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As College Tuition Rises, Scholarships Fill the Financial Aid Gap
(ARA) - In her senior year of high school, Rachel Melson realized that federal financial aid alone wouldn’t be enough to pay for her college education. Seeking more options, she headed to the Internet to search for scholarship opportunities.
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College Cuisine
Going to college is a grand experience. It's the first time many young adults get the chance to begin taking care of themselves, no matter what the consequences. One of the main things that worries parents when their child heads out into the world...
College Families Overpaid The IRS – Again!
College families who made their best guess as to which of the Education Tax Incentives would save them the most on their income taxes have put their 2004 tax returns to bed. However, for many, a sigh of relief may be a bit premature and...
Higher Education: Finding The Right College For You
If you are approaching the end of high school and are ready to begin investigating colleges, there are several factors to consider before deciding what college is right for you. Whether you want to study medicine or painting, accounting or physical...
Use Tax Credits To Help Finance Your College Education
Students are always on the lookout for ways to help pay or offset the cost of their tuition. There are various government grants and scholarships available to you if you qualify. But what if you don’t qualify for these government programs? ...
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4-year Colleges vs. Technical Schools: Your Choice
College is not for everyone, but that does not mean you
shouldn't pursue some sort of higher education or job training.
When you think about your future, what do you envision? Are you
doing something you love, or are you just working for a
paycheck? If you are one of the many who is trying to make a
decision about where to spend your money and invest your future,
read on. This article provides a comparison of 4 year colleges
and technical schools. Which one is right for you?
How to choose between 4-year colleges and technical
schools: Ask yourself these questions and then consider the
benefits and disadvantages of each type of school.
What are your goals? Do you have a specific career goal?
What are your educational goals? Do you want to learn as much as
you can about a variety of subjects? Do you want to learn as
much as you can about one specific topic (become an expert)?
What are your strengths? Weaknesses? Would you benefit
from a shorter more targeted program?
Lifestyle. How will school fit into your life? Would you
benefit from non-traditional scheduling such as online, evening,
or distance learning? 4-year colleges and technical colleges
both offer such options, but it varies by school so check with
any schools you are interested in attending.
What do you need? Realistically, what sort of degree or
training do you need to pursue your dreams? Research your
desired field--know what the requirements are and how they
compare to the programs you are considering. The US Department
of Education website offers resources for career and training
research.
Be a consumer. Check equipment; is it new and up-to-date?
How does it compare to the equipment you will be using on the
job? Trust me, this can be tedious but it is quite important.
After graduation I realized I should have taken more time to
research the computer programs employers expected me to know for
technical writing jobs. Had I been better informed, I could have
taken extra courses dealing specifically with those programs.
Investigate the following: campus size, current and
former students, faculty and staff; Find out if the school is
accredited and licensed; Do they make extraordinary claims? Will
your credits be transferable?
4-year Colleges Some people like to learn just for the
sake of learning, while some are more focused and driven and
use
school as a steppingstone for job advancement. If you are
interested in more scholarly pursuits a traditional 4-year
college might be your best option.
Benefits: liberal arts training applies to many fields,
diverse topics to explore, prestige, "college life"
Disadvantages: expensive, time consuming, may get degree
in area you no longer wish to pursue, high admission standards
and prerequisites, job market may be slower upon graduation-may
require additional training
Technical
Schools If college was for everyone, technical schools
would not exist. Some people may feel a stigma is attached to
technical schools. In a society where attending college has
become standard, we lose sight of the value of skills training.
People feel abnormal and may be angry if they don't want to go
to college but feel pressured to do so anyway.
Benefits: shorter duration, focused programs, easier
admission standards, flexible scheduling, certifications not
necessarily offered at 4-year colleges, hands on training
Disadvantages: may be viewed as less prestigious, can be
expensive, may be less room for exploration of other subjects,
accreditation, for-profit institutions
Many of the fastest growing jobs do not require a bachelor's
degree but do require post-secondary education (education beyond
high school) These jobs include: * Medical Assistants * Social
and human service assistants * Home health aides * Medical
records and health information technicians * Physical therapist
aides * Physical therapist assistants * Fitness trainers and
aerobics instructors * Veterinary technologists and technicians
* Hazardous materials removal workers * Dental hygienists *
Occupational therapist aides * Dental assistants * Personal and
home care aides * Self-enrichment education teachers *
Occupational therapist assistants * Environmental science and
protection technicians, including health * Preschool teachers,
except special education * Respiratory therapists
For more information on job growth statistics see the Bureau of
Labor Statistics webpage.
Remember, the best way to determine what is right for you is to
simply know yourself and be informed.
About the author:
Kate Leas is a freelance writer living in Kansas City, Missouri.
Her current fields involve education and the Internet.
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| SAT Registration - SAT Scores - College Search - College Admissions |
| Organization representing hundreds of colleges responsible for the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), the Advanced Placement (AP) program, and various equity ... |
| www.collegeboard.com |
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| CollegeNET - Online College Applications and Free Financial Aid Search |
| Guide to colleges, universities, and graduate programs. Provides information on college admissions, links to academic resources, and online applications. |
| www.collegenet.com |
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| college times |
| www.nytimes.com/college/ - Similar pages |
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| Dartmouth College |
| Welcome to Dartmouth, a private, four-year liberal arts institution that has been at the forefront of American higher education since 1769. |
| www.dartmouth.edu |
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| USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2007 |
| Top Liberal Arts Colleges · Comprehensive Colleges · Top Northern · Top Southern · Top Midwestern · Top Western · Engineering Programs ... |
| www.usnews.com |
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| CollegeView — College Finder & Recruiting Service |
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| www.collegeview.com |
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| Swarthmore College :: Home |
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| College Humor |
| Everything that's funny on the Internet is right here. Funny pictures, funny videos, and lots of boobies. |
| www.collegehumor.com |
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| The College of William & Mary | W&M |
| Chartered on February 8, 1693, by King William III and Queen Mary II as the second college in the American colonies. Severed formal ties with Britain in ... |
| www.wm.edu |
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| Reed College |
| Portland, Oregon liberal arts college noted for rigorous academics and independent study. |
| www.reed.edu |
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| Yale University |
| Yale University comprises three major academic components: Yale College (the undergraduate program), the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, ... |
| www.yale.edu |
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| Williams College |
| Official site for this four-year liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts. 2000 students choose from 30 majors in 24 departments. |
| www.williams.edu |
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| Amherst College |
| One of the Five Colleges, this school is consistently ranked one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation. |
| www.amherst.edu |
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| HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE |
| A private liberal arts college in Western Massachusetts. |
| www.hampshire.edu |
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| Smith College |
| A private liberal arts college for women located in Northampton, Massachusetts. A highly selective institution with an undergraduate enrollment on campus of ... |
| www.smith.edu |
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| College - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| The institutions formerly known as "Teacher-training colleges" now style themselves ... In Portugal the term college (colégio) is mainly used to refer to ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
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| Davidson College |
| An independent liberal arts institution founded by Presbyterians. Contains a calendar of events, history, academic information, alumni and admissions. |
| www.davidson.edu |
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| Emerson College - Bringing Innovation to Communication and the Arts |
| Emerson College is the nation's only four-year college devoted exclusively to the study of communication and performing arts. |
| www.emerson.edu |
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| Middlebury College |
| Panthers outdoor official site. Coaching staff, roster, schedule, school records, and past season information. |
| www.middlebury.edu |
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| The Pomona College Web |
| Private liberal-arts college with a focus on the arts, literature, and languages. A founding member of the Claremont Colleges. |
| www.pomona.edu |
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