Education Articles

Award Winning Graduation Announcement Invitations for Your School Graduates

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Wed, 4 Jul 2012 23:56:00 -0700

Getting Graduation Announcement Invitations Prepared and Sent

As a party planner planning a grad party, it's important to know that getting graduation announcement invitations are part and parcel of party planning - the graduation announcements invitation stationery chosen by a party host will determine the atmosphere of a gathering and the tone of the cards or invites one sends to all the party guests. It is therefore important for a host to dedicate some time to making these selections.

Graduation Announcement Invitations Preparation

First things first - before you begin filling out announcing cards and invites you have to make important decisions like who is invited to the party and who isn't. Those who are not invited need to be put on a list to get an announcing card so that they can be notified of a grad's accomplishments. Once a list of invite and announcing card recipients is created, you'll know how many cards to order for each grouping.

Those who should be invited include close friends, neighbors, and family, and announcements should be saved for those who live too far away in order to attend. After making an invite list, you'll need to know party details before you can go any further - narrow down the date, time, location, and party theme before buying stationery.

Selecting your custom announcing cards should begin at the websites selling this type stationary. If you're somewhat unsure as to what you want, just talk to some of the staff and let them assist you with selecting your card or even create an exclusive design just for your special education occasion. Just tell them what you need, and they will take care of the details.

Mailing Graduate Announcing Invite Stationery

About four to six weeks before your party is a good time to mail out the stationery you invest in - make sure you use full, formalized names on the envelopes with every mailing too - this makes the envelopes attractive and also lets the receiver know that important information is contained within the envelope. Giving recipients a few weeks to respond is always ideal - it allows for invited guests to make any necessary arrangements so they can be in attendance the day of the event. It also allows for the invited guests to have time to shop for a gift for the grad if they intend to give one.

Graduation announcement Invitations are a vital part of the party planning process, so getting attractive, aesthetically pleasing invites is important to the success of your event.

What to Check When Getting a Home or Private Tuition

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:05:00 -0700

Tutoring is one of the fastest growing jobs out there today. But with the truckload of options available, it is extremely important that you choose a tutor that will meet your needs and will be dedicated enough to put in the tedious hours needed to make you achieve your true potential and reach new heights of academic success.
One of the most important questions that you must ask is the amount of money that you will have to pay your tutor. Those that are relatively less experienced and new to the tutoring profession usually charge less. However, it is important that you not only look at the charges, but also choose one that you will be able to work best with.
Attention:
Tutors that look good on paper and charge loads of money are not necessarily the best teachers. You should look for someone who can relate to and understand your child's needs. The duration and time spent between you and the tutor is also a very important consideration that needs to be taken into account.
Engagement:
It is usually seen that those tutors that meet their students at least two-three times a week are the ones that can provide the most effective means of help. Those with short attention spans should definitely be met more frequently. If the only time set to meet is once a week, then students will not be able to give substantial feedback. The tutoring session will also just be useless with money just being thrown away aimlessly without achieving any concrete results.
Experience and Mode of Teaching:
Experience is also very important especially when a private tutor is being judged. Usually, tutoring companies hire those teachers that have considerable experience and are able to understand all issues that children face especially when it comes to their academics.
People teaching through home tuition also have more than one year of experience, so they are able to take out all of the kinks out of their tutoring systems to guarantee maximum success. New tutors may also be exceptionally good teachers and should not be ruled out based on their lack of experience. Usually tutors that excel at certain subjects have the ability to teach them really well through different angles. The old tutors in comparison may be set in their previous ways and may not be willing to change their system even if a particular student may not understand their current teaching methodology.
Other Factors To Consider:
Other important factors that must be taken into consideration include the kind of subjects that a tutor can teach best and if they have the patience and the ability to teach students with certain disorders like dyslexia. Apart from these, there is also an age bracket that they feel most comfortable teaching.
These are just some of the things and factors you need to check when getting a home of private tuition. By taking them into consideration, you will be able to guide your child on how to excel academically.

Home Tuition - Is Grass Always Greener On The Other Side Of The Fence?

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:04:00 -0700

We always think that the effort our children are putting in their academics is below the required level. We would always condemn their television hours and hardly appreciate the time that they give towards their studies. Getting an A grade is not as much appreciated as getting a C grade is criticized.
Because of such a culture being instilled in our minds, we look for other ways to improve their academic performance. Unfortunately, the other ways are not as 'greener' as the morning school timings, but here is a quick flash about what they are.
You can get your child enrolled in a private tuition center, which might be owned, by one of the ex-principals or retired teachers. The private coaching school list of your local area may be obtained by the area head office, so you can choose which school fits the requirements of your child better. Usually, private tuition centers are the places where you can minimally monitor the activities of your child. The control of the tutor is also great, so you might want to rule this option out. Nobody will guarantee improvement in the grades of your kids, so you must invest some hours after school and help them complete their homework in time.
If you are well versed in the subjects that your child is studying at school, you might not even need to look at the 'greener' other side of the fence. You can tutor your child in the best possible way. This is because you, as a mother or father, know the capacity of your child.
Does Your Child Really Need Extra Tuition?
If you are still determined to improve the grades of your children and to guarantee a higher level of success, home tuition is the second best option. Getting your child an extra tuition for it will improve his performance in school. However, to secure that the money you will spend for the tuition is worth it, you should find a teacher who can easily develop a close relationship with your child. Make sure that you assess not just his or her skills and experience, but his or her attitude as well. As a parent, you always want your child to be in good hands, right?
Role of Internet in Providing Home Tuition:
If you are planning to choose online home tuition provided by online tutors, you need to be more careful. There are some who might play a fraud on you too, so you should be on guard. However, before this exercise, you should know that paying a tuition will not always improve the academic performance of your children. Extra coaching sessions can mark the progress of a child because the element of competition is absent in the evening schools, whereby the motivation mainly lies in lucrative business of getting higher fees from students.
Make a proper survey and ask from people in your locality who have been sending their children to coaching schools, before you change your mind to find the right coaching center for your child. You should think that progress comes with some opportunity cost.

Eight Tips On How To Do Good In School

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Thu, 5 Apr 2012 18:03:00 -0700

Below the average, average people and super genius mega minds...nah, it's not about that, well yeah, a part of success is about that but, one still has a long way to go before having the time of his life. And everything starts at home...after that it's school so let's get down to business. Here are eight tips on how to do good in school.
1. Jot 'Em Down
This step is somewhat a must. However, if you consider yourself a super computer robot, you can skip number one and get down to number two...you're still reading so you don't think that you're a mega mind. That's good because it's never great to be too confident with yourself.
Number one is writing them all down. It never hurts to write all of the things you need to do. Write them in a small notebook, a tickler or something, or jot them down in a piece of paper and post it on your refrigerator door or on your own bulletin if you have one. And don't forget to write when you need to do or accomplish these things or in other words, your deadlines.
2. Prioritize
Imagine that you're a juggler. Now, you're juggling balls. These balls are made of various materials. Rubber, plastic, glass, and crystals. The balls that you're juggling got too many and you can't handle them all. Some balls MUST fall or the whole act will be a disaster. And that's when the word "prioritize" comes in. You have to let the rubber balls fall. Why? Because if you don't do this, say you refuse to let a ball or two fall, they'll all slip out of your hands. If you let the wrong ball fall, well, you're a wreck. That's why you have to set your priorities. Which in your to-do list is the most important and which things can be left out or can be given little attention.
3. Get To Work
Don't just get stuck with listing and prioritizing. Do them of course. Sometimes people tend to get discouraged when they look at the things they need to do and find that they're just so many! Well, nothing's gonna happen if you just sit around, stare at the things you got to do and think how much energy you need to exert to finish all those. Get on your feet. You'll be done without even knowing it.
4. Study Habits
I'm pretty sure this is not new to you. Nevertheless, it's still very important, maybe the most important, so you can't just set this aside. Study your lessons everyday for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. This prevents cramming during exam weeks which you know isn't very helpful. And don't make your hectic schedule an excuse for not studying. Remember, if there's a will, there's a way.
5. Be A "Neat Freak"
I know this is hard but...you have to be organized. This may be the hardest part of being a student and at the same time of being a kid or a teenager. Because they're very restless and energetic and tend to just pile things up. But if you already did number one and number two, you're already started in being an organized person!
Give everything a proper place. Put your books and notebooks in one corner or a suitable place. Compile your test papers, certificates and other paper works from school. Place them in a folder, clear book, an envelope or a file case. You'll never know when you'll need them. Other materials which are reusable like envelopes, folders, colored papers and a lot more, keep them all together, may be in a case or a shoebox, it's up to you. Colors, pencils, paper clips and other materials of the same kind, separate them also, it's still up to you as long as it's organized. Educational materials, if you have, it's good to compile them too. Maybe you're asking, why do I need to do all these?
When your things and surroundings are organized, you tend to think clear. That's why organized people have organized minds. Lastly, the night before going to school, put everything you'll be needing for school inside your bag. Get your uniform or whatever it is that you're wearing for school ready. And don't forget to set your alarm clock.
6. Go For The Extra Mile
You don't just do things for compliance. You don't want to waste your efforts. Since you started to do things, give them your best shot. Do your best and that will be enough to go for the extra mile. You'll never know when an opportunity comes so always give it your all.
7. Be Humble
Now that you're a step ahead of your peers, don't be over confident, like the one stated at the first number. Don't be conceited because you didn't accomplish everything on your own. The higher you get, the harder you'll fall so always keep your feet on the ground. And being humble also gains you great friends.
8. Just Keep Going
You did it for the first time, you got to do it for the second, third, fourth, and so on...time. Be consistent for this will be the foundation of your success. Don't stop until you reach your goal. And when you reach your goal, reward yourself then look again for another goal. And when failure finds its way through your efforts, keep moving forward. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Just keep going.
Please remember that these are all just tips. It's up to you to take it or leave it. These could mostly apply to high school students, nevertheless, it never hurts for a kid to start setting his priorities. I hope that these handful of tips helps.

How to Help a College Freshman Adjust to Their New Life

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:22:00 -0800

When you first start out preparing yourself for college life you think everything is going to be as easy as can be. You are headed for the adult world and you are more than ready. No more curfews, no more parents questioning everything you do. You are free! When you do need that parent support, or funding, you just need to pick up the phone and home. How can anything about this be bad?

Most college freshman think that going away to school is just going to be one big party after another. The only worry is about who is going to attend and where you are going to have it. If you are the parent of a soon to be college freshman you have probably seen this attitude that comes with the journey they are about to embark upon and if you are the student then you probably are just worried about how to finance your back to school fun-fund.

When the freshman first arrives at college they are excited and find that stopping what they are doing to call home every now and then can be a real hassle. Then about a month or so into it they realize that they are being to miss home, and miss the security that their parents have provided for them their whole life. These freshmen now call home more often and find themselves wanting to go back to their rooms so that they can make these phone calls. They call home about issues with their schedule, a class that is too hard or maybe a roommate that they are unable to get alone with. The co-dependent parents will tell their children what to do and even encourage them to come back home, where as other parents will encourage their college freshman to work through the issues they are having and try to prepare them for the adult world. These parents let their child know that they are always there to listen and help out, but life is never as simple as one thinks and you have to work at things.

One of the biggest issues that college freshman have to address is finding balance. Some will successfully balance their time to include plenty of time for school, work, and friends and others will go to one extreme or the other. While it may seem desirable to become engrossed in one's studies in the long run this can actually be detrimental to the student as well, because it will cause burnout which can send a student packing just as quickly as one that is partying too much.

Most students, however, will be able to find the balance they need by the time they come home for Thanksgiving. For the few that so not, they end up taking the rest of the year off and then registering at a local or community college close to home so that they are able to get the structure they require. Either way, in a few years, your college freshman will be entering the adult world- Whether they like it or not!

Make an Impact With an International Development Degree or Journalism Degree

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 17:48:00 -0800

There are many ways of going about finding a career that can give you opportunities to make a difference in the world and travel in the process. You may pursue an international development degree and have a part in the economic development in countries all around the world. You can also look into a journalism degree and be the first to report on the happenings all around the world. In either case, you want to have the right preparations and connections to get you closer to the career you want.

When you decide to pursue an international development degree, you want to make sure you have the right courses in your area. You not only need a theoretical foundation in which to understand international development and other disciplines related to it. You need to find a program that gives you the opportunity to perform analytical research, cross-cultural learning and directed studies. You can also find out if the program offers you a well-rounded understanding of concepts in international development studies, management skills, research skills and supplementary disciplines.

In addition to these theoretical foundations, it is also very important to have practical knowledge and the chance to work in the field before obtaining your degree. You should work with professors who have experience in the field and can give you a good idea of what to expect. They should also help you with the connections you need to establish yourself as an expert in your discipline whether you want to work directly with those in the developing countries or indirectly with international development funding and executing organizations.

You can also have an impact in a different way if you pursue a journalism degree. In journalism, you need to make sure you get the tools you need for effective communication through all forms of media, including the constantly evolving forms of social media that have changed the way people receive their news and information. Your program should teach you how to bring together audio, text and video once you have learned the important skills of interviewing, reporting and researching through traditional means.

While you are learning the fundamentals of journalism and the ways to incorporate social media into your work, you should also have the opportunity to work with the latest state of the art equipment to prepare yourself for what you will encounter on the job. You may not realize the importance of theory within the discipline, but you do need to acquire the theoretical and historical knowledge in journalism to help you understand your place in the field and society.

Both an international development degree and a journalism degree can offer you the opportunity to make a difference to others although in very different fashions. When making a decision, you must consider what kind of an impact you would like to have and how you feel most comfortable going about it. In either case, you just may find the chance to see the world while having a positive impact on others.

Caribbean Medical Schools - Advantages and Disadvantages

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:43:00 -0800

When considering whether one of the many Caribbean Medical Schools is right for you it's important to do thorough research and get as much information as possible so you can make an informed choice. There is no doubt that the Caribbean is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. If you decide to go to school in the Caribbean you'll be immersing yourself in that beauty while getting a world-class medical education.

Here are a few things you should consider when starting down the path to gather that information and making your choice:

ADVANTAGES

1. Cost

It is usually significantly less expensive to attend a Caribbean school. Even the top universities are a fraction of most top U.S. schools. An important note is the fact that there will be extra costs associated with studying abroad, such as travel expenses and travel student health insurance. However, even with those added expenses the total cost of education is far cheaper.

2. Rolling admissions

Some Caribbean medical schools have rolling admissions. What that means is that the window for applying to a given school can be very wide, often with 3 periods each year. This can make the application process far less stressful and allow more time to make sure everything you need is in order before submitting your application.

3. High USMLE pass rates

The top Caribbean medical schools have USMLE first-time pass rates that are at or above the U.S. average. High USMLE pass rates are a strong indicator that the programs offered by Caribbean schools are top level and that your education and advancement is taken seriously.

4. Admission Opportunities

Even with the best scores getting into medical school can sometimes be impossible. The number of applicants to U.S. schools is always far greater than the number of open slots. Caribbean medical schools give people opportunities to go to medical school that they might not otherwise have.

5. Clinical Rotation Opportunities

The first two years will be at the overseas campuses for all Caribbean medical schools, but the clinical rotations for the top schools are in the U.S. This offers a huge advantage to students in that they can benefit from the higher acceptance rates to get into the Caribbean universities while still being able to learn from the doctors at U.S. hospitals during their clinical rotations.

DISADVANTAGES

1. Wide range of quality

Not all Caribbean medical schools are the same, to say the least. The folks who run the schools know that there is high competition among prospective students to find a school to attend. At the top schools this has led to greater competition to elevate their programs and attract the best students. However, It has also meant the opportunity for lesser schools to make their way into the market and take advantage of those who might fall prey. Sticking to one of the best and oldest universities like is a safe decision because they are very well known and highly reputable. If you decide to investigate one of the newer schools be sure you research them especially well.

2. Language barrier

Again, this is something that you won't have to worry about at the top schools, but some Caribbean medical Schools don't use English as their primary teaching language. If you aren't fluent in the spoken language (usually Spanish) you will have a considerable disadvantage and will struggle unnecessarily.

3. Living in a foreign country can be challenging

The beginning of this article highlights the fact that the Caribbean is an incredibly beautiful part of the world. It is still a foreign country though, and its customs and culture are different than what most North Americans are used to. Most people find the differences exciting and fun, but some do find that it adds more stress to the already demanding medical school curriculum.

Deciding which medical schools to attend is a life-changing decision. It's important that you put a lot of time into gathering as much information as you can. Caribbean medical schools offer much to the student who puts forth the effort. Investigate the possibilities and see if a Caribbean medical school might be a perfect fit for you.

Excellent and Awesome Tips on How to Study Well in College

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:40:00 -0800

For many students, being able to study well in college means that they have a better shot at a bright future. If they are able to get good grades, there is a chance that they will get good jobs with substantial paychecks. Indeed, in these economically-depressed times, it only through a good education that they can be able to find better employment.

Being able to study well in college would require you, the student, to develop the skills that will greatly enhance both your memory and your capacity for learning. These skills fall under five specific factors related to memory and learning enhancement.

1. Study Time = This pertains to the number of hours that you spend for studying and just how appropriately you are using them. This does not include the time you spend listening to lectures in class and doing your homework in the evening. Research studies have clearly documented that students do better in their exams if they squeeze in 30 minute to 1 hour study periods in their daily college schedule. While such a short duration may seem counterproductive, in reality, a shorter time period means that you can concentrate better on what you are studying. With study periods of 3 hours or longer, concentration dwindles to the point that you can no longer understand what you are reading.

2. Study Location = This pertains to the places where you choose to hit the books. Although the library remains the best place to study, research has shown that it is more effective if you alternate study places, particularly if you choose locations that are somehow related to the topics that you are reading on. Do you want to be able to understand those complex theories in Biochemistry? Ask your professor if you can study in the chemistry lab. The sight of the many charts and formulas on the walls, as well as the labeled bottles of chemicals can help you to remember what you are studying more. If you want to do even better in your tests, psychologists highly recommend that you study in the exam room or the lecture room that is very similar to where you will be given the test. Study location helps to "color" the knowledge that you are reading.

3. Putting Information in Short-Term Memory (STM) = Not too many students know that cramming and doing all-nighters primarily uses your short-term memory. Unfortunately, STM is not very effective since there are only 5 to 9 bits of information that you can remember at a time. Worse, if you don't reinforce this with constant memorization and repetition, you can expect all the information you have crammed into your brain within 15 to 20 seconds flat. In order for STM to work for you during cram sessions, you can combine all related facts together in easy-to-memorize chunks (a technique known as "chunking").

4. Storing Information in Long-Term Memory (LTM) = Research studies have confirmed that whatever information that you have crammed into your mind during an all-nighter will only stay inside your brain for 2 weeks at the most. For the information to stick inside your head until Final exams, you need to encode this knowledge into your long-term memory. If the information is encoded properly, it will be very convenient for you to get them out of your head during exams. Check out tutorials on techniques such as Mnemonics, the Peg Word Method and the Loci Method.

5. Retrieving Knowledge from Memory = Believe it or not, knowledge retrieval from your memory is actually being facilitated by the exams you take. The easy sections, like Matching Type, Multiple Choice and True or False, help you to develop the skills of knowledge retrieval with the help of "cues". As you move on to the more difficult Essay section, you will find that the "cues" which you have noted in the early parts can actually help you to delve deeper into your memory for the answers to the essay questions (that don't have the "cues").

Discover the basic strategies that will help you to study well in college today!

Facts About LPN Programs in New York

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Thu, 5 Jan 2012 17:32:00 -0800

There are a lot of LPN programs in New York for you to choose from if you are interested in becoming an LPN. As states go this is one of the best ones to earn your LPN qualification because there is just so much choice. Some examples of schools are the State University of New York at Farmingdale, the Marion S. Whelan School of Practical Nursing, and the Lee G. Peters Career Training Center. However these are just a few of the many options. The important thing to ascertain before enrolling is whether or not the school is accredited with the New York State Board of Nursing if you want to become a certified LPN nurse.

In order to enroll in LPN programs in New York you have to meet a few requirements. Unlike in many other states you only have to be 17 or older to qualify. You will also have to have a high school diploma, pass a background test and be in good health to get into most New York LPN schools. Some schools may require that you write an entrance exam to get into the program and study for your qualification.

Good LPN programs in New York will always include practical as well as theoretical classes. In fact if you want to become an LPN you absolutely have to do hands-on training. This is an unavoidable requirement that you have to meet if you want to succeed as an LPN nurse in your studies. Online LPN schools in New York, for example, will not offer the clinical training that you need and you will have to organize that side of things for yourself in order to properly qualify as an LPN. A school or program that offers very little or no clinical training should be avoided altogether.

When it comes to choosing LPN programs in New York you will want to, then, choose one that has good clinical facilities and that will provide you with a high degree of clinical exposure during your time in the program. The better the facilities of a school, the higher the school should be on your list of possible schools to attend. This part of your training is not only essential for the examination, but also for preparing you for your actual career as an LPN nurse in the future, so it should form the basis of your decision.

If you are someone who is going to need financial aid to get through your studies then you may want to only consider those LPN programs in New York that offer financial aid options. There are many LPN programs out there that will be happy to provide you with the financial aid you need. Sometimes the aid is merit based, sometimes it is need based. You may also be able to qualify for loan forgiveness programs where you will be able to have a portion of your loan paid off on your behalf. In return for this you will be required to work for a set period of time in a designated undeserved facility as an LPN once you have qualified.

Coordinating Tastes With Your Dorm Mate

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:30:00 -0800

Coordinating tastes with a college roommate can present many challenges and you may feel after speaking with them that their tastes and yours will add up to a decorating nightmare. Many people try to work along with their college roommate even before they meet face to face to try and create a pleasing living space for both parties while others create one living space that is designed in two different motifs. This can make for a chaotic living space and can also add up to many duplicate items in this small room.

It is ideal to attempt to coordinate your dorm stuff with your roommate from the outset to create some sort of cohesive living space. In order to do this you must first stop looking at the ways in which you and your roommate's tastes are different and start looking at those things which you have in common. Even if these items are small, like a single pattern or color scheme that is a fabulous place to begin with when shopping for dorm decor merchandise.

Naturally, creating an aesthetically pleasing environment doesn't mean that each of you has to forgo those things that you love or that bring out your individual style. It simply means that you have to have a common thread throughout the room that helps to bring all the dorm essentials together and make the entire room seem cohesive. It is even best to be certain that you don't make your college bedding items at least somewhat different. Matching exactly every item in the room won't permit for each of you to express your own style and instead picking a color of commonality will be a much better plan.

If you and your roommate don't live nearby to each other, the internet can be a wonderful resource to help you bounce ideas off of each other and to coordinate items that will look good together in the same room. Perhaps you will also want to order items from the same dorm supply company in order to make sure that the colors will coincide well with one another. Even just one common color can help to tie together different styles and personalities and create a nice, comfortable living space for both parties.

Working along with your roommate to create a college checklist will help you to save space by avoiding duplication as well as save money. Together you can create a room that is functional and has everything you both need without a lot of extra clutter that will simply get in your way.

Starting College Means You Must Be Organized

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:22:00 -0800

Getting ready to go away to school is a very exciting time. It is a time of mounting excitement and also of much preparation. In order to make sure that you cover all the bases and have everything you need for this adventure you will most definitely want to make sure that you have a thorough and complete college checklist in order.

Making a checklist is not just something that you just sit down and do, it is something that you should begin at the end of your senior year of high school in preparation for your after high school experience. Initially you will very likely wind up placing specific items on the list like perhaps college bedding items that you have located online or some school supplies, a laptop, maybe even personal care items. Over time however, other things will come to your attention and these are equally as important. Adding to the list over time will help to ensure that you don't forget any of the essentials.

Those students who begin preparing ahead of time usually have a much easier transition because they are not only physically prepared to go away to school but they are also mentally prepared for this new phase of life. They have come ready and have carefully planned out not only their college class schedule and degree program but have also laid out their dorm room in their head with all necessary dorm supplies accounted for.

Being sure your ducks are in a row might even include exploring their housing alternatives, locating an on campus work-study program, or a local part time job to help them bring in some additional income. Students who are well prepared will more than likely succeed in this next phase of life and for many this is their first step to adulthood, so it is an important and necessary process.

When developing a college checklist it is a good idea to make sure and seek some help in putting the list together. By pooling online resources, as well as talking with your parents and other college students, you should be able to put together a comprehensive and complete list of all the items you will need to ensure a smooth and productive transition. College life will be so much less complicated if you have a well supplied and organized dorm room that can aid you to stay productive and focused thus making for a victorious transition.

What Will A College Degree Get Me?

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:20:00 -0800

With the economic state that the country is currently in, many high school seniors are asking themselves if getting a college degree will benefit them. At one time getting your college degree mean finding a job in your field and ensuring that position for many years to come. On top of job security it also meant that you would be making more money in that field and that you would move up the corporate ladder much faster than someone else in the company that did not have a degree.

During the last couple of years we have witnessed a great increase in the unemployment status of this country. The majority of these individuals are those that worked hard through college with the hopes of obtaining a secure employment and steady advancement. These individual found themselves at a disadvantage, however, when companies were looking to downsize and reduce expenditures. They were let go and replaced with new individuals for lower salaries. This left the college graduates to take the lower income positions that they were over qualified for just so they could bring home a paycheck. Each month when these men and women make a payment on their student loans they question if it was even worth it.

Even though this is how things may have turned over the past few years it is still a wise choice to seek a higher education. Things are going to turn back around and when they do you will be the one that companies are fighting over. When you have a college degree you appear more professional, you have a better looking resume and you are more attractive to businesses than someone that does not have a degree.

Higher education not only provides an individual with an opportunity to get ahead but also with the higher thought process to get a job and keep a job. When it comes to getting a higher education of course it is best to choose a field and then plow forward but it is also important to obtain whatever financial assistance you can from the government as well as to make sure that you find ways to keep the cost of your college education way down.

When you leave college you so not want to have more student loans then you can afford. A college degree is something that should be capitalized on, not something that you need to work to pay off and get a second job just to pay your other monthly bills. You don't want to have to pay for that degree when you are retiring at 65, after all the whole reason you got the degree was so that you can get ahead in the world not get further behind.

How to Become a Pharmacist This Year

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Thu, 8 Dec 2011 07:25:00 -0800

With today's economy having a career where you are able to support you and your family is important and the health industry is growing by leaps and bounds month after month. That is why a lot of people are choosing to get into a career as a pharmacist and earning a pharmacy degree. If you want to know how to be a pharmacist you will have to go to pharmacy, but many people to not start the conventional way with all the pharmacy school requirements. Some people choose to undergo an internship while earning their Pharmacy degree.

The Education and Training of a Pharmacist

The education requirements for a pharmacist can be fairly strict. If you want to become a pharmacist today, you will most likely be required to obtain a PharmD or a doctorate of pharmacy. Before you can start a four year pharmacy program you will need to meet the pharmacy school requirements by having completed you undergraduate course work which is usually a two year program and passing the PCAT exam which is an entrance exam for pharmaceutical studies. The course work that you will be studying when you choose to learn how to become a pharmacist will be chemistry, anatomy, physics, biology and physiology. You may also be required to undergo a series of internships to meet pharmacy school requirements.

The Job of a Pharmacist

The job of a pharmacist can be a very rewarding job and you will interact with people to be able to provide them with service they need. A pharmacist job consists of dispensing medicines that people need as well as giving advice and having knowledge of what medicines do and the reactions that they can have on a person. Your job as a pharmacist will be to watch closely what patients take and be aware of potential problems that may be a doctor has made when prescribing medicine. In a family practice or a drug store you may also commonly give advice to people on everyday pharmaceutical needs.

The Salary of a Pharmacist

One of the best things about being a pharmacist is the stable career and pharmacist salary. While it is a high paying high end medical career with a salary around $100,000.00 or $50.00 per hour, it can be repetitive and you can expect to be doing the same thing for a lone time, but if helping people with their needs is something that you like to do it may be the perfect job for you with a pharmacist salary to compensate you.

How Long does it Take to Become a Pharmacist?

Depending on the route you choose, it will typically take around six to eight years to get a doctorate degree in pharmacy. It's important to note that the education requirements for pharmacists are precise and will require a student who is dedicated and hardworking. The best way to speed up time to completion would be to take more relevant courses during your undergraduate studies, in addition to getting training and internships in the field of Pharmacy.

A pharmacist's job can be both rewarding and demanding. It is very tempting to pursue a career in this field, after learning about a pharmacist's salary. Once you understand the education requirements for a pharmacist, it is easy to plan out a course of study. You can also enhance your studies with internships, work placements, and other related experiences in Pharmacy. You may also wish to visit our website with more information on how to become a pharmacist.

Best Career Choices for Women

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 07:20:00 -0800

Whether you knew what you wanted to be when you grew up, or you still have not decided on a major, choosing a career path is an incredibly important decision. Yes, it is true that you can make a career change later on if you decide your current one is not right for you. But if you waste the first years of your professional life bouncing from job to job with no real idea of what you want to do, then that means you have used up valuable time to establish yourself in a good, solid career. Being aware of the options out there, especially for women, is important in your search for a career path. It is especially important to know what kinds of career choices are best for women. Whatever you choose, going to a top college will help you to succeed in your future career.

Aerospace Engineer

Some women may not see themselves working on anything related to space, but there are definitely others who would love a career like this. If you have ever seen the movie "Apollo 13," then you have been exposed to the basics of what an aerospace engineer does for a living. Within aerospace engineering, there are 2 fields: aeronautical engineering (which deals with aircraft that do not traverse to outer space) and astronautical engineering (which deals with aircraft that do go into outer space). Whichever you choose, aerospace engineering can be an excellent field for women.

Anthropologist

Are you interested in the origins of humankind? Anthropology may be for you. Anthropologists work on uncovering the various characteristics and customs that make up our human race, especially from years past. There are 4 main fields of anthropology in which you can get involved: cultural (or socio-cultural) anthropology, linguistic anthropology, archaeology, and physical (or biological) anthropology. These fields tend to speak for themselves, especially archaeology, but you should do research on each one to see which fits you best.

Computer Programmer

Being a tech-savvy woman can get you a great job as a computer programmer. Computer programming involves working within the source code of a computer program. If you know much about writing and testing code, you should look into this career and see how it suits you. Understanding how to design and debug the source code of a program is also part of the job. Basically, coding means that you are working on a set of instructions for computers so that they will perform specific operations. If this sounds like something that interests you, look into computer programming classes and jobs.

Surgeon

Women doctors have taken over the medical industry, and that is a very good thing. There used to be a time when the only reason women worked in a hospital was because they were nurses. Learning how to cut people open may sound morbid to some and fascinating to others. Surgeons do a great service for the health of millions of people every day, and if you are not squeamish about blood or bodily functions, being a surgeon may be your path. Medicine can be a very rewarding career.

College Campuses Featured in Movies

stirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 07:19:00 -0800

Cinema has a very particular way of making us suspend disbelief, and we love it and even call it entertainment. Movies about college in particular may seem to test our suspension of disbelief because of all the crazy antics that happen in typical college films. In any case, several of these films about attending a university usually feature a particular campus. There are some universities that have been featured more often than others, for one reason or another.

University of Toronto

This college campus has been featured in a ton of movies. The setting for more popular movies like Time Traveler's Wife, Mean Girls, Tommy Boy, Good Will Hunting, and The Bride of Chucky, the University of Toronto tends to end up featured in the movie theater quite a bit. There are also several films that `re not as popular, such as Shadowland, Take the Lead, The Prince and Me, and Paper Chase, which had scenes take place at this popular university.

University of British Columbia

It seems that Canada's colleges are used as movie sets a lot, because the University of British Columbia was the site for such movies as Good Luck Chuck, She's the Man, X-Men: The Last Stand, The Butterfly Effect, Perfect Score, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Several television shows were also filmed there, including the Smallville series and Battlestar Galactica.

Harvard University

Something you may not know about Harvard is that it is the oldest educational institution in the United States, founded in 1636. This historic site lent itself to movie sets for films like Love Story and The Great Debaters, but that was the last movie filmed on Harvard's actual campus because the university prohibited filming on its grounds. Movies wanting to portray Harvard were only allowed to shoot in look-alike locations instead of on campus. Legally Blonde and Across the Universe were just a few of the films not allowed to record their scenes on campus.

University of Southern California

Everyone knows that the University of Southern California, better known as USC, always ends up portrayed in films. However, the college does not always "play" itself; some movies portray the college as Oxford or the aforementioned Harvard. Being John Malkovich, Forrest Gump, Young Frankenstein, and What Women Want were all filmed on the USC campus.

University of California, Los Angeles

Of course the University of California, Los Angeles, or UCLA, would be the subject of many films. In fact, this university is at the top of the list when it comes to being featured in the most films. Since it is situated so close to Hollywood, using UCLA for a college film makes sense. Films like Erin Brockovich, American Pie, Old School, The Nutty Professor, and How High all feature UCLA as its campus. Several television shows also use UCLA for their set, like Alias, The O.C., and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Columbia University

Not to be confused with the aforementioned University of British Columbia, this campus has been featured in several films, such as August Rush, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Mona Lisa Smile, Anger Management, Hitch, and Malcolm X.