Posts Tagged research

10 Reasons to Consider Attending a Christian University

One can look at many reasons for pursuing further learning in Christian colleges; foremost of which is that we want to integrate spiritual growth with our college education. Christian universities can provide you with this opportunity and a lot, lot more.

Let us go through the major reasons to consider attending one of these learning institutions.

  1. This type of learning institution is growing in number. Their umbrella organization has recently reported a significant increase in their roster of member-institutions to 70% from their number in the past 2 decades.
  2. These learning institutions thrive in diversity. Contrary to what several of us believe, these schools are as diverse as their non-sectarian counterparts. In fact, the African-American segment in their student population is pegged at 10% and higher in some schools and their number has grown three times their original number for the last 10 years.
  3. These schools are actively involved in the green advocacy. The majority of these schools have taken the lead with their green initiatives including, high value self sustaining green villages and innovative student volunteer programs.
  4. You will be stone-cold sober in these schools. Students, professors and other members of the school community strictly adhere to the doctrines and teachings in The Bible. These basic teachings are enshrined in the schools guidelines and regulations.
  5. Students in these schools benefit from relevant and practical vocational learning programs. Under the auspices of the SIFE, those who are enrolled in these learning institutions are given the chance to perform valuable services to the community as a parallel component of the school-based core learning programs.
  6. These learning institutions are strong when it comes to cutting-edge learning programs using the state of the art and latest technology. It is quite normal to see the students use their iPod and iPhone in their learning activities.
  7. These schools offer unlimited off-campus opportunities to their students. The students of these learning institutions can adopt off-campus learning programs that bridge and fill in the gaps in differing culture and values. Students can choose to pursue studies on special interests including journalism, film making, music and others. Students can also participate in programs that are implemented in countries such as China, Australia, the Middle East, Latin America and Uganda.
  8. If you are looking for warm and competent professors, then these learning institutions must be included in your search. These educators are very popular for their commitment to mentor and support their students until they finally finish the course program and complete their college education.
  9. These learning institutions entertain not only the college age student but also those who want to pursue continuing education. This includes a comprehensive adult learning system.
  10. Students of these learning institutions benefit from the synergy of the tie-up between their school and that of their overseas counterpart school. This means that students of these learning institutions are able to hone their skills by participating in special programs that include online learning programs and program completion of the college degree.

Attending a religious based university has its advantages. You can do a lot of additional research on the internet for Universities that are available nationwide to determine which one is best for you.

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How to Apply For Financial Aid

Parents and students alike are filled with pride and a sense of accomplishment after high school graduation. Memories of all the hard work it took to complete high school, together with the expectations that many families have for their high school graduates to continue their education, make this time exciting for everyone. However, once families begin to actually research the costs funding your education, they are daunted by the prospect of having to come up with thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, of dollars every year. While no one should disregard the fact that higher education is going to require sacrifice by all involved, everyone should understand that with hard work and planning, higher education is a very attainable goal. The following are some suggestions for negotiating funding options. Have a Firm Conversation about the College Choice

Many students are enamored with a particular institution of study for reasons other than academic rigor. Whether it’s the sports teams or the reputation for social environment, students may be drawn to very expensive colleges for reasons that do not stand up to appropriate scrutiny. Once the student and parents have discussed the real reasons for making a particular college their top choice, they both may discover that it is more feasible for the student to attend a less expensive university, or even a community college, close to home for a year or two to save money. If the student is still attracted to the more expensive college at that time, then the family may make a decision to spend more for the last year or two. However, perhaps the student has made a university his or her top choice for very valid reasons, in which case the family can begin to look at different funding options. Everyone Works to Contribute

It is important for students to realize that their education is their financial responsibility, as well as their parents. Students should be working part-time while in school, and work-study is usually a part of any offered financial aid package. While some students may balk at the intrusion into their social calendar that working may cause, all working students benefit from having to manage their work, study, and social times wisely and efficiently. During the summer months, all students should work as much as possible in order to save for the coming school year; families may even consider taking a year off from school to save money. An innovative way to spend a year off is to work for VISTA or Americorps, as these government-sponsored volunteer programs provide a school stipend of between four and five thousand dollars after a year of service. Some institutions will even match that stipend with a grant once the student begins study. Fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Filling out a FAFSA is actually one of the first steps students should do once they have decided to attend college, even if they are not sure they are eligible for financial aid. The FAFSA provides all of the information that any school will need in order to determine how much aid the student qualifies for, dependent and independent students alike. Besides determining eligibility for Pell Grants and other grants provided by the university, the FAFSA will allow the student to obtain Stafford Loans, which are federal loans that have excellent interest rates. Using the family’s tax information, the FAFSA will allow the family to decide if they are going to add any parental debt in order to pay for the student’s education, as well. Many university-based scholarships and grants are available for students, and eligibility is based on information provided in students’ FAFSA. Private Sources of Financial Aid

Having a conversation with the university’s financial aid office will give the family additional information about existing private sources of educational funding, like Sallie Mae or other private lending services. Some of these lenders have very good interest rates, but families will have to be careful to borrow only what they need to cover any funding gaps, for students risk leaving school with substantial debt they may be able to avoid by simply borrowing less money. Private scholarships are also available for students who qualify based on grades, civic membership, or other stipulations.

College can indeed be a financial challenge for families, but it is a challenge well worth the effort. According the U.S. Census Bureau, college grads earn, on average, a million dollars more over their lifetime than high school grads. When faced with that financial reality, families should be willing to do whatever it takes to find a way to make sure that all students who want to attend college have a way to do just that.

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Increase Your Potential By Continuing Education

In the corporate world of today, you either have the goods or you don’t. You have Bachelor’s degree from a fine institution and were always told that it was the key to your success. However, times are changing and the majority of your colleagues have a Bachelor’s degree. When it comes time for that promotion, how will you make yourself unique from the pack?

You can set yourself apart from the people you work with by continuing your education. Continuing education is any sort of learning that helps you advance and learn more than you did before. This could be something as simple as taking a few courses at your local college to advance your computer skills to going for a Master’s degree in your field.

You may be thinking if it will be worth the extra costs to pursue continuing education. In the end it will. Let’s say you spend upwards of $10,000 on an advanced degree or continuing education certificate program. That’s $10,000 that you couldn’t spend on something else. However, if your company has a tuition reimbursement program that money can be given back to you and you would have a leg up on a pay rise and promotion. Or, if they don’t have a program, you could still pay for it out of your own pocket and be more likely get that raise and promotion. That raise could be enough to cover the costs of your tuition in just a few months. Then you’d be more likely for opportunities in the future that you wouldn’t have been considered for earlier.

If you are a woman, it also helps you prove that you are better for a promotion than a male counterpart. Women still earn less on average than men. If you are in competition with a man for the same position, it is hard to make the case of why you are better for the job. But, if you have some continuing education under your belt, it makes it easier to prove. And you’d probably end up with the bigger salary too.

Continuing education also shows that you are committed to increasing your skills. Your drive and ambition will shine through along with the added knowledge you receive from the programmmes. That is very appealing to executives looking for people to fill the upper ranks at companies.

It is easy to see why you should take the challenge and go with continuing education. You improve your skill set, gain confidence and show how ambitious you really are. You also show your superiors how willing you are to take on new challenges without being told to do so.

So, take the plunge and increase your potential. Start your research today on continuing education opportunities and begin to advance your career in ways that you never thought possible. Who knows, by the end of your career, you could be the CEO! That would not have been possible without finding a way to have continuing education.

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Engineering Your Career – Courses and Degrees in Engineering Online

When you start an online engineering degree program, you position yourself for exciting career options–not to mention some extremely interesting engineering courses. Engineers work across most of the employment spectrum, offering their services in design and implementation of solutions that make for a more efficient world. Depending on their specialties, engineers work in high technology, business, finance, science, healthcare, civil engineering and infrastructure, healthcare, education, manufacturing, and the government.

Earning an Engineering Degree Online

Students who are drawn to the engineering professions are often inquisitive, love to solve problems, and have a keen interest in computers. They like to research solutions, test their findings, and trouble-shoot technology as it is applied. If you don’t think engineering is a diverse field that attracts a wide range of thinkers, consider this: There are 17 different engineering specialties listed in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system maintained by the Federal Government.

Admissions requirements and pre-requisites for engineering programs may include previous coursework in mathematics (through calculus), hard science (chemistry, biology, physics), and general education in the liberal arts and humanities.

Most engineers find their way into their profession by completing a bachelor’s degree. Online engineering courses at the undergraduate level prepare students with a foundation in physical science, mathematics, and life sciences, while additional engineering courses expose undergrads to a range of disciplines, including:

  • Aerospace
  • Agriculture
  • Biomedical Technology
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Science (Software and Hardware Development)
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mining
  • Nuclear Technology
  • Petroleum science

Depending on your chosen discipline, you can also pursue post-graduate work in an applied field within engineering to qualify for management or leadership roles in research or teaching.

Engineering Career Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that engineering employment will grow by 11 percent during the 2006-2016 decade, with a large spike of 21 percent of the new jobs created in the booming field of biomedical engineering. Jobs for environmental engineers also look especially good, according to the BLS, with a 25 percent rise in employment predicted for the 2006-2016 decade.

Double-digit employment increases are also predicted for engineers in marine sciences, mining, aerospace, civil engineering, and health and safety professions. Fields in materials, electrical, computer hardware, and chemical engineering should undergo growth, too, but at less than 10 percent over the 2006-2016 decade.

Earnings in Engineering

Starting salaries for engineering grads, the BLS reports, are traditionally higher than entry level pay for most other professions. However, most engineers are expected to continue their educations to remain competitive in the workplace as systems and software continues to evolve.

Here are the median, 2008 annual earnings for engineers by discipline as reported by the BLS:

  • Aerospace Engineers, $92,520
  • Agricultural Engineers, $68,730
  • Biomedical Engineers, $77,400
  • Chemical Engineers, $84,680
  • Civil Engineers, $74,600
  • Computer Hardware Engineers, $97,400
  • Electrical Engineers, $82,160
  • Environmental Engineers, $74,020
  • Health and Safety Engineers, $72,490
  • Industrial Engineers, $73,820
  • Marine Engineers and Naval Architects, $74,140
  • Mechanical Engineers, $74,920
  • Mining and Geological Engineers, $75,960
  • Nuclear Engineers, $97,080
  • Petroleum Engineers, $108,020

Even with slowdowns in the economy, the BLS reports, engineers are indispensable employees within companies, schools, and laboratories, undertaking long-term research and development, making engineering a powerful career choice.

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