Saving For College Education

A chance to have a college education is perhaps the best gift that parents can give to their children. Cliché as it sounds, it remains true that education provides security for one's future for it leads to obtaining better jobs and earnings compared to those who only have high school diplomas. Studies show that college graduates tend to earn $500,000 more on average than those who are not able to finish secondary schooling.

However, costs of college education today are steadily increasing. As almost everyone wants to go to college, it is still a huge financial consideration, especially for middle-class families. Indeed, college expenses are reported to be one of the most difficult financial problems that most families in the United States have to contend with. To avoid future stress and difficulty of going into debt and bankruptcy, it is essential to start saving for college as early as possible.

Why Save For College?

Saving for your children's college education is tantamount to protect their future. Many make the mistake of relying on bank and student loans, and even scholarship grants, instead of securing their children's education from the onset. Clearly, this type of procrastination and ill-planning for the future has resulted in huge debts and has forced many students to drop out of their courses.

Saving for college is like planning ahead, and it is definitely more sensible than borrowing money. Although it is true that money is spent in both saving and borrowing, the major difference lies in the amount that is spent.

Consider these numbers: Try computing how much money is saved at $200 monthly with seven percent interest for 10 years versus loaning the same amount with the same interest, cost, and time span.

Even without producing an exact figure, it is evident that by saving, one is able earn interest. Whereas in borrowing, one pays for the interest. In the end, saving earns more money, while borrowing basically entails paying more than the principal debt.

General Tips For Saving

It cannot be stressed more that in any plan, time is of the essence. In saving for college, it is imperative that one begins as soon as possible. According to statistics, the college tuition of a child born today will increase by three to four times the present college costs. Thus, college costs that are planned today will no longer be sufficient in a few years.

As such, parents should begin early to offset whatever rise in matriculation that shall inevitably be faced. Saving early means that there is more time for money to grow in interest.

The best way to meet fee surprises is to create a savings plan. For instance, parents can try setting a fixed amount to be put away every month. But before doing so, parents should also try checking current college costs to be able to determine the amount saved per month.

Moreover, there are numerous websites and information desks that may be utilized to check the rate of matriculation fees. In creating a savings plan, it is also necessary to compute the return of investment that may be garnered through interest so that the growth of the money can be monitored throughout the years.

However, it is also important for parents to keep in mind that they should save within their means. Although saving a high amount every month is the best recourse, it is not necessary to sacrifice the family's basic needs. For instance, even a relatively small amount of $50 monthly from the time one child is born can result to around $20,000 in 17 years, plus investment.

Other Saving Options

As for saving college money, most states offer what is known as a 529 plan, a tax-advantaged investment program for higher learning expenses. The plans take after the section number of the Internal Revenue code from which it originated. There is much technicality and computation involved in the 529 plan. But the bottom line is that through this, states have devised a way to help parents save for the college education of their children.

Savings plans, on the other hand, entail that investments should be administered by a particular state and the growth or decline of investments are hinged on the market. At the end of the day, investing in 529 plans grants exemption from federal taxation by the moment college fees need to be paid.

As the saying goes, it's better late than never. For those who have not been able to get an early start, there is still time to begin saving. Remember that every penny saved means another penny for your child's education.

SchoolScholarships.org is your guide to finding college scholarships and other sources of financial aid for school. This article helps you save for college.

Copyright © 2007 SchoolScholarships.org. All rights reserved.

Firefighter Degree Programs Online

Distance learning or online fire science education programs are a good fit for the fire science student. Generally, students who are interested in this degree have had some experience in the fire service either as a volunteer or as a full-time employed fire fighter. Or in my case, many of us started in a Boy Scout Explorer program that introduced us to the fire service. Having the flexibility to complete the program on your own time allows many students to complete an associates, bachelor, or graduate degree in fire science.

There is a lot of discussion about whether or not a degree will help the fire service candidate obtain a job as a firefighter. Many civil service programs award extra points for education, which may put you ahead of another candidate who scored as well as you on their civil service exam and agility test. Those few points may make the difference. This is not true for all potential employers.

Having a degree in fire science is very helpful when it comes time for promotion. Those extra points can really make a difference. If you are not interested in being promoted, then I wouldn't seek a more advance degree. However, I believe that in fire service, as in other arenas, that education is the key to advancement. Not only for the piece of paper, but also for the advanced knowledge you will learn in a program. The fire service is not about the "good old boys" anymore.

Think how confident you are going to feel if you go for your interview as a potential candidate for hire or advancement if you have a portfolio that contains a copy of your degree. Immediately this says things about you; you are a motivated individual who is interested in learning new things, that you have persistence in meeting your goals, and that you can time manage. These are all qualities that any employer is looking for.

Your course work can be done during your down time at the fire station through the Internet. Advisors, instructors, and other students are available through e-mail and sometimes streaming or video. Financial aid is often available to help defray the costs of education.

There are several colleges and universities that provide entire online fire science degree education programs.

Just click on the following link to get online college degree information. It's fast, it's free, and you're under no obligation. You can get information about many types of online bachelors degree programs from many colleges. They also offer information about programs and schools that offer distance learning online masters degree programs.

College Admissions How To Sell Yourself To The College Of Your Choice

Most high school students start their college admissions process too late - they focus on boosting their grades in their junior or senior year. Getting admitted to college requires a bit of planning and forethought; at the very least, getting admitted to the college of your choice does.

First, work on your grades. Your grade point average doesn't tell colleges that you're smart. They tell colleges that you're willing to work hard for a long term, abstract goal. Only 40% of college entrants graduate, and the biggest differentiator isn't intelligence, it's the willingness to put your nose to the grindstone and work hard at it. That's what a decent GPA shows.

Don't pad your GPA by taking "dummy courses" either; colleges are aware of that trick. In high school, you need to balance taking challenging (college prep classes) with getting good grades. As to how good your grades have to be, in general, higher is better, but a solid 3.25 or higher is generally sufficient.

While you're balancing your need to keep your GPA up with taking college preparatory courses, don't forget to have a life. Colleges weigh a lot of candidates. They look for candidates who not only grind their way through school, but maintain a part time job, do community service, are active in their churches, or play sports or have other extracurricular activities. These tell a college that you're looking to become a full, well rounded human being, and understand the need to be active in your community. A good set of extracurricular activities and community service can strongly outweigh deficiencies in your grade point average.

The next step are your standardized test scores. Far too many people put an emphasis on "acing" a test, and they treat the SATs and ACTs as competitions. As a result, a lot of students stress out about those tests, to a huge degree, and that impacts their performance. First, colleges treat those tests as a filter. While your GPA shows that you can work, your SATs show what you understand, and how you think. They're an indicator of the education you've already got, which is a good predictor for how well you'll tackle the (hopefully) more challenging subjects in college.

The part of your college application process that you have the greatest control over is, well, your application. Think of this application as being your resume to get into the school. You have to describe, factually, the things you've accomplished, and weave in details of your life. You have to provide references who can attest to your character, your work ethic, and how well you'll socialize.

Most colleges ask candidates to write an essay, describing what they've done, and what events have impacted their lives. This is your chance to sell yourself in your own words. Don't focus on what others might say - when the college admission boards read essays, they read them in stacks, and check for a sense of personality, a sense of individuality in the essays. Don't do the "three point essay of what I learned on my summer vacation/from football/in church". Describe what you do that you're passionate about, and why it makes your blood sing with joy to do it. Touch on how that skill you're passionate about will enable you to enhance the college experience for other students.

If you're going to need financial aid to pay for school, start the process early - your sophomore year of high school is not too early to start researching grants and scholarships and contests you can enter to rack up funds for college. This degree of preparedness can be the tipping point between admission in the school of your choice, or going to the local state university.

Speaking of your state university, don't disparage them. Have a backup plan; in fact, have several of them. It may do you some good to go work in the real world for a year or two before applying to college, gaining real world experience. And there's something to be said for digging ditches or putting roofing up for a year or two to save money for college while living at your parent's home, to make you appreciate the luxury of sitting in a class room, studying calculus and getting a better job down the road.

You can get more in-depth information about finding the best colleges in USA as well as online accredited degrees by checking out the links

Become a Media Specialist with Library Science Degrees

You can qualify for many interesting and respected professions with a degree in Library Science. Library Science degree programs are designed for future librarians to learn diverse occupations that can range from information technician to research librarian to college professor.

There are many colleges and universities across the US and Canada that provide degree programs for people who love books, language and information retrieval. Today's librarians are expected to be well-versed in not only literature and reference materials, but also various forms of media including CDs, DVDs, websites, visual arts, information technology, and information databases. Certificates, diplomas and undergraduate degrees offer a broad overview of a multitude of topics to qualify for library technician positions. Degree options would include the Associate degree or Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts with an emphasis on Library Science.

Advanced degree programs are usually focused on one specific area of media; in fact librarians are often given the title of media specialists. Graduate students may opt to achieve diplomas such as Master of Library Science (MLS). Those who aspire to a career in research or library administration may enter the top of the field with Doctorate Degrees in Library and Information Science.

The certified librarian is expected to have a Master Degree. Graduate degree programs allow students to focus on a specialty of interest, such as children's literature, library administration, medical literature, art history, or information technology, just to name a few. The choice of emphasis is up to the taste and professional goals of the individual student.

Undergraduate degrees and diplomas may suffice for entry-level positions, such as library aide; however a degree in Library Science is required for positions of authority. Once you have determined your ultimate goal, you will be able to begin the academic path to success. For instance, if you simply want to learn to be a library technician or media aide, you may be able to achieve it in two years or less with certification or an Associate Degree in Library Technology. However, if your greatest desire is to become the director of a huge university library, you will most likely be required to have a PhD in Library and Information Science.

Take some time to assess your ultimate goal for the future and investigate which degrees you will need to get there.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on our website.

Copyright 2008 - All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

For more help in making a good decision, feel free to contact appropriate schools and universities on our website to request in-depth information about Library Science degrees.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Find Schools offering Good Degree Programs, including Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.

Picking the Right College

Picking a college is one of your largest and most expensive investments in your life. It requires a lot of time and money, so you will obviously want a school that fits your needs and desires. By talking to the right people, asking good questions, and experiencing each school's unique collegiate atmosphere, you can learn a lot. Much of this can be learned in a one-day visit, more so than just looking at the school's promotional materials, websites, or advertising videos.

Arranging your visit in advance will give you some time to do a little research of your own so you aren't going in blind before hand. Arranging an appointment or walk-through is usually very easy and can be done by contacting the admissions office. It is to your best interest to schedule a walk-through on a school day so that you can observe a normal day on campus with students walking around. Also making an appointment to talk to a financial aid administrator, an admissions officer, and a professor in a few majors you may be interested in will really help you grab the most out of your visit. Talking to students will also give you a realistic view on what is happening at the school and how they like it.

Do your homework! Get ready for your walk-through by first going through the school's website, course catalogs, and any materials they have sent you already. As you investigate each school, jot down questions you have, things you see as a strength, as well as noticeable weaknesses. Start to make comparisons of each school, but remain open-minded as many of your questions will be answered during a visit.

Evaluate each campus you visit and remain attentive. Be open to what each school has to offer. During a visit, it's easy to be distracted by stately architecture, an enthusiastic tour leader, and the sheer energy of most campuses. What matters most is whether this college is right for you, your education goals, and your family's budget. Can you envision yourself spending several years there? Bringing a notebook to record your impressions and questions is highly recommended, along with a camera, and a map of each campus as well as the surrounding area. There are also a few things to consider doing or asking during a campus visit:

• Take a guided tour of the campus (dorms, academic facilities, student centers, athletic and fitness centers, and library).
• Try to eat where the students eat.
• Observe a class in session.
• Interview students to learn what they like and dislike about the school.
• Ask about the best places to study on campus.
• Is there a student writing center or tutor program?
• Ask about on-campus and local weekend activities.
• What are the cultural resources on and off campus?
• What medical facilities are available and are they open 24/7?
• Ask about the campus security situation and campus crime statistics.
• Read the school newspapers, student publications, bulletin boards, and online forums.
• At some time during your visit, wander the campus with no specific destination in mind. Most people will feel a sense of whether the school is right or wrong in their gut as they are walking around.

Picking a college doesn't have to be stressful or confusing. Simply gauging what you want with what each college has should give you a pretty good idea of what college is right for you.

Tom Tessin is an author for FINDcollegecards.com that is geared toward students looking for student credit cards