hunger.  Not only is it bad for your body it doesn't contain the necessary ingredients that a person may need to properly function.

Supplements are one way to fill in the gaps but they are an unhealthy way to maintain one's diet.  And they are also pretty expensive.  It may be cheap if you look at it long term, but you still need to pay it all at once.  Paying fifty or sixty dollars for a bottle of supplements may seem a lot of money to many students who have to support themselves.

Also many students fall victim into the trend of relying on fast food and junk food because of the plain fact that they cannot cook for themselves.  Which isn't all that surprising because for the first eighteen years of their lives most students have had someone else supply the meals for them and it was up to that person for what kind of food entered their bodies.

One of the ways to counter this problem is probably learn to cook and appreciate a good and healthy meal but that requires time and money to learn such a method.