Have a Student Loan? 7 Great Careers Offer Loan Forgiveness

BY SIENNA WALKER

Going to college may give you the life experience and qualifications you need to succeed once you’ve graduated. However, it’s also likely to give you a hefty student loan that you’ll be paying off for a large chunk of your working life.

Students can find themselves in hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of debt. At the end of 2016, cumulative student loan debt was 170% higher than in the previous decade. Paying off your student loan can really put a dent in your pay packet and even make it difficult to secure other loans, such as a mortgage. So anything you can do to reduce that burden must be a good thing, right?

There are a number of careers that offer loan forgiveness, a reduction in your outstanding loan which could save you thousands in interest alone. If you have the right qualifications, these seven careers are a great way to go:

1. Lawyer

There are a number of loan forgiveness options open to practicing lawyers. If you choose to work in a non-profit or public service legal position, you could be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Once you’ve worked in a position for 120 months’ worth of repayments, you loan can be forgiven. The Department of Justice, individual states and some law schools also operate their own loan forgiveness programs so do your research to find the best options available.

2. Teacher

Not all teachers are eligible for loan forgiveness. However, if you work in a low-income school district, as a special educational needs teacher or you teach a subject that’s in particular demand, you could qualify for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. The amount you receive will depend upon the number of years you have spent in the job and qualifying teachers can expect to receive between $5,000 and $17,500 in loan forgiveness.

3. Veterinarian

Choose to work in a state experiencing a veterinarian shortage or just a shortage of skills working with a particular animal, and you could be eligible for loan forgiveness. The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program pays up to $25,000 per year to vets who match this description, have worked in said area for three years or more and make the proper applications.

4. Military

There are a number of student loan forgiveness programs available for military personnel. The Montgomery G.I. Bill may pay up to 60% of college tuition fees. The PSLF is another option. Member of the military who have served for ten years become eligible for complete forgiveness of their student loan.

5. Doctor

The PSLF is also an option for doctors who choose to work in non-profit environments. Other loan forgiveness programs to try include the National Health Service Corps Program, the Student to Service Program and state level programs too. The Indian Health Services Loan Repayment Program, which offers up to $40,000 worth of repayments, is available to graduates who work for two years within an organisation that specifically supports American Indian communities.

6. Dentist

Dentists are eligible for many of the loan forgiveness programs open to doctors. They can also try the Maine Dental Education Loan Forgiveness Program. Maine is currently suffering from a dentist shortage and able to offer dentists working in the area up to $80,000 per year.

7. Social Worker

Social workers can’t rely on a hefty salary for doing their job. However there are benefits to be gained in loan forgiveness. Social workers who work with families in areas deemed as low-income or high risk are eligible for total loan forgiveness. Working longer in a particular area makes a social worker eligible for a greater amount deducted from their loan.

With the right planning you can start in your chosen career as soon as you graduate from college. If your interests and your qualifications chime with one of these eligible careers, you could be a lot better off thanks to one of many great loan forgiveness programs.

Author’s Info:

Sienna Walker is a careers blogger who often writes for students and young people entering the workforce. Currently supporting DirectorStats, Sienna is always happy when her articles meet with interest of young job-seekers and business people. Follow her on @SiennaWalkerS.

Are There Any Study Tips You Shouldn’t Take?

BY MELISSA BURNS

Alt Title: Are There Any Myths About Effective Studying?

Studying is one of your most important fundamental tools for success in college. It’s not enough to merely attend classes; you need to do the readings, go over your notes, and truly absorb what you’re learning.

There are hundreds of study tips floating around out there, and some of them are pretty good. For example, you may have heard that studying as a group is often more effective than studying alone, or that taking notes by hand is more effective at helping you form and retain memories associated with that subject matter.

However, there are also some popular myths about studying that sound good and are easy to believe, but they might actually interfere with your ability to learn.

Studying Tips You Shouldn’t Take

Adults and other students might suggest using these study tips to improve your performance, but you’re better off passing on them:

1. Using memorization tricks. There are lots of tricks you can use to memorize information, such as relying on mnemonic devices, or using flash cards to drill new associations. However, memorization is a technique that leads to temporary retention; as soon as the test is over, you’ll probably forget whatever you learned. Remember, college is a place to truly learn and absorb information—not just store it long enough to regurgitate it on an exam. Devote your time to learning and understanding your subject matter, rather than cheaply memorizing it.
2. Allowing pressure to improve your performance. This tip, like some of the others on this list, has a grain of truth to it. In some situations, people tend to perform better under pressure; for example, athletes perform better in high-stakes games because of higher adrenaline and focus. However, this doesn’t apply to studying. Increasing pressure by procrastinating your studies gives you less time to fully absorb the information you’re reviewing, and the increased stress will make it harder for you to focus on what you’re doing. Plus, you may stay up late, missing out on sleep, which is one of the most important precursors to forming new memories.
3. Focusing solely on time spent studying. Have you ever heard a fellow student brag about how much time they spent studying? Or heard a professor recommend you spend an hour every night reviewing the material covered in class? It’s true that you should dedicate a minimum amount of time for studying—that way, it doesn’t fall out of your routine—but time alone doesn’t tell you how effectively you studied, or how much information you retained. One person may be more productive in an hour than another person is in three.
4. Studying in the same place every time. Consistency is important for studying effectively; studying for an hour after class, every day, can help you create a good rhythm and hammer in details related to your classes. However, studying in the same place every day can grow tiresome. Instead, it’s better to study in new locations, with new sensory experiences, which will help you form new memories and keep the studying process interesting.
5. Studying only one concept at a time. Again, there’s a grain of truth here; human beings are notoriously bad at multitasking. However, if you devote all your time in one session to drilling one specific concept, you may be doing yourself a disservice. It’s better to learn incrementally, exposing yourself to a concept in brief chunks, many times over an extended period, compared to only exposing yourself to a concept once, in a big chunk. For that reason, it’s often better to study small bits of multiple concepts in each session.
6. Avoiding studying too early. That incremental, frequent exposure is also valuable when attempting to time your studying habits. Some people will suggest that you avoid studying too early; after all, if you study six weeks before an exam, you might forget everything by the time the exam rolls around, right? This might be true if you spend your efforts temporarily memorizing the information, but if you’re focused on learning and internalizing the information, studying earlier is actually better—it gives you more time and more opportunities to store that information as a permanent memory.

A Note on Experimentation

All the tips in this article are presented in terms of their average effectiveness, and those conclusions are relatively accurate for most people. However, everyone studies a bit differently, and has different studying preferences. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different studying styles, trying different approaches and environments, until you find a pattern that works specifically for you; just treat any new tips you receive with a degree of skepticism, and don’t let confirmation bias cloud your judgment on what works and what doesn’t.

Melissa Burns graduated from the faculty of Journalism of Iowa State University. Nowadays she is an entrepreneur and independent journalist. Follow her @melissaaburns or contact at burns.melissaa@gmail.com

 

Strategies To Expand Female STEM Graduates

BY DANIKA KIMBALL

The number of women graduating with degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) has lagged behind those of their male counterparts for decades. This is particularly true in the areas of engineering, where women’s graduation rates have remained stagnant for nearly 45 years. The graduation rates in computer science fields are equally abysmal, as a mere one in five computer science degrees are awarded to women.

The lack of women in STEM fields has the potential to lead to a number of societal detriments.

“This needs to change, as the lack of women in STEM will continue to plague our country until all students, regardless of sex, have adequate opportunities to explore math and science throughout elementary, middle and high school,” Edutopia author Karen D. Purcell writes. “If we want to attract the best and brightest minds into the fields that will move us forward, we must look to all of the population. More women can contribute to our field, and we can help make that happen.”

There are a number of strategies that ought to be considered, but first, educators must ask themselves why this disparity exists and what can be done to aid the problem.

Several factors might influence a young woman’s decision to pursue a particular career path, but studies show that lack of ability is not one of them. In fact, most show that there is no major difference in STEM ability between the two genders. There is a divide, however, in perceived competence between the two genders.

“One study found that by the spring of kindergarten, boys have a greater willingness to learn math concepts,” Huffington Post contributor Alicia Chang writes. “By third grade, boys rate their own math competence higher than girls do, even though no differences in actual performance are found.”

There are also pervasive and widely held stereotypes that suggest boys possess more innate abilities in STEM than girls do. This stereotype has proven to impact children’s learning. Boys tend to receive more encouragement in mathematics and science from parents and teachers, and their skills tend to be overestimated when compared to their female peers. Additionally, girls tend to receive gender-specific toys that may not encourage STEM based skills such as building or spatial reasoning.

While children are aware of physical differences as early as age two, they don’t have a complete grasp of society’s gender roles until age seven, note the child education experts at Kindercare. “That journey of understanding is important for shaping both children’s identity and what they can and cannot become, and how gender messages are internalized can have a real impact on your child’s life path,” they continue.

Socialization in early childhood matters. If girls are not encouraged, and also do not expect to succeed in math and other STEM fields, it’s hardly surprising that by the time they reach college they choose to pursue other areas of expertise.

The first step to creating meaningful change in order to encourage more women and girls to pursue STEM careers, is to acknowledge the challenges that currently exist. Bringing awareness to the implicit bias that persists in education will allow teachers and parents to be more cognizant of how they speak to young women, how to better mentor them, and how to encourage active and enthusiastic participation in STEM studies.

“Correcting the negative perceptions that girls develop at a young age can, however, lead them to embrace math and science when they reach high school, rather than avoid the subjects,” Purcell writes. “Administrators and educators must strive to create environments in high school and college math and science programs that are inviting to females if we want to prevent the likelihood of their choosing a different direction. As long as young boys and girls are exposed to science and technology and are equally encouraged to study those disciplines, those with talent and a genuine interest in those fields will be able to develop that interest.”

Beyond recognizing problematic patterns of socialization, experts note that there are other ways to ensure that girls remain invested in STEM. Some note that taking the focus off grades may be one stepping stone into keeping girls active.

“That was very important to me, because I wasn’t doing great in those classes, but I was liking them,” writes 22-year-old Samara Trilling, a recent graduate of Columbia University’s Computer Science program who now works as a software engineer for Google. “This was one of the things that made me feel free to take the next [computer science] class, and the next one, without worrying that it was a bad decision or that it was silly to keep taking classes that I wasn’t excelling in. Ultimately, I started doing better, and eventually caught up with my classmates who’d been coding since childhood,” she told NBC News.

This is especially important for young women who are trying to master a new skill they might not have experience in. “In most cases, these young women are trying to master a skill they haven’t tried before and they need to be easier on themselves,” Columbia University CS department chairwoman Julia Hirschberg tells NBC News.

It’s also important that women find a community where they can share their experiences, triumphs, struggles, and find mentorship moving forward. In male dominated fields especially, women are more likely to feel alienated in their studies. Whether that community is online, or face-to-face, these relationships can be valuable once women have chosen to study in STEM fields.

“The value of mentorship is irreplaceable,” Purcell argues. “Finding a mentor early on can do wonders for building confidence and translating it into career satisfaction.”

As the University of Cincinnati’s Master of Education program points out, “the future success and leadership of the United States lies in the hands of our educational system and the students emerging with degrees in science, technology, engineering and math.” In order for the U.S. to progress, women and young girls must be an integral part of colleges’ STEM recruiting efforts, and be supported throughout their education.

Danika is a writer and musician from the Northwest who sometimes takes a 30 minute break from feminism to enjoy a tv show. You can follow her on Twitter @sadwhitegrrl

Things to expect at your First Job Interview

BY CORINNE LEDLING

The process of finding and applying for various jobs has been made simple thanks to modern technology. While most application processes and assessments are done online, one is still required to attend physical interviews to be considered for the job. For first-time job applicants, the idea of a job interview process can be quite nerve wrecking. However, one can overcome their nerves by preparing adequately for the upcoming interview. To succeed at job interviews, applicants should research on the expectations of the potential employers.

Below are some of the things one can expect on their first job interview:

• Scrutiny
• Interviewer(s)
• Knowledge of the company
• General Questions

Scrutiny

It is true, the dress code is an important part of a job interview. As such, the interviewee should expect scrutiny from the moment they walk into the room.  As a first-time job applicant, it is crucial for one to conduct thorough research regarding the selected company. Each company or organization a culture that is unique to their organization.  A company will have a certain image that reflects its status in the market. For this reason, a job applicant should endeavor to reflect the company’s image through their appearance.

For instance, if the company is more professional, one should dress in the appropriate attire that denotes professionalism. On the other hand, if an organization is more casual, one can dress in attire that resonates with the company’s image. When in doubt, about the company’s image, one would rather dress professionally than be underdressed, after all, first impressions last forever.

Interviewer(s)

Different companies have unique ways of conducting interviews. An interview process will depend on the type of job as well as the company’s procedures. However, in most cases, job applicants are interviewed either by a human resources officer, lone manager or a panel. For a first job interviewee, one should be adequately prepared to deal with anything and everything. Most importantly, the interviewee should demonstrate confidence and proper poise as most interviewers make up their mind about candidates within the first few minutes.

Knowledge of the company

First-time candidates who have a thorough knowledge of the company as well as the position, stand a higher chance of succeeding at interviews. As a first-time interviewee, one should expect the interviewer to ask comprehensive questions regarding the company as well the applied position. For this reason, it is important for the candidate to have in-depth knowledge of the company, its industry, its competitors and other related matters. A candidate that demonstrates sufficient knowledge of the company is perceived as more prepared and suitable for the position.

 

 

General Questions

During the interview process, the candidate should expect numerous questions regarding their professional background. In some cases, the potential employer may ask a few personal questions to access the candidate’s personality and attitude. While the interviewer may have the applicant’s information, it important for the candidate to know the exact details outlined in their resume. Most interviewers will especially want to know one’s experience and skill that qualifies them for the position.

Potential employers hope to retain workers with unique capabilities and talents. As such, they will expect the candidate to explain particular character traits that set them apart and qualify them for the position.

Attending a job interview can be a nerve-wrecking ordeal for anyone. The only way to succeed, especially in a first job interview is to ensure you are fully prepared. When one is equipped with sufficient knowledge of the company and the position, they will naturally exude confidence during the interview. Lastly, knowing what to expect during the interview will definitely help an interviewee prepare accordingly for the job interview.

 

Corinne Ledling is a businesswoman who’s very passionate about her job. She’s a Content Manager at Bizstats.co.uk and loves to share career tips and tricks.

 

Support Services that Every College Student Should Use

BY LAN NGO

College campuses offer a range of student support services, but they are often under-utilized. Every student could use a bit of support, including academic tutoring and professional counseling.  Generally, students are already paying for these services as part of the cost of attending college, so there’s no reason to not use these resources!

Here, I provide an overview of the four main types of student support services that most colleges offer.

Learning Resources

At the learning resources center, you can get help with how to be a successful student.  You’ll learn concrete strategies for managing your time, prioritizing your assignments, and more.  When you don’t know who to talk to about an academic issue, the learning resources center is a great place to start.

Some students would benefit greatly from having weekly appointments with the same learning resources staff person.  This arrangement allows for continuity: the staff person gets to know you well and develops an understanding of the particular support you need in any given week.

Depending on the campus, the office that serves students with disabilities may be housed under the learning resources center.  Students with special needs should make use of this resource to discuss testing accommodations, getting a note-taker when they’re not able to write due to an injury, and other services.

Counseling and Behavioral Health

Everyone can benefit from getting help with adjusting to new changes or managing personal and situational challenges.  College comes with many such challenges at a life stage where many are still figuring out who they are and who they want to become.  You are not alone in having these questions.

College campuses offer confidential counseling to students.  This resource can be used even when you just want to talk with someone.  There’s no need to wait until the situation gets worse to talk with a counseling professional.  Other typical services include helping students to develop coping strategies and to grow personally and professionally.

Tutoring

Campuses offer tutoring so that you can get help in almost any academic subject.  You’re not the only one that may think that college isn’t easy; that’s why tutoring services exist.

Different campuses offer tutoring in varying forms.

On some campuses, the tutoring center offers services at a central location and also conveniently at satellite locations, including dorms.  Depending on the campus, the tutoring center may also be the same place that provides academic support for student athletes.  These support staff members understand the demanding schedules of student athletes and can cater to their time constraints.

Writing Help

Students often find academics at the collegiate level to be challenging, especially when complex readings need to be done alongside academic writing.  As the former director of the writing center at a major university, I can confidently say that the writing center is a great resource for any student.

The tutors or writing specialists are the core of the writing center.  At some writing centers, tutors are hired externally, while at others, the tutors are undergraduates, graduate students, and/or faculty members.  Writing tutors are trained or have particular expertise in helping students become confident, skillful writers.

Writing center tutors and specialists help students with course assignments as well as fellowship applications and other writing pieces that aren’t for classes.  You’ll be able to get help on just about any type of writing at the writing center.

Final Thoughts

Take advantage of these student support services, no matter how you think you’re doing academically or personally.  If you’re an A student, why not up your game and get feedback on your coursework from a tutor?  If you’re not doing as well as you think you should, act sooner rather than later to get some help.  It is well worth your time.

 

Lan Ngo, PhD is a Project Delivery Manager in the Learning Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is also an Education Lecturer.  Lan is the co-founder of https://yourcollegeadvisors.com/

 

5 Things to Do at College For an Attractive CV Right After Graduation

BY DAVID GUTIERREZ

Finding your dream job is a lot like trying to get into a good college, meaning that you will certainly need a top-notch resume to sell yourself. There is one encouraging statistics for graduates to keep in mind:

for people with a bachelor’s degree or more education, the unemployment rate is 2.5 percent, twice as less as a national average.

While there are plenty of things you should do in college, preparing your resume is among your main tasks. Besides internships and good grades, there are a lot of other activities that you can engage in college to have your resume creative, eye-catching, and up-to-date.

So, what are those little-known activities you can do before you graduate to make your resume stand out?

 

1. Start a unique fundraising project.

As a college student, you probably do not have enough money; however, you have a precious resource – your time, which is enough to make a difference. There are a lot of ways to better your community and campus life, which can show your future employer that you have a creative mind and enough motivation to perform at your best.

For example, if you choose to major in ecology, think about crowd funding to organize solar projects and clean energy education events in college to involve your community into an idea to install solar panels in your local community or on campus. Or, if you are a public relations major, you might also think about making social media page for your college or helping promote college events among the local media.

Such little things as organizing a cleanup day or organize an after school program to help local students with their studies will show future employers that you are not only involved in academic activities but also can connect with people and have a certain level of organizational skills.

 

2. Make valuable connections

 Use your college semester to link up and find professional connections. Register on LinkedIn for professional networking and showcase your skills, experience, and keep an eye on the industry and hiring trends. For example, if you keep in touch with individuals working in your industry or connect with former internship managers, you can easily use them as a reference in your resume. Be a networker and do not miss future opportunities.

 

3. Volunteer

 It goes without saying that volunteering helps to become an important part of the community and help people in need. Besides making a positive impact, volunteer experience is an attractive addition to resume. To make it more valuable for your future employee, volunteer for a cause that is related to your specialization. If you are going to work in a health industry, go to the healthcare sector.Luckily, even without a medical degree, there are a variety of opportunities to participate in different programs to help improve healthcare around the world.

 

4. Get a Job

 Balancing a job and college life can be challenging, although it offers a lot of benefits. You do not have to get a full-time job and spend 40 hours in the office. Consider either part-time or freelance work, that will help you gain skills to apply in your future career.

Thus you will get a job that will add to your resume and a money reward. Even if you didn’t manage to find somewhat related to your ideal job, you would get valuable communication skills, experience with money and working in a team.

 

5. Become a leader in a student club

Getting involved in student organizations gives you new skills. However, leadership roles can give you much more: the ability to work in teams, time management and leadership skills. This role requires accountability and management excellence – great skills to include in your resume.

Although many fresh graduates feel confused when they sit down to write a resume, with some creativity and effort students can discover a lot of activities they have been engaged in during their studies. If put together, these extra activities will turn into a strong document that will help them get a good job even without having an experience in a large corporation or a solid internship program.

David Gutierrez has worked in the field of web design since 2005. Right now he started learning Java in order to get second occupation. His professional interests defined major topics of his articles. David writes about new web design software, recently discovered professional tricks and also monitors the latest updates of the web development.

 

 

 

 

Studying Abroad? Where Are the Best Programs?

BY ASHLEY KORNEE

 Summer vacation is just finished. Wouldn’t it be great if someone asked you what you had done this summer, that you could reply, “I was studying abroad!”? Thousands of students across the world want to go somewhere besides their own country to experience new cultures and build their portfolios.

But, where do you go to find the study abroad programs? Where are the best places and schools? And, most importantly, where is the money coming from when a student wants to study abroad? Who offers the study abroad scholarships needed to fund these trips? Are the requirements difficult to get in?

We gathered a few hot programs that seemed to be the type you are looking for, and if what we have collected is not enough, keep looking. There is nothing like the experience of visiting another country and delving into their culture.

Where?

King’s College-London, England

Harry Potter fan? Then you should make King’s College in London, England your destination for studying abroad. The program is designed to give student plenty of independent study options. You will only be required to attend classed 6-9 hours a week and the rest of your time will be for you to decide how you want to study.

This program allows students to choose between one semester or a full year of study. If you are and Exchange student there are regulations and requirements that must be ironed out before acceptance. The following are a few of them:

• A minimum of 1 year of study at an accredited University completed
• Your GPA at a cumulative level of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Your present academic background must be parallel to what you choose to study while at King’s College

In addition to the above requirements, students applying for study at the College must have the following documents, and they must be written in English:

• A personal statement (find the questions on the above website)
• An academic reference. Make sure you give your professors time to prepare this and give them the guidelines set out on the website for preparing your reference statement.
• Your most recent official academic transcript. (there are guidelines set up for unofficial transcripts on the website)

Funding for those wanting to attend King’s College in London have several funding opportunities that they can apply for such as the Excellence Scholarships.

VERITAS University—San Jose’, Costa Rica

Surrounded by three volcanoes, with exotic surroundings to explore, the audiovisual and graphic design student has a great opportunity here at VERITAS. The architecture will inspire your creativity while you take in the coffee plantations, farms, and hillsides in this beautiful country. When visiting their center for international programs you will find offers for their study abroad programs such as:

• English taught programs
• Spanish taught programs
• Spanish learning programs
• Internships (some paid, some unpaid)

For those seeking study abroad programs that are fun, with opportunities to learn a new language, this program is one to consider. But until you learn the language, you need to translate your documents with thewordpoint.com. This may cost small fees but it is worth it to get accepted in your programs of choice.

VERITAS offers summer programs as well as yearlong and single semester programs. They will customize the program to fit your educational needs and offer electives in Art, Business Courses. You will be associated with local students who will be guides throughout your stay at VERITAS.

Extra-curricular classes are also an incentive for choosing VERITAS. Students report not wanting to leave the school when their time was up due to the fun and exciting classes offered in yoga, sports, dance classes and more. Students are said to say that it is a literal paradise to study abroad at VERITAS.

University of Cape Town—South Africa

The study abroad program at UCT is excited to accept those who major in commerce, engineering, and the humanities. Law and Science schools are also available to those who qualify.

The university offers many diverse scholarships for those studying for their master’s, and PhD. Be advised that all international students must have a study visa to be considered to live for any length in the Republic of South Africa. You will not be able to register unless you gain temporary residency.

Those who have studied at UCT have often been treated to visits to the top South Africa destinations gaining the opportunity to explore the rich diversity of the country. The lessons learned based on past and present cultural context is beyond what you can read in books or view in documentaries.

For personal and professional growth, this is the study abroad program that was chosen by over 1 million students within the past few years. Following the requirements is very important for visiting UCT. Be diligent and you could be on your way to an academic adventure of a lifetime.

The following list of schools are also available for summer scholarships, 1-term scholarships, or transfer student consideration:

• University of Queensland—Australia
• Johannes Kepler University Linz—Austria
• University of British Columbia—Canada
• University of Amsterdam—The Netherlands
• University of North Carolina—United States

Each university and scholarships have their own set of requirements. As a tip for writing essays, if you pre-write essays before diving into the websites, many of the questions are based on your qualifications and why you want to attend their university.

Pre-writing most of your essays with general content and then supplementing that content later to reflect each universities criterion for your essays will save you time. Bon

Conclusion

Regardless of which university and in which country you are studying, receiving an internship or a year of study in another country will only benefit you. You will learn about other methods of training, get acquainted with new people from the circle of your future profession, and gain experience. So, take from life any opportunity and go to your goal!
Voyage!

About the author:  

Ashley Kornee is a blogger and freelance writer. She always tries to write about ordinary things in a creative way.  You can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Should You Supplement Your Degree with Online Training Programs?

BY ANTON LUCANUS

In constantly changing college academic and technological environments, there are several influencing factors that have been contributed to increased success at colleges. The foremost is utilizing online resources and training programs from beyond the classroom. There are many ways these are reflected on the student and their learning style. Although offered at varying expense rates, several studies have shown that participating in online courses; in conjunction with formal class training, has increased student success rates. These then result in improved grades, which can lead to greater opportunities. This is of importance for high risk students or those with different learning abilities, however students of all ages and demographics have been benefiting from online education.

Studies have shown that there are many different learning styles, therefore utilizing alternative training methods can be instrumental in student success. One reason online education is practical, is due to scheduling. Some courses are offered on a particular day or weekend, while others are offered through learn at your own pace concepts. The duration of each provides support for students through continual learning in a geared environment. Frequently, short weekend workshops are fast paced learning with direct access to instructors.

Many major workshops that are made available during non-school hours or require several hours of training provide digital certificates upon completion. These students become more prepared to take challenging college exams that are associated with their chosen course load. Leaving them with skills that place them above their peers upon graduation.

In addition, online training programs provide up-to-date standardized testing with real time courses and programming fundamentals that may not always be obvious in the classroom. These are conducted through a term called “blended learning” or outside the teaching space education.

In one way, “blended learning” enables the student to control their environment, therefore enhancing their comprehension and matching the learning methods that suit them best. All at a time that reflects their availability, and resulting in academic success in the physical classroom. It also allows them to pick and choose which online program will guide them towards greater success.

These durations may be in an open format, allowing courses to be completed and graded at random, while others are condensed into scheduled weekends. Access to these programs are not always reflected by financial necessity, with many free options such as massive open online course MOOCS and other paid versions available for students.

Regardless of the period time that the online educational experience spans, it is the use of different platforms that are the foundation of online training programs.  Supplementing an education through digital training fills the gaps where traditional academics are lacking. An online learning program such as project management training is a successful example of what can be accomplished with supplemental education.

Their supplemental education includes a flexible learning forum, and a detailed list of course materials which can be completed at the pace of the learner without the need for expensive computer systems. The instructor led classes enable the opportunity for questions to be answered promptly, while providing the resource to hear the question posed again from recorded training opportunities. These methods combined with regular attendance to college classes and the ability to repeat the exact teaching module, decreases the need for exam season ‘cramming’.

Online course supplements college education in ways that regular education does not. With the constantly changing technology, online learning can keep the pace where physical textbooks cannot. This leads to improving student success through enhanced understanding of concepts, providing knowledge based ‘real world’ challenges and the ability to transfer into a professional environment from an academic based one with ease.

Byline – Anton Lucanus is the Director of Neliti. During his college years, he maintained a perfect GPA, was published in a top cancer journal, and received many of his country’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships. Anton writes for The College Puzzle as a means to share the lessons learnt throughout his degree and to guide current students to achieve personal and educational fulfilment during college life.

 

 

Jobs For College Students From Current IT Trends

BY SYLVIA KOHL

Software development industry is a constantly developing landscape that completely changes its general outlook every few years. What we see today has very little in common with what existed half a decade ago, and half a decade later the situation will, again, be completely different. It may be not so obvious for users, but those who work or intend to work in the industry should keep their eyes peeled and foresee these changes to be able to steer their careers in the right direction. So which jobs are in demand right now and are going to be more so in the years to come? Let’s find out.

1.    Data Crunching

Businesses today produce an ever-growing amount of data, and it becomes increasingly obvious that in order to stay ahead of competition there should be somebody to digest and analyze this data so that it can be applied in a meaningful way. People with degrees in mathematics, statistics or engineering who are willing to work with spreadsheets and databases can find the job market right now more promising than ever.

2.    Web Application Testing

As time goes on and the competition in the sphere of website and software development is becoming more and more heated, the tolerance of users towards websites and applications that work imperfectly is getting weaker and weaker. In the past, a user often had no alternative but to keep using a particular app even if it was slow, constantly crashed, had an annoying UI and an obtuse user manual 200 pages long. Today the slightest annoyance or difficulty in use can lead to a user rage-quitting and going on looking for an alternative. The only way to decrease the likelihood of this scenario is extensive WEB testing of the app prior to and following the launch.

3.    AI-Driven Data Strategies

In this sphere, there are two trends that are at odds with each other: businesses gradually begin to see the possibilities and implications of using AI in their applications and services but they face the lack of specialists with relevant skills of sufficiently high level. The thing is, the most promising new graduating students are joining giant cloud IT providers like Google or Microsoft, with the rest of the business community having to be content with what’s left. In other words, if you want a guaranteed job security in the years to come, AI is the way to go.

4.    Big Data

The demand for big data skills is still on the rise – it grew by more than 50 percent in the course of the last year and shows no signs of slowing down. Salaries in this sector don’t slack off either and show the highest average values in the market.

5.    Cyber Security

The Internet of Things is making the need for permanent staff with specialized knowledge in the area of cyber security an ever more pressing concern. Over just the Q4 of 2016, the demand grew by more than 40 percent. This means that security analysts, architects, engineers, testers, consultants and so on right now have a better chance than ever of dictating their own employment terms.

IT as an industry is undergoing a more intensive period of growth than ever, and this tendency is likely to keep up for a long time. However, in order to achieve success in this field it isn’t enough to just be a random IT specialist – choosing your area of specialization and steering your career at the right time in the right direction can be crucial for long-term results. We hope that our list can give you some food for thought.

Sylvia Kohl is an IT teacher with more than 8 years of professional experience. Her main spheres of interest are e-education and she convinced that learning process doesn’t stop after years in school and university.

 

A Job That Fits?: Questions to Ask Yourself While Interviewing

BY ANTHONY MASTERTON

Job interviews are very stressful. It feels like the people interviewing you have a tremendous amount of power and you have none. But have you ever heard the saying, “You’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you?” There’s some truth to that. Sure, there’s no use pretending that they’re not more in control of the situation than you are, but remember that you have plenty to offer as well. They want you to be a good fit for the job, and you want them to be a good fit for you. It’s a mutual evaluation process, and to that end, you should be thinking of more than just “Do they like me?”

Do the workers seem happy?

Ideally, everyone you meet in the office will be enthusiastic and eager to tell you all about why working at Company Y is so great. Realistically, most people will be too busy with their work to do anything except introduce themselves and say hi when your potential boss is showing you around the office. Still, there are some important clues in the work environment. Do people seem focused and driven, or just depressed? Are people using landlines, company-issued cell phones, or both? Are there a lot of empty cubicles? The latter could be a sign that the company has been through several rounds of layoffs and cutbacks in the last few years, or maybe just a sign that there’s a high turnover. Speaking of turnover, if you get the chance, ask your interviewer how long they’ve worked there. It’s great if they’ve worked there ten years and plan to retire there, but it’s not necessarily bad if they’ve only been there a few months. However, it is bad if no one in the company has worked there more than a couple of years.

Where will the company be in five years?

It’s very common for an interviewer to ask, “So, where do you see yourself in five years?” It’s tempting to reply with something snarky like “Not homeless,” but resist the urge. They’re looking to find out more about your goals and how the company might or might not fit with those goals. It’s also fair to ask the same thing of the company: What’s their growth outlook? Is the industry doing well or doing poorly? It’s easy to know that some industries are doing poorly (like newspapers) while others are booming (like software), but there’s still a wide amount of variance from company to company. The answer you get is important, but so is how the interviewer says it. If they pause and look uncomfortable, or even get angry at you for asking, that’s not great. As long as you phrase the question politely, they should at least try to give you an answer.

Are the benefits generous or stingy?

Plenty of people ask about pay at a job interview, but not as many candidates think to mention benefits. Things like health insurance are pretty standard, but if there’s time, feel free to dig a little deeper. Does the company offer life insurance to its employees, or will you have to buy your own through a place like OurLifeCovered? What is the company’s parental leave policy? Is there a 401k, and if so, does the company match? An organization that cares about its employees should be able to offer more than just the most basic benefits. Sometimes a lower-than-expected salary can be offset somewhat by a generous package of benefits. If the pay is low and the benefits are terrible, maybe you’re better off looking elsewhere.

Anthony Masterton is a young entrepreneur trying to break through in the Tech world. When he’s not working on growing his young startup, he writes about everything from tech advancements to his own experiences as a young CEO. A self starter, he likes to help others learn from his own successes and failures, as it’s always easiest to learn from experience.