6 Tips for Bringing Up Your Grades

BY JANE HURST

Being a college student isn’t all fun and games. You need to make sure that you are getting the education that you are paying for, and that you are making the most out of it (not just the social scene). Most college students face times when there grades aren’t where they should be. If this is happening to you, it is time for you to take charge of your studies, and take steps to make sure that your grades improve. Here are some tips that will help.
1. Figure Out Your Shortcomings – The first thing you need to do is figure out what areas you are doing poorly in. Then, you can begin to create an action plan that focuses more on these areas. It may be that there are only a couple of subjects you are doing poorly in. These are the subjects you need to focus on the most. Look at your grades over the past year or so and see if there are any patterns. Maybe there has been a steady decline in your overall grades, or you just have one problem subject. The more you know about your shortcomings, the easier it will be to overcome them.
2. Stay Positive – One of the first things you need to do is adopt a positive mental attitude. Obviously, when you are getting low grades, it is going to make it difficult to maintain a positive attitude. But, even if it feels hopeless, don’t give up. If you are going to make any improvements in your grades, you need to stay positive. Instead of considering yourself a failure, start thinking about ways that you can turn things around and start getting better grades.
3. Take Extra Classes Online – There are plenty of online courses that you can take in conjunction with your regular college studies. If you are doing poorly in a particular class, take an online class in the same subject. That way, you will be getting double the study and classroom time, and you are going to be able to absorb more of the information you are receiving. Learn more about online courses at Coursera, 280Group and Edx.
4. Discuss it with Your Teachers – Your teachers should be the first people you turn to when you want to find ways to bring up your grades. Talk to them about the problems you have, and ask how they think you should go about improving your grades. They will be able to offer advice on how you can create an action plan that will bring up your grades.
5. Don’t Miss Classes – You may be tempted to sleep in on some mornings, or find something that you think is more important than being at a particular class. Stop doing this. If you want good grades, you need to attend all of your classes. When you are attending classes, you are better able to absorb the material that is being taught. You get to participate in class discussions and projects, and you develop relationships with your teachers. You also earn attendance points, which can greatly affect your grades.
6. Get and Stay Organized – While it may seem like a little thing, being organized is one of the keys to great study habits. When you aren’t organized, it can be next to impossible to be able to concentrate on what you are studying. Start using a daily planner to keep your classes, assignments, etc. organized. Update calendars so you always stay current, and hang onto old homework, tests, and papers to use as reference later on. Get yourself an accordion file, and keep your various classes organized by having each one in a different section.

Byline:

Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter

Graduate Students May Unionize, NLRB Rules

Inside Higher Ed

Graduate students who work as teaching and research assistants at private universities are entitled to collective bargaining, the National Labor Relations Board ruled Tuesday.

The NLRB said that a previous ruling by the board — that these workers were not entitled to collective bargaining because they are students — was flawed.

The board’s ruling, 3-1, came in a case involving a bid by the United Automobile Workers to organize graduate students at Columbia University. Many graduate students at public universities are already unionized as their right to do so is covered by state law, not federal law.

The ruling largely rejects the fights of previous boards over whether teaching assistants should be seen primarily as students or employees. They can be both, the majority decision said.

Read more about the ruling here.

Keys To Successful School/College Dual Enrollment

 
To assist legislators, chiefs, higher education officials and others learn from the experience of other states, Education Commission of the States has once again updated its comprehensive 50-state comparison on dual/concurrent enrollment policies.

This resource, the only one of its kind, provides a national look at the number of states that have each of 20 policies in place regarding dual enrollment basics, as well as the four key dual enrollment policy areas of access, finance, ensuring course quality and transferability.

Some key takeaways from this resource:

• Without a requirement that eligible students may participate, schools and districts may not be inclined to promote dual/concurrent enrollment for students.
• Some express concern that dual enrollment courses taught by high school teachers may not meet the same level of rigor as courses taught by postsecondary faculty on postsecondary campuses.
• How funding flows can either incentivize schools to participate or deter participation. If courses meet rigorous criteria yet students are denied transfer credit at another postsecondary institution, the value of dual enrollment as an option for students to save money and time to degree is negated.

For questions, contact 

Education Commission of the States Director of Communications Amy Skinner at askinner@ecs.org or 303.299.3609.

5 Good Jobs for Graduates With No Experience

BY DAVID GUITERREZ

The biggest mistake of many students is that they start applying for low-paid positions just to earn some money.  Instead of working as a waiter at the cheap restaurant next door, spend this week or two deciding on your career path.

 Begin your journey with having a look at the Top-5 high paying and demanded careers for college and university graduates.

1. Construction & Engineering

Average wages: $139,000 annually

To specify, the field is called petroleum engineering. While you may think about a regular engineer who earns cents for fixing some models or developing plans for modest premises, this sort of engineers takes part in locating natural reservoirs of petroleum deposits. That’s where the name comes from.

Be ready to:

• work in team,
• use all your communication skills,
• apply various cost-efficient methods of petroleum recovery,
• and implements everything you have learnt from your chemistry, high math, geometry, geology, physics, and, of course, engineering & construction classes.

This position can be divided into three types by way employee drills process that he is involved in.

Reservoir engineers control the geological construction for the most effective strategic method of extraction. Drilling engineers deal with computer-run models. They also require a solid knowledge of Information Technology so far. Production engineers watch after the interface between drilling and extraction. They also need accounting skills.

2. Actuarial math

Average wages: $90,200

The job title is actuary. Despite you may think this person works with mathematical or engineering issues, in fact, this expert goes deeper into the financial outcomes of risks. As far as investments and stock exchange are gaining more and more popularity all over the world, those who are involved in these activities demand financial professionals to keep the invested money safe or at least warn people about possible threats.

In order to master this art, an applicant will have to present:

• perfect mathematics,
• statistics (both traditional and computer-based),
• and financial theory.

Mind that you’ll need to research and forecast further market fluctuations. Also, these professionals observe the situation with insurance and pension programs.

3. Aerospace engineer

Average wages: $86,300

Are you dreaming of innovations? Wish to craft useful goods for your nation? Then you should pay attention to the position titled “Aerospace engineer”. It involves developing the elements of:

• spacecraft,
• aircraft,
• satellites,
• missiles,
• and many other items.

As far as the requirements are very different, we recommend focusing on one product category. It won’t reflect your salary: no matter whether you deal with military aircraft or rockets, these goods are always in high demand. To join this industry, you’ll have to study mechanics, engineering & construction, control systems, thermodynamics, navigation, and IT. As you can see, this occupation requires a lot of efforts but is worth trying.

4. Army & Air Force Exchange Service – Any Position

Average wages: depends on your occupation

Finally, if you did not find any specific profession that corresponds to your education, you can try turning to Army & Air Force Exchange Service for help. By using this service, you will definitely find a job which offers a range of social benefits. Except for the attractive salary, you’ll receive:

• health insurance,
• 100% security,
• Sick and annual leave,
• meal programs,
• and more.

You will most probably deal with sales (electronics, food, snacks, and clothing).

5. Statistician

Average Salary: $79,000

Without hiring a professional statistician, the company won’t be able to conduct in-depth research and interpret the data. That is why it is crucial to perform well in your Statistics class. Apply both qualitative and quantitative research to get a highly paid position in almost any industry and any company in such areas as:

• Healthcare and medicine.

 

Sit down and weigh all pros and cons of your education. Nobody wants to join that quarter of graduates which remains unemployed after a year. Read more about the industries discussed above. Are there any positions that meet your expectations?

 

 

 

 

Why College Students Drop Out and How to Prevent It

BY VICTORIA KLOCHKOVA

Although school and college graduation rates have steadily been on the rise for the last hundred years or so, thousands of undergraduates drop out of college every year. This causes substantial financial losses to the colleges in question, let alone students themselves, who lose not just money, but time and self-assurance as well.

Why does it happen? And how can we prevent it? Let’s try to understand.

1.    Lack of Staff Support

Many college dropouts attribute their failure to graduate to the fact that they felt unsupported by the university staff. Contrary to what many of us may think, students do seem to place considerable importance on tutor-student relationship, and a failure to maintain it on a certain level means a substantial loss in a student’s confidence and efficiency. They start feeling lost in an enormous, faceless and impersonal organization that doesn’t care whether they pass or fail.

This, in turn, is caused by ever-growing number of students with there not being enough tutors to properly accommodate them. it may sound a bit vague, but there is only one way out of this issue – to increase tutor-student engagement, to provide students with support from their college, to increase the prominence of active learning as opposed to lecturing, to force students into active participation in their learning process rather than being passive recipients, thus making sure nobody is left out.

2.    Lack of Financial Support

Unsurprisingly, the percentage of dropout among disadvantaged students are considerably higher than among those coming from wealthier families: they are about twice as likely to drop out. The reason is, they don’t have access to the same resources and have to spend a lot of time working to just make the ends meet. This takes up time that could otherwise have been spent learning and, in the long run, many of them find themselves incapable of handling the stress and excessive workloads.

In this respect, increasing graduation rates should involve supporting struggling students. Not just by means of direct financial help, but through such things as health insurance, more flexible timetables for evening and weekend classes, and so on.

3.    College Feels like a Bad Fit

Oftentimes a student realizes too late that the college they and their parents have chosen isn’t a particularly good choice in their specific case. Each university has its own distinctive feel, approach to education and philosophy of life, and sometimes they just don’t coincide with the student’s values, making them feel out of place. Sadly, there is not much that can be done in this case – one can only recommend students to visit the campus several times, talking to the staff and students and so on before making a commitment – it can help avoid mistakes.

4.    Homesickness

Trivial as it may sound, but students, especially those who never experienced staying far away from home for too long, often feel homesick enough to actually abandon their studies. Perhaps not as a sole reason, but homesickness certainly contributes to high dropout rates. Again, nothing much can be done by a college to help this situation – other than try and create conditions that would allow students to feel at home.

5.    Uncertainty about the Course and Career Choice

For many students, college is a default option, decided for them by society and their parents. Therefore, they enroll for a course not because it is their choice, but of necessity, because their parent insisted or because they never considered another option. The problem is, such students often choose the course (or have it chosen for them) without having any personal inclination to study this particular discipline. Needless to say, they are far less motivated to complete their studies than those who know what they need and want. There is enough evidence to say that about a third of high school graduates are very uncertain about their college and career choice – and, as we know, the majority of dropouts happen during the first year.

Better orientation services and counseling can turn the tables in this respect.

Dropout rates are an old and ongoing problem that doesn’t have any simple solution. Only a complex approach encompassing all sides of academic life can change the situation – as well as lives of thousands of students.

About the author:

Victoria is a passionate entrepreneur and marketer. She runs a digital agency and writes for several blogs on the web. She loves sharing knowledge about innovation and technology!

Too Many Public Colleges are Dropout Factories

Lanae Erickson Hatalsky & Tamara Hiler, Third Way via RealClearEducation

AP Public colleges and universities play an essential role in unlocking the doors of higher education for many Americans. Today, more than 6.8 million students attend four-year public institutions, making up nearly two-thirds of the entire bachelor’s degree-seeking population in the United States.1 Close to two-thirds of all students attending these schools take out student loans in order to finance their education, with the average loan-holding student finding themselves more than $20,000 in debt four years later.2 And American taxpayers spend more than $10 billion dollars a year on federal Pell grants to help more than 2.7 million low- and moderate-income students attending these institutions afford a postsecondary education.3   Read Full Article ››

How to Prepare Yourself for Taking Online Classes

By Robert Parmer

As summer comes to a close and students enroll in courses for the upcoming semester, a modern phenomenon opens a window of opportunity. For students seeking flexibility through technology, online education is the ideal method of learning.

While online schooling at both high school and college levels has actually been around for decades, it was popularized in the 2000’s as corollary technology centered around convenience. In the digitally engulfed world of today, online education is literally everywhere! Fully virtual high schools, online homeschooling, and of course, online college are all models for education that have become societal norms.

But what if you’ve never taken an online course before? It may feel intimidating at first, however when a rhythm and balance are established the benefits of e-learning are widespread and advantageous.

When I took my first online and hybrid courses, I honestly struggled quite a bit. I felt as though I entered the online learning world blindly. This was due to a lack of foresight and improper planning. Since then I’ve gained the insight that’s helped me be successful in recent online learning endeavors.

Develop Self-Motivation Skills

A first step to making sure you succeed in online learning is preparing mentally. This includes determining how you plan to flourish in online learning, and how setting yourself up for success by developing self-motivation skills.

You must hold yourself accountable for your own success, and discipline yourself in a way that naturally works well. Common ways of doing this are by creating incentives/rewards, staying as organized as possible, and forming connections with your online peers.

Just remember, preparation is everything!

Craft An Ideal Schedule

Creating and holding yourself accountable to a schedule is also very important. Balancing your schedule in a way that leaves plenty of time for your classes is a must! It’s a smart idea to overcompensate time at the beginning so you can accurately gauge how much time will be necessary in the long run.

A resource by University of Alabama Birmingham Online offers some excellent advice on planning a schedule for e-learning:

“As you gain an understanding of the expectations for your class, create a schedule for yourself. How much time you need to spend each day doing coursework? Do you need to spend time participating on discussion boards commenting on class readings? Put it all in your calendar and make sure you have enough time to complete assignments by spreading them out instead of trying to complete them all the day before they’re due.”

Make Sure Your Computer Is Up to Date

It may seem obvious but taking online courses requires a computer that is not out of date. You absolutely must be comfortable with your computer, its software, and the internet in order to be successful with online classes.

It’s also crucially important to make sure that you have a reliable internet connection at all times–you don’t want to get kicked out of an important assignment or test!

Furthermore, you’ll also need to develop excellent communication skills through email. It’s important to understand the in’s and out’s of digital communication.

Related: Online Tools for College Students

 

Make Sure You Don’t Have Unanswered Questions

And lastly, be sure to clear up any questions you may have about the course and it’s protocol before classes start. Turn to your advisors and knowledgeable peers. Make sure to exchange some emails with your professors as soon as possible, and engage in classes’ forums or discussion boards.

While online classes may require a little bit of adjusting they ultimately give students an immense amount of freedom and flexibility. If you have taken online classes, your input is valuable and potentially helpful to others. Share your best lessons learned, and your biggest pitfalls and prominent conquering moments in the comments below.

Robert Parmer is a freelance web writer and student of Boise State University. Oustside of writing whenever he has spare time, Robert enjoys creating and recording music, caring for his pet cat, and commuting by bicycle whenever possible. Follow him on Twitter @robparmer

 

The Continuing Myth of Free College

Jeffrey J. Selingo, Washington Post

AP Photo/Andrew Harnik During the Democratic primaries, Hillary Clinton proposed the idea of debt-free college to counter a popular refrain from Bernie Sanders that public colleges become tuition-free. Since she claimed the nomination, Clinton has been moving closer to some of Sanders’ proposals from their primary fight in an effort to reach his voters. One of those ideas includes free college, with some tweaks on the Sanders plan (namely, an income cutoff of $125,000).   Read Full Article ››

Top 10 Safety Tips for College

By Jane Hurst

For many first-year college students, this is the first time they will be living away from home. This can be a scary time for many, because there are going to be so many new things to learn, and a whole new home and even a new city to get used to living in. Your college experience can be a great and safe one, as long as you are following these 10 safety tips.

• Know the Campus Emergency System Areas – On most campuses, you will find phones or emergency call buttons that you can use in case of an emergency. Look for them around the campus and familiarize yourself on where they all are.
• Carry Pepper Spray – As long as it is legal in the area you are living, it is a good idea to carry pepper spray. This is a weapon that you can use from a distance. If you are not allowed to carry pepper spray, other options include a small can of hairspray, a personal alarm such as a rape whistle, and insect sprays.
• Carry Emergency Money – Whenever you leave your dorm room or apartment, make sure that you have some emergency money with you. You never know when you may run into a situation when you are stranded and have to pay for transportation home.
• Don’t Drink and Drive – It is of the utmost importance that you never drink and drive. Not only is there the risk that you could injure or kill yourself or someone else, you could also end up with some hefty fines and a criminal record for driving while under the influence. If you do get charged with drinking and driving, you will need legal help. Visit Mace Law to learn more.
• Carry a Cell Phone – Any time you are out, it is a good idea to have a cell phone or other similar type of device with you. That way, if you are in a situation where you need someone to come and get you, it will be easy to contact them. Otherwise, you will have to look for a phone, which isn’t always easy to find.
• No Means No – If you are in a situation where you could end up engaging in sexual activity, remember, no matter how far things go, no always means no. On the other hand, if you don’t say no, then you are giving your consent. Make sure that your partner has a chance to say yes or no, and that they are not so intoxicated that they can’t make a responsible decision about having sex.
• Secure Your Dorm Room – Even if your RA encourages you to leave your door open so people can stop in, don’t do it. Your dorm room needs to be a place where you can feel safe and secure. If you are there, sure, keep the door unlocked so others can visit. If you are out, make sure that the door is locked at all times.
• Leave Parties when Your Friends Leave – If you are at a party where you don’t know a lot of people, always be sure to leave when your friends do. You don’t want to end up in a house filled with strangers and end up in a situation that is out of your control.
• Don’t Drink too Much – Sure, you are going to be drinking at parties. This doesn’t mean that you have to drink so much that you lose control. Make sure that you are always aware of what you are doing, what others are doing, and of your surroundings.
• Never Walk Alone at Night – This is particularly important for women. It is always important to make sure that you have someone to walk with. A person alone is a great target for a robber or rapist. When you have someone with you, a criminal is going to think twice about attacking you.

Byline:

Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter

Graduating Soon? Getting Hired Amidst Much Market Disruption

BY TAYLOR TOMITA

 Students graduating college in today’s world have to deal with big time change. These students are some of the first digital natives, growing up around technology that has been constantly changing. From flip phones in adolescence to iPhones in their teenage years, this age group has watched technology change the world around them, and, in turn, change how business is done. Such rapid change on this economic scale hasn’t been seen since the Industrial Revolution, and we owe it all to what experts are calling “disruption.”

 

What is Disruption?

 Disruption occurs when a new way of doing things completely topples and replaces the old way of doing things. This generally coincides with the introduction of new technologies, leading many to associate “disruption” with “digital disruption,” and while commonly the same thing, they are not always. A great example of disruption in action is when Netflix came out with movies on-delivery and eventually streaming movies on-demand. Video movie rental chain Blockbuster didn’t want to accept the fact that the industry was facing massive disruption, and, like many others in their situation, died instead of adapted.

In effect, employees of today’s economy need to be just as prepared to handle disruption as businesses do. Increasing chances of hireability in a constantly shifting landscape shaped by change isn’t easy, but there are a couple of pointers you can follow.

 Make Sure You Understand Technology

As stated above, most disruption occurs as a result of technological change. Understanding the technology that drives these changes means that you’ll be better prepared to adapt to them. In particular, internet browsers and connected chat devices would be great to look into. Skype, Slack, and other types of unified communications are driving a new wave of remote workers and participants in the gig economy. You don’t have to know these systems inside and out, but familiarizing yourself with chat systems and the like will better prepare you for the world of cyber-communications.

Embrace Brand “You”

To that same end, you’ll want to actively manage your online presence. There’s no escaping the fact that nowadays your digital “self” is your actual “self” and people will actually trust you less if you don’t have an online profile. This further supports the idea that business is becoming more and more digital and comfortable with work-from-home gigs–or at least part-time work. Entrepreneurs and employees would both do well to heed this advice, as any egregious online infraction can lose you your job. Read the story of Justine Sacco if you don’t believe me.

Get Ready to Upskill

One interesting disruptive piece of technology that promises to change the world is automation. While many pieces have been written on the subject, what can’t be ignored is that automated services will replace many of the rote, mundane tasks that humans are doing today. Staying viable in an economy of automated robots and software will require upskilling, or “improving the current skill sets of employees so that they can thrive in an environment where automation handles most low-skill duties,” according to Unit4 head of global product marketing, Tom Dobbe. What this means is that no matter how much training you may have received in college, be ready to train even more. Jobs of the future will require constant revision of training, and employees that can commit to that via upskilling.

Study the Rules and Regulations

As history marches forward, rules and regulations are usually created and added to rather than repealed. In today’s age, it’s up to employers and employees alike to know and understand the rules and regulations that govern their industry. Those in the medical industry need to know and understand HIPAA, while e-commerce and business IT types need to be familiar with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, or PCI DSS for short. While these are both clearly rules and regulations driven by technological change, new social consciousness movements are also driving disruption, with new standards all around the world for bullying and sexual harassment popping up in the early 2010’s. Beyond increasing hireability by knowing more about a specific industry, it’s always an individual’s responsibility to be aware of these conditions, even if they are constantly changing.

 Always Be Adaptable

The most important thing to remember is to always be adaptable. Disruption is driven by change, and the better you can adapt to that change, the easier it will be for an employer to justify hiring you. In the past, being a Jack- or Jill-of-all-trades wasn’t necessarily seen as desirable. Today, however, it’s almost a necessary trait. Businesses are trying to be as adaptable as possible themselves, which is why hiring adaptable employees makes sense to them. Stay sharp, and know as much about your job as you can–because you never know how it’s going to change.

Ultimately if you follow these guidelines, you can ensure that you’ll be that much more hireable in a world ruled by disruption. As Heraclitus once said: “Change is the only constant.”