Education | College Information

The best- and worst-paying college majors

Are you facing your first term of college with the terrifying realization that you have NO CLUE what you want to study?

You’re probably a well-rounded individual, but you just haven’t found your passion yet. How do you go about choosing what to major in? And will that one choice set the course for the rest of your career and your life?

Personal interest is crucial in picking a field of study – if you don’t like it or you’re not interested in it, don’t torture yourself – but there are other factors to consider, too. One aspect that deserves some scrutiny is a potential major’s earning potential out in the real world of the work force.

Here are the top and bottom five college degrees by starting median salary for 2010-11, as reported by PayScale Inc.:

Top five:

Petroleum engineering $93,000
Chemical engineering $64,800
Nuclear engineering $63,900
Computer engineering $61,200
Electrical engineering $60,800

Bottom five:

Exercise science $32,800
Athletic training $32,800
Social work $31,800
Elementary education $31,600
Child and family studies $29,500

The most popular college major, business administration, came in 35th out of the list of 75 undergraduate college majors, with a median starting salary of $42,900.

Don’t totally count out a career in the lower wage ranks just because you’re not likely to get rich quick. Plenty of jobs with low numbers on the pay stubs make up for it in non-salary perks, benefits and job satisfaction. Take teaching, for example: While salaries are notoriously low, public school teachers enjoy union representation, health and retirement benefits and a nine-month work year!

Filed Under: College Essays, Education Tagged With: Academic major, Chemical engineer, Electrical engineering

Write an outstanding admissions essay

Why do college applications require you to write an essay about yourself? What are admissions officers looking for in an essay, and how do you go about writing an outstanding one?

Test scores and transcripts may be an indicator of how you can be expected to perform in college, but the admissions essay tells the school about you, the person. Colleges want to attract the best and brightest, partly because a high-quality, diverse campus population contributes to a better learning experience, and partly because they want their graduates to be successful alumni who will support their alma mater.

So even if your SAT scores aren’t stellar and your GPA could use some TLC, a brilliant essay can showcase your ambition, your goals and your creativity. Here are some tips for crafting your best work:

1. Pick an interesting topic. Don’t just talk about your future career plans in generalities. Have a specific goal and tell why you chose it. Or if you don’t yet have specific plans, tell about a major achievement in your life or describe the qualities that set you apart from everyone else. Whatever you choose, make it something you feel passionate about.

2. Grab your reader. Start your essay with something vivid – ask a question, give a short and vibrant description, or make an intriguing statement. Keep your voice natural: Read your essay aloud to your friends and family to make sure it sounds like you. Avoid starting every sentence with the word “I.”

3. Proofread, proofread, proofread! Hardly anyone is perfect with spelling, punctuation and grammar, but turning in a polished essay shows that a) you know how to use resources to make it perfect, and b) you care.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Essay, Grade (education), SAT

Bridging the Gap on Education Costs

The cost of college hasn’t gotten cheaper over the years. For many people the dream of going to school to get their higher education has become a bit of a financial nightmare. Just trying to make ends meet at the tuition office isn’t close to what they are going through. There is so much more for a person to do that all it takes is one bad week at work or one car repair and a student can go from on track with his or her higher education payments, to wondering what went wrong.

For many students there are very little options when a tuition crisis arises. Loans that a student usually takes out are only available until after the semester. Once the semester starts there are no emergency loans to help bridge the gap. There are very few banks that are going to give college kids a sum of money that low or that quickly to keep them in school. Many banks have a certain protocol to follow and in doing so they must wait days for a decision on an application.

The cost of an education gets bigger. Payday loans are there to bridge the gap. Use them sparingly and you’ll stay on the right track.

Filed Under: Education, Scholarships Tagged With: Business, Loan

The challenges of online learning

Taking courses online is often an attractive option when work, family or location prohibits someone from enrolling in traditional college classes. But it’s not all as easy as lounging around with a laptop. Here are some challenges you should know about:

1. Procrastination. Without regular class meeting times and the motivation to keep up with your classmates, it’s easy to put off doing your studying or your assignments. Plus, life gets in the way! Set aside a block of time each day to concentrate on nothing but your coursework.

2. Plagiarism. You’re already on the Web, and so much information is just a click away … no one will ever find out if you copy and paste, right? Wrong. Read the material, think about it, then restate it in your own words as if you were telling it to someone else. The whole point of learning isn’t to get a grade, but to expand your mind.

3. Minimal effort. When it’s just you and the computer, you have to be your own taskmaster. Don’t let yourself just get by with doing the bare minimum requirements for a class – do your best and take pride in your work.

4. Negative attitudes. You can bet there will be times when your online course seems like a time-waster, a stressor or a burden. Don’t let it turn into a chore. Remind yourself of the reason you began the course and how excited you were to start this adventure.

5. Mistaken assumptions. Do your homework before you select a course! Check out the program thoroughly and make sure the online school is legitimate and accredited, the curriculum meets your needs and the coursework fits with your schedule.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: E-learning, Education, Virtual school

What can you expect at a fraternity?

Starting college can be a daunting prospect, especially if you’re the only one of your high school classmates at your new school. The Greek system of fraternities and sororities offers social and leadership activities that can help you adjust, have fun and even gain valuable experience for your resume.

The first Greek letter organization was Phi Beta Kappa, a literary society founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776. Social activities began to take prominence over academic interests in the first half of the 19th century. Currently, houses exist for specific demographics (such as black, Jewish, Christian or gay students) or with a focus on a professional, academic or service orientation.

Students scout out fraternities during Rush Week, attending events and getting to know the members of the houses they’re interested in. Once a house decides to offer membership to a student, he becomes a pledge. Pledges usually have to complete a period of service that proves their dedication and worthiness; if they pass the pledge period satisfactorily, they are initiated into the frat.

Unfortunately, hazing rituals involving humiliation, physical assaults and alcohol are part of the history of some fraternities. But absolutely every national fraternity, as well as every university with a Greek system, officially prohibits hazing. Several fraternities have even established themselves as “dry” houses, meaning they do not allow alcohol.

Why join a fraternity? You’ll bond with dozens of your frat brothers, making connections that could benefit your future career. You’ll practice leadership and philanthropy on campus. You’ll enjoy parties and events that are off-limits to non-Greek students. You may be able to get housing in the frat. And if your house has a colorful past, you’ll have the chance to raise its reputation for the classes that come after you.

Filed Under: College Essays, Education Tagged With: Fraternities and sororities, Fraternity, Student

Slumping Job Markets

The economy can bring many woes and many blessings. If the economy is doing well, many college graduates are grateful to take advantage and look for well-paying jobs. If the economy is doing poorly, many college graduates find that the jobs are simply not available, and that making their bills on-time each month can be a struggle. However, for college graduates, there is one bill that has to be paid, regardless of income flow. There are certain government programs that can help during times of hardship, but they only last for a specific duration of time, usually a cap of 36 months per program. This means that once the hardship programs—such as forbearance and deferment—expire, a college graduate will not be able to depend on that relief again. One such way to help graduates with the cost of education is by consolidating student loans. It can show graduates how they can save significant amounts of money each month, making the process of paying bills on time that much easier. This is especially true for those that are not able to find jobs that are as high paying as once believed. Graduates are provided a six month grace period, or deferment, after graduation. This means that no payments are to be made on behalf of the student loans. This time gives graduates a preparation period to begin planning how they will repay the loans. Consolidation can also be done during this time, making the student loans more manageable from the beginning of the repayment process. This can help lower the stress of repayment for many graduates as they may have a struggle finding adequate work in a slow job market. It is important for graduates to investigate their options as soon as possible as this can help to save time and energy later on.

Filed Under: Education, Financial Aid, Scholarships Tagged With: Debt consolidation, Loan, Student loan

Why Should You Consider Studying Abroad

With students from all over the world flocking to the United States to attend our colleges, why would anyone consider going overseas from the United States to attend college elsewhere?

The first reason that comes to mind is about experience. Many adults in the United States have never set a foot outside of this country’s borders. A trip overseas would be a learning experience that you would never forget. Immerse yourself in another culture. Learn a new language. Be on your own for the first time ever.

Another reason to leave the country to attend college is to go to specifically learn a foreign language. If you know that you want to teach Italian, then attending school in Italy is a great idea. Many times this can translate into a job for you as well, teaching English in the schools or privately.

Some countries are known for certain subjects over others. If this is the case, you may want to study under a master in your business. For example, attending chef school in France can be very prestigious for American students. Coming back to the states with a degree and good grades from a French cooking school gets your foot in the door at just about any restaurant you choose. A student that wishes to study opera may choose to apply to schools in Italy that are known for their music and their singing. A student who truly believes she has a gift may decide that she wants to study ballet in Russia.

In any of these cases, attending college abroad can be a great experience for American students. Going while you are still young, before you are tied down by a job and family, will give you a lifetime of memories.

Filed Under: Education, Financial Aid Tagged With: Education, United States

Tips for Online College Success

Every year the number of students who have taken an online course towards a college degree increases. Some take a class or two online, while others spend their entire college career in online classrooms. Many people have earned their college degrees this way. However, there are some people for whom online schools are not the right fit. There are a few basic principles that will tell anyone whether they can earn their degree online or not.

First, you have to be able to work on your own. If you need a teacher who knows you personally to talk your through steps on your homework or you are a person who learns much more by observing your teacher and fellow classmates in person, then online classes might not work for you.

Time is an important part of learning. You have to make sure that you have the time to do the work required before you sign up.

Commitment is also imperative. If you are constantly saying to yourself that you can do your homework later and you choose to do something else instead, you may find that your lack of commitment ends up costing you your good grades. While many students do not want to believe it, teachers can usually tell if students routinely wait until the last moment to finish their homework. If you are one of those students, and you are constantly making excuses or asking for deadline extensions, your teacher will be less likely to work with you should a real emergency come up.

If you are worried that some of these things might make it difficult to take your classes online, you can find out by signing up for an online class. It is the best way to know for sure. If you can tell you are not keeping up or if your grades are bad, chalk it up to a lesson learned and head back to campus! If you find that you take to the online class well, congratulations! Now let’s order some more classes and get going on that diploma!

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Academic degree, E-learning, Student

Why You Should Attend College Online

The number of people rushing to take online courses every year is staggering. Some people remain unconvinced that online classes are the way to go. While every student is different, students can benefit from online classes in so many ways.

Scheduling. People love that online classes can be taken any time of the night or day. It does not matter what shift you work or what time your kids go to bed for the night. You can take the class and do the coursework when it is right for you. If you or your child are sick one day, you can skip class without penalty because everything will be waiting for you online when you feel better.

Privacy. In a world of social networking and cell phones, many people spend too much time talking about other people’s business. Some of them even talk about their own business, even when we do not want to listen. Taking classes at home can give you the privacy you need to get your work done, not be bothered by others to be study partners, or to combine ideas on special projects.

Costs. Online classes typically cost slightly more than going to school on campus. One major difference though is the cost savings that come in other ways. For example, if you are not traveling back and forth to school, you are saving money on gasoline. You are also more likely to eat at home, so you save money on fast food.

Convenience. It goes without saying that the students who take their classes on campus can’t walk out on a lecture to switch loads of laundry through the washer and dryer. They also can not rock a fussy baby while watching the a required movie or reading a book for a class. For some people, taking college classes on the Internet is just a practical way to go.

If you are not sure if this is right for you, that is understandable. The best way you can decide is to try one out and see how you like it. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Filed Under: College Essays, Education Tagged With: Distance education, E-learning, Student

Starting College Closer to Home

With the costs of college rising quickly, many students are looking for ways to save money on their college education. One of the easiest ways to do this is to go to community college. High school graduates may groan about the fact that they have not actually gone away to college if they are still in their home town, and many worry about the education that they will receive there in comparison with the education from a four-year university.

In reality, most of the core classes that one takes during the first one to two years of college are the same no matter what school has enrolled the him or her. Money-wise, taking six or eight courses at a community college at around $1000 makes much more sense when you compare it to the option of taking virtually the same classes at a private, four-year university for three times as much.

Money is also saved in more places than tuition fees. Community colleges rarely have dorms. So, students can choose to live at home or rent an apartment with a roommate. Also, there will be no need to reapply for a job the following summer as you never left town in the first place. This means keeping you job and your paycheck while you are learning.

Do you like to eat? Several dinners per week at Mom’s house, whether you actually live there or not, is one great way to remind them that you love them as much as you love saving money by eating with them instead of in the cafeteria. Besides, at mom’s house, dessert is no extra charge!

Taking a couple of years to go to community college, save your money, and decide what you truly want to be “when you grow up” is okay to do. Learning to plan ahead and make decisions based on fact as opposed to feelings are another part of being a grown-up.

Filed Under: College Essays, Education Tagged With: Community college, Education