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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.

Filed Under: College Essays Tagged With: , ,

So Many Colleges, So Little Time

Septem artes liberales from "Hortus delic...

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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: , ,

How Going Back to School Fits into a Traditional Work Schedule

As a full-time professional working 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week, it may seem impossible to try and go back to school. But perhaps you want to increase your education through a Master’s degree or even switch professions and obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in an entirely different field. Or maybe you desire your very first Bachelor’s degree. This task may seem impossible since you work 40 hours or more in a given week. Whatever your educational goal, it is achievable through much planning and dedication.

First you must decide how to attend class. Traditional universities offer night and weekend classes to accommodate working professionals. Online colleges offer degree programs that you can take at your leisure. This may seem more advantageous since you can take class whenever you like. The danger lies in possible procrastination. Will you actually study after work and on the weekends or take that time to relax and forget about class work?

In-person classes make you more accountable for actually doing the class work. The challenge then lies in how you can make your work schedule accommodate more than one class. If you plan on getting a Bachelor’s, you will need to take a minimum of four classes a semester on average to complete the program in four years. This is challenging if you only have nights and weekends to dedicate to class time. Consider taking a mix of in-person and virtual classes if you want to obtain your degree from a traditional school.

Another important aspect is fitting in study time. Do not block your free time with all classes. Otherwise you will not have time to study for tests and write term papers. Take enough classes so that the workload is challenging but not impossible to complete. You do not want a lack of sleep to interfere with your job.

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Your Education: Traditional or Online?

Getting an education is important, but do you want to do it the traditional way or do you want to learn online? Students have so many choices today that it can seem overwhelming. Sometimes, they don’t know what to do. If you’re in that situation, you have to look at all of the factors that will come into play when making your decision. Don’t just assume that you can (or should) do one or the other. Look into the issue and decide what’s best for you and your family. You should consider the cost, of course, but also the ability to move away to college and whether you’ll need to keep working while you go for your education.

If you have a child or a sick parent to care for, that can drastically alter your school plans. Even if you want to go away to attend a traditional school, you may not be able to. In that case, an online school would be your best choice. Ultimately, however, the choice has to be yours and no one else can make it for you. Getting help isn’t that hard, and you can check out a lot of resources to see what online degrees might be offered to you. That can give you a much better idea of what kind of options you have and what you should do next.

Don’t make an assumption about your education. You can’t really make an informed decision until you know all the facts. To get the facts, you have to do the research. It may seem easier to just choose a college and go with it because it’s the first one you find, but that could hurt you in the long run. It’s better to take the time to really figure out what you want to do, so you have fewer regrets later in life.

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