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All the Financial Gibberish

Don’t be afraid to admit the fact that every time you look at a tax form, the first thing you think of is that you’re reading a document straight out of another solar system, some ancient alien language discovered by no one else but you, making you probably the most important person on the world to have discovered an ancient alien race (not really, but you get the picture). The same could go for such documents as credit card applications, insurance policies, and credit reports. Somehow they all look just like gibberish to us!

The scary thing is this: the ambiguous language used in these forms and documents were intentional! Seriously? Yes. Fine print and confusing language has often been used while presenting an attractive intentioned offer to draw the attention of the reader directly to where the company wants the reader to go. Sneaky.

Thankfully, you can nail all that gibberish to the wall. It’s called the WonderMark Awards. It’s a ceremony celebrating the most unclear language used in all kinds of documents held annually at the Center for Plain Language (yes, there is such a place). Imagine how funny it would be if there was a cash advance store giving out payday loans with unclear documentation to boot!

It’s an interesting award ceremony to help hail the activity of personal finance in our country. We definitely want to understand our finances better. Why do people insist on using gibberish? It may just come down to the lawyers who get paid to write the stuff. If we could understand it, we might realize we don’t need them and they’d be out of a job!

Filed Under: Education, Requirements, Secondary Education Tagged With: , , ,

Scholarship Essays Simplified

The essay portion of scholarship applications is often the most daunting.  Students feel confined by compactness of the essay and overwhelmed by their perceived inability to stand out. But here is the truth, scholarship essays have a purpose.  The purpose is to get to know you.  No matter what the assigned topic, essay evaluators are trying to get a feel for who you are as a student.

Follow these simple steps and breeze through your next scholarship essay.

Read and Analyze

Read and analyze the essay topic. What are the parts to the question or topic? What are the evaluators looking for? Brainstorm ideas around the topic.  Prepare a short outline for your best ideas.

Introductions and Conclusions

Introductions and conclusions should hook together.  Grab your reader with an introductory sentence that demands their attention and requires them to continue reading.  Tell the reader in the introduction what will follow.

Use your conclusion to summarize your main points and to lock into your introduction.

The Rule of Three

Illustrate your main idea with three examples.  Three is the number for completeness.  Readers feel satisfied with three pieces of evidence or examples.  You can definitely use more, but three is the minimum.

Use Active Voice

Whenever possible use active verbs. Say, “ I ran my first and last marathon at 15.” Don’t say, “ I was a marathon runner in my teens.”

Proofread and Proofread Again

Read your essay backwards.  Read the last sentence first.  It is easier to find mistakes when you read the essay backwards.  Read the essay aloud to see how it flows.  Finally, ask a friend to proofread your essay.

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Taking Skiing Lessons – Integrating Fun and a Perfect Vacation

One way to have a great time is to take skiing lessons. If you’ve never been skiing, you are missing out on a great time! It is a great way to enjoy the snow and to get some exercise.

When you take skiing lessons you will certainly start with the basics, unless you have some experience and are comfortable in the snow. Don’t worry about falling down and getting hurt; you will learn the basics of how to stay on your feet. While you won’t become a professional overnight, you will be able to have a lot of fun no matter how many left feet you have.

As you learn some basic techniques you should find it to be a fun experience. You can rent ski equipment as well; you don’t have to own your own ski equipment.

Part of the fun with regard to skiing lessons is how it can turn into a vacation. Even if you live near the slopes, you can still plan a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. If you live in a warmer climate then you have the perfect reason to head to the slopes.

Making a vacation with regard to skiing lessons is a great way to have any type of trip – whether you need something for the family or a romantic getaway. One of the best ways to do this is to look for ski deals – they can turn your dream vacation into something that is financially reasonable. Saving money can allow you to go back after you have a great time, as well.

Consider how a ski-related vacation could be a great way to get away. Ski deals can definitely make a huge difference, putting your vacation within reach. Look at some of the options that you have to start planning your vacation. You can be on the slopes in no time.

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Apprenticeships: Go to the Source

Since the dawn of learning apprenticeships have been the primary way master craftsmen pass their skills to the next generation. Stone masons, master builders, blacksmiths, and artisans all have long histories of apprenticeships.  Yet today, in the twenty-first century many people are unaware of the opportunities that apprenticeships afford.

Types of Apprenticeships Available

Today there are over 37,000 apprenticeship programs in the United States. These programs are offered in cooperation with 250,000 employers and unions.  The opportunities and types of apprenticeship programs are vast.  Some examples of occupations are: electrician, plumber, pipe-fitter, florist, millwright, firefighter, cook and tool and die maker.

How to Find Apprenticeships

The place to start is the U.S. Department of Labor website.  The Department of Labor will give you specific information about apprenticeships and apprenticeship applications and laws.  Your second stop is at your state’s department of labor website.  On the state sites are specific apprenticeships available in your area and the requirements you must meet to apply.  Finally, if you still haven’t found the apprenticeship you are looking for, visit the labor unions or industry organizations and ask about their apprenticeships.

Learn While You Earn

Apprenticeships are a combination of on-the-job training and classroom work.  Most apprenticeships allow you to earn money while you are learning the skills necessary to be a journeyman.  The average wage for apprenticeships today range from $16,000 to $24,000 per year.

Apprenticeships are valued form of education.  A completed apprenticeship is the equivalent of $42,000 college education.

For more information on apprenticeships write to the OA State Offices, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.

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Scholarships

There are many advantages to having scholarships for college. For one, the award of a scholarship usually implies that there is some type of exemplary behavior or success in a particular area of study. This is most impressive, especially out of college as many employers, and those responsible for helping with job placement, look at the types of scholarships awarded, and can give preference on placement. This is true of many academic scholarships that are awarded to students, and many of these students find that they are highly sought after in particular fields.

To get a scholarship does not have to be difficult or exclusive to top students. There are thousands of scholarships to be had and can range in requirements. All scholarships have requirements, and those that apply for them will usually have to write an essay as to why they should receive the award. The outline for the scholarship will state what the requirements are for award, and can include grades, specific type of demographics, home life, and even life experiences. This is the most common type of private scholarships, and they do provide the same type of response from many post graduate employers and placement specialists.

The other type of scholarships are awarded by universities, and are offered so that they are attractive for students when considering what school to attend. Colleges can offer scholarships based on athletics, technology, music, and most commonly general academics. This means that if a high school student receives high grades during their high school tenure, they can apply for scholarships to help pay for most of their college education. Aside from athletic scholarships, students will still have to apply for scholarships, as many colleges do not know the success or achievements of every student that is about to enter into college. However, most students find that being accepted into a university on a scholarship is a very rewarding and fruitful endeavor, and it will provide a life changing experience.

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Funding School Through A Bursary

We have all heard of scholarships and generally know what a scholarship is and how to find one, but have you heard of a bursary and have any idea what it is or how to find it? A bursary is a financial award given by an institution to an individual or group to further their education. These are usually offered through grants from the school to help students pay their school fees. Bursaries seem to be most commonly offered in Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom (UK). Bursaries are generally awarded based on financial need or academic achievements. A bursary is an award given by the government which does not have to be repaid by the student.

Financial aid for Canadian students is quite different than it is for students in the United States. Canadians in general support their colleges and universities with a larger portion of tax revenue than Americans. This allows the colleges and universities to be able to offer tuition at lower fees. South African colleges and universities and those in the UK are very expensive, and therefore it is necessary for most students to apply for financial assistance such as a bursary or other grant or scholarship.

There are many websites available to aid someone in finding bursaries. One website specific to finding a bursary in Canada is www.scholarshipscanada.com. This website includes information for finding grants, scholarships, and bursaries throughout Canada. A good website for finding student loans and bursaries in South Africa is http://www.southafrica.info/services/education/studentloans.htm. This website offers information for University and National financial aid as well as external bursaries. In the UK it is best to find bursaries by checking specific university websites for more information on the financial assistance and bursaries that are offered through the specific school. There are other websites available for finding bursaries in the country you will be attending school. These can be found by doing an online search.

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Difference Between Technical College and Universities

Most of us know that there is a difference between technical schools and universities, but we may not be completely aware of the differences. We may see a difference in size of schools, people that attend them, and the programs offered. There are huge differences when it comes to technical schools verses universities including tuition costs, the types of courses offered, and the time required for each course.
The cost of technical school is much less than that of the tuition of a university. There are many online technical schools that will cut the cost of tuition down even more if that is the route you want to take. Many online technical classes don’t require textbooks, therefore cutting the cost of textbooks almost completely.
One of the main differences between technical school and universities is the type of programs offered. Universities offer broad degrees, while technical schools offer specialized courses. With degrees offered at universities, you can farther your education more at a graduate school where your training would become more specialized in a career that requires many years of training. While technical school is the best option for certain degrees, there are degrees you cannot receive at a technical school.
Technical schools are generally more centered on careers that don’t require as much training as a career you could receive with a degree from a university, such as an assistant job. Because of the less experience and training needed, the time it takes to receive a degree from a technical school is much lower than that of a university.
There is a large difference between technical schools and universities. When deciding where you want to go to school, your decision should be based on your career goals. The type of career you want to pursue should help you decide where you want to go to school. Focus on the programs offered by each type of school.

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Careers and Tech Schools

Universities and technical schools have many differences such as tuition costs, time it takes to graduate, acceptance requirements, and many more. One of the main things that is the deciding factor for people deciding between a university and a technical school is their career path choice.

There are many degrees that you can get at a university that you can’t get at a tech school. If you want to continue your education to graduate school, you will want to go to a university, not a tech. For example, if you wanted to be a medical doctor, you would be required to receive a bachelor’s degree at the university level, and then continue on to medical school. However, several degrees in the medical field can be obtained through technical school such as certain types of nursing degrees.

While a career such as a medical doctor or vet is something you would want to attend a university for, there are many career paths you may consider going to a technical school for. Many technical schools offer classes in medical technician training, business, construction, accounting, and criminal justice. These programs usually take less than four years to complete, where it would take you four years at a university.

Technical school is basically for someone that wants to pursue a career that doesn’t require a great amount of training. For example, to become a dental assistant you will not need as much training as an actual dentist would. The same goes for nursing verses doctors. If you want to look into being an assistant for a more complicated position, you can find almost any type of assistant training at a technical school.

There are many careers that technical school is great for. If you graduate from a tech school you are more likely to receive a job faster than if you were to graduate from a university, but you would be less likely to be paid a higher wage.

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