Tag Archives: college kid

Jan18

Helping Your Child Choose The Right College 

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Helping Your Child Choose The Right College 

Going to college can be one of the biggest and most exciting things for you and your child, but when it comes to choosing the right one? It can be a challenge, to say the least. College doesn’t suit everyone, and not every college will suit every person, either. Many colleges offer different clubs, opportunities, career pathways, and support. Scholarships, grants, and other funding will also vary from school to school.

So how can you make sure that your child finds the best place for them? Read on to find out more:

Career goals:

One of the most important things to know about the colleges in question is if it supports your child’s eventual career goals. While many colleges have prestigious reputations, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be the right place. Educational institutions like Rockford Career College often offer a clearer view of career prospects after graduation.

Applications:

After you have created your shortlist, it is time to apply. Make sure that you have all of the paperwork that will be required. The application packs should have all of the information you need about costs. It can also be a good idea to discuss if your child should stay at home while they study or how accommodation might look if the commute is too long.

Be sure to spread the application process over a few days so that you and your child don’t get tired. Each one needs to be as good as possible.

Visiting:

Traveling to visit all of the universities can be an expensive endeavor, but it is essential. This means that you and your child will have a good idea of how it is situated, the student body, and even speak to some teachers. It is vital to find somewhere that your child feels comfortable – it is often obvious where they feel the most at home and which establishment sparks the most joy.

Practical:

It is often our biggest hope that they will get into a prestigious school on a full scholarship and be happy. But this doesn’t always work out. It might be due to grades; it could be because of financial situations or distance. When you first start browsing all of the options, practical things are up for discussion too. It isn’t about quashing dreams but tackling some things on a reasonable level. Ensure that each application they send is somewhere that they will be happy to go and that it makes practical sense in terms of their situation.

When your child is getting ready to leave for college, it is a big thing for everyone. You might have some hesitations about them leaving the nest, but you must move into a supportive role. College is often one of the first times that older children are allowed to spread their wings and see what truly makes them happy.

Arming them with knowledge and support is a must, so here is a great post that can help: 3 Things All College Students Should Know | lifewithlilred.

Featured Image By: Rui Silvestre on Unsplash

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Sep7

Wanted: Back To School Guest Bloggers

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Wanted: Back To School Guest Bloggers

Hello! Whether you’re learning from home or actually going on campus, it is now back to school season. Was I ever really excited for back to school? Not really! Not until college, anyways. I think I would be extra not excited to go back now so that means lifewithlilred needs some amazing guest bloggers more than ever.

No matter how you or your children are learning, I want to hear about it! What has home schooling been like? Do you have a how to guide to make cloth face masks? What about a fresh face MOTD or comfy cozy OOTD for Zoom meetings? Or perhaps your own unique take on a school lunch? If you are interested in guest blogging for lifewithlilred, please shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com (And remember – my blog is read in over one hundred and ninety different countries!)

Can’t wait to hear from you!

thanks

Jul21

4 Things To Consider If You’re Thinking About Going Back To School

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4 Things To Consider If You’re Thinking About Going Back To School

Are you thinking of going back to school? Although it’s a very exciting endeavor, it’s also very daunting – especially if you’ve been out of education for several years. You need to make sure that you’re prepared for what’s coming your way. No matter the reason behind the decision – whether it’s to follow your interests or boost your career, you’ll want to research thoroughly into it beforehand.

Throughout the research process, it’s likely that you’ll have several main considerations about furthering your education, which might include the following:

What You’ll Specialize in:

What are you interested in studying? If you’re doing it as a way of enhancing your career, chances are this will be a subject that’s related to the job you’re doing now. For example, if you’re a lawyer, you might want to specialize in a particular type of law – like brain injury law, commercial law, or family law.

However, if you’re looking for something new that you’ve never done before, the selection process might be a bit trickier. This is why it’s a good idea to look at various colleges/universities/training programs, comparing and contrasting them based on what they include and what career you could get into in the future from completing it.

The Cost:

Unfortunately, studying doesn’t come cheaply. And with some universities across the country costing up to $70,000, it might feel out of reach. Before applying to further education, it’s important to look at how much it costs and whether there are any finance options available to you. This way, you’ll know that you can afford to take it on – without unbearable student debts in the future.

Online VS In Person:

Do you want to study online or in-person? This is a top consideration that will help to shape your final decision. This choice will depend on how you want your studying to fit around your lifestyle. For example, if you work part-time or full-time, online studying is likely to be the best choice for you as you can work on assignments in the evenings or on the weekend.

If you’re looking to focus full-time on studying and only take on some part-time work to help cover your monthly costs, in-person studying at the university or college may be more suitable.

Should You Gain Work Experience Instead?

Is there a way that you can gain work experience? Even though further education will give you another degree, diploma, or other accreditation, for some roles, work experience is preferred. Also, if you want to get an insight into that career but don’t want the cost or ties to a course, then perhaps trying to get work experience is the better option.

Through taking on an internship or placement, you’ll be able to see whether that type of career is right for you while showcasing to future employers your dedication to the profession.

These are four of the top things to consider if you’re thinking of going back to school. At the end of the day, of course, the decision is up to you. But by looking at the above and researching into the course and prospects it will offer you, you’ll be able to determine the best route to follow.

Featured Image By: Moose Photos from Pexels

Jan7

Making The Most Of Your Graduate Studies

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Making The Most Of Your Graduate Studies

Deciding to take on postgraduate education can be one of the best decisions that you make. It opens up new opportunities for you, and could increase your employability and perhaps your salary too. As you’re dedicating time and money to your graduate studies, you will want to make the most of them by doing the following:

Manage Your Time Well:

It’s ultimately up to you to make the most of your studies. You will get back what you put in, so you need to be prepared to put in the hard work. Managing your time is one of the most important things, especially if you’re working as you study.

Start Opening Doors:

If you haven’t already begun to make the right connections during your undergraduate years, your grad studies are the perfect time to start opening doors for yourself. Spend some time networking and getting to know people who can help you find the right opportunities.

Get Work-related Experience:

Getting out into the world of work with solid qualifications but no real-world experience will be tough. Try to use some of your time to gain valuable work experience or focus on projects which will be useful to highlight when you’re looking for work.

Choose the Right Place to Study:

Before you even start your studies, choosing the right place to study will ensure you get the most out of it. There are many things to consider, including the method of study, location, qualification, and other important factors that will help you to choose correctly.

Check out more tips on the infographic below and happy studying!


Infographic Design By Northeastern University

Jul3

Getting A Master’s: What You Need To Know

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Getting A Master’s: What You Need To Know

Are you considering getting your master’s or trying to work out whether you should? If this is the situation you’re in, then read on for three key areas to keep in mind:

Job Prospects:

First of all, one of the most important things for you to keep in mind is the job prospects that come with a master’s degree. Can you get your dream job without it? If so, do you need to get your master’s? If you do or you’ve got significant earnings potential with it, then go ahead.

Costs:

The next thing that you need to bear in mind here, is the cost. Because, as you’ll know, college can come with a hefty price tag. And so, you’ll want to make sure that one, you can afford it or have funding options, and that two, you’re happy to take on that much debt if you do. A cheaper college or shorter course could help you here.

Duration:

Finally, you’re then going to want to think about the duration of the course, too. Sure, you can get some year-long courses, but anything like law school is going to be a lot longer than that. And, of course, costs increase as a result. So, ask yourself, do you really want to go down that route? If you really want that career, then you may not have another choice. But if you take a look at the infographic below, you’ll find that a political management degree could be more beneficial. So weigh up your options!


Infographic Design By George Washington University

No matter your choice, consider it carefully and make sure that it is the right one for you.

 

Dec12

Post-Uni Work Life Getting You Down? Try These Options To Spice Things Up!

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Post-Uni Work Life Getting You Down? Try These Options To Spice Things Up!

Throughout college, we motivate ourselves by thinking that it doesn’t matter that we have to pull all-nighters and spend 24 hours straight in the library because it will all be worth it when we land our dream job. However, the reality of the situation can be very different when we find ourselves in the work world. Many of us discover that our post-uni work life isn’t quite what we expected it to be, and can be (Dare we say it?) a bit boring? Happily, if you do find yourself in this position, there are some tactics which you can use to make things a lot more interesting. Read on to find out more:

Change your job:

The simplest solution to the boring work blues is to change your job. Perhaps there would be a role elsewhere that would be a better fit for your skills and interests? In another company, you might find colleagues that you have more in common with? You won’t know until you find out.

Although, it is vital to be mindful of making a snap decision when it comes to changing your job in a situation like this. We all have bad days and even bad weeks, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that going somewhere else will be any better.

That is why it’s worth giving any role a decent run of at least three months unless there are extenuating circumstances. Otherwise, you could find yourself leapfrogging from job to job, rather than learning to cope with the ups and downs of typical day to day life.

Keep your job, but work overseas:

Another option, is to find a similar position but in a radically different location. I’m not just talking about moving to the other side of town here, but going to live and work in an entirely different country! Something that is bound to add some excitement and zest into your post-university work life.

Luckily, it’s not that hard to find a suitable role, because you can use sites like GradAustralia that specialize in finding overseas jobs in all sorts of sectors. You can even apply through their portal, so it couldn’t be easier to locate a post that best suits your experience and allows you to infuse a little excitement into your post-university work life.

Go into business for yourself:

Last of all, if the post-uni lull that you are in is more about working for someone else and having to fit into the corporate culture, you may want to consider going into business for yourself and carving your own career path.

The good news here, is that it’s never been easier to get set up as an entrepreneur or small business owner, with the majority of such organizations running primarily over the internet in the startup stages.

Of course, going into business for yourself is not without its challenges, but it is certainly an option that will bring plenty of spice and excitement!

Beat the work blahs by changing things up and enjoy as your job transforms into your ideal career.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov20

3 Things All College Students Should Know

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3 Things All College Students Should Know

Being in college is often painted as being one of the easier times in life, but anyone who has actually been there will know that it is quite the opposite. It is often very hard being a student in many different ways and wanting some advice or help is absolutely fair and not a sign of failure. If you are keen to try and improve your own college experience, you might want to look into some of the things that you can do to make sure that it is as easy and enjoyable as possible. In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the things that all college students should know if they are to both enjoy college and get as much out of it as possible:

There Is Always Help To Be Had:

Because it’s usually your first time away from home, you will probably find that you end up feeling a little alone at some point or another. A big part of this is the sense that you can’t really do anything to be helped out, and that you need to suffer or struggle alone. However, this is not the case, and if you want to get ahead in college you will need to remember that there is always help to be had, no matter what. Whether you buy essays to help you out with your work or calling home for a friendly voice, it is worth bearing in mind, so make sure that you remember that as best as you can.

Grades Can Be Improved:

In most cases, you will get the chance to take mock exams and submit early drafts of essays before you actually finalize them, and that is an incredibly useful thing to be able to do. Knowing that your grades can essentially always be improved means that you can hope to reduce any anxiety you might have around your studies, and put a little less pressure on yourself to get it right the first time around. Grades can always be improved in time for them to matter, so don’t worry so much and instead just try to do your best whenever you can.

There is also plenty of help to be had if you are struggling with your grades. Study sessions and tutors are usually available on campus so you can get a better grasp of your classes. There is also lots of resources online like this student research guide as well as sites like Grammarly if you have a hard time proofreading essays and even YouTube videos to help break down difficult math equations. These are all wonderful tools so use them well!

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Study up!

Friends Are Sustenance:

If you don’t manage to make many friends, it is much less likely that you will have a great and useful time at college, so it is definitely something that you should try to do early on. Making friends is an important part of the whole experience for most people, and it’s something that everyone is perfectly capable of if they know how. If you feel that you sometimes struggle with this, you might want to think about some of the things you can do to ensure that you are going to be able to make more friends in the future, so that you can hope to enjoy college life all the more.

College, although stressful, is a fun and exciting time so use the tips above and make the most of it!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan15

Is Further Education Worth It?

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Is Further Education Worth It?

Going into further education after leaving school seems like the best option for many. At eighteen years old, you don’t know what you want to do. So instead of going full time at a job you despise and would love to bring down from the inside, you choose to pursue the highs and lows of university life.

But is it all worth it? Tuition fees have skyrocketed, and continue to raise, leaving graduates mired in debt. Furthermore, the jobs you wanted aren’t available, too many applicants, not enough positions. Was your three, four, or five years sitting hungover in lecture halls a waste of time?

Finances:

Paying for college is expensive and a student loan will ease a lot of money troubles when at university and websites like SoFi (read here) can help to find the best loan for you. While some choose to work while they study, there are others who don’t want to or can’t and will need to consider what financial shape they will be in upon graduating.

While there are national student debt relief programs available to help graduates through this, you should also consider other ways of paying off your loans. It is smart to begin paying back as soon as you graduate. Otherwise, you will find it hard to start prioritizing your debt when you need to pay for rent, food, and everything in between.

Health:

You are allowed to let loose at college. If you aren’t there for the social side, then you will miss out big time on some priceless experiences. But doing this can cause your health to suffer in the long run. People get so into the party lifestyle that they can develop conditions such as alcoholism or nicotine addiction due to their actions while studying.

It’s hard to keep on top of your health; you eat what and when you can and many often suffer from the Freshman Fifteen when first starting. You have so much free time at university that it pays to get into good habits then and not try to repair the damage later. Furthermore, the stress that comes from student debt and deadlines can hurt your mental health, as well. However, universities will offer free counseling if you find yourself struggling to cope with the demands.

Career:

Studying something at university is supposed to set you up for entering a related career in the future. But how many people have you met who studied something, say marketing, and are still droning away behind a till?

It takes time to find the job that you want, and getting it straight out of university is unlikely, but now we are seeing people some five or more years in the future still working away at the same job they had in school. Some people have taken steps towards fixing this by retraining later in life to give them much-needed experience, without having to quit their job.

So, if you want to go to university, then go for it. This isn’t supposed to warn you off pursuing further education. But you know yourself, and you need to be aware of what the future may hold upon graduation. Most people who graduated will tell you that university is worth it, but not necessarily in the way that you might think.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Dec22

Getting Educated And Qualified Without Quitting Your Day Job

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Getting Educated And Qualified Without Quitting Your Day Job

No matter if you’ve already passed your initial schooling phase in your teens or late adulthood, it is never too late to get educated. Studies show that a considerable chunk of people would like a career change of some sort, and branch off into something that they are more interested in. Sadly, that is not always possible without the correct qualifications or the know-how.

Fortunately, we live in a time where education does not always have to be a completely full-time ordeal. Now, more flexible schedules which allow you to still work at least part-time are more than realistic. Not only that, but you could go ahead and get yourself qualified with some short courses, which take a few weeks or months rather than several years of school. No matter which scenario might suit you more, both are just as feasible for the average person and can be arranged if you just take the correct steps forward:

Getting educated:

Due to the nature of the modern working world, it is not always possible for everyone to take a few years out from work to fully dedicate themselves to studying, while the rent goes unpaid. Working at least part-time is a necessity for a large majority of adults in most countries and, unless you are able to balance working and studying simultaneously, then chances are you won’t be able to indulge in the sweet enriching world of education.

Before you give up completely, you should at least check out the different schedules available, and get familiarized with the different timetables available to see if you could make it work somehow. Always wanted to become a doctor? Go ahead and check the medical school tuition fees, and see if it is something that you could feasibly get invested in. Feel like programming is something which you would like to do as a career? Go and see if you can find local computer science courses. The sky’s the limit, so get out there and start planning your future in a field that you are truly passionate about.

educate1

Knowledge is power!

Short courses for busy people:

If getting involved in any sort of long-term education is a big red flag for you, then there are always shorter courses which still provide you with industry standard qualifications in various fields but take considerably less time to complete. Whether you want to learn how to play the guitar or find out how to publish books, there will be a course out there which will catch your eye.

A somewhat popular series of courses are provided by companies certified by Adobe themselves, which run training courses in the Adobe Creative Suite which can result in you getting the title of a “Adobe Certified Associate”. Not only does it sound prestigious, but it is just as useful as it sounds. Depending on what you are interested in, you can pick up some certificates for any program in the suite that is relevant to your interests. Whether you want to create websites with Adobe Dreamweaver or logos and illustrations with Adobe Illustrator, courses as short as one week could get you on the right path to becoming a full-fledged professional somewhere down the line.

It is never too late to start some type of further education. Gather information on your program, study hard, and reach for the stars!

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Dec8

A Perfect Match: How Education Can Fit Around Your Life

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A Perfect Match: How Education Can Fit Around Your Life

When you think back on your life, achievements that can really change your circumstances are some of the most important changes you can make. If you feel that you have more to give and would like to go back to college or start studying again, you can make it happen. With work and family commitments, many people write it off as a pipe dream. But with today’s flexible educations styles and virtual platforms, it doesn’t have to be a choice – you can fit your continuing education goals into your life. Studying for a degree while also having a career, especially if you work irregular hours, can certainly be a challenge, but putting a little thought into your approach can make it work.

Many institutions recognize that people are wanting to study later in life and have designed programs specifically for working adults. These are structured flexibly from purely online modules taken in your own time for some courses that involve a mix of virtual learning and physical seminars. Many are designed to complement an existing career, such as a bachelor of policing program designed for actively serving officers. Here’s how to get started:

Research Your Options Carefully:

Choosing the right program for you is much more of a considered decision when it needs to fit around your life, so make sure that you do plenty of research to find the right provider for your individual needs. If you have existing college credits, some programs will take that into account, allowing you to graduate faster. If you don’t have the capacity to travel, a degree delivered via online learning is a good choice. Hundreds of universities now offer bachelor and graduate degrees in subjects like public administration, criminal justice, and management skills. Or if you feel you want some in-person contact, try a hybrid degree that combines online with sessions of traditional classroom learning across evenings and weekends.

Work Out A Sustainable Schedule:

Studying can be a big time commitment, so the key to making it work alongside a job and a busy life is being strict on scheduling. Plan all your classes and study hours alongside household commitments, working hours, and time to spend with family and friends – all of these areas are important. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family members to collect kids from school, prepare meals, or help around the house. You have to be organized to make all these elements work together so plan in advance and batch-make meals to fill up the freezer.

If work commitments get intense, don’t be afraid to speak to your degree supervisor about adjusting your study plan to avoid conflicts if necessary. Take full advantage of any study resources offered, as well. Most places have academic centers to help make your study skills better. Also be sure to use study groups to connect with fellow students and share tips and coping strategies. Make sure that you have a quiet space to study when it comes time, and don’t allow outside distractions to pull you off course. The trick is to give 100% to whatever you’re doing at that time, and try to shut the rest out.

It’s never too late to begin a new career, and with constant advances in classroom technology, there is no time like the present to start!

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