Choosing the Best Medical Schools for Your College-Bound Teen

 

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At first glance, medical schools all seem to offer the same things, but it’s a good idea for parents to research medical schools for their teen to attend.

Apply to all available schools, and then choose from the ones that have accepted your student. Whether they want to be in travel nurse programs or research in pediatrics, there are some things to be considered.

Finances

Finding a college or university near home will save thousands of dollars on your teen’s education. Remember, if they’re living in a dorm or other housing, they will have the usual living expenses on top of tuition and books. It could cost an extra $1,000 a month, depending on where your student lives.

Location

Whether it’s a college, university or an Ivy league school, the result will be the same – they will all take identical exams to graduate and get licensed, and they’ll all be scored with the same process.

Curriculum

Is your teen’s career choice a research-heavy experience? Choose one that has the labs and libraries for what’s needed. Does the school offer a three-year or four-year program? This can make a big difference in costs. How do they grade, is it Pass/Fail, or a letter-grading school? This can make a difference in the stress a student feels, trying to get A’s, instead of trying to pass. Does the school provide training opportunities? Graduate school somewhere else means another transition and the related additional expenses.

Student’s Lifestyle

  • Is there a gym nearby?
  • Coffee shops?
  • Cafes?
  • Grocery store?
  • Recreation facilities, park or pool?
  • Does your student drive, and is there ample parking or secure bicycle parking?
  • Is there a health facility close by?

Start a list of questions, then sit down one day and research the answers. Then, start visiting schools.

Filed Under: College Life Tagged With: , ,

Applying to Your Dream College

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A college choice is a very important decision in any student’s life. Many students have a dream college that they wish to attend. Applying to these colleges can take perseverance and hard work. Competition can be fierce and admission committees have high standards.

Of course a student’s ACT/SAT score is very important. If the student has taken the test and scored less than they have the potential for, they should retake the test. The highest score counts and students are not docked for taking the test multiple times.

Students who have a lower ACT/SAT are certainly not counted out. The college essay accounts for nearly 50 percent of the acceptance committee’s approval. It is very important that the essay is on topic and grammatically correct. Editing a college admission essay is very important upon its completion. Proofread and be sure all grammar usage is correct.

Letters of recommendation can also determine if a student is accepted. Letters of recommendation provide a sketch of the student. Pastors, teachers or employers are examples of people that may write the student a letter of recommendation.

Personal interviews are not always conducted, but some universities do require them. They may be with the Dean of Students or with the entire admission committee. Above all, be on time and look professional. Projecting confidence is important. Be prepared to explain why you want to attend their specific school and have facts to back the answer. Be prepared to explain what field you wish to pursue and why.

Applying to your dream college is exciting. Follow these tips to increase your chances of being accepted!

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Thoughts on Choosing the Right College

Many future collegians will pick their school of choice based on family that are alumni, or because of geographic location. But, choosing the right college takes a lot more than those two simple things. College is an investment, not only of money but of years of time and hard work. So before you pack away your laptop and clothes, think about these extras things.

Big-time school doesn’t mean big-time salaries.

Sure, going to a Top 25 college will certainly be recognizable on a resume, but the reality is that employers don’t hire based on what college job candidates attended. Getting that big paycheck is more predicated on the hard work offered by the individual. There are many company CEOs out there that have degrees from small-time schools, or no college degree at all.

Size doesn’t matter, and it does.

A college that has tens of thousands of students doesn’t mean that it will provide a better education than one that has only a few thousand. Yet some students find they can learn better in more intimate settings provided by a small school while others prefer the hustle and bustle characterized by large universities in large cities.

There are ways to pay for college.

It may be smart to pick a college based on cost, which many families do. But students shouldn’t short change themselves if they want to go to a more expensive college. There are many scholarships available as well as plenty of student loans offered by the government and financial lenders. You can also earn income to pay for college through online trading with UFX Markets Trading.

Be sure that you’re ready.

While your parents will encourage you to head straight to college after high school, you won’t be penalized in your studies or in the job market if you don’t. Some people just need a break from academics or more time to explore other things in life. It would be more detrimental to force yourself to head to college if you’re not ready to dedicate yourself 100 percent.

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So Many Colleges, So Little Time

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Beginning your college career is an exciting and often terrifying time. Trying to decide where to go to college is a decision that will in many ways determine the course of your life. By carefully considering a few areas, it may become easier to make this all important decision.

It is a good idea to first have an idea of what area of education interests you. In many cases, there are specific schools or universities that cater to these degree programs. If you are not sure what you would like to study, consider schools that offer a solid liberal arts education. This will allow you to make a choice later on.

Next, think about where you would like to study. To far away from home may lead to homesickness and the inability to visit during breaks. To close to home and you will end up feeling like there is no freedom. Additionally, consider the sizes of the colleges as it will impact your education experience. To large or too small of a class will make your learning experience less than ideal.

Finances should, of course, be carefully considered. Be sure to investigate how much an average year at each of your possible schools will cost. Determine what, if any, financial aid is available to you.

Finally, once you have the list narrowed down a bit, you should take the time to visit the schools you are considering. Spend a day talking to teachers and students. Walk around the campus. Check out the dorms. All of this information will play a big role in where you finally end up.

Picking a school is hard. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone once you have performed your research.

Filed Under: Admission Requirements, College Life Tagged With: , ,

Where College’s Tuition Goes

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College tuition is skyrocketing. In just a few years the price of the average public college in the United States has doubled and almost tripled in price. This has led many college students to question what exactly their college tuition is going towards.

Here’s a look at some of the things colleges do with the tuition money students pay out.

Upgrade Classroom Equipment

Classroom technology is always changing and part of students’ tuition goes towards upgrading the classroom equipment. Items such as computers, new desks, wi-fi and projects are purchased using the money that comes from tuition.

Paying Instructors

A very small portion of the money from tuition goes towards paying the people that actually teach the classes. Professors, teaching assistants and teachers are all paid with the money collected from students’ tuition. With teachers asking for higher pay it causes tuition to rise.

Maintenance Costs

Colleges need to pay for maintenance costs and those costs come out of the money collected from students’ tuition. Maintenance costs such as cleaning bathrooms, carpet cleaning, dry erase board markers, paper, lighting and heating are all factored into what schools charge for tuition.

Scholarships for Prospective Students

Surprisingly a small portion of current students’ tuition goes towards a scholarship fund for prospective students. Many colleges offer college sponsored scholarships and the money that is used for those scholarships may come from the tuition that current students pay.

These are just a handful of the reasons that college tuition is on the rise. More students attending the college, outdoor landscaping, school renovations, and higher administrative costs also effect what colleges charge for tuition.

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Effective Methods for Finding the Right Online College

There has never been more options than there are now for aspiring students looking for the right school. Since the inception of the Internet and online learning, the potential schools that students can choose to go to is growing at a seemingly exponential rate. However, while this may be considered a good thing to some, it can prove overwhelming for students looking for a specific kind of school to suit their needs. Below are some effective methods that can be utilized in finding the right college.

Consider Your Aspirations Prior to Searching

This step is among one of the most simple and straight forward; however, it often gets skipped nonetheless. For someone who is an aspiring clothing designer, ready to design the next popular style of Apple Bottom jeans, it might be a good idea to not apply for a school that revolves more so around tech based programs. Many schools are generalized, providing a wide range of programs. However, with the wide range of choices available, it can be easy to get confused.

Research and Read Reviews

One of the most useful aspects of the Internet is the fact that it makes it simple for people to leave and have access to feedback regarding the various experiences they have had with a particular business or service. This concept of searching the Internet is no different as it pertains to schools. Upon finding a specific online school that seemingly suits your needs, take the time to research that school and determine if the reviews and information that comes up reinforces your decision to choose that school.

Filed Under: College Essays, College Life Tagged With: , ,

How Much Is this Going to Cost?

Many college students have a hard time keeping track of their bank account and how much money they have. This is why parents should teach teens about money management before they leave home and go to college. For those new college students, however, that have not learned to manage their money well, there are a few things that can be done to instill good shopping habits before racking up a lot of debt.

One way for college students to be responsible is to use a Reach Card Visa. This is a prepaid card that works essentially like a credit card, except that you can only spend as much money as has been put on the card. It is a better option than a credit card because there are no monthly charges, and when the money is gone, nothing else can be bought.

New college students can also live on cash alone. Although, this technique is a little old-fashioned, it really helps to control spending. If you have a visual amount that you can spend, you’ll take more time with buying decisions and conserve more. Having a lot of cash on hand, however, can be a recipe for disaster, so a prepaid card tends to be a better route.

If college students asked themselves, “How much is this going to cost me?” every time they went to make a purchase, they would spend less money and manage their money better. There are ways to control spending habits before they get out of control resulting in a pile of debt, but this does take self-control and planning.

 

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The Costs of Going to College

The actual cost of attending college is going to vary depending upon the college you wish to attend. For some the costs may seem astronomical, but others aren’t as impossible to afford as you might think. Consider that 47 percent, almost half of the full-time students currently attend a four-year college where the cost for tuition and fees is under $9,000 a year.

 

Comparison of inflation in college tuition and...

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Of course there are those institutions that cost upward of $35,000 a year in fees and tuition. However in many cases these colleges quite often benefit from larger endowments and greater opportunities for grant aid, meaning that there are quite often more financial aid opportunities available.

Current two-year colleges average $2,700 in fees and tuition. Include in that the few institutions that offer full scholarships to cover expenses or simply charge little to no tuition at all. But in the end price may not be the only factor you consider in choosing which college you wish to attend.

 

The average tuition and fees charged by four-year colleges is $7,600 a year if you live in state. If you attend a private college that figure jumps to $27,300 a year.  But those costs don’t include the added expenses of living, eating and the purchase of books and other supplies.

It is important to consider any financial aid a person receives when calculating all these costs. Undergraduate students in 2009-2010 received in excess of $150 billion of financial aid. That was an average of $11,500 per student, including over $6,000 for grants that don’t require repayment.

In the end, there are methods available and choices that can be made which still make attending college an affordable option.


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Decorating Your First Off-Campus Apartment

When you are in college, you may start out living on campus. Many people start this way, and then as they get further in their college career, they choose to move off campus. When you get your first off campus apartment, one of the first things you may want to do is decorate it. If this is the case, keep the following tips in mind.

Furniture

You will need furniture, and buying new stuff can get expensive. If you don’t have the funds to get all new furniture, look at classified ads. Many times you can find the perfect furniture for Chicago apartments either through online classifieds or in a newspaper and you can usually get these things for great prices.

Paint

Before you paint anything, make sure your landlord says that it is OK. If you get the go ahead, consider getting some friends together and have a painting party. Provide some pizza, and you’re sure to get a lot of help painting your new apartment to make it your own.

Office Space

If you are still in school, you may want to have a separate area for an office. Make sure that this is a comfortable area of the apartment and that you are easily able to work in it without distraction.

Many times, you can get your friends to help you decorate your new apartment. In fact, you may end up getting more offers for help than you can keep track of. Many people love decorating a new place, and yours gives them the perfect excuse

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Preparing for Your College Admission Interview

The college admission process is different for every college. Some colleges require you to write lengthy essays on what you plan on doing in the future or a life changing experience, while others require you to attend an interview session with the board to determine if you are a good fit for that particular college. While writing an essay sounds easy, an interview can be a little intimidating. Luckily, there are things you can do to make that college interview less intimidating.

Here’s a look at how you can prepare for that college interview so you aren’t so intimidated and nervous.

Practice Your Interview

While you won’t know exactly what questions will be asked you can practice your college interview with family and friends. Have your friends and family members interview you as if you were participating in your college interview. This will help you get a feel for how the interview speed will flow and will help you come up with answers to questions quickly.

Do Your Research

Some college interview questions will have to do with the school and activities that are offered on campus. Make sure you do  your research and can answer these questions to the best of your ability. It wouldn’t look good to go into an interview at a school you want to attend and not know anything about the school’s history, courses or activities that are offered.

Practicing your interview and doing your research before you head to your college admission interview will help you prepare yourself for the experience and allow you to give a good first impression.

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