Heading Back To College: Practical Solutions For An Easy Transition

Are you thinking about going back to college but nervous about how it will impact your home life and career? If so, you’re not the first woman to have these concerns, especially if you have a family to raise. Going back to college may help you advance professionally, but the sacrifices it requires will add to your everyday responsibilities. Many women don’t want their children to suffer or the finances to fall behind, so they decide to hold off on this goal. 

Although it would be naive to overlook the typical struggles of returning to college as a mother, there are ways to make the transition more manageable. Continue reading to learn more about online degrees for adults. 

Choose Your School Wisely

Where you go to school has a direct impact on your home and job life. The best way to find balance is to select your educational establishment wisely. You want to opt for a college that offers affordable classes, diverse programs, and flexible schedules to accommodate your financial and scheduling needs. 

Let’s say you were interested in becoming a therapist. You might go to a university that offers psychology certificates. Ideally, you should opt for a school that offers night and weekend hours or online courses so that you can complete your studies when it’s most convenient. You should also review the cost of tuition, available scholarships, and financial aid to keep the cost of returning to school down. 

Rally Up The Troops

You’re going to need help ensuring your kids’ needs are met every day. As going back to college will take up a portion of your time and energy, it’s best to rally up the troops for assistance. Who are the troops? These are family members, friends, and other trusted adults that you can turn to for help with your children. 

Before school starts, it’s essential to understand who these people are in your life and how they can lend a helping hand. Whether your mother prepares meals a few times a week or watches the kids after school, it enables you to focus on your studies without stressing yourself out. 

Get Serious About Time Management

Time management is essential to juggling the many responsibilities you’ll have once you go back to school. Make the most of the time you have each day by developing routines and schedules. Set a designated time for your home life, work, and your studies, while remembering to pencil in moments for a break and self-care. If you have a hard time sticking to routines, use alarms, calendars, and charts to help keep you on track. Eventually, it will become like second nature. 

Tap Into Educational Resources

If you’re going to pass that class, receive a certificate, or get a degree, you must set yourself up for success. As higher education can be challenging, you’re encouraged to tap into the available resources to help you achieve your goals. Take advantage of after-hours offered by professors, tutoring, study groups, and more to ensure that you comprehend the materials and succeed. Find out if there are training programs, internships, or other opportunities you can enroll in for a better educational experience. 

Enjoy The Experience

Going back to school as an adult is a fantastic milestone. Don’t spend the entire time worrying about what could go wrong, as it can make accomplishing your goals a lot more challenging. You’re encouraged to enjoy the experience. Live in the moment, connect with like-minded individuals, learn new things, and celebrate successes along the way. 

Whether you’re trying to get a promotion, switch careers, start a business, or earn more money, going back to college can help you accomplish those goals. Although being a parent can complicate this decision, there are ways to find balance. By sticking to the suggestions listed above, you can return to school, raise a family, and reach new heights professionally. Of course, there will be challenges along the way, but taking these steps can ease the transition. 

IISTE News

, , ,

4 Questions to Assess Your IEP Management System

Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs, are written legal plans mapping specific instructions, supports, and services for special education students. They are covered by special education law under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and must comply with strict guidelines and evaluations to ensure the proper support is given to every student. To tell the truth, IEPs are often time-consuming, large projects for already busy teachers to undertake, making it all the more important to streamline this process while maintaining high standards for students.

Thankfully, many schools now utilize IEP software to help create IEPS, ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines, and evaluate and report student progress. But how are these systems assessed? To help you determine if your IEP system is working for you and your students, here are four questions you should ask yourself.

Does my IEP system ensure regulatory compliance?

Managing IEP compliance is critical for every school district, and with COVID-19 causing so much disruption to learning environments, it is more important than ever. A properly functioning IEP system allows the user to manage sequencing and timelines, data collection and validation, and configure permissions and privacy settings across users. Teachers rely on their IEP software to ensure all steps are within sequence and that timelines are accurate from the initial meeting to evaluations. 

Your IEP system should get everything right the first time so that you don’t have to waste time fixing mistakes that seem to appear just as report deadlines come around. A good IEP management system will alert the appropriate staff when deadlines are approaching or are not met, perform validations to ensure accurate data entry, and prevent staff from skipping steps in their IEPs.

Is my IEP system adaptable and efficient?

Preparing IEP documents, enforcing their compliance, and determining special education eligibility are some of the most time-consuming tasks for teachers and school districts. An IEP system should streamline this process to save you time and effort. Additionally, the system should be able to adapt to the evolving needs of your classroom as well as any changes in your process due to things like school closures and regulatory changes.

An adaptable IEP management system saves teachers and school districts time and frustration by addressing these issues. Rather than determine your process or workflow, IEP software should accommodate your needs just as you accommodate the needs of your students. It allows for easy customization and configuration, supports process management, and quickly adjusts to changing conditions and regulatory requirements. Teachers work in such dynamic settings, so their IEP software should be just as flexible.

Here are five things you should look for in an adaptable IEP management system:

  1. A system that is built around your workflow process and is responsive to changes
  2. Access to data that informs dynamic decision-making
  3. Customization built into the software without additional costs
  4. Supports multiple users with different access permissions
  5. Compatibility and integration with external systems used in your district

What can my IEP system do?

If your district uses an IEP software built exclusively for the planning process, you may be missing out on other features that offer more efficient workflows and much-needed flexibility. School systems require an immense amount of managerial work, and the right IEP software can help manage this. An effective and efficient implementation of an IEP system will help you:

  • Develop your educational plan
  • Manage resources and data efficiently and accurately
  • Deliver and track services and support

Does my IEP system provide me with the right data?

In 2014, the Results Driven Accountability (RDA) framework shifted educational priorities away from compliance and toward results. This means there is a greater focus on measurable outcomes for student growth. To best support these positive outcomes, it is vital for schools to allocate resources efficiently and effectively and provide special education students with interventions and support systems that deliver results.

IEP software should allow you to view where every child is in both their personal progress and the educational process. It should also provide service data to evaluate what you’re doing for the students, what is working, and what isn’t. The right IEP system will not only promote your student’s growth but your professional development as well.

In order to help you live up to the promises you’ve made to your students and their guardians, you need a management system that works for you, not the other way around. The right IEP software provides you with a clear view of student progress and pitfalls so that you can provide your students with the instruction and support they need to succeed.

IISTE News

, , , ,

7 Ways to Use Degree in Chemistry

If you’re one of the many people who get excited about stoichiometry and chemical reactions, then you have the start of a great career. If you think that a chemistry degree only qualifies you for a life of research or working as a medical doctor, there are countless other careers you can pursue. Some of these might require additional or concurrent education to go along with your chemistry degree. It’s possible to have a thriving career doing what you love. Here’s how to use your degree in chemistry to get it.

Food Science

Did you know there is a whole field of study around the science of food? It’s how we get light and flaky layers in a croissant, and dense, melt in your mouth goodness in a wedding cake. Food science is all about the science of food. Why does this ingredient make the food behave this way? What are the best, food-safe preservatives to use? How much preservative do I need in a batch? What happens if we take out one ingredient and substitute something else?

All these questions are answered by food scientists. They spend their time creating new recipes and producing foods for various companies. They also help in the research and development of new flavors.

Soap Making

A simple saponification reaction can be used to create harsh soaps to clean the bathroom and one’s gentle enough for your face and body. Soap makers use their chemistry skills to determine the right amount of lye and fats to use to get the intended hardness after the soap has cured. Soap makers know how long to let a soap rest before cutting and before using for the first time. Soap makers can also use their skills to create new perfumes and scents, mix new blends, and create soaps that improve skin health and that kill off the harshest bacteria.

Teaching

Take what you know and teach someone else. Whether you use your chemistry skills to also pursue a career as a schoolteacher, or you use it to teach independent classes through a local homeschool co-op, there are plenty of places to teach chemistry. You are qualified because you know important facts about chemistry, and you can create a fun and exciting class using what you know. There are some online platforms where you can also create an online course.

Developing New Materials

Have you ever wondered where new plastics come from and new metal materials? Chemists work with engineers and other scientists to develop new materials that have many industrial uses. From storing chemicals without leaks to creating products that are biodegradable, there are numerous options.

Beer Making

What does chemistry have to do with making beer? Everything! Making beer is an art and a science and creating brews with the right blend of flavors takes some finesse. Use your chemistry degree to start your own brewing company or just create some home brew beer. You’d be amazed at how taking an approach using you understanding of chemistry can help you get your beer just right.

Technical Writer

People who spent their time doing organic chemistry prep, studied for science tests, and wrote all about their experiments in lab are uniquely qualified to write. Technical writers know how to put their thoughts in writing in a calculated and concise way. They can create manuals, how-to articles, and even use their knowledge to talk specifically about science topics. Science writers are in high demand to help explain topics and communicate scientific information outside of the scientific community.

Wastewater Management

Managing the wastes that come in is a critical role. Chemists understand what needs to happen to filter out and purify toxic and contaminated water. They understand that this water will be recycled to go back out to the community and needs to be safe to drink, safe for watering plants, and more. Chemists know what can happen if they don’t get the concentrations of chemicals right in the purification process.

Conclusion

There are many career paths for a person with a chemistry degree. While advanced degrees can be useful, it’s possible to pursue entrepreneurship and to start your own company with just a bachelor’s degree. You gain valuable skills and knowledge about chemistry that you can share with others through teaching, writing, and even making soap.

IISTE News

, , , ,

Why Education Can Help Grow Your Career

Going back to school is a big undertaking, but there are many benefits of doing so. From expanding your career opportunities to gaining knowledge, you might want to think about this method of career advancement.

Starting School

You’ll want to spend some time thinking about your goals when deciding whether or not to go back to school. You should also do your research on the costs of different schools in your desired field of study. One way of paying for some of the expenses is to sell your life insurance policy, especially if you no longer need it. A life settlement allows you to sell a life insurance policy for cash, which you can then put toward school expenses.

Gaining Knowledge

When you think of education, gaining knowledge might be one of the first benefits that comes to mind. It gives you both knowledge and skills, which can then be applied to any workplace in the future. For example, if you study business administration, you will learn about accounting so you can understand the financial aspects of the position. And learning about business management will teach you leadership and communication skills as well.

The knowledge you gain can be both practical and factual, meaning it is not just a nice thing to know. It can be extremely helpful in your current position, as well as where you wish to go. And even if you are where you want to be in your career, you can always benefit from learning more. Getting another degree allows you to build your experience, broadening your skills.

Demonstrating Work Ethic

When you go after a degree, especially if you are working, you will demonstrate your strong work ethic. That’s because school can be hard, and doing it while working can be even harder. Doing both can show you are determined to meet your goals. Both executives and supervisors like to see education, since it shows the individuals have the motivation and initiative to expand their skills. When you show you are committed to your goals, you will show management you are ready to be successful in any work environment. If you are already a manager at work, you can set a strong example of dedication to your reports.

Setting Yourself Up for Success

When you get a degree, you are accomplishing something worthwhile, and it’s a huge accomplishment. It can result in more experience, skills, and knowledge and ultimately help you achieve success through effective communication from a business standpoint. And when you get extra problem-solving and communication skills, you will feel more confident in yourself. This can make you appear more polished to potential employers. 

Of course, you will also benefit from growing your professional network. When you are in a classroom, either in person or virtually, you will be better prepared to meet and interact with other students. They could come from different educational or professional backgrounds. You might be able to benefit from these connections later, when it comes time to advance your career. Others in your network may know about different job opportunities in your field. And they might be able to answer questions you have.

IISTE News

, , , , ,

Best Places to Start a Career in the Energy Industry

Working in the energy industry is one of the quickest ways to find high-paying work readily available.  Although moving for a job isn’t something that everyone is willing to do if you have the education and are passionate about it: moving for an energy career can be the right move for you!

These are the best places to start a career in the energy industry, and what they offer new arrivals!

Chicago, Illinois

Electricity first reached Chicago in 1892, and the city hasn’t been the same since.  Green energy has become Chicago’s most recent obsession, even though it’s not as windy as the nickname may imply.

Across multiple career websites, there are currently over 95,287 clean energy jobs, ranging from installing solar panels to working as an engineer.  Although there’s a large variety of work, almost all of it requires education of some sort to get into the field.

Houston, Texas

Houston has been known as the oil and gas capital of the world for decades, pulling in tons of work from production to working on oil rigs off the coast of Texas.  Although it isn’t clean energy, it’s still necessary to work that will keep the country running.  This city is known as the world’s energy capital and employs over 200,000 workers to ensure that the work is done and it’s done well.

This is a great city to move to if you want a low cost of living since houses for rent in Houston, TX, are far cheaper than most of the other options on this list.

Los Angeles, California

The first municipal power pole was installed in LA in 1916, and the city hasn’t slowed down since! Unfortunately, Los Angeles is home to over four million people and is a huge drain of electricity at all times of the day.

Fortunately for the environment, much of California is pushing towards being greener and using more clean energy.  Because of this, Los Angeles currently has over 160,000 clean energy job openings, seeking skilled professionals who can do everything from repairing energy lines to installing and inventing green energy machinery.  This city takes its power seriously. 

New York City, New York

In the late 1890s, electricity was widely available in most areas of the city.  This meant that people could easily source power whenever they needed to live their daily lives.  Unfortunately, as the population has skyrocketed: so needs power.

One megawatt of energy is enough to power a hundred homes for a day, and NYC takes up 11, 000 Megawatt-hours per day.  This has led to a power crisis and has made this city desperate to hire as many people for energy jobs as possible.  

Although the pay is bigger in the big apple: so is the cost of housing.  This is by far the most expensive place to live on this list, but if you have the skills and can prove yourself in your field, you’ll have no trouble making enough to make a living in NYC!

IISTE News

, , , ,

Is Pathology The Right Career Path For You?

If you are a student in college studying medicine but haven’t quite made a firm decision about what your specialty should be, you might consider the cutting-edge field of pathology.  Why? Because pathology offers a dizzying array of opportunities for medical professionals.  While pursuing your medical studies, you will find that pathology spans over a myriad of different disciplines and can also be a lucrative path in your career.

From forensic pathology to cytopathology – this exciting and diverse field of medicine has the potential to enhance your personal growth beyond your wildest reckoning.  Furthermore, the demand for qualified pathologies in all areas of medicine has skyrocketed in the last few years.  And the job market for pathologists is only expected to increase.  Read further about what it takes to be a pathologist, and what this stimulating career path can offer you.

What Pathology Is and The Two Main Branches

At its simplest, pathology is a branch of medicine that studies the cause, nature, and origin of diseases and disorders.  Pathology is at the forefront of devising innovative treatments and solutions to combat disease, viruses, and other health disorders such as cancer.  This field of study plays a crucial role in the development of vaccines and medical treatments for all manner of conditions. 

There are two main types of pathology, clinical and anatomical.  Clinical pathology explores diagnosis and cures for disease using laboratory equipment such as microscopes and centrifuges.  A clinical pathologist works in a highly controlled environment where sterile testing is done.  These facilities must operate under accreditation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and should adhere to the lab CAP guide to make sure testing is in compliance and accurate results are determined.

Anatomical pathology is similar to clinical in that this field still executes demanding tests to find answers to medical disorders and diseases.  The most common example of an anatomical pathologist is a medical examiner that performs an autopsy to determine the cause of death.  An anatomical pathologist takes samples from the human body and conducts tests in order to find answers about the human condition.

What Are The Requirements To Be a Pathologist?

There is no exclusive educational degree for a pathologist per se.  Rather, a pathologist is a medical doctor who chooses pathology as his or her specialty.  As such, a pathologist must attain a medical doctor’s degree. This path usually starts with a student obtaining a bachelor’s degree.  No major must be claimed at this time, but students interested in medicine and pathology typically take pre-med courses with a concentration in biology and microbiology during their bachelor’s education.

Pathologists are often referred to as the “doctor’s doctor” because pathologists must be medical doctors (MD or DO). They go through all the training medical doctors do including attending a residency program, internship, board certification, licensing, and ongoing training.

Who Would Enjoy a Pathology Career?

Of course, a love of medicine should be a priority for anyone considering a satisfying career in pathology.  Also, if you have a curious mind and a genuine passion to help others heal, then you may make a great pathologist.  People who work well in this medical discipline are those who have investigative propensities. In other words, they like to do intense research to hunt down solutions to health problems. 

Furthermore, if you are detail-oriented and appreciate order in the workplace, pathology might be a satisfactory field.  Pathologists are required to take copious and accurate notes and their jobs rely heavily upon research, testing, and data analysis.  All this requires a meticulous mentality and a high standard for accuracy.

What Are The Benefits of Being a Pathologist?

The benefits of becoming a pathologist are many and varied.  Firstly, you will never lack a job as long as you work with integrity and keep your medical credentials current.  Pathology is such a diverse field, that jobs are plentiful throughout all disciplines of medicine.  You can choose from dozens of different specialties and subspecialties. This affords pathologists the freedom and flexibility to make lateral moves in related yet different aspects of medical research. 

For instance, you may start out your pathology career as a forensic pathologist.  Over time, you may choose to switch gears into pediatric pathology or neuropathology.  Because this field of medicine is so diverse and covers a broad territory in the healing sciences, pathology is a great career for those always learning and exploring different aspects of their professional life.

Furthermore, pathology can be a lucrative career.  Currently, the average physician of pathology salary is over $250,000 a year.  That salary can increase in time as more experience is gained in the field.  Pathologists are typically hired by major medical facilities and these institutions usually provide excellent benefits such as insurance, retirement, and paid holidays.

Lastly, and perhaps the biggest benefit of being a pathologist is the opportunity to help humanity overcome illness.  As a pathologist, you could be contributing to the cure for cancer, doing life-saving research, or discovering vaccines that heal people with crippling conditions.  Pathology offers diversity and the opportunity to help mankind.  So, if you’re seeking the satisfaction of helping your fellow humans and want a rewarding career you can be proud of, pathology might be the perfect path for you.

IISTE News

, , , , , ,

8 Tips On Running A Successful Volleyball Fundraising Event

Are you planning to run a volleyball fundraising event soon, but don’t know where or how to start?  Are you worried that the event will turn into a disaster? 

A volleyball fundraising event is a great way to expand your network and build camaraderie, but keep in mind that having one requires a lot of time and effort. You’ll have many things on your plate, and not having any plan will likely leave you stressed. In worse cases, you might end up having a fundraising event that won’t accomplish any goal. 

Here are eight tips to help you run a successful volleyball fundraising event:

 

1. Identify Goals

 

Running a volleyball fundraising event without having set goals is pointless. It’ll be challenging for you and your team to assess the success of the event if you don’t know what you want to achieve in the first place.

To run a successful volleyball fundraising event, identify your goals first. If the event is aimed to gather funds to send a local volleyball team to international competitions, break down the projected costs to help you identify the amount you need. 

If you also want to recruit new supporters and increase awareness through the fundraising event, make sure to share your goals as you’re marketing the event. It’s crucial to plan how you’re going to communicate your fundraising goals to the general public. 

 

2. Get Help

 

Running a volleyball fundraising event can be daunting and time-consuming that you need a whole team to help you out. Remember that you’ll have a long list of to-dos before, during, and after the actual event. 

Minimize stress when running a volleyball fundraising event by getting help. Today, you can hire companies that can give you a helping hand in planning for the event. These companies have years of experience in completing tasks necessary for fundraising events, which means that they can provide volleyball fundraising ideas to ensure that your next event will be a success.

You can also ask for help from your friends, family, and other individuals in your community. The more people helping you out, the easier it’ll be for you to run a successful volleyball fundraising event.

 

3.Set A Budget

 

Successful fundraising events always have a budget that covers expenses for food, space rental, catering, security, transportation, utilities, and other essentials necessary to make your volleyball fundraising event a success. 

When creating a budget for your volleyball fundraising event, don’t forget to consider your fundraising goal. Your event should raise funds greater than the amount of your expenses. While you’re at it, be sure to include a budget for emergencies as well. You’ll never know what will happen before or during the event, so it’s important to be financially prepared. 

 

4.Assign Roles

 

The committee can make or break the success of your volleyball fundraising event. Even if you set realistic goals, your event won’t be as successful if committee members don’t properly execute their roles.

To put together an effective event committee and foster teamwork, take note of these tips:

  • Get the right people on board: Your committee members should represent different social circles and demographics in the community. If possible, look for individuals who have connections with potential sponsors. 
  • Foster teamwork: Teamwork and collaboration can turn a stressful event planning into something that’s fun and fulfilling. Since you’ll oversee committee members, encourage effective teamwork by understanding everyone’s work styles and setting clear expectations on what you want the team members to accomplish. 
  • Maximize meetings: Only hold meetings if there’s a clear agenda. Keep discussions about the event and encourage committee members to participate. 

 

5.Decide On A Date

 

How soon your volleyball fundraising event is can affect the number of attendees. If you set the event a few days from now, you’ll likely have less attendees. 

If you want to attract as many attendees as possible, plan the event in advance. Ideally, you should announce the event at least one month before the date of the event to have ample time for organization and marketing. It’ll also be easier for the attendees to adjust their schedules and show up for the event if you inform them ahead of time. 

When setting a date, consider the purpose of the event. For example, if the fundraising event is for sending a local volleyball team abroad, make sure that the event is scheduled on a date that allows the team to arrive at the location on time. 

6.Think About The Setup

 

 

Planning the setup of the volleyball fundraising event is, most likely, one of the most time-consuming and daunting tasks. This is especially true if you’re expecting a massive number of attendees.

For your upcoming volleyball fundraising event to be a success, plan where the event will be, what kind of food will be served, and if there’ll be any entertainment. If there’s a dress code, list down all the dos and don’ts, and include them in your marketing collaterals to ensure everyone follows.

You should also come up with a plan to help attendees find their way around the location. Since it’s a volleyball fundraising event, include signs on where attendees can watch the games and get refreshments. If you’re selling merchandise on the day of the event, display large signs to help attendees find the store or booth. 

If the event will be held outdoors, pay attention to the weather and have a backup plan. For example, you can prepare portable pavilions or rent a nearby covered court just in case it’ll rain. 

 

7.Prioritize Marketing

 

Your volleyball fundraising event needs to be marketed to convince attendees that your event is something worth attending. The quality of your marketing can also influence donors’ decisions to give money to your cause.

You can effectively market your upcoming volleyball fundraising event without spending thousands of dollars. Some of the most common methods of marketing you can use include sending out mail invitations, posting information on social media, and encouraging your committee members to amplify your promotions. 

No matter what marketing strategy you’re planning to use to get the word out, do it multiple times as you’re nearing the date of the event. This can keep attendees engaged and excited.

 

8.Send Thank You Notes

 

After the volleyball fundraising event, take the time to send thank you notes to all of the people who helped—from the committee members, to the attendees, to the donors. This is a simple way of showing gratitude and fostering healthy relationships with others. Besides, you’ll likely have another fundraising event soon, so it’s always important to keep friends and donors happy! 

Start Working ASAP

Running a volleyball fundraising event is challenging, but it’s not impossible. The tips presented in this article can be your key to running the best volleyball fundraising event your city or town has ever seen!

IISTE News

, , ,

A Must-Have Guide to Finance Tips for College Students

Whether a brand-new college student or about to be an alumni, finances are difficult, and they continue to haunt college students everywhere. From living on a ramen noodle diet to counting pennies to determine if you can afford to go to the movies, it happens to the best of us. 

While finances are often a burden and sometimes hard to understand or deal with, these finance tips can help you get off on the right foot while you are in college. 

Check them out!

  1. Make Yourself a Budget 

Okay, let’s just put it out there. Having a budget in mind and having a budget on paper are two DIFFERENT things. You definitely want to take some time and sit down to make a budget. As you do this, think about each dollar that comes in and each dollar that goes out. This will allow you to gain better control of your money and you will not find yourself short every month. Uncontrolled spending can quickly land you in a debt hole. 

  1. Avoid Plastic Cards 

Credit card offers can be quite tempting, especially as a college student but you want to avoid those plastic cards as much as you can. Credit cards do not mean that you get free money that is being stored somewhere for you and you will end up paying for them PLUS interest. Therefore, if you spend $500 on a credit card, add interest and you may be paying $630 for that $500 purchase. 

If you are trying to build your credit and want a credit card, choose one with a low interest rate, pay off your bill each month, and only use the card when you know you can pay it off when the statement drops. 

  1. Automatic Payments Can Mean Overdraft Fees 

If you are already on a tight budget, you may not want to sign up for automatic payment and instead utilize apps or reminders to help you pay your bills. While automatic payments are nice, they do come directly out of your account, so if you do not have enough funds in there, you will incur an overdraft charge and those charges are not cheap. 

  1. Consider Buying Your Own Food 

While the meal plan at school may seem like the right choice for you, it can be quite the expense, especially if you do not eat a lot of food. Sometimes, purchasing your own food is the better way to go, especially if you have a microwave or fridge in your dorm. 

Meal plans are ideal for some students, so you will need to look into the plan, the cost, and consider how much you will eat.

  1. Only Borrow What You Need

Seeing that loan offer come in and cause you to jump for join but remember, you must pay it back at some point. This means that you want to limit how much you actually borrow to receive your degree. The lower the degree costs, the less you will pay back. 

If you do need to borrow money to receive your degree, do not fear. Many students do. You should make sure to read over the loan terms, know the interest rates, and understand all aspects of the loan itself. 

  1. Get A Job 

While it does not sound like something you want to do, getting a job while in school such as a waiter, working a local storage unit facility or even participating in a work study program at your school can help you not only pay for school but also afford to live while you earn your degree. It is something to think about. 

College is expensive. Living away from home is expensive. Consider the tips above to help you gain better control of your finances while you are away at college.

IISTE News

, , , ,

4 reasons to keep a courier service on your books

A thriving business deals with many other businesses and people in a variety of capacities many of which will involve requiring you to send either essential paperwork that is to be signed or has been signed, or sending goods that have been sold. Whatever the reason for needing to send items elsewhere, by keeping a courier service on you books your business will benefit in a number of ways.

It’s all about reputation

Businesses that do well all have one thing in common, they work hard to build a good reputation and being prompt to return paperwork or send bought items is imperative to this. By having a reliable courier service on your books when you have something that needs shipping you can have it sent on it’s way promptly as there is no ringing around looking for a company to use. Rather you can pick up the phone or arrange online and have it sorted by a company you have an existing account with for a seamless service to your own clients and customers. When you use the right external agencies to compliment the running of  your own business, your company reputation directly benefits. 

There is no messing about

Because you are using the same company and therefore building a good business relationship with your courier company, when you need a priority service your company will be able to reliably fulfil that need. So if you are offering a quick delivery and rely on using a same day delivery service your customers will not be let down as you know that the courier company you retain will be there when needed. This is also important where your industry requires having documents delivered with a short turnaround time, as documents that can’t be sent electronically are assured to arrive not just within the required time frame, but safe and securely also. 

Happy customers

Fulfilling customer orders quickly and reliably will make for happy customers who will potentially become repeat customers and or recommend your business to other potential customers. That’s how important your choice of delivery services are to the well-being of your company so having a good relationship with your chosen courier company is vital. By keeping them on your books shows a loyalty to them and that you are serious about providing a service that makes your customers happy.

Make couriers work for you

Sometimes you may find you’re the one needing to have something brought to you, perhaps a missing component for an item you make or someone else has not had a vital contract delivered to your premises within a required timeframe. Having that pre-existing relationship with a courier company allows you to easily organise the collection of that vital item from where it currently is, and have it brought to where it needs to be. This could well save that important deal from falling through or allow a big order to be fulfilled within the promised time, thus saving your company’s reputation. 

IISTE News

, , , , ,

7 Gift Ideas for Students

Statistics show that over half of all Americans are last-minute shoppers. Are you someone who will wait until the last minute to buy a gift? How can you prepare ahead of time so that you are not rushed? What are some good gift ideas for the students in your life that you are buying for? Having an idea of what to get them ahead of time can make the entire process less stressful. Keep reading to learn more about some gift ideas for students.

Headphones

While most students may have access to a pair of headphones, there are many options for you to give this as a gift. For example, purchasing noise-canceling headphones could be very helpful for a student who is trying to study in loud areas. This is applicable to anyone from the age of middle school to college. With the increase in laptop and desktop usage at school, students may need headphones as a part of their everyday school supplies. Given that most headphones are priced higher than a box of pencils, they are a great gift to give a student so that they don’t have to buy them themselves.

Practical Backpack

Not all backpacks are created equal. Every student has a variety of needs when it comes to the bag that they bring to school. Some students like to be able to store everything in one bag, others will carry their lunch or change of clothes for gym class in a different bag. The addition of laptops to learning has increased the need for a laptop sleeve within backpacks to protect the laptops from getting crushed by the books. Finding out what the needs of your student are and how they prefer to organize their school and extracurricular items can help you determine which backpack to purchase. 

Lunch Storage

Whether someone is in fourth grade or about to graduate college, they will need food to get through the school day. Having an economical lunch storage option is key to staying fueled throughout the day. Packing cold options doesn’t help if the container doesn’t keep the food cool. The same can be said for a college student wanting to bring hot leftovers to eat between classes. Investing in the proper lunch storage will help the food from spoiling or being less desirable for the student to eat. 

Comfortable Shoes

School requires long hours of walking and being on your feet. While college classes are typically more spread out, some high schools have long walks between each class. Investing in comfortable shoes that your student can wear to school is a huge benefit. This will help keep them from fatiguing or getting sore from their walks when they have proper shoes for the occasion. Picking options that they can wear with several outfits may help encourage them to wear the shoes more often.

A Guitar

Purchasing a guitar for your student can serve several purposes. First, it can be a way to relax. Learning how to play the guitar can be a therapeutic experience that allows them to get lost in music and challenge themselves in a new way. There are several options for acoustic guitars that you can purchase. Some students take up playing music as an extracurricular activity and others do it as a hobby. Regardless of which route your student chooses, investing in a guitar could be the perfect gift!

Planner

We might have calendars on our phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops but no one really wants to add their homework to their social calendar. Buying your student a planner or wall calendar can help them stay organized with their schoolwork and any extracurricular activities. If portability is important, a notebook-sized planner may be the best bet. A college student might like a wall calendar if they are spending a lot of their time in the dorm room studying. 

Now that you have read more about the gifts that you can buy for students, you can pick the right one for your student today. All of the items discussed are not the typical gifts that they would receive prior to returning to school. The thoughtfulness of the gift will be appreciated and it shows that you put more time into it than a last-minute purchase.

IISTE News

, , , ,