Follow the Leader: WLP

By James Gilbert Pynn

The Women's Leadership Program at George Washington University is committed to helping women develop leadership skills through a cross-pollination of academic and intellectual fields. Inspired by the exploits of Elizabeth J. Somers, the WLP is a yearlong, residential program wherein selected students participate in social, political, intellectual, artistic, and technological courses.

Located at the Mount Vernon campus, the WLP encourages students to explore the political and economic history of Washington D.C. Moreover, they are encouraged to observe the machinations of government and discuss their significance in light of the role women have played in politics, culture, art, and academics. The program is a means to explore and promote leadership skills as they relate to women not only in politics, but also in every sphere of gainful pursuit. Accordingly, students are required to participate in humanities and writing classes to ensure optimal communication skills.

The WLP supplements its curriculum with a series of guest lecturers chosen to inspire and engage the students. It is crucial for students to interface with women in pivotal roles. The program also uses hands-on activities to further engage students to interact with one and other in the pursuit of developing well-rounded leadership skills.

The university assigns one graduate student to advise and interact with students, giving them an involved intermediary should they need further assistance from the faculty. All WLP students are housed in the same residence hall at the Mount Vernon campus, where an in-house graduate student supervises them. Students are encouraged to live, study, and explore the city together. Most students enjoy the camaraderie and friendships that are forged during their time at George Washington University.

The heart and soul of the WLP, indeed its inspiration, is Elizabeth J. Somers. Ms. Somers began her career as an educator, but soon began to teach women how to participate in the political process. She founded the Mount Vernon Seminary in 1875 and was a stern advocate for women's suffrage. While the program itself is relatively small, it is located in one of the most influential and culturally diverse metropolitan areas in the country. Students who choose the WLP program will be assured an exemplary education and all the tools necessary to pursue leadership roles in business, politics, and academia.

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Build Your Own Wind Turbine - It is Easier than You Think!

By S Doyle

Before purchasing a commercially built wind turbine, homeowners who want to supplement their energy with wind powered energy should look to DIY wind generators that are available on the Internet. These allow homeowners to save money on the wind turbine and then save money on their power bill.

There are considerations to be made before buying DIY wind generators. What are the zoning codes for your area? Are permits required? Is there enough wind on average to make a wind turbine worthwhile? Do you have a location to put a 20-30 foot tower?

If you are satisfied with your answers to these questions you are ready to decide on a DIY kit. This decision should be based on your power needs. If you are only going to supplement your power or use it as a backup, a small wind turbine will suffice. If you want to be able to go off the grid you should opt for a larger wind turbine kit. A larger kit will also make enough power that you could feasibly sell excess power back to the power company.

Small DIY wind power kits are great for making wind powered generators. These generators can be used in workshops or to power only certain appliances in the home. Small kits are available that allow even areas with lower winds to capture energy for power use. Larger kits work better with higher winds and for going off the grid.

So you know you can put a DIY wind turbine in your yard and you know the size of turbine you want; now you just need to decide what kind of kit you want. Do you want one that is 'out of the box' ready to assemble and use or are you content with gathering the necessary parts before building your turbine?

Homeowners with more money than time can opt for a complete kit. This saves them from having to search for all the parts to put their wind turbine together. The parts and instructions all arrive ready to be assembled and put into use. These kits come in a range of sizes based on wind speeds in the installation area.

Technical kits come with explicit details and blueprints and a list of parts needed to put the turbine together. This kit saves even more money than the complete kit but does require more work on the part of the homeowner. Typically the instructions will also offer advice on where to find discount parts for the wind turbine, plus it can make for a fun home DIY project.

For those who like to take matters in their own hands, a DIY wind power kit can save a large amount of money. For as little as $200 a DIY wind turbine can be built for use in the home or outdoor area as a supplement to being on the grid.

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A Historical Survey of George Washington University

By James Gilbert Pynn

The university that would bear the name of the first president of the United States would not be commissioned by Congress until 1821. Washington had argued for the creation of a university in the District of Columbia for some time. Indeed, he willed fifty shares of his Potomac Company towards the establishment of the university. It would be another president, James Monroe, who would sign the congressional charter bringing the school to life.

In 1824, the university held its first commencement. To mark this momentous occasion a host dignitaries were invited to attend. They included President Monroe, John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, and the Marquis de Lafayette among others. The university would enjoy a robust enrollment until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1860. Given its proximity to the battlefields in the South, the university was closed and converted into a Union barracks and hospital.

As is the case with the majority of Washington D.C., George Washington University has intimate ties to Freemasonry. Indeed, Washington himself, as well was the case with the majority of Founding Fathers, was a Freemason. Indeed, the university presidents are sworn in by taking an oath upon Washingtons Freemason Bible. The symbols of Freemasonry are evident throughout the campus and it seems to enjoy a great deal of support and funding from Masonic organizations.

The university is a private, coeducational, non-sectarian institution. It is renown for its international affairs curriculum, as well as its international affairs, political science, and political communications programs. Furthermore, its graduate and doctoral programs in engineering, international affairs, medicine, and law rank amongst the most esteemed in the world.

The financial stability that George Washington University enjoys was cultivated during the Thirties. Under the tenures of Presidents Cloyd Heck Marvin, Lloyd Hartman Elliott, and Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, the future and prestige of the institution were solidified. It has also been the stage for several historic events. In perhaps one of the most defining moments in the 20th Century, Niels Bohr announced that Otto Hahn had successfully split the atom on January 26, 1939. The announcement was made at the "Fifth Washington Conference on Theoretical Physics" in the Hall of Government.

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How to Make Biodiesel At Home

By Joseph Then

Have you ever heard of the benefits of using biodiesel? Well, I am sure you have. However, do you know that the most exciting thing about using biodiesel is that you can make your own biodiesel? Therefore, you can safe more money!

Let me tell you a secret; making biodiesel is actual very simple. By making your own biodiesel, you will get to see even more rewards than you are already seeing now. So, what are you waiting for?

Supplies of Biodiesel

To make a small batch of biodiesel at home all you need are a few supplies. You need the actual ingredients to make the biodiesel - alcohol, lye and vegetable oil. You also need some supplies to mix the fuel - empty plastic bottles, duct tape, a blender and measuring cups. Be sure anything you use to make your biodiesel is only used for that purpose and never used again in the kitchen for cooking.

Once you have gathered your supplies you are ready to begin learning how to make biodiesel.

Safe Processes

Making biodiesel is actually quite safe. The risk of an explosion is low. However, you need to take precaution as there is also a risk of burning yourself. You have to be attentive as you need to see when the mixture gets hot.

In order to get the end product, biodiesel, you will have to go through a few processes- mixing the ingredients, letting it set, separating the byproduct and biodiesel and then cleaning the biodiesel. The processes will take as little as a few days to weeks to produce but it all depends on how clean the vegetable oil you use is.

Small or Big Scale

Biodiesel can not only be made at a small scale. It can be made on a large scale too. If you need a few gallons of biodiesel at a time, you can use a biodiesel kit. A biodiesel kit would be perfect if you are running on your lawnmower or other lawn equipment.

However, if you are looking to use it in your vehicle, you may need a biodiesel processor. This makes the process simple and you can even make a few gallons at a time. You will need a few supplies but it will be worth it as you will not have to spend a lot of time making biodiesel since the processor does most of the work for you.

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Crime and Distance Learning Programs

By Fabian Toulouse

Criminal Justice graduates typically enjoy access to a wide range of fields, including law enforcement, homeland security, and private investigation. The two skills they have developed include strategic thinking and problem solving, both of which are vital to successful careers in law enforcement. Furthermore, more and more corporations are recruiting Criminal Justice graduates in an effort to bolster their human resource divisions.

To be sure, the criminal justice system itself hinges on the ability of individuals who can thoroughly investigate crimes, rehabilitate inmates, and assist victims. Effective Criminal Justice programs should provide students with extensive instruction concerning the motives and methods of criminals. The best programs often include courses on dispute resolution, child abuse and neglect, gang culture, the judicial system, criminal law, and investigative procedures.

A number of students have effectively rounded out their knowledge base by combining their Criminal Justice degrees with coursework in anthropology, chemistry, and psychology. The combination of coursework in chemistry or biology, in conjunction with a degree in Criminal Justice, can lay the foundations for a career in forensics. Additionally, a degree in Criminal Justice is a common pre-law degree and is well-suited for a career as a judge.

It should be noted that an advanced Criminal Justice degree should be obtained from an accredited university or distance learning program. Distance or correspondence programs often allow business professional to work towards a degree without compromising their employment. Indeed, the time restraints most professionals endure lend to the popularity of home-based programs.

Reputable programs frequently provide a range of Criminal Justice degrees levels, including associate, bachelor, and masters degrees. In addition to the convenience these academies and universities provide, prospective students may be pleased by the reasonable pricing plans, which are often far more affordable than traditional universities.

Success does not need to be predicated on a radical sea change. Instead, students would be better served by making a gradually, constant change by means of a flexible distance learning program. This plan should include an array of tools, including well-regarded textbooks, online tutorials, and skilled mentors. The future is bright for Criminal Justice graduates -- success is always predicated on the investment of time.

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The Most Popular Online Classes

By Anne Durrel

Knowledge is power, and your education can ensure that you have that power throughout the rest of your life. However, sometimes, real life gets in the way of your educational goals.

Possibly you should have a profession, Maybe you had married and got kids, or maybe a traditional college is purely not for you. If any of those conditions sound common , then online classes might be the perfect fit for you.

Online classes are exactly what they sound like. They are educational courses that you attend via the internet. Online classes are available in a myriad of subjects through many different colleges and universities.

To log onto online classes you ought to first join for the lesson. Then you will go into your classroom via a safe student log in. Once you get logged in to your classroom, you will be provided assignments from your online teacher.

There may also be a message board of sorts that you need to enter in conversation to on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. You will also turn in your assignments for class on this site, and you will be able to ask your teacher questions and get feedback from them.

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Acquiring Your Bees ~ What to Expect

By Hanna Lee

Whether you live in the city, suburbs or a rural area beekeeping is a hobby you can enjoy. Beekeeping is a relatively inexpensive hobby and can counteract the price with profit from honey and beeswax. You are looking at about $300 for each hive, but you can certainly start with one hive.

If you know nothing about beekeeping, the best place to start is your local extension service. They will have access to other local beekeepers who will be able to give you tips and hints to beekeeping in your specific area. For the basics there are many excellent books available to help the beginning beekeeper get started.

After you know the rules for beekeeping in your area, and have chosen a place for your new hive you will need to get the equipment necessary to maintain your bee hive. You can check with the local beekeepers to see what resources are their favorite. They will know the best beekeeping equipment places, and the ones that are trustworthy. If you have no other local beekeepers, you can check ebay. There are also some beekeeping stores online where you should be able to find what you need.

Before you bring bees to the hive you want to make sure you have the appropriate clothing to protect your body and head from the bees. This means a bee suit and a bee veil to protect your head, face and neck. These are a must for beginning beekeepers.

Once you have the hive set up the next task is to get some bees. Your best bet for bees is to order through an online apiary. You will want to do this in late winter, so your bees can be shipped in early spring. They will be delivered to the post office generally and you will get a call to pick up your bees. Your bees will stay healthier if you pick them up instead of having them driven around all day in a hot mail truck.

Your bees will be contained in a special container made specifically for bees. It's basically a wooden crate covered in screen. This gives the bees air, but keeps postal workers and yourself safe from bee stings.

When you get your bees home you will find most of them will be hanging on to the edge of the container. Don't be surprised though, if you see a few dead bees on the bottom. Travel is hard on bees and some just won't survive. This is to be expected.

There will be another smaller container in there as well. It will house one to a few bees. This is your queen bee, and what the hive will revolve around. Some apiaries send a couple nurse bees along with the queen, which is why there may be more than one bee. You will only receive one queen though. You want to make sure you give your bees a drink after their long trip. You can do this by simply misting the container with a spray bottle. The bees will drink from the water droplets.

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Student Loan Payments

By Samantha A. Bow

Do you have student loans? Are you out of college and overwhelmed by the payments you need to be making to pay off your student loans? You are not alone. Most college students graduate with student loans.

College is not cheap. It costs a lot of money to pay for, a lot of money that most people can't afford. They end up having to borrow a lot of money. Once you graduate college you have to pay all the money back. This adds up to some hefty monthly bills.

Many students fresh out of college have trouble finding jobs right away. Unfortunately, whether you have the job of your dreams or not, you still have to pay back the money you borrowed. Even if you do get a job right away, it usually doesn't pay as much as you would like.

If you aren't making a lot of money, you might have to stay living with your parents for a while in order to pay them back. If you have to live on your own, heavy student loans can be more than you can handle. If you can't pay them, you are hurting your credit which can keep you from getting a loan in the future.

Consolidation is one way to lower your monthly student loan payments. If you have several loans from the government and other private loans, you probably have to pay different amounts at different rates. You could be paying 6% on one loan and 15% on another. With different rates and different loans it is disorganized, but also it could be costing you a lot more money.

You can consolidate your loans by bringing all the loans together at one interest rate. If you have many loans and are only making the minimum payment on each, focus on the loan with the highest rate. If you can only afford the minimum payments, you will have trouble getting ahead.

All your loans are put together and have one interest rate when you consolidate. You probably won't get a rate the lowest you had, but it should be less than the average interest rate you were paying before, which will save you money.

After graduating college, paying off your student loans should be top priority. You must get out of debt in order to maintain good credit and build your financial wealth. Do it hte best way you can and save.

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You Can Afford College

By Daniel Z. Kane

One of the most damaging aspects of our current economic recession is that families are being led to believe that they can not afford the cost of college.

Actually, nothing could be further from the truth.

Both traditional colleges and colleges offering online degrees are doing their best to minimize costs to students. Some have locked in current tuition and fee levels. Others are limiting increases to cover inflation. Some states have even passed laws to limit costs at their colleges and universities.

In addition, most colleges and universities have stepped up their efforts to raise money for scholarships because they know that families may need more help than in recent years.

The federal government is also stepping up to help students, with increases in several grant and student loan programs. Online college students also now qualify for financial aid not available to them in the past. That change makes it easier than ever for working adults to continue their educations.

Many states have also created scholarship and financial aid programs to to help students with college costs. Among them are Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana. And, more and more state universities offer in-state tuition to students from other states.

Students and their families should also be aware that it is not uncommon for colleges and universities to offer no-interest tuition installment plans. Not only do these plans allow families to spread their costs into 7-8 payments, but they provide insurance which will cover a student's tuition for up to four years if his or her parent passes away. And, the installment plan itself costs nothing.

The bottom line is that in any economy, no matter how difficult, college is affordable. College admissions and financial aid offices will help you identify programs for which you may qualify, and there are many websites which can help you find scholarships and financial aid. Good luck.

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Donate Your Boxes After You Move

By A Nutt

You have moved into your dream home, or your next stop on the property ladder, unpacked all of your boxes, and put everything in its place. Your house looks great, with one big exception " that huge pile of broken down cardboard boxes in the corner of the basement. What do you do with this unsightly fire hazard? Before you drag all of the boxes to the curb to be sent to the landfills, consider your options for recycling them

Donate Your Boxes Believe it or not, you can donate your boxes to the companies that sell new and used moving boxes. Many companies take a portion of the proceeds from the sale of boxes they receive as a donation and pass it on to needy members of the local community. So by donating your boxes you are helping in two ways. You are keeping extra cardboard out of the environment and the landfills, where it will gradually rot while taking up tons of space, and you are also helping needy people within your local community.

When you donate your boxes, call the company first to see how they want you to package them. You may need to make sure all of the boxes are clean, and you may need to break them down. This makes them easier to store for the company that will be reselling them. However, before you start breaking them down, call, because you will be wasting your time if this is not required. Some companies even provide pick-up services for people with a lot of boxes to get rid of.

Offer Them to Someone Else Do you know someone who is moving too? They might want your boxes, and they might be willing to come and get them from you. If not, put an ad in your paper or in one of the many free online classifieds for your local area letting people know that you have boxes available. If you are donating them to a stranger, make sure you arrange for a safe pick up scenario. You do not necessarily want a stranger to enter your home to pick up boxes, but you could meet in a public location or drag your boxes outside for him to take.

If All Else Fails, Recycle If you cannot find a place to donate your boxes to, look into your options for recycling them. Check with your local recycling center to find out what the procedure is for recycling cardboard boxes. You will probably need to break them down and stack them. Do not just drag the boxes to the curb, as you will not be assured that it is the recycling truck that picks them up versus the regular garbage truck. Make sure that you make all of the necessary arrangements for a proper pick up.

If curbside pick up is not available, find out where you can take them to be recycled. This is a hassle, but when you stop and think about the fact that most of the paper waste in today's landfills is cardboard, you will understand the importance of recycling those boxes.

Remember, if you are using quality moving boxes, they are probably in good shape after your move. Someone else can, and should, benefit from your unneeded boxes. You can save someone a lot of money by donating them to a moving box company or a friend in need, and you will be doing your part to keep our landfills clear. As an added bonus, you will have a spot in your basement to use for your actual treasures, rather than those unwanted, unattractive cardboard boxes.

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Ukraine's Journey

By Haylee Landford

Normally Supreme Court, Constitution, President, and National Security wouldn't make you think of an Eastern European country, especially one like Ukraine that has long associations with Russian Communism. But Ukraine's new independent government is just that. Even though Russia and Ukraine have been in a relationship since the 18th century.

Ukraine first declared independence in 1918, and was renamed the Soviet Republic. However, Ukraine soon became under Russia's rule once again. Only was complete sovereignty reached under the leadership of President Leonid Kravchuk, on August 24, 1991. Since the Soviet Union had just collapsed itself, they deserve most of the credit. A slow reformation began at this point to create a Ukraine Republic.

Republic governments hardly ever come as a smooth transition. 1998 brought a financial crisis, and President Leonid Kuchma was forced to retire in 2004 due to violent protests against his government corruption and murder accusations. So naturally his place would have to be filed after holding an election. Ukraine gives you about fifteen political parties to choose from, such as: the Republican, Ukraine People's Party, Social Democratic, The Communist Party of Ukraine, Progressive Socialist, and It's Time! Party.

This election set a new level of dirty campaign tactics. The candidate for Our Ukraine-People's Self Defense Party, Viktor Yanukovich, almost saw the end of his career indefinitely while being hospitalized for dioxin poisoning. The Orange Revolution resulted from the rumors of a fraudulent runoff election. Yanukovich's opponent, Viktor Yushchenko from the Party of Regions, and his supporters sent Kiev, and other large cities into a sea of orange, which was Tushchenko's campaign color.

This protest sparked an election rerun and much needed reformation. Many campaign issues during this time lead to reformation of the countries election laws. Campaign survivor, President Viktor Yushchenko was elected in 2005 with Viktor Yanukovich as Prime Minister. Although accused of favoritism, Yushchenko has committed to eliminating corruption with the Ukraine government and business world.

To fully grasp this one hundred year transition and it's perspective in politics and history, we must turn to the voice of the people that feel the effects of this change in society. Hungarian native, Katalin Kovachs, Ukraine's neighbor to the west, moved around to several different areas of Ukraine in 1997. Kati brings a new perspective to this change in Ukraine by viewing it all as an outsider to the country.

When Kati lived in Kiev, she visited the historic site of the Orthodox Church, on the riverbank. A smaller version of Mother Russia stands there, a statue of a woman holding a sword in the air, which has been nicknamed by locals as The Found Mother or even Big Mama.Russia placed this here as a gift, and hoped it to have similar significance at America's Statue of Liberty. Most people, however, do not see it that way. Kati said in her own words that the Ukrainians hate it because it was built by Communists, and it has desecrated their church there.

Russia has still left a permeated influence throughout Ukraine. Kati was surprised to find she needed to speak Russian in most of the places she lived. However, she did speak Ukrainian in the North Eastern region. Within the country, language is still shared between Russian and Ukrainian. The Black Sea stretches across the Southern coast of Ukraine. Russia's Navy has seen this a particularly superior place to harbor their largest fleet of ships. This of course makes it a little hazardous for swimming.

The natives of Ukraine during all this change have grown a distrust for their government officials. In Kati's association with many of the people, they unanimously agree that they have been wronged. In Kati's words, they believed in communism, but they were tricked. They believed that after communism their life will be better, but they were tricked again. There was no money, no jobs, no opportunities for a better life, so their hope died.

The crisis with Ukraine's economy only worsened the despair felt by the people. Even those lucky enough to have jobs were experiencing extreme set backs. Kati had a firsthand view of these problems. She described that many people faithfully went to work daily with a promise of payment at the end of the year, and even then it was only a sack of potatoes.

The people have learned to help each other by growing gardens of their own and raising animals, mostly cows to trade amongst themselves to keep each other alive. Kati having the opportunity to meet in many of these people's homes ultimately found hopelessness. She saw that many people are kind of burned out.

Ukraine's future rests on building hope to a people in a country that has seen too many failed governments, flags, and unkept promises. Independence has always come at a costly price. Since they have only enjoyed their freedom for 16 years, maybe only time will heal this nation into a whole country with leaders of vision to seek for a better Ukraine.

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3 secrets of extracurriculars to get into Harvard and Stanford

By Ivy League Secrets

Extracurricular accomplishments are difficult to score properly, since they're so diverse and varied by school.

There are nationally recognized organizations and competitions - for instance, Science Olympiad and National Honor Society.

For the rest, it comes down to a qualitative judgment. That's why you should do everything you can to stand out, regardless of what club you're in.

Having worked in the Admissions Office of a Top 20 college (as well as being a former Ivy Leaguer), I've developed a clear perspective on exactly what you need to accomplish in your extracurriculars to stand out.

Here's what you must accomplish:

1) Schoolwide leadership positions such as student government and class council. It's hard to argue with accomplishments that are impressive across your entire school. Harvard will be impressed.

2) Involvement in the ECs where your high school is strong. Most College Admissions Committees know what each school is good at (for instance, Academic Decathlon) - participating in your high school's best areas will help your admissions chances at Yale

3) Anything that leads to national or international honors and prizes - it's so competitive these days that's what you must do for the Ivy Leagues

As I share in Hopeless To Harvard, half of your success is what you accomplish in high school. The other half is how well you present it in the college admissions application.

Focus on describing the impact and results of your leadership and extracurricular activities. Don't just talk about what you did - talk about why it was important and why it mattered to you

Follow these 3 steps, and you'll be opening an admissions packet from Harvard in no time!

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The Home Made Power Plant Reviewed

By jeff homemades

Hello, today I am going to be discussing a product I bought a while ago called the Home Made Power Plant.

To be honest it wouldn't surprise me if you have already heard about the home made power plant because a lot of people are buying at the moment and there are a lot of positive reviews about it.

As I said a minute ago I decided to order this product a month or two ago and have decided to review it today.

From what I have found if you are the type of person that likes to do creative things then you will be very pleased with this product because you will be building your own power plant.

So the reason that the home made power plant is worth buying is because it will teach you how you have your own home made power

The second point is to help you save a good chunk of money from your energy bills.

So to save all this money and energy we are going to be building a power plant that is environmentally friendly and can be built cheaply, quickly and easily.

What I found great about the home made power plant is that the information is so well laid out in easy to follow color diagrams.

It may interest you to know that even though I have never been that good at diy and building stuff I found it extremely easy to set this up and had my own power sourse built in 1 day.

It will make you really happy to know that buying the home made power plant and building your own energy source will cause your property price to go up which means you can make more money when it comes to selling your home.

The home made power plant really is very easy to follow and is actually a fun little project that has the great benefits of saving you energy and money.

If you are looking to save energy and money then the home made power plant is worth checking out.

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College Grants And How To Make Use Of Them

By Chris Channing

A grant to be used for college is going to be tough to obtain, considering there are more college students now more than ever competing for them. For grants based on limited supply, this means that some students will have to do without. To improve your odds, you should familiarize yourself with grants and how to accurately obtain them.

Grants require a massive amount of information in order to obtain. In many cases, it will require that a student has filed for their taxes and had a valid tax return in order to complete a grant application. Because of this, it's recommended that students wait until they file their taxes before filing for student aid. Some organizations will require specific tax information on both them and their parents. Some specific grants may also require other types of information, although easier found, such as test scores or merits.

As far as government grants go, the Pell grant is the easiest to obtain. This grant in particular is a favorite among grants, since it doesn't have to be repaid like some others. There are certain restrictions, and total value is determined by the information sent to the government. Rules of the grant should be learned, such as the statute that says only one Pell grant is available per student per year, no matter how many colleges are attended.

A FAFSA is the first thing that should be filled out, and as soon as possible. This application will automatically register an applicant for different loans, work studies, and grants. It will require a lot of information in order to complete, however, so be prepared to do a lot of information searching and spend an hour or two filling it out online.

Also consider obtaining grants through the university, in which doing a work-study is possible. A work study program allows the student to take a job on at the university, in which will pay for part of the tuition for the given semester or year. Often times the university will get compensation from the government in offering such programs, so they like to do so when possible.

When presented with a government loan, make certain that after your adventure in college that you can secure a job or have money saved up to start paying on loans. Government loans are usually low interest, so they aren't so bad in terms of paying off, and they also don't start until school is over. Afterwards, however, they are just like a normal bill and will require periodic payment.

In Conclusion

Education costs are continually rising as their demand increases as well. To keep financially sound, follow the mentioned tips and get to work at filling out as many financial aid applications as possible.

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Student Loan Advice For College Bound Kids In A Down Economy

By Bryce Q. Jarwoski

Banking institutions are reducing the number of colleges they provide student loans to and most of those cut are community colleges. It seems as though those attending the expensive, elite colleges will continue to have access to student loans. It would appear that college education is being split by the lack of availability of student loans to some students.

The reason behind the decision of the financial institutions is the current global credit crisis. Because it is harder to raise money, the banks do not have the funds to lend and so they have to cut down on the loans they offer.

On a brighter note, there are other lenders who claim they will continue to offer loans to all college students. Companies such as Nelnet and Sallie Mae have recently committed to continuing with the Federal government backed scheme and will lend to students attending any college. This is good news for those attending community colleges.

For students looking at different types of student loans, the best option is the federal scheme. These are low interest loans that offer interest fixed and paid for by the government for the duration of your course. These federal loans are available to all college students, attending any college, from any background, with any credit history.

If this is so, then why are some community college students unable to get one of these student loans? It appears that there are some colleges that do not participate in the scheme, and this disqualifies the students from the loans. These students are forced to resort to other, more expensive, methods of finding money to pay for their college education - and they are often the ones who least can afford this.

Lenders claim that community college students have a greater risk potential; but instead of denying them cheaper federal loans and possibly creating a greater debt problem by forcing them to find alternative funding, the schools should offer guidance in repayment options, to make federal loans a safe option for lenders.

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Cure Yeast Infection Review - Yeast Infection Cure Revealed

By Clare Cameron

Want your yeast infection be cured immediately? Then you should give Leigh Hunter's Cure Yeast Infection Fast a try. It is actually one of the many yeast infection cures that exist at present but it is totally different and incomparable from the rest.

Well, mainly, it differs for the reason being it is well-written by a former chronic yeast infection sufferer, Leigh Hunter, who of course know how degrading it is to suffer from a yeast infection. Leigh Hunter is very much willing to extend help through her book.

Effectiveness

Because of her eagerness to help sufferers of yeast infection, Leigh Hunter made sure that her book will be totally effective. Through her book, sufferers will learn how to kill yeast infection from its spores and roots. They can also try her secret "4 step cure" that can get rid of yeast infection completely. They will also get to know what are the foods they need to avoid to get rid of their infection in no time. Not to mention that they will also learn the 15 main causes of yeast infections that would actually allow them to be 100% free from yeast infection for life.

With Cure Yeast Infection, body would be free from yeast infection and become healthier and fitter.

Safeness

Leigh Hunter's book is safe as it only promotes all natural methods. And the 4-Step cure being promoted, it is natural, drug free and 100% safe. Sufferers don't need to worry about their safety as everything is proven to be safe.

Value for Money

Cure Yeast Infection comes with great bonuses such as The Ultimate Guide to Treating Stretch Marks, How to Cure Dandruff and Other Scalp Disorders, Natural Pain Management - How to Greatly Reduce or Eliminate Pain, and Stress the Silent Killer - How to Cure Your Stress Problems. If you yourself is a sufferer of yeast infection, you won't only get rid of your infection and its symptoms but also get relief from other disorders you maybe experiencing just like scalp disorders or stress related disorder. Truly with Cure Yeast Infection you'll get good value for your money.

But if in case you find it ineffective or say are not 100% satisfied with the relief it can give, you can have your money back, no questions asked.

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Common Misconceptions In Getting Government Grants

By Chris Channing

Students everywhere are now taking advantage of the generous offers of the government in helping benefit students in their time of financial need. But along the way, there have been rumors and mysteries that students have often wondered about. To improve chances of getting ahead and getting the money needed for college, it's good to know the facts from the fiction.

There has always been the misconception that middle-class families were out of luck when it comes to government grants. The reasoning behind this is that middle class parents make more money than the more poor students, and thus disqualify middle class students from getting more money. Although this is true for some scholarships, this isn't the case in government grants- and students of middle class families should still apply.

Even though someone may have poor test-taking skills, they may be great in school and want to pursue higher education. But because of getting poor scores on the ACT or SAT, they feel that they are secluded when it comes to scholarships and government grants. Grants such as the Pell grant don't even take GPA or test scores into consideration, but rather the need of the student based on income and funds in his or her bank account.

Some don't even bother filling out government grant forms because they think they will have to pay the money back. In reality, few government-run programs will function based on a loan model. Instead, grants are more often considered as "gifts" rather than a long term loan. As such, one shouldn't be afraid to apply for a grant because they don't like taking on loans.

Students like to put things off to the last minute. As some will find, this is a bad habit that could get them in financial trouble. Many government programs demand that information be sent in by early Spring, if not sooner. Even if classes start in Fall of the year, putting in a late application means a grand total of nothing in compensation. Check deadlines often, and get in work as soon as possible to ensure you aren't missing out on free money.

Paying for college is a tough thing to go through. Indeed, it is quite stressing without a little help from outside sources. While you should rely on the government for some help, don't expect the government to pay the full bill. Grants are usually designed to lessen the burden, not pay the full tuition of the applicant. Instead, consider other scholarships in addition to a grant.

In Conclusion

Grants are excellent in getting more money for college. If you'd like to learn more about them, consider going online, talking to an accountant, school counselor, or university financial aid officer to get the right facts.

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Health Insurance for the 20 Somethings

By Jeff Cline

There comes a time in your young adult life when you no longer qualify for your parents health insurance coverage. It was never a real big deal until now. Many times you are just getting into the working world and employer benefits are just not an option. So you ask "what are my options?"

Many major insurance companies offer health insurance on an individual basis. In fact, they have specially formulated plans to cater to your market group. So if you can not get group insurance, individual health insurance makes a perfect option.

There are many plans that are designed with your needs in mind. They know what you expect and what is important to your generation. Some good examples are the Unicare Sound and Blue Cross Tonik plans. These plans are specifically designed to appeal to the 20 something's.

One of the things 20 somethings find imporatant is a office visit co pay. They want to know how much they need in their pocket when they make a visit to the doctor. Some of these plans have made the office visit all inclusive, by including lab and x-ray expenses to be covered ubder that office vist co pay.

Twenty somethings are crazy about this feature. The typically have a pretty fixed budget and paying several bills for 1 trip to the doctor is not budget friendly to them. They love that they can go to the doctor pay $30 or $40 and be done with it.

Another added bonus we are seeing in the plans are dental and vision benefits. Typically , you would have to add these benefits for an additional cost. These plans have one affordable premium with the added benefits built right in.

The young adults hated the 80/20 co insurance mambo jambo talk. So carriers answered by giving them straight talk. They meet a deductible, then the carrier pays 100%. Nothing confusing about that!

This point of transitioning into adulthood use to be left with out insurance at all. We are smarter now and know that this is a bad idea. it can really hurt you financially. So thank you to the carriers for stepping up and providing simple plans for this special time of the young adults lives.

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How to Save on Your Next Electric Bill

By Barry Miller

Whether you are an employee or a business enthusiast, you are to conserve energy not just to save on electric bills but more importantly, to help protect the earth. A workplace is a specific area where a worker or self-employed person is engaged in an occupation or any location that is used for professional purposes. Through this write-up, you would be encouraged to save energy in your workplace even if you do not pay for the electric bill.

Invest in energy-efficient appliances. Even if these specialized home devices may cost much more than the regular ones, choosing or purchasing them is still the best way to do. Initially, most of the energy-efficient appliances cost more. But they will help you save much money in the long run. Expect to keep most major appliances between 10 and 20 years; therefore, a more efficient appliance soon pays for itself. Lower monthly utility bills over the lifespan or durability of the appliance will offset its having a higher purchase price.

Such television, radio, computers and other gadgets must be turned off after each use. Keep in mind that unplugging them or using some power strips can also make you save. Also, the lights must be switched off when it is not needed or when the natural light is enough to illuminate the room. That is why proper use of lighting is very important. Though investing in lots of energy-efficient appliances and other necessary devices at home can make spend more at the moment, believe that they can make you save in the long run. Buying such can be rewarding as they tend to consume lesser energy when in use, allowing you to have low electricity costs on a regular basis.

On the other hand, computer/s must be turned off after each use or you may just put it in standby mode if you do not want to shut it down.

Purchase of Innovative Products Use a power strip as a central "turn off" point when you are done using office equipment to completely disconnect the power supply. Even when turned off, electronic and IT equipment often use a small amount of electricity when plugged in. Since it is not practical to unplug every appliance whenever you're not using it, power strips can do the job for you. They essentially monitor electricity use in each plug and shut off the ones that have been idle for a period of time.

Putting up your own renewable sources of energy These renewable sources are also called green energy because they are non-polluting and never have caused any harmful effects on Mother Nature. These can be through the power of the sun and the wind. Such do-it-yourself solar panels and windmills may be acquired from any instructional package available online like that of the Earth for Energy System. This remarkably teaches how to create some reliable home energy resources at very reasonable prices, lesser expenses ever.

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Health Insurance - A Boon To Mankind

By Keith Baxter

Insurance is a good way of keeping yourself from going broke. Life insurance lets your family keep living a comfortable life after you die. Fire insurance helps you get on with your life after a fire. Auto insurance helps you get back on the road after getting into an accident. These days, there are all kinds of different insurance packages you can buy. This makes me wonder why health insurance lags behind all the other kinds. After all, it is very important and popular. Its purpose is to pay medical bills.

The principle that allows insurance to exist is loss sharing. Simply put, many people seek insurance, and they all pay the insurance company. These payments are called premiums. The company then promises to pay them much more than their premium in the unexpected event that whatever the insurance is for occurs. This promise of possible payment is called a policy. The three most common types of insurance are (1) life insurance, (2) private health insurance, and (3) property liability insurance.

Health insurance captured little attention before the 1920as. Before health insurance was widespread, the most common way of dealing with unexpected illness was to spend personal savings, borrow money, and sometimes to go without medical attention due to lack of money. One early solution was for doctors to accept payments in instalments, but this caused its own set of problems when patients died before finishing their treatments and left their families with their debts. Lack of money to cure treatable illnesses was so widespread that several illnesses became known by a slang term, aRich Manas Diseasea. In those days, the term insurance was synonymous with life insurance. Perhaps it was that the idea that insuring anything besides life was so foreign, or perhaps it was because the average person prior to the 1920as wouldnat have been able to afford the necessary premiums. Perhaps trust in providence was strong enough that average people did not worry about falling ill. Whatever the reasons, life before health insurance must have been painful at times.

Since those early times, the insurance industry had undergone radical changes, especially concerning healthcare. Modern health insurance pays for at least the partial cost of hospitalization, surgery, laboratory tests, medicines, along with other medical costs. It is possible that insurance is more necessary than it was in the past because with rising medical costs all around, very few illnesses are affordable for the average person. Luckily for us, help is easier to secure these days. Health insurance has most likely been a large factor in decreasing mortality rates. It is kind of ironic how a man with life insurance can die of no health insurance and still make his beneficiaries rich.

These days, insurance is also available for health related issues not directly involving life and death. For example, one can now purchase disability income insurance and dental expense insurance. Disability income insurance is like life insurance before death, allowing buyers to support themselves and their families while they are sick or injured. Dental expense insurance is part of a preventative insurance industry that aids buyers in staying healthy to prevent illness. These other types of health insurance are usually purchased by employers on behalf of their employees. These combined insurances make becoming sick much easier on todayas well covered employees. All the employee need do is accept treatment, while the finances are taken care of for them. The flip side of this new convenience is the markup that occurs when it is companies with bottomless pockets that must foot todayas medical bills. In my observation, this contributes to the inflation of medical services.

Even though medical costs have gone up possibly as a result of insurance, for those who are covered by insurance costs are quite low. This is because of the intense competition between the financial institutions that provide the insurance. Insurance companies know that consumers need, value, and want health insurance. The widespread availability of health insurance seems to contribute to the peace of mind of all mankind.

Health insurance for the artists and medical supplemental insurance are a common sight these days. Artists and performers insuring that part of their body, which is crucial to the continuance of their livelihood, is very common these days. A dancer insuring his legs, an actor insuring his teeth or other visible parts which are crucial to his overall personality and popularly is not unheard of.

In general, compared to old times, where health check ups and other treatments were at a premium and paying huge bills was a remote possible, times have changed drastically now and humanity in general can heave a big sigh of relief that come what may, there are doctors for every ailment and multi-specialty hospitals ready and eager to serve and tend him back to health during times of need and emergency. Long live the insurance industry and so also the health industry.

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Can you train yourself to see at night?

By Jim Knoles

For some the idea of being able to see at night with your own night vision seems like something out of a comic book. While others may be thinking if there are people around today who can do this already. When you think about night vision you wonder about the animal kingdom and the big cats who track down their prey in pitch darkness. But what allows them to do this while we cant?

We have all thought about how great it would be to be able to see in the dark although it is usually when we are fumbling around in the darkness looking for a light after a power cut. Most people assume that we have no night vision capabilities at all, but this is simply because it doesnt work in the same way that it does for most animals.

The easy answer to the question of human night vision is that it takes a while to kick in and especially when you compare us to felines. About 30 minutes is the usual time for us to get our maximum sight in the darkness. This is because a chemical reaction is required in order for our eyes to adjust and this evolves the special rods in our eyes actually becoming bleached in order to absorb more natural light.

For these somewhat magical rods to work there does need to be some type of light available, eg the stars. In this respect we are similar to many night hunting animals in that they cant function in zero light either. However the way in which the common house cat for example can use the light available is quite different to us. They are able to re-use light by channelling it to the front of their retina after it hits the back of their eye. This is why when you car lights shine on a cat at night their eyes start to glow.

Is it possible to become better at viewing objects in the dark? During the first war in Iraq a group of British specialist forces were sent behind enemy lines on reconnaissance. Instead of using bulky night vision glasses they relied only on their own natural night vision which they had been using for years. They reported back after the mission that they were able to see almost perfectly after about 60 minutes of complete darkness.

There are some problems with human night vision though in that we can lose it very quickly if we see a bright light and the adjustment process in our eyes will have to start all over again. To beat this problem many people close one eye when needed eg for reading a map or any other activity that requires a bright light source.

You may be thinking of people who work constantly in low light become better at adapting to low light than the rest of us. It is said that if your eyes are constantly having to adjust to darkness that they become quicker at adapting and reacting to low light. In this way it is similar to someone who trains their muscles daily in order to get stronger.

Its also thought that people who work in darkness frequently have eyes that can ajust to the darkness faster than others. This happens with repeated changing of the rods in the eyes as in a way they are like a muscle and the more you exercise this ability the better you can get at it.

Its not wrong to say that in most scenarios we are no competition for the night hunters of the animal world. However we do have a great capacity to see in the darkness if we are prepared to give it time to work.

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Last minute application tips to get into Harvard and Stanford

By Ivy League Secrets

Many of you will wait until the last-minute before seriously considering college applications. It's a horrible idea, and the last thing I'd recommend.

I'm guilty of it too - that's what my secret guide to Harvard admissions is all about - how to make yourself sound like an amazing candidate in the months that you have left. And if you follow my five steps below, I guarantee that it will help you get into Harvard, Princeton, or Stanford.

1) Take a deep breath, because you're about to work really, really, really hard. If you're a junior or even a senior, you only have a few months. I'll show you how to use it wisely

2) Be as busy as you can in your last summer before applications. College admissions committees look at this summer closely to see what you accomplish. What are your passions? MAKE SURE you spend that summer on your passions

3) If you don't have a strong GPA or class ranking, you have to start immediately showing improvement. That's the key. Get good grades in every class. Here's a secret - take college classes over the summer to show that you can do well on the college level. It's impressive to admissions committees.

4) Treat the college application like you'd treat your best friend. Spend hundreds of hours writing and re-writing your essays, asking favorite teachers for great recommendations, and writing out supplemental info and descriptions that sound amazing. This is your face to Harvard and Stanford - make sure you look good

5) Think of yourself as a salesman. You need to convince admissions committees that you're the right candidate. This means showing yourself in the best light possible - highlighting and exaggerating accomplishments if needed

The above should get you to a great start. Focus on your story and your passions - particularly if you're a come-from-behind candidate. Only by telling a unique, interesting story about your life will you stand a chance at getting into Princeton or Yale.

Good luck!

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Tips For Finding An Online School

By Michael Fleischner

Finding an online school or program to meet your degree requirements can be an overwhelming process. But don't despair. The hard part of choosing to go back to school to finish your degree or learn a new skill is over. Now you can focus on finding the online program that meets your needs.

One of the most popular ways to research and online program is to leverage the internet. If you are looking for a specific type of program, then simply type the program name with the word "online" in front of it. This will return individual programs as well as directories that list online programs by discipline.

Create an evaluation list to measure how each school can meet your needs. An evaluation list is a listing of criteria you can use to find the right school. This list should include the aspects of online learning that are most important to you such as time to graduate, requirements, financial aid, and more.

Be disciplined when you review what each online program has to offer. One way you can do this is by thinking through what is most important to you and then measuring each school against these criteria. Call the school you are thinking of applying to and speak with someone on the admissions team. This gives you a good idea of the school you are evaluating.

If you need help with the application process, don't hesitate to work with the admissions director at the school you are applying to. They want to enroll the right students ad are willing to work with everyone who shows an interest in their online college or program. As you move through the application process, ask if you can sit in on virtual class. This ensures that you've made the right decision.

Going to school online can be a difficult process. After you have gotten comfortable with conducting online research around possible online programs, you should narrow your list to only those schools that meeting your most important needs.

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What every high school student needs to know about GPA and SAT

By Ivy League Secrets

Here's what Admissions committees won't tell you about your GPA, class rank, and SAT scores: above a specific level, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

College admissions is a game - and there are rules to getting into Harvard and Stanford that you should know. As a former Admissions Officer at a Top 20 school, I've had plenty of experience seeing the difference between admits and rejects, waitlists and fat accept packets.

With your GPA, class rank, and SAT, there are only 2 rules that you need to know - following these rules will SAVE A LOT OF TIME during the college admissions process.

1) Try to be in the top 3-5% of your class in terms of GPA and ranking, and you'll be strong enough for consideration at most top schools. Being valedictorian just doesn't mean that much these days, and Harvard values other accomplishments equally

It all depends on your school, too. If you're at Stuyvesant, you can be 10% and be fine.

2) Get above a 2100 on your SAT and you'll be covered. Of course, this is the minimum cutoff - but there's no need to stress about a perfect score

Please don't think I'm recommending you just get a 2100. The higher, the better - but at this point, it's smart to invest your time and energy in other productive areas, like ECs, sports, music, etc

One more caveat - it's CRITICAL that you take every AP or IB class that your school provides. Admissions officers always review your transcript - and you can't come across like you're slacking off or it will hurt you.

Do this, and you'll have a step up on the admissions competition.

Finally, as I tell everyone and describe in detail in my Hopeless to Harvard book, it's all about telling a great story. You do this not through your test scores, but through your EC commitments, your essays, and so on.

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Sporting Green Alliance Recycle Electronics

By Wayne Catango

The message that Leigh Steinberg and the Sporting Green Alliance delivered was clear - if you want to have a positive impact on the planet, you need to learn how to recycle electronics. There are not enough people in the world who are recycling their electronic waste when they replace old gadgets with new ones. Many of the components within gadgets and electronics can be reused. Additionally, there are some components of electronics and gadgets that need to be properly disposed of. Rather than simply throw your old gadgets away you can recycle electronics in order to dispose of them properly, giving their components and elements a new life.

The average cell phone user discards his or her mobile phone in favor of a replacement every 18 months or so on average. Televisions are replaced every few years or so depending on the brand and model. Gaming consoles and other small handheld electronics have even shorter shelf lives in most circumstances. As a result of the increase in available technology, consumers are throwing old electronics away more readily than ever before. What this means is that increasing amounts of electronic waste are impacting our environment in a truly unhealthy way.

In 2006 alone, more than 13 million pounds of electronic and gadget waste was recycled by Apple. The apple company is expecting the amount of recycled electronics to grow so that by 2008, 20 percent of electronic products will be recycled effectively. Apple hopes to be recycling as many as 19 million pounds of electronic waste every year by the year 2010. 19 million pounds of electronic waste is 30 percent of the product weight that was sold seven years prior, which is a large growth over the 9.5 percent recycled in 2006. By the time Leigh Steinberg's Annual Super Bowl Party comes around in 2012, the Sporting Green Alliance may promote the recycling of 2008 iPhones.

The Dell computer company has made news by deciding to become carbon neutral. This is because they will be the first major company to achieve such a goal. Dell has also implemented a number of systems so that they may recycle electronics and also reuse old electronics as well. Dell has a partnership with the National Christina Foundation, allowing consumers to donate working computers to charity in exchange for tax deductions. The donated electronics are passed on to public agencies and local non profits to help disabled and disadvantaged children and families.

The solution is to recycle electronics rather than allowing for them to end up in the trash heap. Finding out how to recycle electronics in your local area is actually extremely simple and straight forward. The Consumer Electronics Association is urging people to learn how to recycle electronics rather than throwing them away. They are promoting a website that makes this process even simpler by showing you where to go to recycle the goods. You can view this website at http://www.mygreenelectronics.com.

There is another Best Buy recycling program that is well worth noting. New cell phone customers that purchase cell phones from Best Buy will receive a postage paid envelope. This postage paid envelope is free, and will allow them to recycle their old cell phone. The old, obsolete cell phone will be sent to ReCellular, which donates dollars from its program to the Boys and Girls Club of America. Not only is Best Buy facilitating the ability to recycle electronics, but also helping to make sure money is given to a worthy cause as a result.

In addition to providing you with resources for recycling electronics, the My Green Electronics site is also a great information resource. There you will be able to find out about the 4 R's and how they relate to electronics. If you want to make smarter choices when it comes to learning how to recycle electronics, this website is an excellent jumping off point. There are a myriad of resources online for learning how to best recycle electronics. There are great tips and plenty of information here for you to learn from.

Finally, Gateway offers a trade in program offering Gateway credit to consumers recycling older used personal computers. The company also offers an innovative program to recycle electronics by giving consumers cash for working technology products. This particular initiative is being managed by DealTree. There is also a program in place allowing electronic waste to be shipped in to Gateway for proper recycling. There are fees associated with this program depending on the weight of the electronics. The message is clear as demonstrated by Leigh Steinberg the Sporting Green Alliance, take care when recycling electronics. This will do our planet a lot of good.

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Art Schools Explained

By Anne Durrel

Discovering money for art schools has proven to be exceptionally difficult for more than one person on more than one occasion. However, it is quite possible.

In today's educational market, there are countless a lot of occasions to purchase financial support for a learning in the arts. If you are involved in art schools, this is beneficial reports for you!

In the beginning , you have to know some of the positions that can be of assist to you in your effort.

Colleges, groups in the community, professional level organizations, companies, and even nonprofit organizations often offer money for art schools!

The types of art schools that you are keen on will have a significant impact on the sort of economic help that you can get. Naturally, you have to go with the kind of art that you are most relaxed with, but it is crucial to make sure that you work to expand your scopes by finding out about extra kinds of classes offered in art schools.

By placing an emphasis on continual growth plus professional development, you are doing operational towards the ability to discovering not only new ability, but added funds for art schools!

Study schools online and in your society in order to find out which actual art schools draw your curiosity so that you may launch your profession growth at present !

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Are Your Ready For An Online School?

By Michael Fleischner

For individuals interested in getting an online degree, there are many benefits to consider. An online degree is ideal for any individual with a full time job or if you are looking to attend school full time. Both traditional institutions and online universities offer a variety of online learning programs that meet the needs of today's busy schedules.

An online degree can enable a person to seek a better opportunities because much needed skills are developed. This is essential for anyone interested in finding a higher paying job or seeking a job in a new industry. You can achieve these outcomes through an online education but you must be persistence and disciplined to earn your degree.

Online education is popular for a number of reasons. The largest reason is flexibility. For many individuals, attending classes online is much more convenient than traveling to a destination far from home. With almost all traditional colleges offering online classes, you can complete or obtain your degree from well known universities.

When completing your degree online you earn the same credentials as someone who attends a land based university. The value of your education is equal to that of any other graduate because you each need to meet the same requirements. You need to find an accredited university that can give you the training and experience you need to get the job you want.

In addition to the benefits associated with getting an online degree, there are some drawbacks. Those who achieve the most success are individuals who are highly motivated and work independently. It is necessary to have this discipline because you will be completing assignments on a tight schedule and need to structure your time carefully. Consider whether or not you have the necessary skills to complete your assignments independently and in a timely manner.

You also need to be comfortable with doing work assignments online. If you are still using pen and paper in lieu of doing your work online, then attending an online school may not be ideal. Your professor probably wont give you any extra leeway if you are unable to complete your assignment due to technical difficulties.

Another drawback of online education is that it can take much longer to complete than if you were to quit your job and go to school full time. This is true of any online program. Whether you are taking an online class or attending campus, you must fully understand the time it takes to complete your degree. Do you have the staying power and persistence needed to complete all of the coursework? Give it considerable thought before you make a large financial decision.

Before you begin searching for an online degree you need to determine if you have the discipline to learn online. Often what sounds like a good idea can later be undesirable. When you fully understand what is involved in getting a degree online, it may be a great way to complete your degree or advance your skills. Additional learning, online or in the classroom, is a great source of development and can help you accomplish your goals.

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Live Environmentally, Live Greener

By Simon M Skinner

One of the benefits of living green is it can extend your lifespan. This may be surprising, but it is very true. There are many things that not only help the earth, but they help you, too! Eating fresh organic foods, cutting down on driving, and many other things will help you live greener, longer!

By eating healthy, organic foods you are not only helping your body by giving it fresh food, you are saving the earth from being contaminated by pesticides. Organic meats help by keeping the environment free of antibiotics and growth hormones. Plus you're avoiding all those nasty things from going inside of you! By eating fresh, organic foods, you are avoiding all the processed foods that do a better job of clogging your arteries than they do of providing nutrition.

Another easy way to live greener is to join your local Freecycle email list. Instead of throwing away items and buying new stuff all the time, use the Freecycle list. If you have an item you don't want anymore, simply list it. Chances are, someone in your community can use it and they'll come take it off your hands for free. Likewise, if you need something, post your needs and see if someone can help you score the items for free. This reduces trash in the landfills, and everyone gets what they want.

Instead of tossing everything in the garbage, try tossing it on a compost pile to fertilize your garden in the spring. It will save you money because you won't have to go to the store and buy organic fertilizer, in fact it may even save you a trip to the store. Throw all the old vegetables and fruit in and any clippings you have from cooking in the pile. Coffee grounds, egg shells, leaves and grass can all go in the compost pile. Do not put in meat or bones as it will attract insects and takes too long to decompose. Hose down the pile occasionally to keep it from drying out; it won't break down as well if it is dry.

Out in the yard, solar lights can save energy and help illuminate dark areas. There are enough different designs on the market now at varying prices to make them affordable to most people. They don't require an electrician to install them, and with the new solar technologies, they are brighter than solar lights used to be. They even have solar powered holiday lights you can use to decorate your yard without using cords and increasing your electric bill.

Small things like recycling cans, bottles and plastic packaging helps lower your garbage bills and helps reduce your carbon footprint. Use cloth bags when you shop instead of taking their paper or plastic bags. Some stores even knock off a few cents when you use your own bags. All of this will help reduce pollution, which is healthier for you because you'll be breathing cleaner air.

As you can see, it is easy to begin going green. It is not only good for the environment, it is better for you and it will save you money. Living green will soon become a habit, and before you know it, you'll be looking for more ways to be even greener. So don't be afraid to take that first step. It's easier than you think.

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Why starting early helps you get into Harvard and Stanford

By Ivy League Secrets

If you're like me, you waited until the last minute before worrying about college. Luckily, I pulled it off - getting accepted at Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and a few other schools. There are some tricks to make this happen - but that's for another article.

I'd like to talk about what you can do when you have several years. When you're a freshman and can plan ahead. Those years can easily make the difference between getting a fat packet to Stanford, and a thin rejection letter to Yale.

1) Make sure you have a strong SAT score, SAT IIs, and a good GPA. Take every AP-level class and test that you can - and get high scores. Harvard expects you to challenge yourself at the highest academic levels with every opportunity possible

2) Participate in a few clubs that really show what your interests and spike (eg, environment, education, poverty, science, etc). Become the leader - and do interesting things as the leader, like increase membership, partner with other schools, plan conferences, etc

3) Sports and music are helpful - they show specific passions and interests

4) You need to think about NATIONAL and/or INTERNATIONAL awards, prizes, and scholarships to distinguish yourself in this competitive environment. Admissions is simply too competitive to only win local or state honors

Finally, make sure that everything you do TELLS A STORY. This is the most critical aspect - make sure this story of your life is reflected in your teacher recommendations, your essays, and your accomplishments.

Rejections happen because applicants do a little of everything, and nothing truly well. They're not DISTINCTIVE in anything they do - and they don't get into Harvard or Stanford because they don't have a story.

Too much breadth can kill you - focus instead on depth.

TELL A STORY in your application. That's the one secret. People forget that 50% of your chance at Harvard is in your application. The other 50% is the hard work you've done to get to this point.

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Using Recycled Moving Boxes

By Amy Nutt

When you move, you are going to have a huge impact on the environment. Any time someone moves, they inevitably do away with loads of belongings that they no longer need. You have probably seen the curb of your neighbor's house when he moved piled high with junk and items that were once valuable to him.

Of course, when you move in to your new home, you are also going to face a situation where you are going to impact the environment. Once you are done unpacking, what are you going to do with all of those cardboard boxes? One way to help reduce your impact on the environment when you move is to look into your options for recycled boxes.

Environmental Impact of Moving Boxes

You may not think that the moving boxes you use when you move will make that big of an impact on the environment, but they do. Think about the fact that one ton of cardboard takes up nine cubic yards of landfill space. While you do not have one ton of cardboard after your move, you do have quite a bit, and what you recycle is kept out of the landfills. Also, corrugated cardboard boxes are the most prevalent type of paper waste, so recycling your boxes and using recycled boxes makes a huge difference in the environment.

Creative Ways to Get Recycled Moving Boxes

If you want to use recycled moving boxes, you have several options to consider. The tried and true way to gather moving boxes for your move, without buying them, is to contact your local grocery and other local merchants and ask them if you can have their boxes. You may or may not be able to have them, but it never hurts to ask.

Keep in mind that these boxes are not always ideal. Sometimes they are damaged, as grocery store workers are not careful when they open them since they do not need to keep them. Sometimes the cardboard has been damaged by the knife when the boxes were opened, so they will not hold up well for another use. There is also the risk of pests when you get boxes from a retail store, especially when they originally held food. Some boxes may have been spilled on as well, so you may end up throwing away many of the boxes that you receive. This, of course, eliminates some of the benefit of recycling.

Another option is to purchase recycled moving boxes. These boxes are typically more affordable than regular ones, and they are made as durable as brand new moving boxes. You can order them online or from a local box recycling company. Either way, you will get what looks like new boxes but will be benefiting from the fact that you are using recycled materials to house your belongings during your move.

If you do decide to use recycled moving boxes, be sure to check the dimensions of the boxes before you order. What one person labels a "wardrobe" box to another is not large enough. Rather than relying on the labels the box recycling company places on the boxes, take out a tape measure so you can visualize what the actual measurements will be. Make sure you have boxes that will hold your valuables.

Using recycled cardboard boxes when you move is easy and does not have to cost much. You simply need to know where to look to find great boxes that are going to be thrown out or are made from recycled materials, make your order or request, and start packing. You will rest easier knowing that your move is going to make less of a negative impact on the world around you.

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How to write the mid-year report that gets you to Harvard

By Ivy League Secrets

So you've sent your applications to Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and other Ivy League schools. You're anxiously waiting to hear back and nervous about the result. Some of you may have been waitlisted after Early Action and are really worried about your chances.

I went through this process awhile back - and was accepted at Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and other Ivy League schools. I also worked in the Admissions Office for 3 years - so I know what I'm talking about here.

Here are my secrets to creating a mid-year update/report that will WOW ADMISSIONS COMMITTEES and hopefully push you over the edge.

1) Send a maximum of 3-4 error-free pages describing SIGNIFICANT SUCCESSES since your regular application. Did you win a major, international scholarship? Include. Did your tennis team win a state championship? Include. Did you start an anime club with your friends? Do not include

2) Don't send any additional teacher recs unless specifically asked. I know how nervous you guys are. I know how badly you want to show them that you're qualified. But sending too much information at this point is COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. Don't do it - even if that teacher rec is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Admissions Committees will at best briefly look over it, and at worst be irritated that you were so pushy

3) Only send sample articles, reports, stories, etc if they are professional quality. For instance, if you wrote several short stories, only include them if you're either SPECIFICALLY ASKED, or if those stories were published in the New Yorker or other national publication. Do not include it just because your English Teacher gave you an A+

4) This is your last chance to make a definitive impression, so I would SPEND A LOT OF TIME making things look good, proofreading and spell-checking, and getting a few secondary opinions.

Most people think the Mid-year report/Mid-year update is simply grades and a form for the counselor. But it's a great opportunity to showcase how you've improved over time, and to give Admissions Committees the little bump that may put you over the edge.

Good luck, everybody!

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