Jul
3
The Internet has created wonderful opportunities for countless students to take advantage of distance learning opportunities. Online colleges and universities offer excellent educations to working adults, the disabled, and those who need to study with flexible hours. These online classes also offer a substantial savings over the cost of attending a traditional “bricks and mortar” school, since there is no cost for room and board and lower expenses for staffing and transportation needs.
The down side is that there are also many “diploma mills” on the Internet. These are scams that pose as reputable schools but are selling worthless pieces of paper instead of offering real diplomas. They don`t provide a real education. They simply take your money. If you want a genuine education, be sure you are enrolling at one of the many excellent online colleges that will give you a thorough education.
There are several things you should look for in determining whether an online program is legitimate. Unrealistic promises are a bad sign. No reputable college will promise that you can graduate with a degree in a matter of weeks. At the very least, a degree program should take 18 months to complete. A good program also won`t promise that you can graduate no matter what. Remember, you should have to work for your degree. Paying a fee shouldn`t be enough.
Look for accreditation, and then verify. Colleges and universities are accredited by various organizations. Check carefully to see who the accrediting agency is, and then confirm that it is legitimate. If an online school tells you that it is “only a formality”, or that they don`t need accreditation because they are an online school, don`t waste your time and money.
Six regional accrediting bodies that are reliable include the Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools, the New England Association of Schools and College, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It`s well worth it to take the time to visit their websites.
Accreditation programs for U.S. schools should be located within the U.S. In recent years, some diploma mills have gotten around their lack of credentials by seeking accreditation in third world countries with low educational standards. If it doesn`t make sense to you, there`s a reason. A school in Montana with accreditation from a small island in the Caribbean isn`t likely to offer you a solid education. As always, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Look for the school`s contact information. A good school will offer you several ways to contact them. If a website doesn`t offer a street address and phone number, they may be hiding something. A school that is open and honest will want to offer you every opportunity to talk to their admissions staff and faculty. If the only thing they have is an online form to fill out, you should definitely be suspicious.
Research the curriculum. When you look at the websites for online schools, check out the various programs that are offered. You should be able to look at some examples of the classes that are offered. Sample coursework will give you an idea of the variety of classes and how in-depth your education will be. If there is no mention on the website of required classes or the amount of work you will be expected to complete, there is a problem.
Learn about the faculty and staff. Online colleges and universities are generally quite proud of their instructors. They will have biographies, photos and contact information for at least some of their instructors on the school`s website. If you can`t find the names of any instructors, it might be because there aren`t any.
Compare the school`s size-to-major ratio. There are many outstanding online schools that are relatively small, and these will generally offer a limited number of degrees that they specialize in. What you don`t want to see is a small school that offers hundreds of diploma options. After all, it`s not possible to be teaching all of those classes if the school is very small. It`s a tip-off that they may simply be selling you a piece of paper. If you take the proper precautions, you can find an excellent, reputable online college or university that will give you a solid education. In the end, it will award you with a diploma that you`ve truly earned and that you can be proud of.
Andy West is a writer for Knowledge Fest and School Marks.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_West
Jul
3
Everybody wishes to succeed with a good compact with herself and aspires to become a big hit as a prominent individual in the society. A dream will not always remain just a dream because dreams could be work out. What you need is to think and decide of what you really want for yourself.
Each one of us desires of becoming a progressive and productive stand in every ground we take. We got plenty of reasons but we don`t need reasons to achieve something good, what we need are ways to achieve it.
One way of furnishing an ideal career is acquiring an MBA degree. A Masters Business Administration Program is a higher program intended for graduates who desires to elevate their skills and knowledge for a progressive career building. According to MBA News, most organizations prefer to hire those having higher programs rather than those who were just degree holders. This has brought out an increase on demand for MBAs. For this reason, most graduates kicks off upon pursuing for a higher program.
If you have the interest of pursuing a higher program, have you think already on what field of expertise will you go through? Well, here are few of the programs for you to decide what to take and start on for an effective career development:
MBA in Accounting
MBA in Criminal Justice
MBA in Consulting
MBA in E-Business
MBA in Education
MBA in Engineering
MBA in Entrepreneurship
MBA in Executive
MBA in Finance
MBA in General Management
MBA in Global Management
MBA in Health Care
MBA in Hospitality and Tourism
MBA in Human Resources
MBA in Information Systems
MBA in Industrial Management
MBA in Leadership
MBA in Knowledge Management
MBA in Marketing
MBA in Media
MBA in Nonprofit and Government
MBA in Marketing
MBA in Media
MBA in Organizational
MBA in Project Management
MBA in Real Estate
MBA in Port Management
MBA in Technology Management
MBA in Telecommunications
These are few of the programs you could choose from. However, there were still a lot more of New MBA Programs that may interest you too. Take a choice now and set up your mind in accomplishing something higher with dynamic career growth. If you got some uncertainties, you could also visit an MBA Forum to clear off your faltering questions and initiatives about MBA.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandy_Guzman
Jul
3
College Entrance Exam in China
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Summer is finally here. It`s the best time for seniors. They have finished 12 years of elementary education. Many will go to college to continue their education. It is same for Chinese students. In 2008, there were 10.1 million Chinese seniors graduated, with less than 6 million will go to colleges. The education system of China is different from that of America. There is no on-going test like SAT where students can take it any time they think they are ready. In contrast, there is an annual countrywide college admission test at June 7 & 8 every year. If anyone failed or missed this test, the only chance will be the next year same time.
This tradition of national test can be traced back to 605AD in Sui Dynasty, when the first Imperial Exam was introduced. It was the Chinese Dream for the educated people. No matter how low your social status is, you can still enter the inner circle of emperor if you can pass a serious of strict tests. The No. 1 scholar of the final exam is called Zhuang Yuan. He will be immediately given a high rank post in government, and considered as the student of emperor. If he happen to be a handsome young man, it is possible to be the son-in-law of the emperor too. So there is an old Chinese idiom saying “A farmer at morning may appear in royal court at evening”.
The Imperial Exam has been a continuous policy for all the dynasties since then. Many famous scholar, ministers, statesmen, and even generals started their rise from this exam. Though it is abandoned at 1905 with the falling of last empire of China, its DNA is still alive and being weaved into various aspects of China today. For example, the national college entrance exam is always considered the way to transform someone`s life, especially those from less developed areas. One major department of Republic of China, which suceeded Qing Dynasty at 1911, was even called Test department.
Go to ChineseSession.com to learn Chinese language
Go to ChineseSession.com/blog to learn Chinese culture and history.
Dr. Hong Zhang obtained his Bachelor degree from Tsinhua University of China and PhD degree from University of Pennsylvania of US. He is the founder of ChineseSession.com, an online Chinese School offering 1-on-1 online immersion Chinese class at home with teachers from China. Dr. Zhang is the author of scores of papers and articles at many journals and conference proceedings.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hong_Zhang
Jul
3
Study Abroad in China
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With the growing influence of China, more people may decide to study in Chinese universities or colleges. Unlike the universities in the US, most Chinese universities are not geared to admit international students, until now. Two decades ago, the majority of foreign students were language students in Chinese Language and Culture University. Very few could be seen in other programs or other universities. For example, there were 79 students in my freshman class when I was a college student in Tsinghua University, with only 1 international student from Bangladesh. He spoke almost perfect Chinese since he lived in China for his entire middle school years. In contrast, when I went to University of Pennsylvania for my PhD program, more than half were international origin.
The tide is changing now. Studying in China is getting more attractive due to the more lucrative business opportunity, greater openness of China, and higher influence of Chinese culture. According to Institute of International Education, the total number of American students who went to study in China increased to 8,830 in 2006. It is a 38.2% increment of the 2005, which saw a 35% increment of the previous year itself. The situation is similar to other countries. For example, even the King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia sponsored a program to send dozens of students to China every year. We can safely expect an explosive number of international students show up in Chinese campus.
Before you or your children put studying in China as a top option, it`s a good idea to know which university is good. I can easily recommend Tsinghua University. It`s THE top school for 12 consecutive years, according to Science of Science and Management of Science and Technology. The top 10 schools of 2007 announced at January 2008 issue are:
1. Tsinghua University
2. Beijing University
3. Zhejiang University
4. Shanghai Transportation University
5. Nanjing University
6. Fudan University
7. Chinese University of Science and Technology
8. Huazhong University of Science and Technology
9. Wuhan University
10. Xi`an Transportation University
As usual, there are many sources of school ranking and listing. For example, Netbig has a slightly different ranking released at June 2008. However, the top three are the same and most names in the top 10 list though with some difference in rank.
ChineseSession.com to learn Chinese language
ChineseSession.com/blog to Learn Chinese culture and history
Dr. Hong Zhang obtained his Bachelor degree from Tsinhua University of China and PhD degree from University of Pennsylvania of US. He is the founder of ChineseSession.com, an online Chinese School offering 1-on-1 online immersion Chinese class at home with teachers from China. Dr. Zhang is the author of scores of papers and articles at many journals and conference proceedings.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hong_Zhang
Jul
3
With the cost of a college education at an all-time high, most students will graduate from college with a huge debt. Additionally, new graduates frequently increase that burden by purchasing a car, leasing an apartment and adding to their credit card debt. It`s no wonder that these young adults can feel like they are drowning in bills, payments and obligations. This is especially true when their first job does not pay enough to support their needs and obligations.
College students today must begin to look at “college success” from a more realistic and practical perspective. For most students, simply obtaining a college education is no longer enough. College success now means that a student has been able to launch his/her career by obtaining a great job, at a good salary, with an employer that holds out a future for them. This combination can bode well for their social, psychological and economic future.
Of course, there are now and will always be students who say that they place little value on economic security and success. That`s fine, as long as they understand, accept and can deal with the challenges that go along with a severely limited income. Coming out of college with $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 or more in college loans and then accepting a job that pays around $10 an hour just won`t reconcile very well.
Most parents are very much in tune with this stark reality. They are well aware that education loans, living expenses, car payments and credit card debt will have a significant impact on the lives of their children. Hopefully, more students will come to recognize this “practical reality” and will understand and accept this fact early in their college experience. Early recognition will give them time to actively improve their chances for finding and sustaining a career that will offer financial success. However, late recognition will most certainly get them started off on the wrong foot.
Without an adequate income, young adults may be stuck in an impossible battle. Which bills will they pay this month and which ones will they let slide? They will find it difficult or impossible to get credit. If they lose their job, they will have no savings to fall back on. If they become sick or get injured, they will have no medical insurance. Few people can build for the future (a family, a home) without adequate income and savings. And what about retirement? Young adults who are unable to save for retirement will never be able to retire.
Yes, an excess of money, can be the source of much evil. However, on the other end of the spectrum, a serious lack of money is called poverty. Young adults, who have obtained a college degree, should not be living in poverty and should not be forever dependent on their parents for support. Since few students want to live in poverty, the most aggressive students establish a plan and work hard to accomplish the steps that will help to ensure a reasonable degree of financial success and independence.
As Dr. Phil likes to say, “When you choose the behavior, you choose the consequences.”
It`s this simple! What students do while they are in college will determine how much interest they will draw from employers with the good paying jobs.
Since nobody owes them a living, college students who would like to obtain something more than a dead end job will choose to compete for, even fight and scratch for, the knowledge, skills, experiences and accomplishments that can hold out a more financially secure future.
To compete effectively, students with higher ambitions design their college, community and employment experiences around the needs and expectations of the best employers. These students understand that they must give employers what they want. Students who choose not to prepare in this way will never even get into the game.
The college experience is an opportunity to learn, grow, mature and prepare for the future. Because they recognize that success is a choice, savvy students make the most of their time in college. Financial security or financial distress, which will you choose?
Visit Bob`s web site: www.The4Realities.com Bob Roth is the author of The 4 Realities Of Success During and After College -and- The College Student`s Guide To Landing A Great Job.
Bob Roth, a former campus recruiter, is the author of The College Student`s Guide To Landing A Great Job -and- The 4 Realities Of Success During and After College. Known as The “College & Career Success” Coach, Bob also writes articles for more than 175 College Career Services Offices and Campus Newspapers. Additionally, Bob has developed 20 Self-Scoring Learning Tools
Jul
3
Study Abroad - When It's NOT Cool to Look Like a Tourist
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Many college students study abroad, either because they have the opportunity, or because it`s required for their degree program.
Sometimes, it`s ok to look like a visiting tourist, but when you`re spending multiple months in another country, blending in is a better option than sticking out. Here are a few pointers on how to study abroad without seeming like a tourist.
Say “Au revoir” to English.
If you`re studying in a country that speaks another language, don`t speak English the entire time. Try to speak as much of your host country`s native tongue as possible. Not only will you become proficient in the language, but it will also make communication with locals easier: they appreciate it when you try. Picking up on the dialect of the city or village you now live in will make you seem more like a native and less like a visitor.
Ditch the duds.
If your ensemble screams “American,” ditch it. Hit up some local shops and thrift stores for a few key pieces to help you blend in with your neighbors in the classroom, workplace, or on the streets; this will help you to feel more comfortable in your new place and will most likely be more climate and culture-appropriate.
Grab a bite of culture.
Even if you`re unsure about some of the traditional meals in your new country, don`t seek out familiar chains like McDonald`s. Ease yourself into new gastronomic experiences by sampling some of the standard dishes of your country. These meals, which can be found easily throughout the country, will provide nourishment if you can`t eat the more traditional or odd-sounding dishes.
Travel in style.
Learn public transportation systems, especially Metro lines, as quickly as possible. More reliable and less expensive than taxis, public transportation is easy to use and can get you almost anywhere easily.
Get lost.
Spend time walking through your new home and getting lost. Carry a map for emergencies, but try not to use it if you can help it. Let yourself wander and then find your way back to your apartment or host house. You`ll get to see some of the main tourist spots and a few off-the-beaten-path ones as well. And you`ll feel especially proud of yourself when a weekend tourist stops you on the street to ask you for directions!
Keep digital memories with you.
Carry a camera everywhere you go and take lots of pictures. If you`re taking pictures of monuments, the pictures will be a great reminder of the walk or train line you took to get there. However, try to avoid taking “typical” photographs in front of main tourist spots - take pictures of monuments, buildings, or gardens off the beaten path, like the ones you discovered while you were getting lost.
Be a people person.
Make friends! Introducing yourself to neighbors is a great way to meet people and make new friends. Do not feel as if you need to hang out only with your fellow students. Becoming friends with the people in your neighborhood will help you immerse yourself into their culture. Speaking their native language will help you improve the skills you already have from classroom conversations.
Now that you have the skills necessary to survive your semester abroad, remember that you`re there to have fun and to learn, but the point of studying in another country, though, is to become immersed in the culture of their temporary home, not to be a tourist.
Jenny Sweeney is a copywriter for DMi Partner, a full-service digital marketing agency. DMi develops informative websites including eCollegeFinder.org, a site that provides regionally accredited online colleges.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Sweeney
Jul
3
Symbols, Abbreviations and Emoticons have gradually crept into the daily communication used by teenagers and young adults throughout the United States and beyond. Texting is now a necessary skill for every young person with a cell phone or a computer. Teenagers regularly depend on this abbreviated form of communication to quickly transmit words, thoughts and emotions to their friends. Unfortunately, these informal communications can hamper the learning and use of more formal communication, the kind required for success in college and business.
Obviously, there is a spectrum of use and understanding. Some teenagers are experts in texting and painfully lacking in their knowledge and use of proper language and formal communication skills. Others are quite skilled with formal communication skills and relatively unskilled with informal styles. While many people fall somewhere in the middle, the fact remains that more formal communication skills, among young adults, are starting to suffer.
High school and college students sometimes, both purposely and inadvertently, allow various informal forms of communication to penetrate their homework assignments. In a recent study, The Pew Internet and American Life Project found that young people who have blogs and use social-networking sites are much more likely to have this happen.
For as long as I can remember, employers have complained about the communication skills of recent college graduates. Companies depend on employees with good communication skills to develop new products and services, market their benefits to customers, manage company finances and supervise other employees. That`s why, when it comes to the best employment opportunities, college students with effective communication skills will have a huge advantage. No employer is going to offer a great paying job to someone with poor communication skills.
When employers think about communication skills, they are concerned with every aspect of communication, including: Reading, Speaking, Writing, Presenting, E-mail, Voice Mail, Etiquette, Document Formats, Writing Style, Vocabulary, Slang, Dress and Grooming, Body Language, Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation and more. They want and need people who will represent them in a positive and effective way. Importantly, poor communication skills may be interpreted as a sign of disrespect and can offend customers and employees alike. Fortunately, most communication problems can be corrected.
Regardless of which communication issue(s) you may be wrestling with personally, you will find a wide range of useful information on the internet. It`s worth a few hours of research to determine what exactly is available to you. Additionally, books, coaches, tutors and classroom instruction can give you more personal attention and encouragement. (Don`t ignore your parents.) With practice and feedback, you can address the issues that will hold you back. The more time and effort you put into improving your communication skills, the better chance you have of finding success.
Students who plan to attend a well-respected college and expect to eventually become employed by a prominent company must begin to demonstrate a broad range of formal communication skills. Since texting is not one of those skills, high school and college students should take note and diligently work to expand and polish the critical academic and business communication skills that are required for success.
Visit Bob`s web site: The4Realities.com. Bob Roth is the author of The 4 Realities Of Success During and After College -and- The College Student`s Guide To Landing A Great Job.
by Bob Roth
The “College & Career Success” Coach
Bob Roth, a former campus recruiter, is the author of The College Student`s Guide To Landing A Great Job -and- The 4 Realities Of Success During and After College. Known as The “College & Career Success” Coach, Bob also writes articles for more than 175 College Career Services Offices and Campus Newspapers. Additionally, Bob has developed 20 Self-Scoring Learning Tools
Jul
3
A casino forum is a space provided by the online casino where members can start a thread by posting a message. Other members who go to the forum and read the message can respond to it if they have something useful to say. Usually a post at the online forum generates several responses in a matter of hours. Therefore the poster of the original message gets the viewpoint not only of one person but several of his or her colleagues at the casino. The casino forum is different from a chat site. In a chat site the players have to be logged in at the same time. In the forum the poster can post the message and log out. Meanwhile other players log in, see the message and respond to it. The original poster can log in again after a few hours or even the next day and go through the responses.
The casino forum can be a useful mechanism for solving problems online gamblers often face. Most players do head to customer support when the need help. They first check out the frequently asked questions to see if they can find a resolution to the issue there. If not they contact the customer support through the live chat facility or the toll free telephone numbers given. In the worst case they may send a message over e-mail or the online form the online casinos provide. However there are occasions when it makes much more sense to go to the casino forum.
In the first instance customer support solves problems but does not give advice. If a player is unable to understand how a wagering requirement works the customer support can help; if a player
Jul
2
The MBA, or Master`s in Business Administration, is the most sought after degree for individuals looking for a career as a business executive. Whether you are going into banking, finance, manufacturing or the service sector, having an MBA can give you an edge as you move up the corporate ladder. A few decades ago, the traditional path to take was to get your Bachelor`s degree in a particular business discipline and then go directly into an MBA program. Today, however, MBA programs are more flexible and can adapt to your work schedule and lifestyle.
Before you decide to pursue an MBA, you should understand just what it is and what you can expect to gain from it. This Master`s degree program is specifically designed to give you skills beyond those you learn at the Bachelor`s degree level in business management. Many people get a Bachelor`s degree in a field such as finance, government or economics, and then pursue their MBA to round out their managerial skills.
Courses you will typically take in an MBA program include finance, leadership skills, organizational dynamics, marketing, sales, management, advanced economics, government and statistics. You may also choose to specialize in a particular area by choosing a “concentration” such as the healthcare or hospitality industries.
The typical MBA program takes about two years to complete, although there are now programs for non-traditional students designed to be completed more quickly. Among these are the Executive MBA programs that have become increasingly popular with successful business men and women who are returning to school for their MBA while working.
These Executive MBA programs usually feature online coursework and special seminars throughout the year that are relatively short in length but very intensive. This way, they can be worked into the schedules of busy executives. These programs also make the most of the experiences and talents of their students by using round table discussions, real world scenarios and interactive projects as parts of the curriculum.
There are some fields in which an MBA is a prerequisite for advancement to the highest levels. In particular, investment banking, management consulting and international finance corporations very much favor MBA`s in the upper levels of their management teams. While it isn`t necessary in other fields, it can certainly give you an edge when you are being considered for a promotion. Keep in mind that salary is also often based on both merit and education, so having an MBA can significantly affect your pay scale as you progress in your career.
Career flexibility is also something to keep in mind. If you are an engineer or scientist, you may enjoy research and development for a number of years but then find that you would like to move into management. Combining a Bachelor`s degree in the sciences with an MBA can make you a rare and valued asset to businesses that are involved in research and healthcare.
A good MBA program is a unique combination of hard knowledge in areas like marketing, finance, and operations. “Soft skills” are also focused upon. It is the soft skills that make an MBA degree so valuable to many businesses. They are the skills related to how to manage people, keep values in place in the workplace, and the factors that go into making a good leader.
If you are interested in pursuing an MBA, whether directly after your Bachelor`s degree or as a returning executive, talk to some executives you know about what programs they recommend. And, be sure to review the curriculum to find one that offers the content you need for your career goals to become a reality.
Andy West is a writer for Best Careers and Best Schools.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_West
Jul
2
While writing comes naturally for some people most everyone else has to make a conscious and concentrated effort to get the appropriate words on paper. It is not only the words, but also the formatting, spelling and grammatical errors that often plague the common student