CAT | Grad School
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Advantages of Taking Online College Courses
0 Comments | Posted by AcademicAdviceBrit in Admissions, Bachelors Degrees, Business Degrees, Campus College, Financial Issues, Grad School, High School, Online Courses, Online Degree, Online Education, Online School, Online University, Success Strategies
If you need some college courses to complete your degree you might be thinking about taking those courses online, rather than at a traditional college or university. There are a number of advantages to taking college courses online. In addition to the obvious advantages, including the convenience of taking courses at home rather than having to travel to a campus and the reduced costs associated with taking online courses as opposed to attending a traditional college, there are some pluses you may not have considered.
Online Courses Offer The Widest Variety
If you are looking for very specific courses, you may not be accommodated by the local college or university, if there is one. Online however, you are likely to find whatever courses you are searching for. You have the entire Internet at your disposal, and location is not a factor.
Online Courses Allow You To Work at Your Own Pace
In a normal college environment, you are working as part of a group. You can only progress as slowly or as quickly as the professor and the other students will allow. When you take your college courses online, the only one responsible for your progress is you. If a certain subject comes easily to you, you can move forward at a faster pace. If something proves more difficult, you can take it more slowly, and go online for support if you need it.
Online Courses Make Full Use of Modern Technology
When you take college courses on your computer, you allow yourself the full range of the benefits of modern technology. E-mail, streaming video, and web browsing play a prominent role and give you the most efficient learning experience possible.
Online Courses Allow You to Express Yourself
Although you are studying on your own, you are not studying in a vacuum. You will participate in online discussions with a professor who is an expert in the subject and with other students, which will allow you to demonstrate your understanding of the course material and share your thoughts and opinions with others.
Online Courses Accommodate the Differently Abled
For those with physical handicaps, online courses are a great option. Individuals who are unable to travel due to disability will clearly benefit from online education, but online courses can also easily accommodate the deaf and blind through measures such as closed captioning and audio lectures.
When you are searching for college courses online, be sure to select an accredited online college or university. There are many qualified institutions online that will allow you to learn the material you need to get the degree, credential, or training you want. Once you have the right education, the career you deserve will be that much more within your reach.
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How To Pay For College If Your Parents Can’t
0 Comments | Posted by AcademicAdviceBrit in Admissions, Bachelors Degrees, Business Degrees, Campus College, Finance, Financial Issues, Grad School, High School, Online Courses, Online Degree, Online Education, Online School, Online University, Success Strategies
If you come from a limited financial background, that’s no reason that you shouldn’t go to college. In fact, the less financial support you have, the easier it may be to secure financial aid. Financial aid is only given out to the neediest students. That being said, there can be stiff competition for financial aid packages, so you should apply early.
If you are looking to save money on tuition, state schools are much cheaper overall than private schools–especially if you can prove residency. This is not true across the board, however. In special situations, you could potentially get a higher scholarship for a private university than financial aid at your local university. It’s important to weigh all of your options. Obviously, the school with the lowest tuition is a good first bet, but there are other factors to consider as well.
A good financial aid or grant program should be able to help with tuition, room and board, and supplies. If the latter is not included, cut costs by buying and selling used textbooks. Room and board can be a huge chunk of expenses–if you can cut costs by living in a shared living space, instead of a dorm, this is recommended. The trade-off is that you will have to make your own meals, but you can save hundreds of dollars a month on rent.
Getting a job is an absolute necessity–and may be mandatory as part of your financial aid package. Many financial aid packages require that you get a job on campus–a sort of pay as you go student loan. This may be preferable to other types of student loans, as you won’t be saddled with payments after you graduate. The problem is that your work study paycheck will go right back to the school, which doesn’t provide money for other expenses.
Student Loans
Student loans are by far the most popular form of tuition payment: borrow now, pay later. If you get a job during the school year, much of your paycheck will be going in pocket. At the same time, it is important to start paying off your student loan early on. Defaulting on student loan payments after you graduate can have long-term consequences. As you are trying to get footing in the workforce, it can be difficult to have to spend a large chunk of your paycheck on loans.
All that said, there is no reason to not go to college just because your parents cannot afford it. They may be able to meet you halfway by fronting some of the money if you are able to find a loan from somewhere else. Even if they don’t help out at all, you can still pay off tuition and other expenses through government loans, private grants, school scholarships, work study programs, and more.
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Make A Lasting First Impression
0 Comments | Posted by AcademicAdviceBrit in Bachelors Degrees, Grad School, High School, Success Strategies
It may be a cliché, but it’s true. First impressions count. People are psychologically wired to form impressions of people the moment they come into contact with them. Over an extended period of time, if these impressions are wrong, they can be corrected, but when you are showing up for a job interview, you dont have an extended period of time. You need to impress that interviewer the second you walk through the door, and keep on impressing right up until the time you are offered the job. Here are a few tips on making a lasting first impression.
Dress The Part
For any job to which you are applying, you must dress appropriately. This generally means you are well groomed and wearing a clean suit. You should have at least one and if you dont, invest in one. Depending on the job, you may be required to wear a suit every day if you get it, so you may need more than one. Even if the job does not require such formal dress, you should dress this way for the interview. If you get the job, you can always adjust your work attire. Make sure your hair and fingernails are neatly trimmed and any piercings or tattoos are hidden (earrings are usually okay for women).
Make Eye Contact
When you meet your interviewer, look him or her directly in the eye and introduce yourself with a firm handshake. You are not approaching aggressively or confrontationally, simply with confidence. If youre not feeling confident, fake it. Poor eye contact and/or a limp handshake are sure to start things off on the wrong foot. Once the interview begins, maintain eye contact, but do not stare. If you start looking off into space, the interviewer may feel you are not that interested in the job. If you fix the interviewer with a piercing, locked gaze, he or she may become too uncomfortable to consider you for the position.
Remain Professional
Even if your interviewer is a nice person and you begin to feel very comfortable with them, remain with a professional demeanor at all times. Do not curse or use slang. Do not reveal embarrassing personal information, or any personal information beyond what you need to give the employer an idea of who you are and why you are well suited for the job. Do not ask the interviewer embarrassing or personal questions. Do not make comments about other staff members you may have met or other potential applicants.
If you follow the above advice, you will give yourself a good head start towards acing the interview. You will still have to demonstrate your skills and answer questions to the interviewers satisfaction, but you will have created an atmosphere that is conducive to a positive outcome.
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Tips for Avoiding Burnout
0 Comments | Posted by AcademicAdviceBrit in Admissions, Bachelors Degrees, Business Degrees, Campus College, Financial Issues, Grad School, High School, Online Courses, Online Degree, Online Education, Online School, Online University, Success Strategies
What is Burnout?
If you feel exhausted, overworked, and dread going to work, you might be experiencing burnout. Burnout happens when people become fatigued and lose motivation. When burnout occurs, it becomes increasingly difficult to face each workday. You might find yourself dreading work, or even making excuses to avoid going to work.
Some of the common symptoms of burnout include moodiness, extreme tiredness, suppressed immunity to illness, and a lack of interest in your work. Burnout is especially common among people with high-stress jobs including social workers, teachers, and paramedics. Employee burnout is a major cause of turnover, with many individuals changing careers to escape their stressful jobs.
What Causes Burnout?
One of the major causes of burnout is overwork. If the expectations of your job are too high or unrealistic, job stress can quickly lead to burnout. One way of avoiding burnout in this instance is to ask your employer to clearly define your role at work and reach an agreement on the specific expectations of your position.
Another major cause of burnout is a lack of recognition. Toiling away at work each day without receiving positive feedback can be extremely frustrating and stressful. Earning rewards such as accolades, bonuses, or appreciation is one way of avoiding burnout.
Having little control over your job or situation is also another leading cause of burnout. Careers in social services and emergency health care are especially susceptible to this type of burnout, since clients and patients are often in dire situations that you have little control over. Fortunately, there are ways of avoiding burnout that can help you overcome these causes of burnout, stick with your job, and reduce the job stress in your life.
5 Tips for Avoiding Burnout
1. Take care of your health.
Job stress can have a negative impact on your health, so it is important to stay healthy in order to avoid burnout. Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly are great ways to help deal with stress. If you still find yourself experiencing burnout symptoms, consult a doctor to talk about steps you can take to control your stress levels.
2. Avoid perfectionism.
One important way of avoiding burnout involves lowering your expectations. Realize that you cannot do everything. Reward yourself when you do well, but dont punish yourself when things dont work out exactly as you planned.
3. Ask for help.
Sharing the load with others is a highly effective way of avoiding burnout. Think of yourself as part of a team, with each person bringing a unique set of skills, talent, and experience to contribute to the task at hand. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, dont be afraid to ask for help.
4. Give yourself a break.
It is important to give yourself time away from your job. This might mean taking a vacation, or it might simply involve taking the time to participate in hobbies or activities that you enjoy. Go see a film, take a trip, or join a book club to find the relaxation that is vital for avoiding burnout.
5. Take a hard look at your job.
Avoiding burnout is impossible if youre ill suited to your job. Do a career assessment to determine if your job is a good fit for your personality, goals, and values. If you decide that its time for a change, take the time to search for a career that is right for you.
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Using Your Contacts to Get an Internship
0 Comments | Posted by AcademicAdviceBrit in Admissions, Bachelors Degrees, Business Degrees, Campus College, Finance, Financial Issues, Grad School, High School, Online Courses, Online Degree, Online Education, Online School, Online University, Success Strategies
Getting an internship can be a very important part of your career. During your internship you will work in a professional setting with people who are working in the very industry that you hope to be a part of some day. In some lucky cases, you may actually get a full time job through your internship. Even if you internship does not result in a job, you are sure to benefit from having it on your resume.
In order to get a great internship, be sure to use all of your contacts and resources to get in at a great company. First, get in touch with the career counseling office at your school. Your career counseling office should have information on tons of internships that you can apply for. In addition to perusing their resources, speak with one of the career counselors to learn about which companies are the best to work for. Ask which companies are most likely to hire interns.
Also, be sure to ask teachers if they know of any great internships that you should go after. Your professors should know a great deal about companies in your field. Furthermore, many professors have other jobs in addition to teaching. Perhaps one of them could put you in touch with one of their contacts in order to get an internship. It is also possible that your teacher might work with a company for which you could intern.
Also, be sure to use any other contacts that you have to get a great internship. Do you have a family friend who is in your industry? If so, perhaps he or she can put you in touch with a company that you would like to intern for. If you have a family member who is currently working in your prospective career industry, perhaps he or she could help you to land an internship at a great company.
Also, remember to use contacts in other cities and other parts of the country. If you are still in school, perhaps you could spend the summer in another town in order to take part in a great internship. If you have a contact in another city, be sure to get in touch with him or her ans ask if they know of any companies or offices that are looking for a summer intern. Summer internships are great experiences because you will work more hours and get to know the business and your supervisors better than if you were just working a few hours per week during the school year. Also, there are many companies that offer stipend pay to summer interns. This will also give you the chance to get to know a new city!



