Your College Degree Information

Business Degree Key to Success as Your Own Boss

2008-03-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

(ARA) – You’ve always dreamed of working for yourself, but scary statistics about the number of start-ups that fail in their first year have kept you behind your desk, pushing paper for someone else’s profit. Yet there are a number of ways to stack the deck in favor of success when you’re ready to strike out on your own, starting with getting a business degree.

“Research has suggested important links between education and . . . entrepreneurial performance,” according to a U.S. Small Business Administration study. Author Scott Shane, a Case Western Reserve University professor of entrepreneurial studies, also sees a strong link between education and entrepreneurial success. In his book “The Illusions of Entrepreneurship,” Shane asserts that a degree increases an entrepreneur’s chances of success, according to a recent report in U.S. News & World Report.

“Many new entrepreneurs think having enough start-up capital and a good idea are all that’s needed for their new business to succeed,” says Tom Craigson of Monster Learning, whose Web site www.BusinessSchools.com provides extensive information on business schools across the country. “While those things are certainly vital, it’s also important to be prepared with the kind of knowledge that comes from a business degree.”

You won’t need to obtain a doctorate to succeed, either. According to Shane’s research, a Ph.D. apparently doesn’t increase your chances of success any more than a bachelor’s or master’s might. Entrepreneurial efforts can benefit from a variety of degrees, such as an MBA, accounting, business administration, business law, business communications, e-commerce and marketing, Craigson points out.

A business-related degree can provide entrepreneurs the edge in:

* Understanding markets and opportunities;
* Managing finances and investments;
* Marketing strategies and sales efforts; and
* Customer relations.

“Many schools provide distance learning programs, part-time coursework, and night and weekend classes. This kind of flexibility is particularly valuable to already busy professionals who are preparing to enter the world of entrepreneurship,” says Craigson.

How do you choose the school that's best for you? An online educational directory like www.BusinessSchools.com can help you find accredited schools offering degrees in a variety of business disciplines. Search by location, subject, and degree, and then request free information from the programs that interest you.

To find a business school and degree program that will set you on the road to entrepreneurial success, visit www.BusinessSchools.com.

Copyright © 2008, ARAnet, Inc.

Writing the Scholarship Essay

2008-03-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

Writing the scholarship essay is a critical step in the scholarship application process because it helps establish why a particular applicant is deserving of the money. Other scholarship criterion such as a high SAT score and a solid GPA, while still valuable, do not personalize the scholarship application like the essay does, as the essay appeals to the emotional aspect of one's psyche. For this reason it is important that the scholarship essay is clear, concise and well-written.

So how does one go about creating a masterpiece scholarship essay? Well, the very first step would involve one absolving themselves of the notion that only those with talent have the ability to write well. If a person can talk they can write. However, because writing does involve a little bit more thinking than regular talking, it is important to follow a few guidelines during the writing process. These guidelines are detailed below:

1) Read other scholarship essays

Reading other winning scholarship essays is the best way to get a feel for what scholarship judges are looking for. It may also help provide ideas during times of writer's block. Be careful, however, not to copy other people's words unless they are properly quoted in the scholarship essay. This applies for both direct quotes and paraphrased statements.

2) Use outlines and brainstorm

Outlines are a great tool for a writer to get their thoughts together. A traditional outline format consists of a Roman numeral identifying the main heading, a capital letter identifying a subheading and numbers indicating topics under the subheading. Further points related to these topics can be denoted using small letters. Of course, for the scholarship essay an informal outline could work just as well... all that really matters is that the writer is aware of what they want to say before they actually start saying it.

3) Don't be afraid of research

Some scholarship essays seem so essay... so why does a writer still encounter mental roadblocks when starting their piece? This is perfectly natural even on topics that one feels they are knowledgeable of. To get the brain cells functioning again, sometimes researching on topics directly and indirectly related to the main topic is helpful.

4) Write from the heart

Don't try to sound like the latest best-selling author when writing the scholarship essay. This includes trying to sound 'deep', (unless of course 'deep' is one's natural writing style), and littering the essay with big words. Scholarship judges can see through this and are usually turned off if they feel an essayist is trying to sound like someone else.

5) Be creative

As long as creativity doesn't distract from the main theme of the scholarship essay, and assuming one is still using proper grammar, don't be afraid to deviate from the 'academic style.' Believe it or not scholarship judges are human and tend to notice essays that touch their emotions in some way. Anecdotes, emotional personal accounts and even dialogues are creative approaches that have been used in winning scholarship essays. If the scholarship essay instructions allow for creative expression, go wild with it.

6) Use proper grammar and punctuation

Scholarship essays full of grammatical errors are the first to be disqualified even if the content is otherwise compelling. Therefore it is important that an essayist is fully aware of the rules of English grammar and writes in a formal manner. This means that when it comes to choosing to write a sentence with a traditional structure versus a 'contemporary' one, the writer should opt for the former. For example, even though it has recently become acceptable to use and or but at the beginning of a sentence, it should be avoided when writing the scholarship essay. There are still a lot of editors that feel uncomfortable with the idea of using a conjunction at the beginning of a sentence, so why even take the chance? A writer can never lose when choosing to write traditionally.

7) Use a standard essay format

A basic essay format consists of a thesis statement, three or four paragraphs expanding on points detailed in the thesis statement and a concluding paragraph. This traditional structure, despite being seen as generic by some writers, works very well. Why? Because it allows the essayist to clearly lay out their thoughts both for themselves during the writing process and for the judges who are reading the essay. This is an important factor when creating the scholarship essay, particularly for inexperienced writers who may have trouble clearly expressing the 'main point' in a non-traditional approach.

8) Follow the scholarship essay's instructions

It is important that the scholarship essay addresses the points asked for in the instructions. No matter how brilliant a particular piece is, if it goes off on a tangent discussing irrelevant topics then it has not achieved the desired objective.

9) Get someone else to proofread your work

It is very easy for writers to not catch all of their mistakes, whether they are grammatical errors, typos or inconsistencies in the 'logic' of their piece. This is why it is important for everyone, even those who have previously written winning scholarship essays, to get their work proofread by a variety of sources.

10) Don't get discouraged by 'losing' scholarship essays

Just because a scholarship essay didn't win doesn't necessarily mean that it was bad. Keep in mind that scholarship judges are responsible for reading hundreds sometimes even thousands of scholarship essays. Deciding who will win, particularly when there are so many good essays to choose from can be very difficult. Sometimes the final choice will be based purely on emotion... the judge may see factors in an essay that reminds them of their personal life. Either way, it is impossible to please everyone. This is why it is important to apply to as many scholarships as possible. As long as a person follows these guidelines and produces a well-written essay, the power of numbers shall be on their side. Good scholarship essays are bound to get noticed eventually.

5 Tips For Going To College As An Adult

2008-03-18T18:13:00.000-07:00

Whether you are starting fresh or returning to college after a hiatus, it can be a little daunting. Most people think of "college" as a place filled with 18-22 year olds and if you are older, yikes.

While college is still a straight-out-of-high-school endeavor for many people, more and more adults, or "non-traditional students", are going to college each year and the trend is rising as a college education becomes more necessary for really good jobs.

Whatever your motivation and reasons for going back to school - to start a career, change careers, or just to take some classes in an area that interest you - the following tips can make your experience smoother and the transition back to college easier.

1. Do less than the maximum.
Unless you have to, do not take the maximum load of classes in your first semester. Most students take 15 hours, but even with a student loan, the minimum requirement is usually only 12. Start out a little more slowly to give your self a chance to really get used to school. This may seem like a waste of time, but even if you go a little more slowly, you will find that you are not as stressed and can do better when you don't overload yourself.

2. Take breaks.
Don't spend all of your available study time studying! You may really need to study a lot, but chances are that by taking 30 minutes to take a walk or spend time with your kids can really rejuvenate your brain and help you absorb the material you are studying once you go back to it.

3. Be a part of things
Most schools have student associations, maybe even a group for adult students. There are many other clubs and groups as well that you can be part of. You may find your time limited, but take part in as much as you can because you will find that you enjoy your time in college much more if you spend part of it making friends and being involved on campus.

4. Take the classes you dread
In fact, take them first. It's like the old saying if you have to eat a frog each day it's better to eat it first thing in the morning. Take the classes you think you will hate and get them out of the way. You may find that they were not as bad as you thought but if they are, at least you have them over and done and you don't have to worry about them for the rest of your time at school.

5. Enjoy every minute
This is the most important tip anyone can give you. Whether you go to college at 18 or 81, enjoy it! College is not just about learning. That is the main point of course, but it is also a time to enjoy the activities, the people, the community and everything it has to offer. Spend your time in college enjoying college, no matter how old you are.

Congratulations on your decision to return to school. It may be the biggest step you have taken in a while but if you follow these tips, you will do just fine.

Fund Your Dreams: Getting a College Degree is Still Possible through Scholarship Application

2008-02-25T19:46:00.000-08:00

Fund Your Dreams: Getting a College Degree is Still Possible through Scholarship Application

If you have limited or completely inadequate resources to make it to college, don’t give up on your dreams just yet! There’s still a chance for you to get a college degree, but only if you’re willing to take your chances on a scholarship application.

Types of Scholarships Available for Aspiring College Degree Holders

Academic Proficiency – If you’ve had straight A’s throughout high school, you definitely have great chances of having your scholarship application approved. Your chances can be further be improved if you have a high intelligence quotient and excellent results on the SAT.

Proficiency in Sport, Music, or Arts – Are you extremely good at playing a particular sport or musical instrument? Are you good in writing, drawing, or even cooking? If you have exceptional talent but without the necessary means to obtain your desired college degree, many organizations will be willing to fund your way through college in exchange of bringing honor to their school.

Financially Challenged – Of course, you don’t always have to be smart or excellent in sports. If you’re just an ordinary individual with unfortunately strained finances, that’s enough reason for many organizations to help you out, just as long as you prove to them first that you deserve a shot in college.

Minority – If you belong to a particular minority, you should look for organizations which focus on providing aid to people of your race.

Religion – There are many religious sects or charities backed by organized religions which offer financial aid – or college scholarships – in your case simply by virtue of your religion by choice.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Your College Scholarship Application Approved

It’s been mentioned and excellence in academics or any particular field or skill will improve your chances of getting your college scholarship application approved. You can however make your chances of success even better by considering the following factors as well.

Leadership – The ability to lead is a quality that’s desired by all schools, so if you’ve ample proof of using such skills in high school, make sure that you include this in your application requirements.

Work Experience – It’s never easy to juggle school and work together, and if you still managed to obtain fairly decent grades together with steady employment then your scholarship committee will definitely be impressed.

Community Service – Lastly, if you’ve been involved with any charitable or non-profitable organization, make sure that you provide details about this as well because scholarship committees prefer to help people who also care about helping others.

college scholarships

Need Money for College?

2008-02-23T15:29:00.000-08:00

Online Education Increasingly Popular Among Students

2008-02-17T17:57:00.000-08:00

(ARA) – Many people think about going to college. Whether they’ve never gone, have attended some college, or already obtained a degree, each person’s situation and career goals are unique.

Some students opt for a traditional school where they attend class in person, on campus. But increasingly more popular is online education. Many choose this option because they are busy with work or other commitments and want the flexibility to learn on their own schedule.

Online education enables students to study anytime, anywhere, and choose the schedule that works for them, without sacrificing the prestige of a reputable university. In addition, some traditional colleges now offer online degree programs to supplement regular programs.

For example, Ashford University has a tradition of academic excellence since 1918, but now offers a variety of online programming. This is attractive to students skeptical of new, completely online colleges and who want the heritage of a reputable university.

“Online education is a very viable choice for working adults,” says Jane McAuliffe, Ashford University Chancellor. “By providing accessible, affordable degree programs, Ashford is helping adult students pursue integrity in their lives, professions, and communities.”

When looking at colleges, some things to remember to check are:
* Academic offerings
* Variety of degree levels
* Transfer credit policies
* Time commitment
* Tuition cost

Ashford University has structured their online education program with many of these values in mind for working adults and those with uncompleted degrees. It offers associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s programs that can be earned in as little as 12 to 24 months.

In addition to the convenience of an online education, tuition at Ashford University is 20 to 50 percent less than other online colleges. Plus, they have a good transfer-credit policy.

For more information about online education and the programs available through Ashford University, please visit www.Ashford.edu or call (866) 711-1700.

Copyright © 2006, ARA Content

Tips for Choosing the Right College for You

2008-01-28T12:43:00.000-08:00

For Dorothy, there was only one yellow brick road in Oz and this was indeed the path she should take in order to get home. Unfortunately for future college students each school represents a possible yellow brick road and there’s no Good Witch, Wizard, or a pair of ruby slippers to help them determine the ideal college for them. Rather, they have no choice but to rely on their own powers of deduction in order to choose the right college.

Choosing the right college or university is one of the momentous decisions an individual has to make in life. If you’re facing the same situation right now, don’t hesitate to ask your parents, friends, and teachers for advice. In the end however it’s your wishes and dreams that must strongly count.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THE FUTURE?
This is the number one question you need to answer. Although you can still end up choosing the right school even if you’re presently undecided as to what career to pursue, the chances of getting into the best school for your needs will improve if you have an idea of what you want to do in the future. The earlier you think about this question the better because you can then focus on evaluating your choice and see if it’s truly the right decision.

Having a general idea as to what you wish to be in the future will allow you to narrow your choices to colleges or universities that are known for providing excellent education in the field you’re interested in.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO PASS?
Never forget to ask about the school’s requirements from future students. Does the admission board rely greatly on SAT scores in evaluating the application of a student? Will you have to show active participation in extra curricular activities in high school or will they only be interested in your academic standing?

VARIETY OF DEGREES OFFERED
In the event that you still feel undecided about your future career, you should then ensure that the college you’ll get into will allow you to choose from the widest selection of degrees. Switching schools can be quite tedious so it’s best that you get into a college which will allow you to switch degrees with relative ease.

TYPE OF STUDENTS
College will require you to fraternize with a whole new set of peers. If possible, visit the colleges that you’re interested in to determine the type of students they have enrolled. This is especially important if you’re not comfortable studying in a school where you’re one of the minorities. Consider the race, educational and family background of the majority of the students and ask yourself if you’re comfortable with what you see.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Extra-curricular activities nowadays play an almost equally important role in getting you the job you want in the future. Thus, it’s important to see whether the college you have your eye on can offer you the opportunities you need to broaden your knowledge and improve your skills and abilities outside the classroom.

DISTANCE
Will you be comfortable with studying far away from home – or abroad even – or does certain circumstances prevent you from choosing any school that’s not located in your town or state? If you already have a job, will attending a distant school affect your job schedule? If you’re amenable to studying at a distantly located school, consider the housing options provided. Are you okay living with a roommate? How much are you going to spend for housing needs?

COSTS
Lastly, consider the expected costs. How much is the school charging for the degree you’re particularly interested in? How many years will it take you to graduate? Can you afford to pay the tuition you’ll be charged with? What payment options are provided by the school for students with financial difficulties? Is there any way for you to qualify for discounts or scholarships?

In the event that the tuition fees being charged by the school you’re most interested in is presently beyond your means, don’t give up just yet. Ask your high school counselor for suggestions as to how you can come up with the necessary funds in order to attain your dreams.

Online Education an Accessible Option for Working Mothers

2008-01-28T12:38:00.000-08:00

(ARA) – Being a working mom is no easy task. Trying to find a balance between work and motherhood can often lead to feelings of guilt and stress. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the United States there are more than 26 million working mothers with children under the age 18. Building your own career and managing your household can be trying for both you and your family.

If you are looking for a promotion, want to start a new career or simply wish to get an education, you may want to consider taking classes online. Online classes make education more accessible. You can log into your virtual classroom from home and study after the kids are asleep.

If you've been thinking about going back to school, online programs might be for you. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Education, 61 percent of schools in the United States now offer educational courses and degree programs over the Internet.

Online classes can also save you money. Imagine how much it might cost if you had to travel to a campus location several times each week. For some, the nearest campus is a 45 minute drive or more away and, with rising gas prices, that can quickly strain your family budget. Online classes allow you study in the comfort of your own home, so you won't have to worry about driving or paying for a babysitter.

Popular areas of online study include psychology, nursing, business and education. Colleges and universities offer professional certificate programs, individual courses and entire degree programs online. So whether you are looking to stay on top of the competition and only need to take one accounting course, or you’re starting a new career and need to earn your bachelor’s degree in education, there is an online program that is perfect for you.

Having a rewarding career and being able to be there for your family are important to every working mom. Luckily, today’s technology provides more options for parents looking to go back to school.

To search the Internet's top accredited schools and find the program that best fits your life, log on to www.DegreesForWorkingMoms.com.

Understanding Online Education

2008-01-28T09:48:00.000-08:00

(ARA) - Ever since she was a little girl, Jennifer wanted to be a teacher. She would play school on the back porch and sometimes coax her little sister, or neighborhood children, into playing as her students. Jennifer couldn’t wait until the day when she could take attendance with a class of her own. She fulfilled that dream after receiving her bachelor’s degree in 1991 and teaching credential in 1992. But after years of teaching she wanted more.

“I always knew that I wanted to further my education,” says Jennifer, a 36-year-old married mother of three, whose personal account is available on eLearners.com. It was time.”

So Jennifer turned to a virtual university. “It took me awhile to come to terms with the fact that I was actually going to enroll,” she says candidly. “Online education was still fairly new to the general public at the time.” Despite her fears of not attending a brick and mortar school, Jennifer enrolled and after 18 months received her master’s degree in education.

Adults seeking career advancement and personal accomplishment, like Jennifer, have many questions about online education. Today they can find numerous resources on the World Wide Web that help answer questions and provide guidance. For example, eLearners.com recently launched the “Guide to Online Education” to help prospective and online students understand and navigate the world of online learning. The guide features research, advice and “how-to” sections.

“Many people are intrigued by online learning, but don’t know where to begin,” says Helen MacDermott, an eLearners.com Guide-on-the-Side. “We’ve created a comprehensive tool where interested parties can now go to get their distance learning questions answered in an easy-to-read format.”

Whether you are just starting to think about going back to school or have already made the decision to return, the free 175-page Guide to Online Education will help you find your way through the vast world of distance learning. The topics include:

* Going Back to School -- Are you ready? How do you get ready? And, how do you get your family on board?
* Opportunities in Online Education -- What are you looking for? Blended learning vs. wholly online? Degree vs. certificate? Credit vs. non-credit?
* Online Education Providers -- What are the different types of providers?
* Research -- What does the research say about online education?
* Being an Online Student -- How do I get prepared? How do I set up my home classroom? How do I write an A+ discussion posting? How can I survive virtual group work?
* Paying for an Online Degree -- How do I tap employer assistance, scholarships, loans and grants?

The guide also provides profiles of actual online students, showing first-hand what it’s like to be an online learner juggling work, home life, and school. Getting an education is now easier than ever, so you have no excuse for putting off the education you deserve. Click here to start today.

Copyright © 2007, ARAcontent