College Student Success Strategies

Succeeding in college is not all that difficult. Freshmen enter the "Halls of Ivy" with optimism and trepidation. They soon learn that it isn't always the smartest students who do the best.

The keys to success in college can be categorized into a few principles:

PERSISTENCE

Often it is the "last ones standing" that walk down the aisle to receive their diploma. Life happens along the way. Health problems, financial difficulties, family problems, etc., are common. Most students are trying to balance work and school, and many are raising a family, too. And, a large number of students today are single parents. It's easy to get discouraged when so many stressors are competing for our time and attention. The simplest solution may appear to be to drop out. However, it seldom is.

So, hang in there and realize that endurance is the most important factor in getting your degree.

PATIENCE

Be patient with yourself and your instructors. Patience will help avoid the escalation of trivial matters into major problems. Most of all, be gentle with yourself. Take matters in stride and you will not experience the degree of stress that leads to impulsivity and poor decisions.

FLEXIBILITY

In college, as the rest of life, things happen. Schedules change, instructors change, rooms change, curricula change, grading standards change, textbooks change, classmates change, etc. Don't let these changes "throw" you.

Many students get frustrated or upset at frequent changes. Yet, their education is intended to help them successfully navigate an unpredictable world full of frequent and profound change.

One of the major difficulties for many students is adapting to the different teaching styles, personalities and manner of the faculty. All students have their "favorites." They expect faculty to adapt to them, instead of them adapting to their instructor. Just as in the workplace they will have to adjust to, and satisfy the expectations of their superiors (bosses); in the classroom they will have to adjust to the style and expectations of their teacher. In the business world if they fail to meet the standards for performance set by their employer, they will receive poor evaluations. In the classroom these evaluations are called GRADES.

SCHOLARSHIP

I would be negligent if I didn't refer to scholarship. As a student you have an obligation to go to class, be attentive, participate, and complete your homework. If you have difficulty meeting these obligations, examine yourself and your study habits. College should be a top priority. After all, your education should assist you throughout your life in making a living and progressing professionally. So take it seriously, and try to garner all of the knowledge and networking contacts you can.

While being the "class clown" may sound like fun, it's temporary and generally unappealing. Your classmates may regard you as a fool, or resent your intrusion on their learning experience.

INVOLVEMENT

Become involved with the school and the opportunities it affords. Frequently there are various Clubs, organizations, interest groups, community involvement opportunities, etc. These represent another dimension of your learning and provide opportunities for leadership and participation. Besides looking good on your resume, they contribute to your education. These entities may also provide professional and employment avenues.

COMMUNICATION

Get to know your instructors. It is important that you share with them your circumstances as they pertain to the course. If you have to be tardy or absent because of work requirements, child care, or emergencies, let the instructor know. Otherwise your instructor may think you are not interested, serious or disciplined. If you need to be absent, or miss an assignment ask if it will impact your grade. Try to arrange for homework/make-up/extra-credit assignments to offset this. Most instructors want to be kept informed concerning their students' issues, challenges and conflicts, and are more than willing to work with you.

If you have trouble keeping up, or understanding the material ask for help. Many schools offer tutoring or special study groups to address these matters.

RESOURCES

Use the other resources available. Everything from Admissions, to Financial Aid, Business Office, Registrar's Office, Student Services, Career Services, etc., is there to support you and facilitate your education. Familiarize yourself with these offices and their functions. For example, you may need to re-write your student loan, or you may need help with transportation, or a scholarship, or a job, etc. Ask!

FRIENDS

We all need a support group. Try to align yourself with those who will help you succeed. Study partners, car pool buddies, those with similar majors or interests are all of value, and so are the good listeners, the motivators, etc. A large part of the college experience is making personal and professional contacts. Just as in the business world it's often "who you know," and not "what you know" that makes the difference.

FOCUS

Stay focused on the "prize." Students drop out when they get discouraged, feel overwhelmed, or lose focus. The more you see yourself as successfully completing your education, the greater the likelihood of you graduating. Almost every college grad comments on how quickly the time flew in college, and before they knew it they were done. Focusing on the end result will help you through the tough times and give you the motivation and courage to succeed.

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From years in academia I have seen many students complete their education, and a surprisingly large number who don't. Paying attention to these simple, yet important, tips should help you successfully complete your educational journey.

Ben A. Carlsen, Ed.D, MBA, is an experienced CEO and manager. Dr. Carlsen has over 30 years experience in management, consulting, and teaching. Currently the Head of the Business Department at Everest Institute, Hialeah, FL., he was Chairman of the Los Angeles County Productivity Managers Network and President of the Association for Systems Management (So. Calif. Chapter). Additional information can be obtained at http://drben.info

Making the Correct Medical Transcription Training Decision

A few words should be written about the state of the medical transcription industry today. The industry has gone from one offering virtually no training options a couple of decades ago, to one that has attracted an increasing number of participants - not all of which are reputable. To be fair, many of these training programs are well meaning. However, some are simply ill prepared to deliver a training experience that will yield a positive career outcome.

Remember - you can spend just as much time and money (and in many cases much, much more) on a second or third rate program as you can on a first rate program. In my experience, I have found that most people who select one of these lesser options do so for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Effectiveness of their marketing messages
2. Perceived low price of the program
3. Lack of available information regarding alternative training options

When evaluating any MT training program, consider what your ultimate goals are. Many people who express an interest in the MT career field have two primary goals:

1. To get a good job upon graduation
2. To work from home as a medical transcriptionist upon graduation

Both of these goals depend on the ability of the training program you choose to deliver a marketable education and to facilitate a number of positive post-graduation employment opportunities.

So when you consider the cost of a program that is fundamentally incapable of delivering on either of your goals, then what initially seemed like a great value can quickly turn out to be one of the most expensive and frustrating options imaginable.

Ultimately you should do your homework and ask the hard questions. Look at the evidence of how existing transcription employers view the training program you are considering. Look at whether the program is approved by AHDI. In the end, there are few decisions you will make that will ultimately prove to be more important to the success of your career.

Christopher L. Dunn has been active in operating and training aspects of the medical transcription industry for the past 17 years. For more information on a home based career in medical transcription please visit more of the authors websites:

http://www.medical-transcription-job.com

http://www.medical-transcription-school.com

Your College Choices

School selection can be an overwhelming task for college-bound high school juniors. There are literally thousands of colleges and universities to choose from in the United States.

Although every educational institution is unique, it is possible to place most colleges and universities into one of several broad categories. A helpful first choice in school selection is to understand what these types of institution are and how good a fit they are for your personal preferences and learning style.

Liberal Arts Colleges - Liberal arts colleges are 4-year institutions committed to providing a broad undergraduate education. Students are required to take a range of courses in the arts, humanities, and sciences outside of their major. Liberal arts colleges tend to be small, with total enrollment of 1,500 to 8,000. A close community is a key element of their educational model and they will cut back on enrollment if they feel the campus population is getting too large. In addition, many liberal arts colleges are located in rural areas, small towns, or suburbs. Carleton, Hamilton, Bryn Mawr, Wellesley, Amherst, Haverford, Mount Holyoke, Claremont McKenna, Swarthmore, Williams, Smith, Bowdoin, Bates, Reed, Colby, and Middlebury are just a few of the many excellent liberal arts colleges in the U.S.

Pluses: Excellent teaching standards. Close contact with faculty who can serve as mentors and/or recommenders for graduate study. Small, close-knit communities.

Minuses: Location may be remote. Limited range of classes and/or majors. Libraries and other resources may be limited. Limited dining and residence choices. Can be expensive.

The Ivy League - Believe it or not, this term is said to have originally been coined to designate a college sports league. Since then, of course, it has passed into popular use as shorthand for a group of some of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions in the U.S. The 8 Ivy League member schools are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Columbia University, and Cornell. Each of the Ivy League schools is a unique institution with its own institutional culture and distinctive educational experience. Prospective applicants should take care to research each school separately.

Pluses: Excellent education. Prestige. Outstanding facilities and educational support.

Minuses: Highly competitive admissions. Expensive.

Residential Colleges - A residential college is much more than just a university with campus housing. It's a college where students' day-to-day living is part of their educational experience. The colleges where students reside organize lectures and other learning experiences in addition to social events. This style of living is meant to provide students with a strong sense of community, a chance to interact with a wide range of other students, and the opportunity to develop close relationships with faculty. Only a small number of U.S. colleges offer a true residential option. They include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, Middlebury, the University of Virginia, Rice University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Northwestern University.

Pluses: A close community that leads to life-long friendships. A stimulating and integrated learning and living environment.

Minuses: Communities may be too close-knit for some tastes. Limited living, dining, and entertainment choices. May be expensive.

Honors Programs - Many large colleges and universities give high-achieving students the option of enrolling in an honors program. Honors students take small, seminar-style classes that are more challenging than regular classes on the same topics are and that give them close contact with faculty. They may be asked to complete a senior thesis or project. At some schools, honors students live in designated housing and have access to special scholarships and internships.

Pluses: Excellent academics. Close contact with professors who can serve as mentors and/or recommenders for graduate study. A chance to produce a thesis or other capstone project. Honors programs at public universities often represent an excellent value for in-state residents.

Minuses: Not really a substitute for a liberal arts college experience, if that's what you have your heart set on.

Research Universities - These are comprehensive universities where faculty and graduate students focus on original research. The top U.S. research universities draw talent from across the country and around the world. A partial list of top U.S. research universities includes Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, Duke, MIT, Johns Hopkins, the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, the University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, Pennsylvania State University, UCLA, UC - Berkeley, the California Institute of Technology, the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and the University of Michigan.

Pluses: Excellent academics. Entrée to top graduate programs. Exposure to cutting-edge research. Outstanding libraries, laboratories, and other facilities.

Minuses: Highly competitive admissions. Undergraduates may have more contact with teaching assistants than they do with faculty.

Flagship Universities - A flagship university is the main campus of a state university system. Flagships are comprehensive universities and usually include graduate or professional schools in addition to undergraduate colleges. Flagship universities have competitive admissions and are often listed among the best universities in the country. They include 'public Ivies' such as the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Virginia, the University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and Pennsylvania State University.

Pluses: Excellent academics. Entrée to top graduate programs. Lively social and sports scenes. A wide range of class choices. Relatively low tuition for state residents.

Minuses: Huge campuses and vast student populations can be easy to get lost in. Main campuses may be located in isolated rural areas. Undergraduates are likely to have more contact with teaching assistants than with faculty. Classes may involve several hundred students and provide little opportunity for discussion or feedback.

Land-Grant Universities - These are large public universities that were originally built on federal land in exchange for a commitment to educate the public. The primary mission of these universities continues to be public education. Undergraduate programs will often be balanced by active graduate, continuing education, outreach, and professional programs.

Pluses: Less competitive admissions and relatively low tuition for state residents.

Minuses: Large campuses and classes. Quality of programs and departments varies.

Music Conservatories and Art Schools - These are specialized academies that train students in the visual and performing arts. Some schools (especially those affiliated with a university or a college consortium) provide the option of a broader liberal arts education in addition to arts training. Others focus exclusively on developing their students' artistic talents. Most of these schools require an audition or portfolio as part of the admissions process. Top schools include the Julliard School, the Eastman School of Music, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the Rhode Island School of Design, the Pratt Institute, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Yale Art School.

Pluses: Outstanding training. Prestige. Specialized career placement and networking opportunities.

Minuses: Highly competitive admissions. Training and/or academic credit may be hard to transfer to other schools or fields.

Community Colleges and Junior Colleges - These are two-year institutions that offer Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees. Most are non-residential 'commuter' schools. Community colleges typically practice open admissions, meaning that anyone who meets their minimum standards is guaranteed enrollment. Many offer smaller classes and a more supportive learning environment than large 4-year institutions do. A growing number of college-bound high school graduates opt to save money by completing 2 years of degree study at a community college and then transferring to a 4-year institution for their junior and senior years.

Pluses: Low-stress admissions. Inexpensive. Teaching and academic support can be very good.

Minuses: Class options and library and lab resources may be limited. Transfers to 4-year institutions may become more difficult as more people choose this option. May not be able to transfer all degree credits to a 4-year institution. Social life and extracurricular activities may be limited.

David Petersam

President and Founder of AdmissionsConsultants

http://www.admissionsconsultants.com

Preparing For College - Using a Distance Learning Private School

In the competitive world of college admissions, today's parents are looking for anything that will allow their children to be on equal ground with the country's best and brightest minds. In some cases, parents will resort to everything from individual tutoring to supplemental classes in order to better prepare their students for admission and success in college. For the parent who is homeschooling their child, the most popular option for preparing a child for college comes in the form of enrollment in a distance learning private school.

A distance learning private school often represents the most popular method of preparing a homeschooled child for college. While parents of traditionally schooled children have to supplement the curriculum their child receives with tutoring and prep courses, parents who elect to enroll their child in a distance learning program can receive a comprehensive program that does all of that and more.

Distance learning private schools come with all of the benefits of a structured and traditional curriculum, but none of the drawbacks and problems of a traditional public and private school. For starters, distance learning private schools, like their traditional counterparts, can deliver lessons that are in line with state and/or national standards. In fact, many distance learning private schools are officially accredited by the same organizations that accredit and license traditional schools. Distance learning private schools, again like traditional schools, are also staffed by highly-qualified and credentialed teachers that are experts in the particular subject matter they are teaching.

Where the two approaches to education begin to separate is in the environment in which lessons are delivered. While traditional schools are often overcrowded and dangerous, students who attend distance learning private schools deliver their lessons in the comfort and safety of the child's home. By not having to worry about personal safety or comfort, students can better focus their efforts on learning specific information or a particular lesson.

Since they are not tied down by the same issues and problems that traditional schools suffer from, distance learning programs can focus their efforts on educating students. Programs of study can be individually tailored to meet the needs of individual students, whether that means altering the pace of the lessons or the material being taught and covered.

By avoiding many of the environmental problems that currently plague most traditional public and private schools and focusing their efforts and attention on education and preparation, distance learning private schools have proven themselves to be extremely effective in preparing students not just for admission into the college of their choice, but for success at that college as well. Today's distance learning private schools, with their official accreditation, credentialed teachers, and individual and unique approaches to education have placed themselves at the top in terms of the factor that most prepares students for college. In fact, homeschooled children who have been enrolled in distance learning programs often score higher on standardized tests, and receive admission to the college of their choice at a higher rate than students who attend traditional schools, or children who are homeschooled without the benefits of a distance learning program.

To learn more about a quality, distance learning program please visit Laurel Springs School. Laurel Springs School is an accredited, college prep private school offering distance learning programs and teacher services for students in grades K-12. Laurel Springs uses web-based communication tools, a standards-based curriculum, and personalized instruction to offer students the highest quality home education experience based on your child's learning style.

Engineering Degree Online

Engineering has been a very attractive program to many scholars with a penchant for engineering work. Studies in engineering have been deemed as quite tedious and that they require immense time and concentration. This is true since engineering is profound and requires one to conceptualize all the aspects of machinery and structural profiles as well as design and outlay of various mechanical, structural and other related subjects.

Most of our graduates nowadays are shying away from the technical faculties and taking up jobs in the lucrative marketing and online business sector. However, some of them are still dedicated in the highly reputable engineering jobs. The crossing industry as may be well understood is a vast and an emerging force in both the economic front and the high potential emerging markets. Careers in such sectors might prove technical but our engineers nowadays are superseding the technical block and excelling wonderfully.

What could help those who are shying away from these technical subjects is offering them a simple methodology to achieve their objective easily. Online engineering degrees offer a solution to this problem quite easily. These degrees have the most comprehensive and well detailed course detail. Besides, the learner is not confined to tight guidelines and time frames. This is an attractive platform since the learner can be able to commit either as much time as possible to his studies or limit it t specific time frames. This emerges as an essential aspect of doing an online degree course.

Conclusively, an online degree offers one a chance to achieve more knowledge in the faculty due to the flexibility and convenience of the studies. Rather than reporting to the institutions so as to catch a lecture, one concentrates on working hard to achieve his objectives in the study. Eventually, when one successfully finishes his studies online, he is awarded an accredited engineering degree. This is the core of doing online studies. They are flexible, affordable and convenient for anyone. It is quite possible to earn an engineering degree online. The most important step towards this is to apply for the course for an accredited and well acclaimed university.

Are you looking forward to get an engineering degree online, check out our detailed review and recommendation of online degree websites that would make the application process easier for you at http://www.education-degreeonline.com/

Globalization, Online Education and the Role of the Internet

Online ticket booking for nights out, online chat rooms to socialise, online newspapers to keep up to date, online dating to meet lovers, online concerts to watch music, online shopping for weekly groceries, online universities for online education ...I could go on.

Considering that the Internet is a fairly new introduction to modern life, it is amazing to see how much it has developed in such little time. The Internet has gone from being a new and exciting commodity to an essential tool of 21st Century Life.

We are able to update the Internet instantly. Unlike print, the Internet is fluid, information is not bound into physical print never to be changed. This is why online newspapers have proved so popular with readers. They are able to check the news for developments every few minutes, always being rewarded with another snippet of information or a new breaking news headline.

The Internet has proved itself to be a powerful factor in the spreading of globalisation. Hundreds of countries, states and islands share the same bank of information, dipping their heads into the giant pool of the Internet and receiving the same electric shocks.

Scottish boys can race cars with kids from California and Italians can flirt with Brazilians on i-life. At the same time teenagers in New Zealand are listening to obscure Chinese musicians via My Space. All through the amazing medium of the Internet! It is even possible to attend university courses on the Internet by reading lectures and listening to podcasts online in an educational revolution. Imagine no more classroom lectures!

Of course it has been a matter of debate about whether or not this kind of globalisation will be a force for good or a force that brings something more damaging.

Many people believe that the Internet will help eradicate any sense of national culture and identity whilst some people argue that this would be a good outcome.

It is useless to try to stem the tide of progression and to do so would be to hamper science and the nature of humanity itself. It still remains to be seen what the effect of the Internet will have because it is still growing and developing, a technology that develops society whilst being simultaneously developing by society.

As I was saying before, companies are tapping into the market with online universities. Universities are partnering up with innovative businesses to create tailor-made online courses aimed at people who want to gain more qualifications but whom may have been in the world of work for a long time already. This not only has the effect of enabling individuals to potentially earn more than before but it contributes to countries as a whole by offering the adult population further education.

This is just one part of how the Internet is developing communities for the better.

Sarah Maple writes about adult education and home learning

How Getting a Business Degree Online Will Open Doors For You

Let's face it: the corporate scene has always been a dog eat dog world. Everybody more or less gets the same amount of workload. Only that the more exciting ones go to those with college degrees. Does it seem that you are stuck right where you are since the beginning of your career? Does promotion seem elusive despite of your loyalty and hard work? Then it is time for you to obtain a business degree online.

Getting a business degree online is perfect for you if going back to college proves to be impractical. You have a job to maintain and a family to take care of at home. You are financially responsible for monthly bills and household needs such as tuition fees and groceries.

To top it all, you got little or no time to squeeze in classroom lessons into your already frenzied timetable. It's virtually impossible for you to be attending a learning institution at all.

Busy Adults Need a Flexible Learning Schedule

Lessons are learned and assignments are submitted according to a flexible schedule that works best for you. No matter where you are in the world, you can obtain your business degree online. There's no need for you to be physically present attending classes in a college or university. Where you are as of the moment is where you take your classes. As long as there is an Internet connection available, your online classes can take place. This means that, for instance, your work demands you to relocate elsewhere, your education will not be interrupted.

This type of learning works best for adults who are always on the go but want to earn a college degree. It is designed with utmost consideration of your schedule and availability. It allows you to be in control of the volume of learning modules you can take.

There are a few things, however, that you must closely look into before deciding to obtain a business degree online. Perhaps the most important of these is making sure that the school you choose to enroll in is an accredited learning institute. The best way to do this is by contacting the State Department of Higher Education and see if the online school of your choice is recognized. Next is there has to be an available Internet which you can access, with a decent connection speed for your classes. Finally, you have to figure out how to pay for your online education.

Obtaining your business degree online will open up a lot of career opportunities for you. Pair it with your praiseworthy performance, promotion and a salary raise is not too far ahead.

For more information on how to get a business degree online Click Here.