Is Your Career at a dead end? Why you should consider going back to College.
Whether you have been in your present career for one year or ten years, you may feel like you have hit a dead end. You may notice that there is no more opportunity for you to advance or you have hit the top of your salary range; however you may long for more challenge and diversity in the workplace. Hitting this brick wall happens to a lot of people and it happens often. Some people just deal with it and continue to count down the years until retirement, whereas others long for a change. If you are looking to advance your position at work or maybe even change your career then maybe going back to college would benefit you.
What are the Benefits?
Taking one class or pursuing a whole new degree can positively affect your career in many ways. You will be updating your skills, which you can then reflect as so on your resume. If you have a degree, then you can pursue a higher one, which may in turn yield you a raise. Going from a Bachelor’s Degree to a Masters Degree will make you more valuable and will help you negotiate more money or a better position within your company.
Tuition Reimbursement
Check with your employer to see if they offer tuition reimbursement. Some companies will foot the bill for their employees to take classes. Usually there is a stipulation where you have to obtain a certain grade in the class; however it is still worth checking with your employer. Be sure to also check if you have to take certain classes or if they will pay for any and all classes. If your employer does not offer this service, then ask them if it is something they would be interested in providing to their employees. Also be sure to fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This will determine if you are eligible for grants, scholarships or federal education loans. Upgrading your degree or advancing your skill set may be well within your reach if you do not have to pay for the expense.
Is Time an Issue?
If you think you do not have time to attend a college class as well as work and still take care of your family, think again. Online education is growing rapidly. More and more schools are offering classes online and some schools even offer the convenience of completing your entire degree via your computer. Some schools also offer “hybrid” classes where the class is held online, however you would attend one in-class session per week. These types of classes are perfect for working parents with little time to spend on a college campus.
TIPS
If you choose to pursue an online degree, be sure to check to see if the school is accredited through the U.S. Department of Education. Doing a little bit of extra research will ensure that you are enrolling in a school that is academically legit.
Speak with an Academic Advisor at the college that you are considering. Doing so will ensure that your college credits from previous schools will transfer smoothly.
Once you have your new degree or if you have finished upgrading your skills, then negotiate. Talk to your employer about a raise or promotion. Use it to your advantage.
It is important to be happy in the career that you have chosen. Being unhappy can lead to stress and other health related issues. There are a lot of educational opportunities for working individuals; take advantage of them and make yourself more marketable.
Applying to college is more than just the application and essay; there is sometimes an interview process as well. Administrators at your intended college may want to get to know prospective students on a more personal level by putting a face to the name. However college interviews can be a little intimidating, especially for the shy student. So what can you expect and how can you ace the interview?
Interviews can vary from individual one on one sessions to group open house sessions. Sometimes these interviews are requested by the school as part of the application process, and other times a student can request the interview, perhaps to make their individual application stand out. Whatever the reason for the meeting, you want to make a great first impression.
QUESTIONS TO EXPECT
Administrators at schools use the interview process to ask a variety of open-ended questions. Like a job interview, there are some questions that are pretty much standard in a college interview, such as:
What made you apply to this college?
What is your favorite subject?
Have you done any community service and if yes, what?
What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
What are your future goals?
Who is your role model and why?
How do you plan to balance college classes, activities, and a social life?
There may be more challenging questions and some that may even seem like verbal essays. Some schools may even get a little personal by asking about your family and home life. Just answer honestly and thoroughly and you should have no problems sailing through the interview.
TIPS
Dress business casual. Do not over do it, however do not wear jeans and a sweatshirt. A nice pair of slacks and a jacket for young men will work and a knee length skirt and casual blouse for ladies will suffice.
Come prepared. Bring your high school transcript and if you have any college credit, bring that transcript as well. Be prepared to explain any discrepancies in your records such as less than stellar grades, or numerous absences.
Bring a list of questions. You probably have a few questions about your prospective school, so write them down and bring the list with you to the interview.
Be on time. Make sure that you are early or on time to your interview. Tardiness is frowned upon and any reason you have for being late will just make it sound like you are making unnecessary excuses.
The college interview process should not be a scary or intimidating event. This is your chance to bring your paper application to life by putting a personality with the name. This is also your opportunity to explain to the admissions staff how and why you are a candidate for their incoming class. Just make sure to be prepared, do not be nervous, and relax. You should have no problems acing the interview and receiving that sought after acceptance letter.
Business degrees are one of the most popular degrees among college students today. They are so versatile that even the student who is unsure about his or her future career, and just majors in business, can still be well off. However, upon graduation, some business degree holders wonder what kind of job market they should enter. Well since the Business major is broad, there are a variety of careers you can enter into with this type of degree.
Accounting/Finance: If you add a concentration to your business major such as accounting or finance, then you are giving yourself some knowledge in the financial field. This can yield you a job as an accountant or auditor. Not only will you have the Business Administration background, but you will have the knowledge required for the Accounting field as well.
Real Estate: You can attend real estate school in just a few months, depending on state requirements. Add a real estate license to your Business degree and you will be extremely marketable in the business world.
Mortgage Industry: Although you do not need a degree to enter the mortgage arena, it certainly helps. If you have a business degree and then proceed to obtain your mortgage license, then you will prove you have the knowledge to succeed, especially at a large mortgage company.
Corporate World: The jobs in big corporations and private companies are endless. Most of them often hire supervisors and managers from outside of the company as they are looking for people with degrees in Business Administration. With a Business degree you can usually bypass the entry-level jobs and move up to a project leader, supervisor or even a manager job. Other jobs in the corporate world include analyst positions such as budget analysts and risk analyst or Human Resource Specialists such as recruiters and interviewers.
Education: Some states do not require you to have an actual degree in Education in order to enter the field. You can take your degree in Business, take a few certification courses to meet state requirements and you can teach in an elementary, middle or high school. More and more schools are adopting business classes as part of their curriculum as it helps students prepare for the real world.
Since the Business field is so broad, it is important to possibly add a concentration or minor to your degree. Not all students with a degree in Business find a great job in the business world. You can add minors to your degree such as: Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, or Human Resource Organization. By adding a field to your Business degree, you are not only gaining additional knowledge, but it will definitely benefit you in the long run as you will be more marketable when applying for jobs. If your Business degree is from a school that is known for its Business program, then you really have an edge up in the job hunt. Just because you have a Business degree does not mean that you are limited to specific careers. You can go into almost any field with great success.
Get free info from business schools across the nation:
More and more employers in today’s business world prefer their employees to have MBA’s, Master of Business Administration Degrees as a part of their educational background. However, most working adults having family obligations in addition to their career, which can make attending class on campus difficult and in some cases impossible. A lot of students who want to pursue their MBA turn to schools that have online programs.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR
Advance your career with an MBA
Check out Online MBA Programs:
Featured Schools:
Before you jump into the next semester in anticipation of earning your MBA online, you need to do check out a few things. First, you want to make sure that the school you attend is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. This will ensure that you are not receiving a degree from a “diploma mill.” Obtaining your Masters from a certified school will also guarantee that potential employers recognize your MBA. Some of the top ranked schools in the country are even gravitating toward the online MBA programs. They know that they can increase their enrollment by offering programs for non-traditional students.
Second, check to see how much an online MBA will cost. All schools are different, however it is generally higher than if you attended class on campus. Schools usually throw in a distance learning fee or something similar which can range from reasonable to outrageous. You should always fill out the FAFSA and check into private loans if need be. If you are currently employed, don’t forget to check for tuition reimbursement packages, as some employers will reimburse partial or all of the tuition back to their employees. In addition to loans and reimbursement, you may be eligible for scholarships or grants to assist you with the cost.
You should also make sure that you have the time commitment for an online MBA. In most cases, online degrees are actually more work. Since you are not in a physical classroom, some professors will assign additional reading and more writing. You will need to log onto your school’s website regularly to check for new assignments and in some cases you may even have to meet in a chat room of some sort for interaction with the professor and class. You have to discipline yourself and manage your time appropriately.
ARE ONLINE MBA’S RESPECTED?
Some students may wonder if an online MBA is looked downed upon or if it is valid in the professional world. Actually, your online MBA is respectable so long as you received it from an accredited school. Some employers may even recognize that the diligence and discipline that was required of you for an online program can be an asset to the company.
Also, check colleges and universities in your regional vicinity. Sometimes they offer programs where you can finish your MBA completely online, however you will still be able to participate in an actual graduation ceremony, which is nicer than the virtual ceremonies offered by most online schools.
Obtaining your MBA online is something that is within reach for most people today. With so many schools offering the program and financial aid available for most students, you can upgrade your degree and make yourself more marketable for future employers.
Applying to Graduate School: the process, planning and requirements.
Applying to graduate school can be filled with a mixture of emotions, from nervousness to happiness, to relief. It is a big accomplishment to have finished college and earn your Bachelor’s degree. Now you are ready for the next phase in your education. It can be confusing with all of the requirements that are needed, but with a little planning and organization, you can get through the process with ease.
PLANNING
In order to better your chances at being accepted into a graduate degree program, there are a few things that you should be doing before you fill out the application.
Check your GPA. The higher your GPA, the better your chances are of acceptance.
Study for the standardized testing. Most graduate programs require a pre-admissions test such as the GRE (Graduate Record Exam). If you are applying for a Law or Medical program you will need to study for the LSAT or MCAT. It is important that you pass these tests for acceptance into a Masters program. You can obtain study books at your local bookstore to give you a head start on the test.
The graduate application will most likely ask you for a personal statement such as why you want to further your education or your career goals, so you should want to be prepared to answer these questions thoroughly.
Brush up on your interview and communication skills. Should you be accepted, you will most likely be interviewed, therefore you should be able to communicate effectively.
PROCESS
The admission application process varies from school to school and even by major so check with your intended school of admission for their exact requirements.
Decide if graduate school is right for you and if it is something you have the time commitment for.
Research different schools to see which subject area you would like to obtain your Master’s degree.
Check for specific application requirements within the school such as letters of recommendation, field work, internships, personal statements, etc.
Take the GRE, MCAT, LSAT or whatever test is applicable to your field of study.
Have your scores sent to the top schools of your choice that you plan on attending.
Apply for financial aid, grants, and student loans to cover the cost.
If you are in your first or second year of school, check to see if your school offers an accelerated Master’s degree program. A lot of schools offer a program for certain majors where you go to school for five years instead of the traditional four. You would take on a higher course load throughout the first four years and your fifth year would be the actual graduate program.
Do not be intimidated by the process. Just take it one step at a time and keep it in the back of your mind that you are not only furthering your education, but you are furthering your future career as well.
You have just finished your Business Law class for the semester. You now have a textbook for the class that probably cost you about a $100 or more. What should you do with the book? You are a college student, so of course the first thought that comes to mind is to sell your used textbooks and make some cash. The most popular way to sell used textbooks is through textbook buyback programs.
WHAT IS A BUYBACK PROGRAM?
These programs are usually held by the bookstore where you originally purchased your textbooks. Most schools will have a massive buyback session over the course of a few weeks at the end of the semester. Other schools will buy your books throughout the school year.
HOW DO BUYBACK PROGRAMS WORK?
Usually you would take your school identification and your used textbooks to your school bookstore, or wherever you purchased your books. They will run the barcode on your book to determine if it is a book that they are in need of for the next semester. Depending on their supply and demand for the book, they will offer you a specific amount for your book. You can accept or reject the offer.
HOW MUCH WILL I GET?
The amount offered to you will vary depending on circumstances such as current supply, professor need, and what edition you have. Most schools will give anywhere from 25%-50% of whatever you paid for the book. If the book will not be used by the school during the next semester, then you will most likely be offered wholesale price for your book, which from experience, can be as little as $1 for a book you may have paid $150.
OTHER OPTIONS
If you are not happy with the proposed buyback offer from your school bookstore, then perhaps you should look into other ways of making money off of your used textbook.
Online Buyback Programs: Websites such as ecampus.com and bookbyte.com will offer you money for your used textbooks. However, they are similar to your bookstore where their offer depends on supply and demand.
Private Sale: You can list your textbook for sale through online marketplaces such as amazon.com or ebay.com. You should always check into local marketplaces as chances are, someone from your school may need the book you are trying to sell. Craigslist.org is a great local resource to sell used items fast.
Donations: If your book is an old edition and is just not needed by anyone or any school, you should consider donating them. Check with your local Goodwill store or consignment store. They may be able to point you in the direction of a charity who can put used books to good use.
Remember, you will not receive the full amount back that you paid for your book(s). The whole point of buyback programs is so that your school bookstore can make money. Therefore they will offer you a lesser amount, so they can still sell it at retail and make a profit. If you want maximum profit for your used books, then skip the buyback events and sell your book through a private transaction.
YOUR BEST BET
Students may have the best luck looking online.
Fortunately there are many textbook sites on the web looking to buy textbooks and can usually offer you a better price than the college bookstore. Be sure to take a look at our study of the best places to sell textbooks. What we did was take a random sample of textbooks and figured out which textbook retailers offered the highest buyback prices.
Our latest study is here to answer one question: Where is the cheapest place to buy textbooks online?
It seems every online textbook seller claims to be one of the cheapest places to buy textbooks. So, lets find out for a fact who sells the cheapest textbooks.
We selected 10 major online textbook sellers and compared prices of four selected textbooks from various subjects.
The textbooks used in this study are:
Title
ISBN
Book A
Biology
0073227390
Book B
Contemporary Business
0324359292
Book C
Essentials of Psychology
0618713123
Book D
Intermediate Accounting
0471749559
All of these books are in their current editions and just about all textbook stores listed here will buy the book back (for about half of what you paid for it).
The goal is to find out who actually sells the cheapest textbooks, shipping included, on the net.
Of course, there may be other methods of obtaining books cheaper than this by buying the e-book, buying used or simply going with a past version from your school's library... all solid options for frugal students. This study compares the cost of new textbooks and the added shipping costs if applicable (Many online textbook sellers offer free shipping).
Now, Amazon may seem like the most popular place to buy textbooks online and is pretty much the only online textbook store a not-so-internet-savvy person may know of.
However, there are cheaper options out there that students looking to save on textbooks should consider.
Many of the "Best places to buy Textbooks" lists out there are pretty disappointing, merely listing a dozen or so textbooks sites that all do the same thing: compare from prices at amazon, half.com, etc.
There is nothing innovative about what these sites are doing. Basically it's just lack of research.
Here is the break down of the results (Total price includes all shipping costs):
1. Total price includes a $25/year membership fee which gives you 20% off on textbooks.
The main focus of sites this study compares are the online textbook retailers listed above.
Marketplace textbook sellers were originally going to be left out of this study as they are similar to price comparison textbook sites in that they find the
best available price based on the sellers in their network and usually vary in price. These include: half.com, ValoreBooks, abebooks.com, alibris.com and other sites that connect to hundreds of independent booksellers around the world.
But, we decided to compare purchase prices on some of the more popular textbook comparison sites and marketplaces. Let it be known that these prices may not always be available, as being a marketplace, it's usually a seller just selling one individual book.
What comparing these marketplace and comparison sites does do, is find which one does the best job of finding the cheapest overall books.
We kept these to a limited few, as all of the following services pretty much do the same thing: compare prices from books available at half.com, Amazon marketplace, BookByte and others.
Be wary though, many comparison sites out there include international editions of the textbook in their results. While most contents will be the same, international editions are usually soft cover books that may not contain illustrations, amongst other things.
The following results were taken using the price of the U.S. version of the textbook (in new condition).
Cheapest Textbook Marketplace and Comparison Sites
BigWords.com is good if you want to find the cheapest new and used books on the market at the click of a button.
Basically, it aggregates prices from Chegg, half.com, TextbookX, Abebooks, Amazon, etc.
Granted this study is for new textbooks, BigWords is even a better option if you're looking for used textbooks.
CollegeBooksDirect.com was the biggest surprise of this study. A website that we came across while conducting this study was the cheapest place to buy new textbooks among all listed textbook retailers.
Both of these sites seem like solid choices for students to buy their textbooks, as they provide cheaper textbooks than the College Book Store (obviously) and Amazon. Of course, if a student isn't interested in owning the textbook, another cheaper option is renting textbooks, as it requires less money up front.
Study Results
Best Online Retail Store: CollegeBooksDirect.com
Best Comparison site: BigWords.com
Best Textbook Marketplace: half.com (ebay)
Best Textbook Renter: Chegg Best Place to Sell Textbooks: Textbooksrus.com
Selling back textbooks can be a great way to recoup some of the costs of the outrageous prices of textbooks. Unfortunately school bookstores usually...
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