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Cheap Textbooks

Cheap Textbooks

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We have gone through considerable trouble to ensure that our readers have access to cheap textbooks. College tuition is expensive enough, if we can help you save some cash on your textbooks, then we have accomplished a worthy goal.

Textbook Search Tips

One of the best ways for college students on a budget to save money is on their textbooks. It’s surprising how many students just go into their college bookstore and buy their textbooks. This is the worst thing you can do – remember, these are the same people that are taking all your hard earned money for tuition. They don’t want to save you money, we do.

So we’ve spent hours putting together this list of the least expensive ways to buy (new or used) or rent textbooks. To help you compare your options, we’ve priced the most purchased science book according to Amazon, Campbell Biology (11th Edition).

For each option, we’ll show you the new, used, and eTextbook prices where available. We’ll also include the cost to rent the textbook where available. Keep in mind that prices do change. It’s also challenging to compare the cost of used books as the condition of the book affects the price.

We’ll start with one of the best places to be textbooks online that many students miss out on, Amazon.

Best Places to Buy Cheap Textbooks Online

Amazon

Resource: Another option to find the best deals on textbooks is Amazon. You can buy, sell or rent textbooks from its Textbook Portal.

Amazon Textbook Portal

Textbooks: Buy, Rent, Sell

Amazon Textbooks

Cost of Campbell Biology (11th Edition) from Amazon

Hardback:

eTextbook

You can rent both the hardback and eTextbook versions through Amazon. Because the price can change daily, you can check out the current price at Amazon.

Bonus Tip

Ebates, recently renamed Rakuten, is a free site that helps you earn cash back on almost every online purchase, including textbooks. If you sign up with this link, you get a $10 credit to your account.

Textbooks.com

This online portal does one thing and one thing only, buy and sell college textbooks. Textbooks.com offers both traditional hardcopy as well as eTextbooks. And it has over 10 million books in stock, so the chances are good that you’ll find the books you need before classes start.

Textbooks.com

Buy or sell textbooks (including eTextbooks)

Visit Textbooks.com

College Bookstore Scam – Beware

Every student receives a break down estimate of what college will cost. In this estimate is tuition, housing, meal plans, transportation, personal, and of course, textbooks. With this break down you are given your financial aid packet that describes all the different scholarships, grants, and loans that have been given to you. With all of these added in, usually every student will get at least a small refund if their transportation, personal, and textbook fees are covered. The issue with this is that the refund does not come until about a month into the semester, after the add/drop period; however, textbooks are needed the first week of classes.

How are you supposed to get cheap textbooks using your financial aid money if you do not have it to spend? So you talk to your school and find out that you can get textbook vouchers that are good at the campus bookstore. That seems fine, until you go to your campus bookstore and find out that they charge double what internet sites are charging, with shipping!

Buy Textbooks Cheap

Schools are definitely cheating students out of buying cheap textbooks. They limit your financial aid money so that you have to buy textbooks from them and charge more for the textbooks so they make more money. It is a corrupt system to nickel and dime students so that the universities can stay on top. If they allowed you some money to buy textbooks online, or even gave you a portion of your financial aid earlier, students could buy textbooks at a better rate. This would also make the bookstore have to drop their prices because they would be competing for students’ business. After the ridiculous amount of money students are paying for tuition alone, the last thing they need to do is spend a fortune on a textbook they will only use one time.

The bottom line is, your textbooks are overpriced because your school is in on it. They are content to financially rape students in order to enrich themselves. They issue new textbooks every three years in an effort to circumvent your ability to buy textbooks used, because they only make money when the textbook is purchased at the college bookstore. With tools such as ours, we are able to use the power of the Internet to break the evil grip of the textbook publishing industry and allow you to buy cheap textbooks whether your school wants you to or not, so spread the word!

One thing to bear in mind is that with the new online economy, there will always be opportunities online to save money and there is no difference in the area of textbooks. Be sure to pay attention to the online marketing efforts of textbook dealers, particularly when textbook buying season is at it’s height. Use the Internet to your advantage and you’ll save plenty of money by finding cheap textbooks online.

College Textbooks News

Cheap Textbooks Online

A recent federal ruling just went into effect that will hopefully put a damper on the prices that textbook publishers are allowed to charge for college textbooks. Called the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, it was sponsored in 2008 and finally made it into law in early July 2010. Textbook publishers have been blamed for unnecessary revisions for a long time, forcing students to buy new textbooks rather than being able to get their college textbooks off the secondary market. Colleges and Universities are as much to blame as the publishers, but the legislation is directed at textbook publishers and designed to take away the excuses from the colleges and universities themselves in regards to the professors being able to require whatever textbooks they choose.

Textbook publishers will now be required to provide college professors with everything on record about textbook prices, revision history, and to also provide alternative formats of the textbooks (such as far cheaper e-books). Another trick that textbook publishers have been using to justify the high price of their materials is the additional items, like CDs, DVDs, workbooks, etc. – which they will now be required to sell separately from textbooks so that students aren’t charged for material that is seldom used. Finally, in a move directed at the college bookstores themselves, Colleges are now required to give students the required textbook’s price and International Standard Book Number (ISBN), allowing students to search for the book online in order to get cheap textbooks. That will undoubtedly make using our Super Cheap Textbooks Search Engine even easier, and accessible to more students.

When a story like this comes out it really makes us even more proud of all the money we have saved students over the years and we look forward to continuing our efforts at an even higher level as more options become available for students, and textbook prices inevitably drop to more reasonable prices.

Best Source of Cheap Textbooks

One of the biggest woes of students lies in the costly price of the pursuit towards a good college education. While it is a noteworthy endeavor, attending college is also a venue for students to sacrifice several important things in the name of education.

Enrollment is just the first part of the start of every semester. After you are done with the business of enrolling and paying for another semester, the next thing that students have to worry about is having to buy textbooks for the courses. There are two problems when it comes to buying textbooks for just one semester’s worth of course.

First, once you are done, you will find yourself with several used textbooks at hand, most of which will not be used in any other subject. The next is that bought textbooks will be harder to return because you would not have a venue to send your books back.

Find the different ways and sites where you can find the cheapest college textbooks, (and digital textbooks) with this useful list. You can also try looking for various ways by which you can save money while getting the books you need.

How we help students buy cheap textbooks

Back in the day, students have no other choice but to purchase textbooks either from the regular book stores or the university’s own printing press. Because of this, they had no other means of finding used and cheap textbooks or saving money from textbook rentals.

However, to ensure that textbook sources and even out of print books will be available to more students at better, affordable prices, websites that cater to a college textbook buy and sell method, textbook rentals, or digital textbook sourcing have begun to sprout on the Internet.

Aside from being a good source of cheap textbooks, some of these sites also enable you to compare textbook prices, so those who are willing to persevere in scouting for good textbook bargains can use tools such as the Super Cheap Textbook Search Engine to their fullest advantage.

If you are one of the college students who want to make the most out of their money and resources, do not hesitate to check out these sites, because you will find more benefits and services here other than just saving money on cheap textbooks.

In case you’re interested – the eight largest college textbook publishers are:

Bedford, Freeman, and Worth (MacMillan)Cengage (formerly Thomson Learning, privately owned)Jones and Bartlett PublishersMcGraw-Hill Higher EducationOxford University PressPearson PublishingJohn Wiley and SonsW. W. Norton Company

These eight textbook publishers control the majority of all math textbooks, English textbooks, psychology, history and science textbooks as well as most of the college textbooks used in law schools, medical schools and business schools.

So why are we such good people? What makes us so great? Simple. By providing this invaluable tool to college students, we hope you will tell everyone you know, so we can get more visitors to this site. See, we’re not so altruistic after all. But if you are…

Help Support A Worthy Cause…

http://www.betterworld.com/Fund Literacy, Care for the Environment, and get a Fair Price on the Books you Want. If you want your hard earned textbook dollars going towards a worthy cause, this is your site. With every purchase they donate proceeds to numerous charities. Now you can feel better about yourself for the money you save, and the people you help! You might spend a few bucks more, but that money will go towards good things. The decision is yours.

15 Types of Nursing Degrees with Potential Salaries

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There are many ways to become a nurse. From associate and bachelor’s degrees, to advanced programs, each has advantages and disadvantages. Here we list the types of nursing degrees along with the cost and potential salary.

Nursing Programs (LPN and LVN)

Both the LPN (Licensed Practical Nursing) and LVN (Licensed Vocational Nursing) prepare for essentially the same job. Both programs prepare you to take the NCLEX-PN exam. According to Concord Career Colleges, the biggest difference between the two is the name. California and Texas use the term LVN, while other states use LPN.

LPNs and LVNs work under the direction of registered nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors to provide patient care. LPN and LVN programs typically last about one year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 1, the median pay in 2017 for LPN and LVNs was $45,030 a year or $21.65 per hour. Over the next ten years, the BLS expects jobs to grow at a rate of 12%, which is faster than average.

Median Pay for LPN and LVN Nurses

Generally speaking, one must graduate with a 2 or 4-year degree to become a Registered Nurse (RN). There are programs designed for LPN and LVNs to obtain the necessary education to make this transition, as noted below.

Associate Degrees in Nursing

Like most associate degrees2, there are three types of associate degrees in nursing:

  • Associated of Arts — Associate Degree in Nursing or ADN
  • Associate of Science — Associate of Science Degree in Nursing or ASN
  • Associate of Applied Science — Associate of Applied Science in Nursing or AAS

These degrees are very similar, and it’s common for a school to offer just one of these associate degrees. ADN and ASN degrees are often designed for those looking to continue their education at a 4-year school, while AAS degrees are designed to prepare students for employment. Each of these degrees qualifies a graduate to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.

ADN — Associate Degree in Nursing

Like associate degrees generally, an ADN takes two years to complete. An ADN qualifies you to take the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination) to become a Registered Nurse (RN). While the curriculum varies from school to school, an ADN course of study consists primarily of courses in anatomy, pharmacology, biology and nursing. Some general course work is also required, as this example curriculum shows.3

ASN — Associate of Science Degree in Nursing

An ASN degree is similar to an ADN. The notable difference is that as with all Associate of Science degrees, the curriculum may focus more on math and science. With both degrees, however, the vast majority of coursework will overlap, focusing on those courses necessary for a career as a Registered Nurse.

AAS — Associate of Applied Science in Nursing

An AAS degree, like most Applied Associates degrees, is deigned to prepare students for employment. These degrees often focus on practical coursework, as this example from Queensborough Community College shows.4

LPN to ADN

For those with an LPN (or LVN), the path to an ADN is accelerated. Depending on the coursework taken to obtain an LPN and work experience, these programs can be substantially shorter and less expensive. These programs go by several names, including LPN to ADN, Accelerated ADN, and Bridge ADN.

Average Cost of an Associates Degree in Nursing

The costs will vary based on a number of factors, including whether you attend a public or private school, your state of residence, and your current level of education. As an example, the State College of Florida’s ADN program will cost an estimated $12,869.00. 5 This cost includes tuition, the cost of clinical requirements, books and lab fees.

Bachelors Degrees in Nursing

BSN — Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing

A BSN is a 4-year baccalaureate program. A typical curriculum will include anatomy, nutrition, nursing care, public health, research and a practicum. Some programs offer 5-year plans. The cost of a BSN can range from $40,000 to $200,000.6

RN to BSN

For those who an Associates Degree who have passed the NCLEX-RN exam, many schools offer an accelerated RN to BSN program.

RN to BSN programs, also known as Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing, cater to working RNs. For example, one can complete the online program at George Mason University in as little as two full semesters. It also offers both full-time and part-time options.7

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing,8 there are more than 720 RN to BSN programs available nationwide. Almost 600 of these programs are offered in full or in part online. The programs typically take between 1 and 2 years to complete, depending upon the school’s requirements and the student’s level of education. The AAACN offers an excellent online tool to search for RN to BSN and other nursing programs.9

Here’s a short video about nurses who have gone back to school to earn their BSN.

LPN to BSN

Those with an LPN can apply the coursework they’ve already taken toward their bachelor’s degree. As a result, one can earn an LPN to BSN in as little as four semesters, although 6 semesters is more common. Hertzog University, for example, offers a 36 month LPN to BSN degree.10 A Similar online program at Indiana State University requires 76 credits.11

Is a BSN Worth the Time and Cost?

Most Registered Nurses have associates degrees. According to one source12, 66% of RNs hold an associate’s degree, 23% a bachelor’s degree, and 11% other degrees. This data raise an important question—why bother with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing? There are several reasons.

First, the pay is better. The average income for a Registered Nurse is $7,000.13. The lowest 10 percent, however, earned less than $48,690. Certainly location and employer play a big part in compensation. But so too does level of education.

Second, it increases your chances of working at a Magnet Hospital. The Magnet Recognition Program is run the the American Nurses Credentialing Center. According to the ANCC,14 the Magnet Recognition Program “designates organizations worldwide where nursing leaders successfully align their nursing strategic goals to improve the organization’s patient outcomes.” To be clear, Magnet hospitals hire RNs with Associate Degrees. Those who have earned a BSN, however, are more likely to get hired, and the trend clearly favors nurses with bachelor’s degrees.

Third, studies show that patient outcomes improve with nurses who have earned a BSN. One study, “a 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding a bachelor’s degree was associated with a 5% decrease in both the likelihood of patients dying within 30 days of admission and the odds of failure to rescue.”15

Finally, as the Wall Street Journal recently reported, more and more hospitals are requiring bachelor’s degrees for their nursing residency programs. And those hospitals that do hire associate-degree nurses are requiring completion of a bachelor’s degree, typically within there to five years.16

Master’s of Science Degrees in Nursing

A Master’s of Science in Nursing degree is an advanced degree ideal for those seeking particular career paths. For example, an MSN is typically required to become a Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Informatics Specialist, Geriatric or Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Research, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Forensic Nurse Consultant, Nurse Ethicist, or Nurse Educator. 17

Obtaining an MSN is both hard work and a significant investment. According to U.S. News,18 an online master’s of nursing degree costs anywhere from $35,000 to $60,000 in tuition and fees, and this data are a few years old.

MSN — Master’s of Science in Nursing

Those seeking an MSN typically have a specific career goal in mind. That’s important because MSN degrees offer specific majors and specifies. For example, Duke University School of Nursing19 offers the following majors as part of its MSN program:

  • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Health Informatics
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • Nursing and Health Care Leadership
  • Nursing Education
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

In addition, Duke studies have the option of adding one of several specialities to their program:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Oncology
  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatric Behavioral and Mental Health
  • Veterans Health Care Concentration

As you can see, understanding why you want to obtain an MSN is critical to choosing a major and, if desired, a speciality. It’s also important in choosing a nursing school, as not all schools offer the above diversity of programs. Finally, the above majors require 42 to 49 credit hours to complete.

Many nursing schools offer accelerated degrees (also known as Direct Entry Programs) or dual degrees. Accelerated degrees are designed for non-nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. With a dual degree, an MSN can be paired with, for example, and MBA. Dual degrees include the following:

  • MSN/MBA (Masters of Business Administration): For those looking to serve in hospital management or perhaps consulting.
  • MSN/MHA (Masters of Hospital Administration): For those looking to work in hospital administration.
  • MSN/MPH (Masters of Public Health): For those looking to work in public health leadership.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

A DNP is a clinical practice degree. A DNP should not be confused with a Ph.D. Both are terminal degrees, but a Ph.D. is research focused.20

There are several paths to a DNP, including BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, and Post-Master’s DNP.21

The time, effort and money to earn a DNP are significant. The coursework and research requirements are rigorous. On a part-time basis, it’s typical for a DNP to take 3 years of coursework and 500 to 1,000 clinical practice hours.

3 Innovative Open Courseware Programs from Top Universities

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Modern technology has done many things for our society. With unbelievable advances in medicine and astounding achievements in the areas of science and computation, there is no limit to the benefits modern technology has provided us. As technology continues to infiltrate every aspect of our lives, education and learning have had to respond to the recent tech craze.

More and more primary schools are incorporating computers, social media, and mobile technology into their classrooms. Moreover, more and more institutions of higher education are founding online degree programs and other online methods of learning. As online degree programs gain popularity, more and more schools are introducing open courseware programs for lifelong learning. This innovative step in education allows anyone and everyone to access resources for extended learning.

These three higher education behemoths offer multiple courses free online to whomever would like to take them.

MIT Open Courseware

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the biggest name technical schools in the nation. As one of the most highly regarded schools in the nation, the fact that MIT offers their coveted courses for free online is impressive. With up to 1,800 courses offered online, anyone can find useful classes in aeronautics, anthropology, engineering, chemistry, political science, literature, history, and much more. These open courseware classes are based off of the actual curriculum of an MIT class and provide the syllabi, reading lists, course notes, and assignments from the actual class. Many of the classes are accompanied by video and audio to make the course feel even more like the actual tradition class at MIT.

Berkeley Open Courseware

Another behemoth in the academic world, UC Berkeley also offers an open courseware program that helps people complete coursework in any subject they wish. As one of the top ranked universities in the U.S. and with some of the most important academics in their field, it is no small thing that Berkeley offers some of their courses for free online. The Berkeley site allows you to view webcasts and podcasts of classroom lectures taking place on campus. Each course that is offered in the Berkeley program provides assignments, notes, and tests from the actual class.

Stanford on iTunes U

Stanford University teamed up with iTunes U to provide access to a huge range of audio courses online for any person seeking more education. With Stanford’s prestigious name and brilliant classes, this is one of the most impressive open courseware programs offered. There are a few dozen courses offered by Stanford iTunes U, including several continuing education courses and some undergraduate classes. The site offers downloadable lectures on many different topics and is a very useful resource for most anyone interested in expanding their mind and education.

What To Look For In A College

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Whether you’re pursuing a Bachelors degree or a Masters, choosing the right educational program for you is critically important to your future. It’s not unusual to spend upwards of a year or more simply researching different schools and programs around the country. Considering the price of tuition these days, a few months of research is well worth the time.

An excellent college experience prepares young adults, and adults looking to change careers, to adapt to fluctuations in job markets, growth sectors, and academic institutions. Knowing what to look for in a college depends, to a large extent, on your careers plans and financial situation. Everyone’s will be a little different. However, there are core elements to education that can be considered universal factors. What follows is a list of a few generally held considerations that many college-bound adults address prior to choosing a college:

Confirm that you will get hands-on experience in your field. Theory is great and can lead to its own career options, but before you commit to a certain college you should make sure that your department immerses its students in plenty of hands-on experience. This includes being trained to use new software and being exposed to a learning management system that will prepare you for the integration of technology in the classroom. Lectures should be coupled with labs and workshops that allow students to learn by doing. If you’re a Film major, for example, you should get to operate a camera and learn how to edit footage with video editing software. If you’re a Biology major you should dissect specimens in order to see their anatomy in real life. Reading books, writing papers, and listening to lectures is not enough to get a well-rounded education.

What to look for in a collegeLook for a school that has connections with internship programs. Interning is a wonderful way to get invaluable job experience and resume-building skills while pursing your degree. You should be mindful of whether or not your school facilitates its students acquiring summer internships. Often times these opportunities can pave the way for future jobs. At the very least, you can see whether you enjoy working in a certain field and whether or not you have an aptitude for the skills it demands. Many schools have academic connections with various companies and internship programs and will actively encourage students to apply. Some professors actually cull students from their classes for summer research projects and field expeditions. Make sure you school actively works to place its students in career-building activities and programs during the year and during breaks.

Make sure the professors you will be studying under are approachable and devoted to teaching. Many professors pursue research projects and publish articles and books during the school year. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. In fact, it usually signifies that you’ll be learning from a person who is ambitious, intelligent and at the top of his/her field. However, it’s not impossible that these other projects will distract your professor from fully devoting him/herself to lectures and interacting with students. Sometimes, professors unload a lot of the coursework onto TAs. Just do a little research to find out how much time you will actually get learning from the person who is trained to teach at a collegiate level. If, after doing a little investigative work, you discover that the main professor you would be studying under does not hold regular office hours and its not very friendly with students, you may want to look elsewhere. An approachable professor who is devoted to teaching may be one of the most important factors in where you go to school.

Few decisions you will make in life are more important than choosing the academic institution where you want to pursue a degree. Years later, you may look back on this decision with pride, knowing it paved the way for your future career. It’s not something to be taken lightly, or to leave up to chance. Doing some background research on what kinds of internship possibilities, hands-on experience and professor interactions you will receive should allow you to make an informed decision about whether a school is right for you or not. Especially when you consider the amount of money it costs for a college education these days, it’s worth a little extra due diligence.

Five Common Information Technology Resume Mistakes

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Information technology is a growing sector, with thousands of jobs available in the field at any given time. With IT being a lucrative field, that also makes it very competitive. Many young professionals are joining the field for future income and job security.

So if you’re an IT professional searching for a new position or jump-starting your career, your resume needs to make a strong first impression that will get you in the door for an interview. Here are five mistakes every IT professional should avoid when building his resume.

Listing Obsolete Technologies

Employers don’t care if you know how to use obsolete software; they want to know what current and relevant technical skills you have. When you list the technology you are comfortable with, skip anything that has since been replaced by a different kind of technology. You should also skip software that everyone uses, such as Microsoft Office, because employers will assume that everyone applying for IT jobs knows how to use basic tools.

Neglecting Degrees

Although IT jobs focus more on your skills than your education, showing that you have a recent IT degree can give you an edge above other applicants. Instead of hiding your education at the bottom of your resume, list any recent certifications at the top of your resume. On the other hand, a degree that’s five to ten years old might be outdated. In this case, list it at the bottom unless you have completed continuing education courses since getting your degree to stay up to date.

Using little-known acronyms

five common resume mistakesWhen describing duties at your past jobs, remember that the people reading your resume didn’t work at your company, may not even be IT specialists, and probably won’t know what DKRP stands for. So go light on the acronyms and technical jargon. Using some technical language is important to showcase your industry knowledge, but when you use it ensure it is clear what you mean to anyone who might review your resume. Instead of inserting industry jargon, focus on the results you achieved at the company and why you would be an asset.

Forgetting Keywords

Many employers use software to screen resumes for specific keywords before having a real person look over them. Therefore, you resume needs to have relevant keywords for the IT field to get into the hands of a person with decision-making power. To find which keywords to use, read the job description and pay special attention to the skills and experience they are looking for. If you have the skills listed in the job description, make sure to include them using similar language to what’s listed in the job description. If you don’t have the skills, you shouldn’t apply for the position. Never lie or misrepresent your skills on a resume because the employer has plenty of ways to find out that you aren’t telling the truth—and you’ll take yourself out of the running immediately.

Using text only

With your technical skills, you should aim to create a resume that’s more interesting than a normal, boring, text-only sheet of paper. Display your creative skills when building your resume, and make something that is visually appealing and easy to scan and follow. Don’t go overboard and put too many visual elements in, though. Hiring companies are looking for an IT pro, not a graphic designer, so you don’t need to show artistic skill. A few well-placed horizontal lines and smart formatting in the header can be enough to make you look great.

Job searching in the IT field can be a tricky prospect, especially when there’s so much competition for so many jobs. But with a few extra additions and attention to detail, your resume—and your skills—could become sought after.

What You Will Learn In Online Programs that Traditional Schools Can’t Teach

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Online education has come a long way since its humble (and shady) beginnings in the 90’s.

Today, diploma mills have been exposed and all but dismantled, and the for-profit education model has brought professional instruction to millions of students who otherwise could not have pursued higher education.

As far as distance education has come, however, the stigma that hangs over it is just now beginning to fade, and businesses are finally recognizing just how graduates from online programs are — and here’s why:

    • Self-Motivated:  Unlike traditional institutions, online education programs don’t require students to come to class, and don’t have the same built-in motivational structures that orthodox classes do.  As such, online students have to be much more self-motivated to complete their work.  There is nothing hanging over them to make them turn in assignments and excel, and no professors to baby them through the syllabus.  Often, online students work much harder and with more concentration because they are balancing school, work, family, and other responsibilities, which shows employers that they are great candidates because they don’t have to be supervised or motivated to do work.

what online programs can teach

  • Time Management Skills: In addition to being self-motivated, online students are exceptionally skilled at managing their time — when you work full time, have a family, and still go to school full time online, you have to be.  The primary reason students choose online education is that they can work school in around their work schedules.  This often means that they work 8-5 and then pursue their studies in the evening, when most people are relaxing.  In order to succeed they often have to find creative ways and times to study, which, again, demonstrates to employers that they are mature and dedicated to work.
  • Independent: More impressive than the fact that online students have excellent time management skills and don’t need constant supervision is that they are taking control of their futures and choosing to go back to school for their own improvement.  Often traditional students are more or less shepherded through the school system and haven’t taken enough time away from studies to even know what they really want to do with their lives.  Online students, however, are often coming back to school after a prolonged break, and have a determination that younger students do not.  Online students understand that the time to hesitate passed long ago, and they are typically very driven to succeed.

What employer wouldn’t want those qualities in a potential new hire?  So, if you are thinking of going back to school, consider enrolling in an online program, and impress your future employers with your determination, independence, and skill.

6 Things to Keep In Mind During Your College Visit

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When you’re trying to pick a college, there are numerous decisions you can consider without even stepping foot on a campus. What do you want to study? How much are you able to pay? Do you seek a small or large student body? What kind of school will accept you in the first place? All these questions, and many more like them, can be answered with some targeted research online.

But there are many other factors that can only truly be determined by setting foot on campus. You might have found a school that looks perfect on paper, with an academic focus and reputation for quality that you seek, but the college may seem completely different to you when you actually go and visit. You might not like the people. You may find the classes unappealing. The food and the dorm rooms might gross you out. People usually don’t have strongly negative reactions to schools that they liked on paper, but often times they will walk away with a mixed or negative “vibe”. Conversely, you may get a great vibe from the most unsuspecting of places.

So, if you can afford to make the trip, a campus visit can be incredibly beneficial. But what should you keep in mind as you tour and walk around? Let’s take a look at a few helpful considerations:

Things to know about college visit1. Pay attention to vibrancy. An admissions tour can’t stage a vibrant campus, so if you visit during the school year keep an eye out for any and all signs of activity. Are students interacting on the paths between classes? Are people rushing or idling around? Is anything happening in the main quad? You also might want to look for “relative vibrancy.” For example, what building seems more vibrant – the dining hall or the library?

2. Have questions ready. One of the great aspects of a campus visit is that you are surrounded by current students of that college. Each and every student is an expert about the school, and consequently you should talk to people in an effort to gauge their opinions. Having a few questions ready beforehand can certainly help. If you can’t think of any good questions, ask students: “What do you like least about this school?” Those answers will probably be informative.

3. On the campus tour, focus on what matters to you. A campus tour will take you all around a school and will likely try to highlight the most appealing elements of the institution. Along the way, make sure that you concentrate primarily on those places that apply best to you. If you’re interested in a career in medical coding, for example, the construction of an impressive new English construction shouldn’t sway you in the least.

4. Live like a student. Spending at least part of your visit living your day like a student would. Eat at the dining hall. Sit in on a class. Watch a sporting event or athletic practice. Spend a few hours sitting in the library. Even if you expect to rarely eat on campus as a college student, for example, it is still beneficial to have a meal in the dining hall and get a feel for being a student at that school.

5. Maximize your face-to-face exposure where it most counts. Since people are usually more receptive in a face-to-face interaction, stop by the admissions office, the financial aid office, and maybe the office of a sports coach whose team you’d like to join. Doing so can convey the degree of your interest and can attach a face to you as an applicant. While this piece of advice is certainly more applicable to your admissions process, a successful meeting with financial aid may help you leave with a better vibe about the school.

6. Explore the area. Unless the college is located in a small town, you will likely spend a considerable amount of time exploring a school’s local area once you become a student. Stepping off campus during your visit and exploring the larger town or city can therefore be helpful in making your decision. Even a drive or a run around the nearby neighborhood can provide a good deal of perspective.

There are many other things you may want to keep in mind during your college visit, but hopefully this list provides you with a good starting point. Ultimately, however, even if you look for all the right things and ask all the right questions, the greatest benefit you get from a tour is the feeling in your gut the moment you walk away – the vibe. If the vibe is a good one, many of the above discussed details matter far less.

Make the Most of Your Education

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If there’s one thing The Great Recession has taught us, it’s that a college degree is becoming increasingly important in order to land a well-paying, stable job. Gone are the days when you can work your way up the corporate ladder with just a high school diploma. Instead, employers are becoming more and more selective in whom they choose to interview and eventually hire.

With this in mind, it should be obvious that college degrees should be oriented around how to find the best job with your particular skill set. Flexibility is a must! For many, this is simple: many degrees, such as a marketing degree, mathematics degree, or engineering degree are useful in several different areas, rather than being confining in nature.

However, what if you have a more creative bent of mind, or are interested in studying what you’re passionate about, rather than what “makes sense”? Does the new economic climate make these studies impractical or—even worse—obsolete?

In a 2008 article, Michael Roth argued that a liberal arts education is valuable regardless of the job market. “A successful liberal arts education develops the capacity for innovation and for judgment,” Roth wrote. “Those who can imagine how best to reconfigure existing resources and project future results will be the shapers of our economy and culture. We seldom get to have all the information we would like, but still we must act. The habits of mind developed in a liberal arts context often result in combinations of focus and flexibility that make for intelligent, and sometimes courageous risk taking for critical assessment of those risks.”

Make the Most of College EducationWhile this sounds good, how can current and future college students study what they love while still keeping an eye to the future? While it may seem ideal to study what you’re passionate about, it is more feasible to minor in what you love and major in something more practical (as painful as that sounds).  This isn’t to say that you should study something that is completely uninteresting to you, however.

For example, you might want to be a world-famous poet. You could minor in creative writing, but major in marketing. That way, when you have finished your first book, you will know how to take your work and market it to the world, rather than relying on others to do it for you. The same applies for any artistic endeavor. There are millions of artists out there who no one has ever heard of, for the simple reason that they do not know how to get their work noticed.

Conversely, if your interests run more toward the intellectual—philosophy, history, literature, etc.—and you entertain thoughts of teaching, be prepared to major in education and minor in your favorite subject, or to head directly into graduate school. While most schools do not require a master’s degree to teach at the elementary or middle school levels, some do require an advanced degree to teach at the high school level.

The thing to remember when deciding on your course of study at college is that you want to study something that you are interested in, or you will have little motivation to succeed. If you spend four or more years studying a subject about which you have no passion, then you will spend the rest of your life pursuing a career that will be lackluster at best.

So go ahead and study what you love. Just be smart about it, and be sure that you have thought well into the future as to how you will best be able to use your education in the job market. While it may seem romantic to be a struggling artist who lives on love, the reality is that this grows very old, very quickly. So think ahead, and make the most of your education. Best of luck!

How To Cope With Your Spouse Going To Law School

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It all starts out the way you imagined. You and your spouse graduated from college, got married, moved into a house and even had your first baby.  Now your spouse brings up the subject of going back to school!  She has always wanted to be a lawyer but between getting married and having children it was put on the back burner.  Now that things are somewhat calmed down an opportunity has presented itself.  World winds of thoughts go through your head – thinking about exactly how do you become a lawyer? How much does it cost? Or how will we pay for our expenses?  These questions are valid; let’s discuss some of these in a little more detail.

What Does It Take To Become A Lawyer?

Graduating from both high school and college is the first step to becoming an attorney.  After getting your four year degree you need to apply and attend law school.  After law school the bar exam needs to be taken and passed.  Finally, a newly appointed lawyer will be sworn in and start applying for legal positions.  So how long does it take to become a lawyer?  Including high school, it’s an 11 year journey.  Law school is typically 3 years.

How Much Does Law School Cost?

The cost of law school varies depending on where you attend.  Some law schools can be as ‘cheap’ as $15 – $20,000 a year where as more prestigious law school cost upwards to $50,000 + for each year.  The good news is that there is a lot of student loan options available.  Interest rates are pretty reasonable and you can take out a little more then what school costs to help cover additional costs.

How Do We Pay Our Bills?

coping with law schoolAs mentioned above, student loans are available to individuals looking to go back to further their education.  Most student loan programs understand that working full time while attending school isn’t always possible.  For these individuals – taking out additional loans is possible to cover bills.  Yes it will need to be paid back but if you’re going to school it should be your priority.  This is sometimes difficult for the spouse not going back to school to understand but it’s an important part to recognize in order to be supportive. Bills always need to be paid but you would be amazed how much you can save by just making small cuts from your normal spending patterns.  For just example:

  • Brew your own coffee – each coffee from Caribou costs roughly $3-$5.00
  • Downgrade or cancel your cable – Netflix is an extremely cheap alternative to cable saving almost $50.00 per month.
  • Readjust cell phone plans – $5-$10 per month can be trimmed by downgrading data & texting plans.
  • Call up insurance companies – Do you need full insurance on your car? Can you raise your deductible on your house?  These have their pros and cons but you’re looking to cut just a little from several bills.  This option can save you hundreds of dollars each year.
  • Eat out less – Eating out is a luxury and can get expensive.  If you eat out twice a week try cutting it down to one time.  That can easy save $30-$50 a week for a family.

Nobody said the money aspect of going back to school would be easy but I outlined just a few options above to easily save several hundred dollars per year.   When you’re living off of an income that is less then what your use to every dollar saved counts.

Being Supportive Is Hard But Rewarding

It’s never convenient for you or a spouse to go back to school.   It’s a big commitment, expensive, and adds stress to the entire family.  However, knowing that your significant other is happy with their career choice is very rewarding.  They will remember that you stuck with them and you both can share stories and laugh about the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ experiences together.  Plus as an attorney – hopefully their making some good money which is always good for future vacations and toys!

Is distance learning right for you?

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In today`s high tech society, distance learning is becoming an increasingly popular choice for students wishing to earn a college degree. Distance learning simply means that you attend class outside of a traditional classroom setting, typically through online courses or telecourses. Numerous accredited educational institutions offer distance learning courses and degree programs. Although these programs offer several advantages, you need to make sure that distance learning is the right choice for you. Successful distance learners share a few common characteristics.

Distance learners are independent people who learn best through reading and research. They do just as well, if not better, without instructors looking over their shoulders. Although some students need professors to keep them focused and motivated, distance learners are quite capable of motivating themselves. They are able to set and meet their own deadlines and goals.

Successful distance learning students are self-disciplined and organized. Although your instructor will assign homework and set deadlines, you will have to manage your time wisely by setting an effective schedule and sticking to it. If you tend to procrastinate until the very last minute, then distance learning probably isn`t the right educational path for you.

Do you have excellent reading and writing skills? Most distance education courses require you to master the course material only through written text. You have to be able to understand and follow written directions because you won`t have any face-to-face meetings with your instructors. You also might be required to communicate with your fellow students on a classroom forum or a discussion board. In addition, a majority of the distance learning assignments are in the form of written essays.

Successful distance learners have fantastic focusing abilities. You must be able to ignore ringing cell phones, friends dropping by and your favorite television shows and stay focused on your schoolwork. If you can easily filter out constant distractions, you have a great chance of succeeding in a distance learning setting.

Before enrolling in a distance education program, seriously consider whether you have the time to devote to your studies. Although there is a common misconception that distance learning courses are easier than traditional college courses, this is simply not true. You will need to spend at least as much time on your coursework as you would if you were attending a traditional class. A good rule of thumb is that you should devote 10 to 15 hours every week for each 3-credit course you are taking. If your schedule can`t handle this time commitment, you should reconsider distance education.

You must have at least basic computer skills to succeed at distance learning. You should be capable of emailing your instructor, browsing the internet, logging into your class`s website, searching online library databases and possibly downloading required software. Since most assignments will be in written form, you also need to be comfortable using a word processing program.

Are you okay with having limited social interaction with your instructor and fellow classmates? You will probably interact with them only through emails, forum postings or discussion boards. Although you might work in online study groups or on virtual teams, you still won`t have the same level of camaraderie that you would get if attending class in a traditional setting. Some students learn best by interacting with their instructors face-to-face and conversing with other students in group discussions. Be sure that you recognize your own personal needs before you spend a lot of time and money on a distance learning course that just doesn`t suit your personality.

If you possess the traits listed above and are thinking of enrolling in distance learning courses, you need to find a program that`s right for you. Reputable websites such as college.com allow you to research the various distance learning degree programs and find courses that pique your interest.