If you’re looking to do any post-graduate education, the odds are good that you’ll need to take the GRE, a standardized test that can best be approximated as the SATs for grad school. Everybody will have their own way of studying for the exam, but whether you’re looking for a Master degree in healthcare administration or a Master of Arts, there are a few pointers that can help anybody looking to do well and improve their chances of getting into the graduate program they want.
Start Early
The earlier you start the more time you have to study. Also, the earlier you start the more time you have to ease into it. As soon as you know that you want to get into a graduate program make sure that the GRE is the exam that they’ll require and then start gathering study materials and begin working on your studying.
Know the Exam
Knowing the parts of the exam will allow you to study in a more effective way. There’s no use in studying biology when it’s not on the test. Math, vocabulary, and analytical writing skills are at a premium to focus your work on those areas of study to maximize your time.
Create a Study Program
There’s no standardized study program you should have, but having some sort of regimented program will definitely help keep you focused on the task at hand. Whether you study in the morning, after dinner, or just on the weekends, create a program that not only works with your study habits, but with your life.
Take Practice Tests
There are numerous practice tests available to those that want them, and it’s best to start taking them as soon as possible. Not only will this get you familiar with the layout of the exam, but you can time yourself to make sure that you’re completing all parts of the exam within the allotted time. Leaving a section blank because you didn’t have time means you don’t even have a chance of being right and getting credit for the question.
Don’t Forget to Rest
Our brains don’t process information as well when we’re tired to be sure to get some rest. Not only will this help you retain the information better, but if you’re well rested you’re more likely to want to study in the first place.
Balance Your Time
This goes hand in hand with starting early and having a study program. Both of those things will allow you to balance your studying with your life and will prevent you from cramming at the very end as you lead up to the exam. We don’t learn as well when we cram so giving yourself enough time to do the studying you want is crucial to learning the material.
Know Your Weaknesses
If your vocabulary is strong you might not need to spend as much time on it as you do your math and analytical writing skills. Be honest with yourself when assessing your weaknesses and adjust your study program accordingly to maximize the time you have to study.
Guest post written by Olivia R Solis, a teacher with a masters in education.
With the increase in global business ventures, knowing other languages is becoming a requirement for some careers. If you happen to know more than one language, there is a career opportunity you might not have considered: translation and interpretation.
First, what’s the difference? Translation deals with the written word, while interpretation deals with the spoken word. Both are similar in that you are taking ideas and concepts from one language to another, opening up barriers between cultures. You can do one or both.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job prospects are much better than average because of the increase in global commerce. Earnings depend on experience, language skills and other factors like most careers. There are many different places you can work from large international companies to schools, hospitals and courtrooms.
There are many translation agencies around the world, from Washington D.C. to London to Beijing so you have different opportunities for where to live. A career in interpretation or translation will offer many incredible opportunities for travel and exploration of the world.
One of the best things about this career path is that the flexibility: you can be full-time with a translation company or you can freelance and be self-employed. Flexibility in an industry allows you to make your own choices and find what works best for you and your future.
College is not for everyone because it is demanding in every aspect of your life, but it is also extremely rewarding for most people. Here are five reasons why you should get a college degree.
Some people think they can’t afford college, but with financial aid available, almost everyone can go to college. If you need help with financial aid, the Department of Education is a great resource.
5. Better Salary
There is no doubt that if you get a college degree, you will make more money every year. There is an upfront cost to going to college, but think of it as an investment you will make back.
4. More Opportunities
In addition to making more money, you will be open to more opportunities. College is a great place to network and make contacts for future job opportunities.
3. Better Candidate
There are many jobs that require a college degree, but there are also jobs that don’t. Having a degree opens up your choices to a much larger pool of companies and positions and makes you a better candidate for a company to hire.
2. Increased Knowledge
You will learn an incredible amount of things in college, even if you don’t give it your best shot. By being around other people who value knowledge and learning, you will pick things up even if you don’t mean to.
1. It’s Fun!
One of the best reasons to go to college is that it is incredibly fun. You get to meet all kinds of people with different lives and customs. You get to experience new things and live as an adult while still being protected by your school. It’s a great transition between being in high school and being a full-fledged, bill-paying adult with heavy responsibilities.
Choose a location that fits you, like a Miami college or Colorado – you can go anywhere you want to have the experience of a lifetime.
True Cost of College
Online universities used to be few and far between, but now they are pretty common. Two of the biggest benefits of getting an online degree is cost and flexibility. You are able to stay home while getting your degree from an accredited college, saving you time and money. You are also able to study and take classes on your schedule, so you can work and enjoy free time. There are plenty of resources to find the best online degree for you.
It’s much easier now to pursue an accredited online degree than it was just a few years ago. And it’s much more cost-effective, especially when you are working part-time or full-time. This infographic explains how much more you would spend pursuing a degree from a traditional university compared to an online college. Between tuition, housing and textbooks, you’re looking at a $60,000 difference, not including any student loans you have to take out.
In addition to tuition and textbooks, online colleges generally don’t have lab or other school-related fees. At some universities, you have to pay for club activities, sports, libraries and computer labs. These fees are usually as much or more than actual tuition costs.
Something else most students forget is that you can still get financial aid for online colleges and universities. You can still apply for grants, scholarships and student loans even though you aren’t attending a traditional college or university. You still fill out the FAFSA and apply for any grants and scholarships you can find on your own. Most online colleges have a financial aid department that can help you find additional funding.
Psychology majors and sociology majors often go into social work, which is a lucrative field even though pay is moderate. The outlook for a career in social work is expected to increase 16 percent through 2018, which is higher than average. If you are interested in helping others, this might be the career for you. Social workers help many different types of people from all lifestyles and stages of life.
You need a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology or sociology generally and a graduate degree will improve your job outlook and salary possibilities. There are social work positions available in both the public sector and private sector. The majority of job openings are in the health and social services, but you can also find work as a family or marriage counselor.
As with most career choices, you will also need continuing education to ensure you stay abreast of industry trends and changes. There are many opportunities online for social work continuing education courses to help further your career. This field is always growing and is very promising for graduates that want to help others and improve society.
For those of you going into the education field, there are many opportunities available to help you become a better educator. There are online resources and products that can help you teach your students better critical thinking skills, math skills and much more.
Some products include card sets, flip charts and flash cards to help students improve their academic success. You want to make sure that you are setting your students up for success by using the right teaching strategies. By using a critical thinking strategy guide, you will help your students learn through different styles, leading to an increased chance of success.
Flash cards and flip charts can also help your students improve their learning skills and allow you to learn better strategies for teaching. Vocabulary is one of the most important areas of learning for students and by using the right teaching tools, more students will do better in school.
One of the biggest concerns for college students and their parents is how you’re going to pay for your higher education. While some parents pay for their kid’s college, some students are on their own and resort to taking out students loans or trying to find scholarships and grants. The best thing about grants and scholarships is you don’t have to pay them back and there are so many scholarships for college students.
There are many different types of scholarships for all types of students. A common misconception is that you have to be an outstanding athlete or have very good grades. But, there is a scholarship out there for you; you just have to know where to look for financial aid information.
The internet is filled with a many resources to find scholarships for college or technical school. There are scholarships available for athletics, academic achievement, minorities even religious or organization affiliation. You can also find grants for engineers or physical therapy student grants and scholarships.
By researching online or visiting your school’s financial aid office, you open yourself up to many scholarships. Don’t discount a scholarship or grant because it’s small. Many small grants or scholarships add up very quickly. One $100 scholarship will buy you a book this semester.
