College Reviews - Tips

Student Loan Consolidation Tip

nospam@example.com (JB) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:24:07 -0700

If you have recently finished your college or you are about to graduate, I am sure that you are thinking about consolidating your school loans. Not every college loan and student is qualified for consolidation. Below is the criteria:

Q. Do you have at least $20,000 in Federal student loans?
A. If the answer is yes, then you may qualify for the Federal Student Loan consolidation. If the answer is no, then you can look at other alternatives.

Q. Are any of your Federal student loans in default?
A. If the answer is No, then you may qualify for the Federal Student Loan consolidation. If the answer is yes, then you may have some problem. But you should try it anyways.

Q. Have you graduated or will you within the next six months?
A. If the answer is yes, then you may qualify for the Federal Student Loan consolidation. If the answer is no, then you should wait till you are near your graduation.

You can hire a loan consolidation company to consolidate your students loan. Your loan provider may also be able to consolidate it for you. Just watch out for any fees as most of them should be able to do it for free.

How to find the right college?

nospam@example.com (JB) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:57:32 -0700

There are more than 450 private and roughly the same number of public colleges in the U.S It makes it very hard for one select the right college. Below are three sites which can help you decide on the right colelge:

DirectDegree.com connects you with several colleges and decide which is the right college for you. Please click here to visit DirectDegree.com. Once you decide which college is the right college for you, you can request for free information.

Monster Learning is site which can do side by side comparison of online and offline colleges for you. Owned by the well know job board Monster.com, this site has the leading colleges. Please click here to go to Monster Learning.

eLearners.com is also a great site to obtain information on more than 100 colleges. This free information site allows you to search online degrees matching your interest so that you can study from the comfort of your home.

How to attend college for free?

nospam@example.com (JB) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:47:17 -0700

There are several ways to attend college for free.

1. Find the Right Scholarships
2. Get the financial aid from the fedearal govt.
3. If you you don't qualify for either of them, you can always invest in the stock market and real estate. UberInvestor.com is such a site which allows you to find the hot investments, good investment ideas and keep up with the latest investing news. It collects data from thousands of resources to offer you what is the best of web out there. The site is absolutely free.

Stuck on homework or test tomorrow?

nospam@example.com (JB) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 22:26:29 -0600

If you often get stuck on your math home work or you have an exam tomorrow and need some review help, I have a great solution for you. Tutor.com is a service which allows you to get help when you need it. This online service has more than 1,2000 tutors who can help you when you need the help. The entire tutoring process is taken care of online. There are no appointments required and no lengthy waits. Just click and go. Students get one on one tutor. Educational institutions, librariers and parents love this service. So no more of getting C's in your math class. This service is the ultimate solution to all your math problems.

TOEFL Test Taking Tips

nospam@example.com (JB) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:45:53 -0600

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is mandatory for attending major U.S. universities and colleges. While TOEFL is a rather simple test in nature, it can take be a significant effort for those who are from non-English speaking countries. Below are some of the tips to make it easier for you to cruise through the test.

Register Early
Register approximately 3 months in advance. Study daily for atleast 2 hours or over the weekends for 10 hours.

Take the Practice Test
You should take test either onlie on the ETS test or with the software which comes with your test prepration book.

Practice More on Poor Skills
Use the practice test score report to determine which skills are poor and then work on improving those skills. Continue on practicing untill you are extremely comfortable with practice tests.

Test Taking Strategies
Here are some test taking strategies recommended by ouyr experts:

1. Do not waste your time. Slowly and carefully follow the directions in each section.

2. Test clock will continuously keep on ticking even if you are trying to review directions or help sections. Therfore, be wise with your time.

3. Focus only on the current questions. Do not think about the questions you have already attempted or try predicting the questions you will see.

4. Do not waste too much time on one question. If you cannot find the answer, eliminate as many answer choices as possible and then select the best choice. If its a Reading section then review your answers after finishing the section. Stay focused and do not get distracted.

5. Keep an eye on the clock and pace yourself accordingly. Every section has a time limit. Therefore, plan ahead. This is something you can accomplish by going through the practice tests. The clock will automatically alert you when five minutes remain in the Listening and Reading sections, as well as the independent and integrated tasks in the Writing Section.

Product Recommendation:
Topics Kaplan TOEFL Deluxe - Complete Product - Educational Software - PC, Mac

GRE Format Changes

nospam@example.com (JB) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 02:10:12 -0600

The revised Graduate Record ExaminationsÂ® (GREÂ®) General Test will be offered for the first time worldwide in September. The first test dates will be September 10, 15 or 16 (depending upon location), and 29, 2007. With the new test, the GREÂ® Program will introduce a significantly revised and improved GRE General Test. The primary reasoning for the revisions to the test are to (1) address current and potential future security challenges associated with continuous testing, and (2) increase the validity of the test by reducing the possible effects of memorization in the Verbal and Analytical Writing sections of the test. Revisions to the test are also being made to provide faculty with better information on applicants' performance, and measure skills more directly related to graduate study. Revisions to the test include revisions to the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Critical Thinking and Analytical Writing measures; modifications to test structure and administration, and new Verbal and Quantitative score scales.

Value of the Revised General Test

The value of the revised General Test includes the following:

Improved security â€“ An administration plan that directly addresses current and potential future security challenges over the long term
Improved predictive validity â€“ The revised test reduces the possible effects of memorization.
Improved construct validity â€“ The revised test measures skills more directly related to graduate study
The linear testing format of the revised test is more test taker friendly than the current computer adaptive General Test. The test format is more familiar to test takers, and it allows test takers to review, omit, go back and change an answer, etc., which means that test takers can better allocate their time according to their personal test-taking approach.

Test Content Revisions
The revised General Test will measure the same general skills that are measured on the current General Test: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing. However, each of the sections will be revised to better focus on skills that are necessary for success in graduate school.

The New Verbal Reasoning Section

It measures the ability to understand the meanings of words, sentences, and entire texts; understand relationships among words and among concepts select important points; distinguish major from minor or irrelevant points; summarize text; understand the structure of a text analyze and draw conclusions from discourse; reason from incomplete data; identify authorâ€™s/speakerâ€™s assumptions and/or perspective; understand multiple levels of meaning (such as literal, figurative, textâ€™s intent, etc.)
Emphasis on skills related to graduate work, such as complex reasoning
increased emphasis on inferential reasoning
increased emphasis on verbal reasoning in context
increased number of reading comprehension questions based on a greater variety of reading passages
reduced emphasis on vocabulary out of context (no Antonyms or Analogies)
Inclusion of new question formats other than traditional multiple choice (e.g., highlighting a sentence in a passage that serves the function described in the question)
Two 40-minute sections

The New Quantitative Reasoning Section

It measures the ability to:
Understand quantitative information
Interpret and analyze quantitative information
Solve problems in a quantitative setting
Apply basic mathematical skills and elementary mathematical concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability, and statistics
Quantitative reasoning skills that are similar to skills generally used in graduate school
increased emphasis on questions involving real-life scenarios
increased emphasis on data interpretation
reduced emphasis on Geometry
On-screen four-function calculator with square root (reduced emphasis on computation)
Inclusion of new question formats other than multiple-choice (such as entering a numeric answer via a keyboard)
Two 40-minute sections

The New Critical Thinking and Analytical Writing Section

A new name to more accurately reflect the skills being measured
A performance-based measure that integrates the assessment of critical thinking and analytical writing
Measures the ability to
articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively
examine claims and accompanying evidence
support ideas with relevant reasons and examples
sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion
control the elements of standard written English
New, more focused prompts
Requires a more specific response from the test taker
Will reduce the possibility of reliance on memorized materials
The Issue and Argument tasks are each 30 minutes in length
Essay responses will be made available electronically to institutional score recipients

Test Administration Revisions
The revised Verbal and Quantitative sections are being revised from an adaptive test format, where the questions presented to each examinee vary according to his or her performance, to a linear test format, where all examinees testing at the same time receive the same questions.
The GRE General Test will be administered on computer on approximately 30 test dates worldwide. The number of administrations in any given region will be based on the test volume in that region.
To address possible security concerns, starting times for the test will be staggered across time zones.
An expanded Internet-based testing network with about 3,500 test sites will be available worldwide.

The New Verbal and Quantitative Score Scale
New Verbal and Quantitative score scales are being introduced for the following reasons:
Sound measurement practice and professional standards (developed by AERA, APA, and NCME) recommend a new score scale when significant revisions to test specifications are made.
The ways in which we are measuring the verbal and quantitative reasoning skills (i.e., question types) and the relative emphasis among the component skills in the revised Verbal and Quantitative sections are sufficiently different from those on the current test, so that it is appropriate to use a new scale for the revised test.
The mean of the new score scales will be 150 with an expected range will be 130 to 170, in 1-point increments. Final specification of the precise score scales will be determined based on data from the initial revised General Test administrations, before scores are reported.
This range was selected in order to maintain a 3-digit score scale for IT systems, avoid confusion between scores on the revised General Test and the current test, and avoid overlap of the new scale with the Subject Test scales.
The GRE Board and Program realize that new score scales present many challenges for score users accustomed to the 200 to 800 score scales. The decision to introduce new score scales was not made lightly.

The following information will be available to assist GRE score recipients:
Percentiles for Verbal and Quantitative scores will be reported on score reports and available on the GRE Web site beginning in early November 2007.
In mid-November 2007, a concordance table will be available on the GRE Web site to assist score users in determining the relationship between old and new Verbal and Quantitative scores. The concordance table will present information on Verbal and Quantitative scores on the old 200 to 800 score scale and the corresponding approximate equivalents on the new 130 to 170 score scale.
Shortly after the concordance table is available, approximate score equivalents on the new scale will be included on GRE score reports for Verbal and Quantitative scores earned prior to September 2007.
In early January 2008, broad major field score distributions will be available on the GRE Web site.
The new scales will allow us to address 2 situations that have developed over the life of the current test:
First, the score scales for the Verbal and Quantitative measures have slowly separated over time such that the means for these two scales for the total group of test takers are now quite different (mean Verbal = 470 and mean Quantitative = 593). These differences are even more pronounced when one considers International test takers only (mean Verbal = 439, mean Quantitative = 686).
Second, scores for the current Quantitative measure have tended to cluster at the top of the scale.
Advantages of the new score scales include:
The Verbal and Quantitative means will be aligned which will allow score users to see relative strengths for a particular candidate.
Score users will be less likely to interpret small score differences as meaningful differences between candidates.
The new scales will help facilitate more appropriate comparisons between candidates.
The new score scales are compatible with backend systems in most graduate schools.
The new score scales will not be easily confused with scores from the current General Test or the Subject Tests.
The score scale for the Analytical Writing section will continue to be 0 to 6, in half-point increments.
Scores will continue to be available for reporting for 5 years following the examineeâ€™s test administration.

GRE Test Taking Tips

nospam@example.com (JB) — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 23:12:06 -0700

General Tips:

1. Carefully read all the directions and questions. If you do not read the questions and directions carefully you will end up rereading and wasting the time.

2. Answer each question carefully. First use the scracth paper to answer the questions before committing to the final answer unless you are absolutely sure about it. If you correctly answer the initial questions you may get higher scores. Do not skip any questions and make a quality guess by eliminating some of the choices. Do not spend too much time on a single question.

3. Practice Practice Practice. This is the key to taking any test successfully. You should take several mock up tests at home before attempting it a real test. Test taking is an art and more you practice better you will master it.

Verbal Section:

1. For the sentence completion part, try to complete the sentence with words that make sense to you and then view the possible answers. The evaluate each and every answer and see if you sentence makes sense and select one of the answers accordingly. Remember, haste is waste. Take you time.

2. For analogies, eleminate all answer pairs that are clearly wrong. Then create a sentence in your mind that uses the two capitalized words. Watch for the possibly correct answers that appear in the reverse order. Do not jump at the obvious answer as it can mislead you.

3. For antonyms, use word parts to figure out the meaning of unknown words. Look for the clues by thinking of similarly constructed words. Evaluate all options before answering the question.

4. For the reading comprehension, you should select your answers to the questions solely on what is stated or implied in the passages. Starting and ending sentences of the paragraph can be critical to the entire question. Read the entire passage carefully but do not waste time on memorizing details. Search for the answers in the paragraph as you go through the questions.

Math Section:

1. For the multiple chocie section, carefully read the question and then select the answer. You should have a good understanding of the critical definitions, formulas, and concepts that appear in common questions. Do not spend too much time one detailed cacluations. Look for a shortcut if the question seems to be time consuming.

2. For the quantitative comparisons, questions are usually simpler and should take less time than the standard multiple choice. Always take into the account the factions, zeroes, negitave and non-integer numbers. Don't get carreid away because you are simply trying to make the relative comparisons.

Analytic Section:

1. Read the entire question first and then read the entire arguement. You should pay attention to crtical keywords For example, always, never, almost etc. Consider eliminating the answers which go beyond the scope of the question itself.

GMAT Test Taking Tips

nospam@example.com (JB) — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 14:11:15 -0700

Time Management:

Use the allotted testing time wisely by taking the mock up practice tests. You should throughly understand and become familiar with the formats and requirements of each section. The computer based test shows a clock for better time keeping. Make a good use of that.

Read Everything Carefully:
Read all test directions ane each and every question carefully. Before answering a question, understand exactly what is being asked and then select the correct choice. Do not skip questions or make random guesses answers because it can significantly lower your scores. Once you have selected your answer to a question you will be asked to confirm it. You should confirm your answer only when you are certain that you want to move on to the next question. Remember, you cannot omit questions or go back and change answers. The computer selects the next question you see based upon your previous responses.

Keep A Good Pace:
Keep a good pace of answering questions so that you have enough time to answer every question. Pay attention to the number of questions and the amount of time remaining during your testing session. On average, you have about 1.75 minutes for each verbal question and about 2 minutes for each quantitative question.

Do Not Get Nervous:
In any case do not get nervous or panic. Test taking is nothing more than an art and you can master it by practicing.

Staying Focused in College

nospam@example.com (JB) — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:19:28 -0700

One of the ways to stay focused in college is by having some entertainment time and give some relaxation to your mind. What can be a better way to have fun than throwing a small party in your dorm or apartment. PartyDango.com has some great party ideas. Relax, Have Fun so that you can study hard.

SAT Exam Prepration and Exam Taking Tips

nospam@example.com (JB) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 14:41:11 -0700

Taking an entrance exam such as SAT can be very intimidating. But really there is nothing to be intimidated about. While it requires you to know the subjects, it is also an art. Below are some of the tips on mastering the art of test taking.

Taking Test Efficiently

The best way to take your test efficiently by attempting practice tests and simulations. You should simulate the actual testing environment by not taking any phone calls, breaks, meals etc. Below is a list of some recommended books to take these mock tests. Practice, Practice, Practice.

Identify Difficulty Level

To finish your test on time, you need to understand what sections are difficult and what are easier to do. During your mock up tests you should be able to learn about the difficult spots. You should utilize this information during the actual test and attempt easier questions first. If you are stuck on a question, do not waste your time. Instead move on to other questions and if time permits then come back to the difficult question.

Read the Directions and Questions Carefully

You should read directions and questions carefully so that you don't end up wasting time re-reading or resolving the problem.

Do Not Guess

If you do not know the answer to a question you should skip the question. A wrong guess will cost you as SAT has negative marking and you will be penalized for the wrong answers. With the practice tests you should be able to recognize the tricky wrong choices and be able to eliminate them. However, you should still avoid guessing. This applies only to the multiple choice questions. You should attempt the problem solving question as long as it doesn't take time away other questions.

MBA Survival Tips

nospam@example.com (JB) — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 10:16:10 -0700

Congratulations! If you are starting your MBA program soon. I can bet you are very excited and looking forward to it. Just like you I was also looking for the greatest MBA experience possible. At the same time, I was also concerned about the amount of time it is going to take, how much effort it will required and how I can make the best use of my time and resources to balance my three lives school, work and personal. I have a good news and I have a bad news.

Lets start with the bad news first. The bad news is that you will have to work your butt off, yes that is right, your butt off to join the ranks of an MBA. That is the only way you will get a chance to meet and join this exclusive gang of some of the brightest in your area and the busienss world.

Now the good news. I have most if not all the ingredients which you will need to be successful in an MBA program. So here we go (Drum Roll!):

Before The ProgramBelow is a list of things you can do to better manage your life and succesfully complete your MBA program.

1. Plan Your Finances: Make sure that you have fully planned your finances e.g. credit cards, bills, mortgage, taxes, tution etc. The last thing you want to do is fall back in your finances while taking a Finance course at UW. If you need to refinance your home, buy a new one, get new credit cards or a new automobile you should rather do it now than later because you won't have enough time.

Useful Resources

Financial Planning Books

Ernst & Young's Personal Financial Planning Guide

Rattiner's Financial Planning Bible: The Advisor's Advisor

If you are an Amazon.com shopper you can also buy these or your other financial planning books from their Financial Planning section.

Credit Cards
Orchard Bank Master Card
Discover Platinum Gas Card
American Express : Platinum Cash Rebate Credit Card
US Bank World Perks Visa Card
GM Master Card

Real Estate / Buying A Home / Finding an Apartment
Home Gain

Zip Realty

ForSaleByOwner.com

Apartments.com

Mortgage / Refinance / Home Equity Loans
Lending Tree

America's Lending Partners.

E-Loan

Auto Buying
Automotive.com

DealerDirectAmerica.com

Edmunds.com

ExperÃan Automotive: AutoCheckÂ® Vehicle History Reports

SmartAutowarranty.com - Extended Warranty

Auto Loan / Refinance
Capital One Auto Finance
1-800-Auto-Loan

City Financial Auto
My Auto Loan
Harbor Credit

Auto / Health / Home Insurance
Insurance.com

InsuranceTracker

InsureMe.com

eHealthInsurance

21st Century Insurance Company

Credit Monitoring / Reports
myFICO.com
Online Credit Info
Equifax

High Interest Savings Account
Search the web and see if you can find a high interest savings accounts.

Sending / Receiving Money or Making Donations
Western Union
Xoom.com Money Transfer
PayPal

2. Spend Time with Family and Friends:
Before you start the program you should spend time with your family and friends. Because once you are in the program there will be a very little time for it. Take them out on weekend trips and weeknight dine outs. Take a vacation. Whatever you do make sure to take a lot of pictures of this family time to cherish throughout the program. If you are in the need to buy a digital camera you can go to Kodak or WolfCamera.com
. To develop these pics you can go to Snapfish or Photoworks.com. You can get family T-Shirts, Calendars and Mugs there too. Hey wouldn't that be a great gift for kids from mom or dad before they started there MBA program? Also, make your family understand that why you will be so busy and communitcate openly.

Useful Resources

Local Activities, Restaurants, Theme Parks
Restaurant.com Gift Certificates: Save up to 60% off your next meal!

Entertainment.com

Six Flags Amusement Parks

StubHub.com - The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

WeHaveSeats.com
TicketsNow - Sports, Concerts, Theatre tickets

Camp Club USA

Backcountry.com

RealArcade - GamePass

WildGames.com
Rhapsody

Apple iTunes

If you are single then see if you can find a date, friend or a companion from the Lovers Point to spend some time with you.

Vacations and Out Of Town Visits

Expedia.com
Travelocity

Kayak
CheapTickets.com
The New York Pass--Admission to 40 of New York City's top attractions

Rail Europe: The Only way to Travel in Europe

3. Delegate and Shop Online:
So that while you are busy with your MBA program you don't fall behind on things such as yard maintenance, home improvement and shopping for yourself and your family. It is strongly recommended that you should delegate whatever tasks you can and shop online to save time and ofcourse money.

Useful Resources
Home Improvement / Maintenance
Service Magic
Reliable Remodeler

National Contractors.com

Online Shopping

Children
Babies R Us
The Baby Outlet
Visit Baby Wise

BabyUniverse.Com

Teens
Gap.com

OldNavy.com

Pacific Sunwear

Women
BareNecessities.com
Avenue.com
ESPRIT US Online shop

dELiA*s
Jewelry Television™

Men
Jos. A. Bank

WildTies.com

Dr. Jays.com

Sandals and Shoes
Shoes.com!

ShoeBuy.com

Teva.com

Zappos.com

Adidas
Mason Shoes

Footlocker.com

Groceries & Wines
SafeWay.com

Peapod.com

Vons.com

Marks & Spencer

Wine.com
Mr. Beer - Beer Making Kits

Pet Care and Food
PetCraze.com

Petco.com

PetSmart
Dog.com - Discount Pet Supplies

Pet Insurance

Other Stuff and Household Items
Online Coupons
ToolKing.com

Yardiac.com

LNT.com
Walmart.com
Overstock.com
SmartBargains:  Fine Dining

4. Orientation:
Most of the MBA orientation are held at a retreatyour area. This will be your first opportunity to get to know your study group and your classmates. There will be some fun classes, food to eat, and beer and wine to drink. In the evening you can drive with your classmates to a nearby attraction and enjoy the night life. Believe me it is a lot of fun. If you decide to stay somewhere else you can book a room by calling 1-800-780-5733 Discount Code 175574.

5. Getting Ready for the Class:
Below is the list of items which is stongly recommended to have when your classes begins:

Text Books: Abebooks.com is a good resource to buy text books.

Notebooks and Pens: Even though we are part of the paperless society but there will be times when you will need to take notes using pen and paper. You can buy them from Staples Office Supplies or Office Depot.

Laptop Computer: A laptop computer with the wireless lan card is highly recommended. You will have a free access to the wirless network. Most of the assignments will be submitted online as well. It is also recommended that you should have a Cruzer drive to back up your assignments. You can get both from Buy.com
or Crucial.com

6. In Class Best Practices:
MBA classe are a lot of fun and can be a great learning experience. Below are some of the best practices:
Pre-Class Readings and Assignments If you are serious about learning and acing your classes you should do your pre-class readings and assignments. If you fail to do so, in most of the cases what professors will be discussing would be Greek to you even though they would be speaking english. Ideally you will be spending about 20 hours or more per week on preparing for your classes.

Active Participation Unlike your grade school teachers, MBA professors love to have their students argue oops! engage in discussions. As a matter of fact most of the classes will have 1/3 of the grade assigned to class participation. More you are engaged you have better odds in getting that grade. Irrespecive of how boring the class may seem, pay attention.

Homeworks / Group AssignmentsMake sure to turn in your homeworks and group assignments on time. If you are falling behind for some reason you should let your teammates and professors know. Your professors are in the business of teaching you not failing you. They will understand and will give you additional time.

Team MeetingsYou will be staying with the same or a different team for the full program. And it will be full of surprises. You will deal with various personalities. Lets just put it this way that it is an opportunity for trying out a few future co-workers and see if you ever want to work with them or not. Make sure to have a social chit chat at the beginning or end of the meeting. But at the same time stay with the objective of learning. Spend most of the time working on assignments instead of personal chit chat. You can meet either at a coffee shop or library. Someone's house is a great idea too but it might be a big hassle for them. If you see someone in the team not pulling their weight you should encourage them to do so. After all your grades heavily relies on the team performance than your own indvidual performance. May be go to a ball game or movie with them once in a while. Try not engage in any other kind of relationship during the course as it can become a distraction. Thank them frequently for their support. Cell Phones and emails are the best way to stay in touch as you may end up communicating several times during the week. If you don't have a cell phone or need a new one you can view various rate plans and buy one at LetsTalk.com.

7. In Class Bad Practices:
You should avoid the practices below:
Surfing the Web While no one is going to police you, you should avoid surfing the web during the lecture. This way not only you are not participating but also missing out on a learning opportunity. Every class costs about $500 + your time. Make a good use of it.

Taking Classes Lightly Often times folks think that classes such as Leadership and Organization Change Managment are nothing but fluff. But these are the kind of classes which are going to teach you the stuff which you can use to successfully lead any organization anywhere in the world. Also classes like Internationl Business sound like fluff as well. Afterall why do really care why an Asian home has big walls and an American home has a full front yard. But in a country full of diversity and in an industry where outsourcing is very prominent, understanding othe cultures can be very helpful to achieve your goals.

Asking Too Many Questions or Talking Non-Sense It is one thing to ask question and participate. But just asking too many questions or talking non-sense is not only waste of your time but also your classmates. If you have additional questions you can speak to your professor after the class.

8. Outside Class Best Practices:
Network Network Network As a TMMBA student you will have the opportunity to network with some of the brightest. Also the quarterly networking events at Columbia Tower and UW Campus will be great opportunities. That is where I had an opportunity to meet some of the local business leaders. Make sure to attend those events. Also see if you can have a weekly beer bash in a nearby bar to mingle with your classmates. If you don't drink, you can still go there and have an orange juice. Another way to network is by throwing a party at your place. You can buy all the party supplies and get some ideas from PartyDango.com This network may land you your next job.

Family Don't forget to remind your family that how thankful you are to them for their support. Whenever you get a chance go for an outing or a vacation. If you have a significant other don't forget to Buy Roses for them. If you are single, find a weekend date.

Stay Healthy Stay Fit Exercise atleast 2-3 times a week to stay fit. With a healthy body you will always have an active mind something you must have to successfully finish this program. I had gained about 20 pounds while in the program but then lost 30 towards the end of it simply with exercise and diet. My classmates can verify that for you. You may not have time to go to the gym. But you can buy a treadmill and other fitness equipment from MegaFitness.com!
or WorkoutWarehouse.com
. If you need nutritional suppliments you can get those from Bodybuilding.com. If you need to lose weight South Beach Diet
, Diet-to-Go
, or Diet.com
. For other healthcare products such as headaches you can go to Drugstore.com.

Time Management Time management is also a very critical factor during an MBA program. Make sure you have a Week Planner or a PDA to manage your schedule and appointments. Update your schedule as the changes come. You can buy a PDA from Sony store redirect
or Geeks.com
.

9. Job Search:
As you are near the program completion you will be probably looking for a new job or completely switching careers. Below are some of the tips:

Be Realistic
Don't expect a huge pay hike or promotion right after the program. This is a long term investment and it may take you up to 5 years to really start getting a bang for your bucks.

Update Your Resume
Update your resume. You are about to make a shift from a techie to a business leader. You should make sure that your resume reflects that. You should consult the in house career consultant to get an advice and have them review your resume. The service they offer is for free.

Finding A Job
Start looking for a job either with yoru current employer or a new one. Go to job fairs and tell people in your network and class that you are looking for a job. Internet sites such as 6FigureJobs, Monster.com
and HotJobs.com
are great resources to find MBA jobs.

10. After The Program:
Be ProudOnce you are done with the program, be very proud of yourself. Stay in touch with your classmates and professors and continue on building the network.
Student LoansIf it makes economic sense, consider consolidating student loans. See if Next Student or Student Assistance Foundation can help you with it.

Internship Interview Tips

nospam@example.com (JB) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 01:03:59 -0700

1. Be on time. Pre-plan your travel. Aim to be early.

2. Be Prepared. Learn about the company through their website and anyone else you know.

3. Write down and practice possible questions. See if a friend is willing to help you with a mock interview.

4. If asked about your weaknesses tell them honestly. Your honesty will be appreciated by the interviewer and you might get some good advice on how to work on your weaknesses.

5. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Smile and Dress Professionally. Give them a reason to hire you. Don't be nervous.

6. Be honest. Do not bluff. If you land a position by bluffing, most likely you will lose the job after a while.

7. Talk about you academic and social acheivements. Interviewers like to know how you felt about about a particular success or failure and what lessons did you learn.

8. Talk to the point. Do not waste interviewer's time. Give interviewers ask an opportunity to ask you the questions.

9. Take a copy of your resume / cv and any works you may want to show to the interviewer.

10. Be enthusiastic and positive. Don't criticize previous employers, particularly within the industry. Focus on positive achievements and views.

11. And finally, Don't give up. If you don't land this internship, does not mean it is end of the world. You will have plenty of opportunities.

Non Traditional Colleges - It still pays to get educated

nospam@example.com (JB) — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:54:54 -0700

Can't go to a traditional college - No problem. Education from online colleges can also help you get a high paying job.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the job categories that are predicted to grow faster require a college diploma. Careers such as teaching, healthcare and technology will account for 42 percent of the nation's projected job growth by 2013.
The Department of Labor reports that employments for those with bachelor's degrees grew by 1.8 million during the past 10 years compared to a loss of nearly 700,000 jobs for those with a high school diploma. The average salary for a Software Engineer is 80,000/year, a Nurse 75,000/year and a teacher $50,000/year.

With online and distance learning programs, it has become much easier to obtain a Bachelor's or Masters degree. Even if you are a working professional, a single parent, or cannot go to a regualr campus program due to other obligations, you can still get your education. Most of the online colleges are usually cheaper than the traditional colleges and quality of education is the same. They also offer more flexibility in terms of schedule and the pace at which you would like obtain your education. CollegeProspectus.com has a list of top US Colleges and Universities which offer online programs, scholarships, financial aid, student loans and job placement services.

College Students - Find A Job through Social Network

nospam@example.com (JB) — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 18:42:14 -0700

Social Networking has become one of the prominent ways for people to connect with each other. Whether it is MySpace, FaceBook, LinkedIn, Hi5, Friendster or any other social networking site, most of the times we fail to fully leverage it. We end up spending time on casual chit chatting or the stuff which may not matter in the long run. On the other hand we can leverage the same networking site to grow our career and increase our market value. Following are some of the recommendations:

1. Add the right connections
Most of the times we add connections either because they are good looking or someone has randomly approached us to be added. In order to benefit you should be selective about who you add. I am sure just like my mother your mother has also taught you that you are known by your friends. This is where it matters. Your profile is at a public display. If your connections have people who do not have a very good reputation or are there just because they look good or they requested to be added and you agreed, it can harm your image. Being associated with the right people is a must.

2. Enhance your visibility
Add as much as professional detail you can to increase your visibility. Add the employment history, schools attended, volunteer work, sports, hobbies, affiliations and other activities. If you own a business write your business description, website link and other relevant information. This way you can strike some commonality with your prospective employers and business partners. Treat your profile as a resume or a cover letter. Do not disclose any personal information such as date of birth, social security or credit card numbers.

3. Get Searched
You can improve your search visibility by posting your resume or the link to your social networking profile on free job sites, bulletin boards and blogs. Put keywords such as marketing manager, software developer etc. on your profile. This way you will get detected by recruiters or business partners who are using search engines to find someone with your credentials.

4. Get Recommended
Most of the social networking sites have a comments or recommendation section. You should request your friends and co-workers to give you recommendations. Donâ€™t worry about any negative comments because most of the sites allow you to approve the comments before they are published.

5. Find People You Know or Get Introduced
If you come across a job or a potential partner, you can find people through social networking sites to get introduced to the hiring manager or the business owner. It will not only get you an interview / meeting but also give you a starter conversation when you meet them. Since you were introduced to them they will be more willing to trust you and offer you a job or a deal.

6. Research The Company
You can also use your connections in a social networking site to research the potential employer or the partner. Most of the people on your network can give you some insights about the business conditions and company culture. This way you can decide if you still want to pursue the opportunity.

7. Share Knowledge
You can use forums and weblogs on social networking site to share knowledge and learn from others. Donâ€™t be shy. Feel free to post any questions you may have and most of the people on your network will be more than happy to answer those for you.

This article is written by Sukhjot (Joti) Basi, B.S.E.E., M.B.A. It was originally published on JotiBasi.com.