The LEED Certification is the new gold standard for construction and architecture in the new century. This is good news for those considering or currently attending architecture colleges. It means that the designers on new construction are aiming for a higher set of energy and efficiency requirements that are optional, but are also built to impact long-term costs to the communities that will use the facilities.

Why it’s a good idea

Beginning in the mid-2000’s in many urban cores, the LEED standards began impacting communities and their new construction projects in positive ways. It’s positive because the LEED list of certifications is based on saving energy, using renewable resources and materials, and engineering creative solutions. Now in 2009, technical schools, colleges and universities and architecture schools are incorporating the LEED standards into the curriculum.

What the technology is called

The technology that is leading the way for CAD Drafters, Architects and Construction Manager graduates alike is something called BIM (Building Information Modeling). BIM training software has been formulated as a sort of shorthand for the complex merging of computer-aided-design and construction databases.

BIM helps architects, engineers, and construction planners design more efficient, cost-saving and greener facilities for roughly the same cost as normal buildings. By stressing cooperation across multiple occupations early in design, BIM also provides a new way to learn engineering, civic planning and architecture skills at technical colleges across the country.

How you can take advantage

One interesting aspect of the focus on LEED certifications is that now construction companies and civic engineering boards are on the hunt for certified LEEDS Compliance Specialists. This job certification is becoming somewhat of an elite class of consulting for drafting, engineering and civic planning businesses around the country. So if you begin your drafting, engineering or architectural training now, you can specialize in LEEDS certification standards as a way to enhance your marketability.

USCollegeSearch.com can help you find a school near you that covers the new LEEDS standards in their curriculum. Get started on a useful specialization for your college degree today!

Although CDL requirements different on a state-by-state basis, getting trained and employed as a truck driver may be one of the quickest and simplest answers to landing a great paying job in a tough economy.  For instance, in most California truck driving schools you can get enrolled and graduate with CDL training in a little as 2 months.  Texas truck driving schools even allow 18 years old to take the exam, provided they do not cross out of Texas state lines.  Either way, this a great career to begin training in as the salary expectations are well above the national averages – and the work is often both exciting and new.
There’s an old saying in the trucking industry - If you bought it, a truck brought it – and these few words hold great importance for those considering going to school to start a new & rewarding career – you’re always very likely to have a job.

•    Cost of earning your Bachelor’s degree as a full-time, in-state student at a state public university with housing fees for 4 years with a 4% tuition increase each year totals over $56,000.
•    Cost of earning your Associate degree as a full-time, in-state student at career college for 2 years without housing fees totals a little over $13,000.Those values will differ depending on where you’re from and type of college you want to attend.

But, one has to think that in this economy, you want to get the most for your dollar. And in some cases, that career colleges can offer you a degree for less money and similar outcomes.  So when choosing where to go to school, why not look at a career college in your area?  You might be surprised!

Tamara Keith from American Public Media reports that preparing for the SAT is a good idea, but you’d probably get the same benefit from a $30 at-home study guide as a multi-thousand dollar test-prep course.

David Hawkins from The National Association of College Admissions Counseling says “There needs to be a buyer-beware notice for students and families who are thinking about commercial test preparation.” The group pulled together a report that says the average score increase as a result of prep courses is only 30 points. Out of 2,400.

Hmm … while that might be enough to make or break an Ivy League acceptance for a few people, it’s probably not worth it to the rest of us.

Whether you took an SAT prep course or not, what if your score didn’t turn out quite as high as you’d like? Don’t worry! Standardized tests aren’t for everyone – we know that.

Not all schools require an ACT/SAT score for admission. Schools that don’t often offer a more targeted education, building practical skills rather than general knowledge. Career colleges and technical schools around the country realize that your priorities are different – that test scores don’t matter to you as much as starting a stable career.

A recent issue of Sociology of Education – an American Sociological Association journal – features a report that explores the socioeconomic differences among college transfer students. The sample of students followed in this report began their postsecondary education at a four-year institution. From this group, 33 percent transferred at least once within eight years of graduating from high school. Another 20 percent transferred “laterally,” from one four-year institution to another, and 15 percent transferred in “reverse” to a community college.

Among all these different transfer students, lateral transfers were much more likely than reverse transfers to complete their bachelor’s degree – 69 percent compared to 22 percent. However, both of these figures are lower than the graduation rate of students who don’t transfer at all. They completed their bachelor’s degrees at a rate of 79 percent.

So, if graduation rates are lower for reverse-transfer students, why do some students choose this route? Many education experts assumed that a student’s income, or the income of his or her family would be the deciding factor, but this was actually not the strongest indicator of a transfer decision. According to this study, the strongest indicator of a student’s transfer status is his or her parents’ education level.

Most often, students whose parents had more than a bachelor’s degree were some of the least likely to reverse-transfer. But on the other end of this spectrum, students whose parents had not completed high school were most likely to transfer to a community college.

What could be some reasons behind these trends? Sara Goldrick-Rob, a professor of education policy studies and sociology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, believes first-generation college students face unique challenges and struggle academically during their first year of college. But Professor Goldrick-Rob does have ideas for how to better support these students. In her opinion, four-year colleges have the responsibility to offer these students extra resources to help them succeed. Opportunities for extra advising and information could make the difference in these students’ lives and educations.

So, depending on your situation, leaving your four-year college for community colleges or online colleges might be a better choice. But if you’re thinking about it, explore some of the resources available at your current school. Sticking it out might be the better choice in the long run.

The latest report from Dice reveals that tech skills are becoming increasingly in demand, as evidenced by this new report of various job postings around the nation.  The numbers reveal the quantity of times various skills were desired from the employer.  The sample is supposedly representative of job postings in America, and shows us that various technological skill sets are now what most companies are looking for most often:

Operating Systems
1. Windows — 8,445
2. Unix — 6,997

Databases
1. Oracle — 9,119
2. SQL — 7,389

Programming Languages
1. C, C++, C# — 9,354
2. J2EE/Java — 8,676

Colleges who specialize in technological training, such as Potomac College and the surrounding cluster of tech schools of Virginia are likely to see increased enrollment over the next few years as an effect of this industry shift.  With many first time college students getting enrolled in this fields, there is also a significant amount of professionals returning to school to obtain more up-to-date credentials for their résumé.

Still, the largest single factor used in deciding out what one should do with their working life comes from passion – and this is still, by and large – the most determinant factor students employ when enrolling for their college programs.

It’s like Confucius says – “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.

Recently, at least nine college institutions have received gifts totaling over $45 million from a mystery donor. What’s unusual is no one, not even the universities, knows where the money came from.

Typically when an educational institution receives an anonymous donation – they are allowed to know the identity of the donor.  In the recent donation sweep, however – lawyers and middlemen have cornered academic institutions into signed agreements not only disallowing them to know the identity of the donor, but promising not to try and find out.

Some of the schools that received the donations are the University of Iowa colleges receiving 7 million, the University of Southern Mississippi college receiving 6 million, and Purdue’s Indiana college receiving 8 million. It’s not clear whether the gifts come from an individual, organization or group of people with similar interests.

All donations were given on March 1st. Each came with the stipulation that most of the money must go to student scholarships.
Donations have dwindled at several colleges, and many schools have been trying to make ends meet during this economic downturn. These gifts show that someone recognizes the importance of higher education and truly wants to make a difference in the lives of students.  Historically speaking, and only exempting some of the Ivy League institutions - a larger endowment is a typical prelude to enrollment increase.

I would certainly be on the lookout at these specific universities enrollment metrics over the next academic year – as opportunity might arise for those looking to attend one of their programs.

Did you know that many of U.S. College Search’s most popular training programs lead to careers that earn almost double that amount? Imagine what you could do with double your salary – what a difference that could make to your future, your family, and your lifestyle. The good news is, these jobs are well within your reach!

CNN and CareerBuilder.com have compiled a  list of 20 jobs that pay a median hourly wage of $20, which means an average of $41,600 a year based on a 40-hour workweek. And guess what? Many of these 20 careers are in fields that you can train for at a USCS school! You can train to become a massage therapist, paralegal, truck mechanic, electrician or one of hundreds of other careers, and build yourself a better life.

Want to find out what the rest of the 20 jobs that pay $20.00 an hour are? Find out in the Career Builder article at CNN.com. Want to actually make that kind of money? Search for a program that interests you right now!

Currently, federal subsidies, known as the Federal Family Education Loan program, are provided to private loan companies. President Obama wants to eliminate these subsidies proposing that all loans given to students will be under the control of the federal government. The administration argues that the revamp would save $94 billion. That savings could be redirected to needy borrowers and give more potential students the opportunity to go to college.

There is opposition to the proposal by some. Lenders are worried about the business they could lose. “The Obama plan would mean that many lenders would lose 100 percent of their business,” said Mark Kantrowitz, an industry analyst and publisher of FinAid.org. “It would be a dramatic shift for the way this industry works.”

Others worry about the inefficiency of the education department. “I don’t see the wisdom in creating a new half-trillion national bank for student loans,” he said. “I know how the bureaucracy at the education department works, and you probably are going to get long lines of dissatisfied customers. Those lines could be very long because there are 12 million students.”

Supporters believe the proposal is the most cost effective, dependable way to provide students with the necessary funding for college. They think that the current system needs to be fixed to provide every student with the opportunity to go to colleges.

Source:
Washington Post

Career College Central
http://www.careercollegecentral.com/news/loan_industry_pushes_back - anchor text contigent on kw research

Some people have the right attitude about starting over. Some even relish the thought of building new networks and friendships. You can either drown in your own guilt and anger, or you can challenge yourself and your expectations by making a quick roundabout move to more versatile earning potential. The key to remaining marketable for employment is to diversify your skills.

While you search for full-time employment, there are several quick career certifications that you can study for in a relatively short time. You might be surprised to know that many of these quick certification fields feature fairly good earning power. The industries they are for also seem to have an endless supply of new jobs for certified graduates.

The spare time you have now during your job search or as you work part time can easily be filled by going to class for certifications in these types of positions. Have a look at a few.

Paralegal

Some schools offer basic training certifications that you can finish in 6 months. Some schools feature programs that go a bit deeper and award a degree. Either way, the legal industry is always busy, always looking for smart workers and always expanding with new services. Many programs include internships - an excellent way to get experience in a law firm and begin to make connections for your future job search. Why not get started in an industry where it pays to know how things work? One thing to remember - paralegals can’t offer legal advice or argue a case in court. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for a paralegal is $44,990.

Find Paralegal programs offered in your area with the US College Search Engine here.

Medical Assisting

There are basically two tracks for medical assistants - clinical and clerical.

Clinical tracks teach students how to perform basic medical procedures like taking blood pressure, taking temperatures, drawing blood, handling medical samples and assisting physicians and nurses in more complex procedures.

Clerical tracks teach students how to assist health care professionals in the office or how to handle insurance forms and claims. Clerical assistants will do more computer and phone work, they will file and act as liaison between doctor or nurse and patient or insurance agent.

Most cities of any size will have training institutes for medical assistants that offer quick 6, 9 and 12 month certifications. Many professionals hoping to earn a little extra for big plans, or who simply need a stable part-time job during a recession are often found in medical assisting jobs. Depending on your plans and what you hope to make, investigating each school’s training track further is a good idea before just jumping right in. One thing you can say for certain about health care - this is an industry with job security. The need for qualified medical assistants grows more every month as the baby boomer population retires and ages. This could be the shot in the arm your career earning plan needs.

Find Medical Assisting certification programs offered in your area with the US College Search Engine here.

Dental Assistant

A dental assistant performs a variety of laboratory, office and patient care duties that assist dentists in their day-to-day operations. A dental assistant often works alongside dentists as they examine and treat patients. BLS reports median salaries in 2007 were between $30,000 and $35,800. But that’s not all there is to love. Many dental hygienists find flexible scheduling to be a real upside of this career. This is especially important if you’re working another part-time or full-time job.

Many times to just get started in a dental office, you’ll only need to finish a quick 9 month certification course. Once you’re done, job prospects and supplemental earning power will help keep a gleaming smile on your face.

Find Dental Assisting certification programs offered in your area with the US College Search Engine here.

This article could go on and on, but you get the idea. There are more and more ways to supplement lost income through jobs that feature flexible scheduling and can be earned through quick training courses. Being ready for change in any capacity makes you a stronger person. Certification training gives you versatility in the marketplace and can help give you a financial boost when conditions turn for the worse. Use the search engine at US College Search to help you step up to new levels of effectiveness and earning.