Tag: Doctor of Philosophy

  • Strategies for financing your education

    Walking across that graduation stage, college students are now getting much more than a diploma. The average college student is looking at a staggering $29,000 debt that they must start paying upon completion of their studies, a number that is increasing by as much as 6% every year.

    With tuition rates increasing annually, and job prospects after graduation looking hopeful at best, it is useful to know that it is still possible to get an education without a pile of debt. If you are looking for ways to finance your education, here are some strategies that can help you get that degree with no added surprises (or continued burdens) on graduation day.

    Apply for scholarships

    Many prospective students make the false assumption that scholarships are only available for stellar students with a perfect gpa who graduate at the top of their class. While a strong academic record will certainly put you in a better position, there are scholarships available for every background, talent, and need.

    As there are no limits on the amount of scholarships a student can use and receive, you are doing yourself a disservice by not putting your name in the running for all the free money floating around. Local companies often offer scholarships to students at area schools, with only a college acceptance letter needed to be considered.

    There are also scholarships for students who have dealt with hardships, who are creatively inclined, who volunteer, show everyday patriotism, have a disability, and even those who can construct an awesome prom dress made of duct tape. There are thousands upon thousands of scholarships out there, and they can really add up against those tuition fees.

    Start with community college

    Every student, regardless of their chosen academic path, must take the same basic courses. Algebra, English, History – these prerequisites can all be taken at a fraction of the price at your local community college.

    In the 2013-2014 school year, the average tuition for a four year college was $7,977, while a two year came to only $3,361. By choosing to attend a community college for the first two years, you could expect to save no less than $10,000. Since most students choose local community colleges, you can also save money by bypassing on-campus housing – this alone can save you an additional $8-10,000.

    Work during school

    The best way to earn money for school? A job. Most students don’t want to work during college, but even working weekends or a few days when you don’t have classes can make all the difference in staying debt free.

    If you decide to work during school, be sure your employer understands that you may need some flexibility from time to time. Your education should remain your top priority, so only undertake a job if you are certain you can keep up with your classes as well. A part-time job is a solid strategy on how to get a college degree with zero debt.

    Utilize employer funding

    If you are looking to go back to school, or further your education, your employer may be willing to reimburse your tuition, books, and fees. It is in their best interest for you to further any knowledge or skills that will help you to do your job better. If your employer doesn’t offer full tuition reimbursement, they may still be willing to at least cover your books and give you time off for testing.

    Even part-time employers may help you finance your education. Starbucks for example, offers all employees tuition assistance up to $1000. If your employer agrees to go ahead with the assistance, expect to sign a contract promising x number of years in exchange for the funding; if broken you would be liable for paying the company back.

    There is no doubt that an education will help you in the future, but a lifetime of paying off student loan debt may not be worth the sacrifice. Utilize some, or all, of these strategies and graduate without the burden of debt on the horizon.

     

    Author:

    Jessica Galbraith is a full-time writer and author of the travel blog The Fly Away American. She hopes to help others avoid the student loan debt she found herself faced with after graduation.

  • How to seek counsel help while at University?

    Many students find their university years particularly challenging, in which case seeking counselling help is the best thing for them to do so they can talk through their problems and find a way to cope with their depression or anxiety. If you feel like you need help to get through the next few years, read our guide on how to find counselling services while at university.
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  • Where to find help when you are studying online?

    Online studying can be lonely. For young students, who are used to living and working in large groups of their peers, it feels unnatural to study alone. For mature students, it is very difficult to navigate all that technology and find answer to all those questions. Fortunately, it feels like that only at the beginning. As an online student, you are connected, through your computer and Internet, to the rest of the world, to the biggest library that ever existed, to your teachers, librarians, other students, previous students (alumnae) and any other help you will ever need, as long as you know how to find it.

    Your teacher

    As an online student, you do have a teacher, although you might never meet him or her. Like any other teacher, his or her job is to prepare the course, deliver individual lectures (although those might be in the form of notes, videos, games or a quizzes), give you a list of literature you need to go through, answer your questions and help you with any problem you have with the course. Good online teachers use latest interactive multimedia software to deliver their lectures, making learning fun and easy. Good teachers also quickly answer your questions, knowing that you probably cannot go on until he clarifies a problem you have.

    Greatest library in the world

    Long gone are the times when we had to go to the library to find a book, dictionary, atlas or a text book. Almost everything is now available online. All good online schools have an extensive library of books, thesis, journals and other materials you might need for your studies. Check the library available at Harvard University to get an idea on what is available. While the access to most sources is free, some scientific journals require payment or membership. Most schools enable their registered students to access such resources for free.

    Ask the librarian

    Even the best and biggest library is useless if you cannot find what you need. Sometimes there is just too much material. Just like old-fashioned librarians, students’ best friends, online librarians are there to answer your questions and suggest the best source of the information you are seeking.

    Internet

    There is a standing joke that everything on the Internet has to be true. Unfortunately, or fortunately, anyone can post any information on the Internet, and not everyone is reliable source of information. When researching for your assignments, you will find articles and websites that sound totally scientific and present their information with full confidence. You can accept as reliable information posted by the government and its bodies, by universities and other schools and learning institutions. Everything else you need to review carefully. One way of checking the reliability of an online source is the list of references the website used to find its information. If the website has no references, move on. If an author cannot show where he or she found the information, that information is not acceptable. If you want to have some fun, look at the Quack Watch, an independent organization which exposes fraud and unreliable information on the internet in the health field.

    Plagiarism watch

    Using a number of outside sources to research for your school papers does not mean that you can just copy them, unless you want to quote the information and note the source. Most time you will review a large number of sources and will interpret the information in your own words. To avoid inadvertently copying the words authored by someone else, you will need one of online plagiarism checkers such as Copyscape. Your teacher will very probably run your papers through such program as well. Plagiarism is one of the biggest sins in academic world.

    Other students

    Other students will not only be your great source of information and support, but will help you with proofreading, editing and critiquing your papers. They might be on the other side of the world, but they are going through the same experience as you. Many are very knowledgeable in the field they and you are studying because they have years of experience in it. Many teachers organize and encourage group work among online students. You will soon discover one or more students you have more in common with or simply communicate better with, and you will get a life-long friend, although virtual one.

    Computer games and quizzes

    When you were going to school as a kid, you did not have a choice. You had to do it. This time, you are studying because you want to. So, try to enjoy it as much as possible. Look for computer games designed to develop your brain capacity or memory, or will just help you relax. Your kids are always trying to convince you that their computer games are helping them with their studies. Maybe there is something in it.

    Offline help

    Don’t forget that part of your learning is offline, with your family and friends. Discuss with them the topics you are studying, ask for their opinions and ideas. Walk your dog when you are researching for a paper, you will find that many of your ideas will get sorted out while your dog is sniffing around.

    Sameer Bhatia is founder & CEO of ProProfs.com which is a leading provider of online learning tools for building, testing, and applying knowledge.Sameer has a background in technology with a Masters in Computer Science from USC (University Of Southern California) and is an ed-tech industry veteran.

  • Tips on distance teaching and learning

    If you are interested to hear about the tips on distance teaching and learning you might want to have a look at the presentation of Prof. Michael Berger PhD who speaks in details about the advantages and the disadvantages of the e-learning.

    Interesting insights about the latest developments in the e-learning industry.