Best Medical School In The USA

When it comes to medical schools in the USA they can now be classified under two categories. There are those schools which concentrate on the research side and those schools which focus all their attention on teaching their students about primary care matters. However when it comes to choosing which is the best medical school can be very difficult to achieve as some have a much higher reputation than others. For example you could say that Harvard is the best, but this is probably world wide this is the most well known.

But even if we were to put together a definitive list of what are the best and worst medical schools in the USA today. It does not mean that a student which to attend them can just apply for admission to get in to carry out their studies. Unfortunately if a medical school ranks highly then their requirement standards will be much higher. Often such schools will expect those applying to them to have a better Grade Point Average (GPA) as well as they will want their potential enrollees to sit a much more difficult MCAT (Medical School Admissions Test). But there are also other factors a student will need to take into when applying to such a good medical school as the school in question will look at where the student actually resides and how well their essay that they need to complete as part of their application was written.

Although certainly there are a number of advantages to be gained from attending and studying at one of the best medical schools in the USA. Certainly the degree you obtain from this type of school will help in obtaining a better position and often those students who rank highly at such an institute will find themselves being rewarded a much better residency position at some of the best medical establishments in the country today. You can read more free advice on medical school acceptance at http://www.medicalschoolzone.com

When it comes to looking for the best medical school in relation to research studies and training there are a number of different ones that a student can consider. These are namely Harvard University, Duke University, John Hopkins University along with the University of California San Francisco. Whilst Oregon Health & Science University and the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine are considered to be some of the best schools that provide students with excellent training relating to primary care matters.

Phoenix Schools See School Choice as a Necessity

Neighborhood schools are quickly becoming a thing of the past. With such things as school rankings, school "grades" for each school, and the No Child Left Behind act, simply sending our children to the grade school down the street is going the way of the dodo bird.

Today, Phoenix Schools' parents have the option of sending their children to almost any school they wish within the district serving Phoenix Public Schools. While some may indeed choose to stick with the neighborhood learning institution many, if not most, parents are enrolling their children in specialty schools that reflect their child's interests, strengths, or just the style of education they want for their student.

Phoenix Schools now offer various Magnet Schools to meet the growing demand for school choice. Called "Signature Schools", these Phoenix Schools offer numerous options for students attending a Phoenix Schools magnet program.

There is a downside to the Phoenix Schools magnet program. By sending children to schools further away from home families now need to import playmates or drive their kids across town to visit friends. Families in the Phoenix Schools need to balance their desire for the strengths of a magnet with the burden of travel time and being more spread out.

If you are interested in the magnet programs offered by Phoenix Schools here's a partial list:

Montessori - This program serves Phoenix Schools students in PreK through 8th grade. It follows the international curriculum developed by Maria Montessori.

Performing Arts - Phoenix Schools students in 7th and 8th grades have the opportunity to participate in the performing arts throughout the school year with an emphasis on drama, dance, choir and instrumental music. Kindergarten through 6th grade students also participate in these disciplines.

Math, Science & Technology - Phoenix Schools 7th and 8th grade students focus specifically on math, science and technology. The science campus at Lowell offers special benefits to prekindergarten through 6th grade students, as well.

Traditional & Balance the Basics - Prekindergarten through 8th grade Phoenix Schools students engage in a heavy emphasis on reading, math and writing.

Global Community or Donde Vivo - Donde Vivo students in 7th and 8th explore their global community through an interdisciplinary curriculum. Each year the students have the opportunity to experience their global community by traveling abroad.

Second Language Acquisition - Second Language Acquisition is the focus of a program at Herrera School for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Students are immersed in both Spanish and English in all subject areas.

Science Investigations - Phoenix Schools students in 7th and 8th grades engage in physical and life sciences during their regular science classes, as well as through an after school club with mentors from Arizona State University.

Magnet Schools offer options, but they're not perfect. Most Phoenix Schools house magnet programs in less desirable parts of the city in an effort to draw more affluent and educated parents. But you and your child might find that it's the right place for you.

Improve Reading Speed and Comprehension in 5 Steps

Speed reading materials often concentrate on the brain by tweaking the ability to choose and process printed information in a matter of seconds. In order to increase the speed at which this takes place, the brain needs a bit of sharpening and training. With the assistance of decent speed reading software, books, and other programs, one can learn how to not only read faster, but also gain a better understanding of the text they scan.

With this higher level of information retaining - the more knowledgeable one will become. As a result, you also become more desirable and productive within the work world, as well as on the educational scene. In order to obtain the ability to speed read without compromising comprehension is a skill that takes practice. Below you will find five helpful ways on how to sharpen your skills in the speed reading department:

1) Scan Content Before Reading

Become a smarter reader by scanning the content of a book before starting to tackle the chapters. Each book alerts a reader to the kind of material within a book that is most useful (or a complete waste of time). By avoiding unnecessary or "fluff" chapters, you will be able to save a great amount of time and energy.

2) Vocabulary Increase

Understanding the words you are reading will help you with your speed reading goals. If you are unable to decipher words in your text, your rate of reading will decrease because you will pause more to figure out what you are reading. Also, pressing words require a quick look-up in the dictionary, which could be quite important in understanding a key point in reading material. This is especially significant for college students using speed reading to make their heavy load of study materials much lighter, as they often encounter information they have never seen before.

3) Prioritize

Some people succeed in improving their speed reading and comprehension by prioritizing their reading material. This means they will classify what part of the content requires a more urgent response. First, you will approach a chunk of text, chapter, or book by placing "very significant" and "less important" tags before you start to read. This technique not only helps you speed read through the material, but also enhances your comprehension.

4) Choose Suitable Reading Room

To improve how you read faster and comprehend the material in front of your face, it is important to select a comfortable and quiet reading arena that encourages better results. Your chosen place should be free of distractions, but not too much so that you will fall asleep. For instance, it is not suggested to read difficult or vital material while in the bed. The best approach is to select a location where you will not be disturbed while you speed read, which will only slow down your focus and overall flow.

5) Practice

How will you improve your speed reading skills if you never practice? It is vital to continue developing your capacity to read faster and comprehend more and the only way to give your brain sufficient training in reading and processing information at an elevated rate is to practice. This step is also important for training the eyes to move faster across a page.

College Test Taking Skills

College students take tests:

* Every time class meets

* Once a week

* Once a month

* Once a semester

* Twice a semester

* All of the above

* None of the above

The answer to the question is all of the above. Although a few professors give only one big, all-or-nothing (talk about pressure!) test at the end of the semester, most give at least two. Thus, at the very minimum, you can probably expect to take a midterm exam (usually given in a regular class meeting) and a final, which is scheduled during a special exam period at the end of the term. A final exam normally lasts two or three hours; you may finish in less time, or you may still be scribbling as someone pries your blue exam book out of your cramped hands.

It's likely, however, that more than two tests (and other factors, such as papers and discussion) will contribute to your final grade. In some classes, especially science-oriented ones in which you're continually being bombarded with new terms and concepts, you may be tested once a week or more.

Which really isn't such a bad thing. In a way, getting lots of tests is better than having only one or two. For one thing, these tests tend to be "little": Each one doesn't count for a major chunk of your grade, so if you bomb one, it won't kill your overall average in the class. The sum total of these tests, however, may count for a lot--a third of your entire grade, perhaps. So if you do well on these little tests--and have a healthy grade going into the final or midterm--you might be in pretty good shape and feel much less pressured as you prepare for the big ones. Also, being tested regularly forces you to study and keep up with the material, which also is good; this way, you aren't trying to re-learn in December what you digested (and promptly forgot) way back in September.

Types of Tests

In huge lecture courses, you'll probably get "objective" tests, which deal with hard information more than ideas. In smaller discussion classes, you're much more likely to get essay exams, in which you'll be expected to organize concepts and write thoughtful responses to questions.

Objective tests typically deal with true-or-false questions, matching, multiple choice, identifications, and completions. As you've probably figured out, these tests are more convenient to grade and are often handled by machines or teaching assistants. For some students, however, these can be worse than essay tests. Particularly nightmarish are questions without an obvious answer but rather a confusing array of answer options, such as:

A B C D A, B, and D B and C A and C All of the above None of the above

A, B, and D? What kind of mind, you may wonder, dreams up such a test? We don't know.

But we do know that this kind of test--which might cause you to have acid flashbacks to the SATs, Advanced Placement, or any other "achievement" tests you may have endured on your journey to college--throws a lot of people.

No test is a perfect instrument for measuring a student's progress; each semester, some of the most capable students--people who think clearly, write and talk well, and work hard--fail to come through exams with the good grades they genuinely deserve. Maybe they suffer from what educational psychologists call "test anxiety"--believed to affect about 25 percent of all students, some much more than others. The numbers are thought to be even higher for minority students. For whatever reason, some good students just don't "test well."

Others, however, seem to outdo themselves, to perform above their capabilities during exams. These students may not be brilliant, but they're shrewd enough to squeeze the full mileage out of the knowledge they do possess. Also, they take everything they're given--and sometimes professors give away quite a bit. Most professors have never taken Tests and Measurements, Educational Psychology, or other courses in teaching methods and techniques. Partly as a result, they often goof up on their own exams--unintentionally dropping hints for those students clever enough to take advantage of them. Hey, a break for you!

This question, for instance, might show up on an American History exam:

At the onset of World War II, the President of the United States was: A. Harry S Truman B. Dwight D. Eisenhower C. Franklin D. Roosevelt D. Herbert C. Hoover

Okay. Assume you're stumped by that one. Later in the same test, however, you find:

During the early days of World War II, President Roosevelt's Secretary of State was: A. Henry Wallace B. Cordell Hull C. George C. Marshall D. Douglas MacArthur

Well, you may not know who the Secretary of State was (Mr. Hull), but you would have to be pretty unobservant not to have noticed that the second question provides a big clue--the answer, in fact--to the first.

"I've left myself open to just this kind of thing many times," admits one professor, "and I'm amazed at how few students have grabbed the freebies that have been available to them."

The take-home message here: Grab the freebies. If you really study the test, you can pick up clues that add points to your score. It may not be much, but every little bit helps. Here are some other tips:

* Don't leave anything blank. You have a shot at points if you make a stab at an answer. You get diddley squat if you leave it blank. On true-or-false questions, you have a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right; on a multiple-choice question, your odds are usually no worse than one in four. On short-answer questions, a professor may give you a mercy point or two for at least making the effort--any effort--even if your answer is almost entirely wrong. (Warning: Some professors penalize their students for guessing. Be sure to find out what your instructor's policy is before you take the test!)

* Be ruthless with your time. Suppose you're asked to identify the term "rationalism." Each identification is worth, say, five points and should be answered briefly. But wait! It just so happens that you studied the heck out of rationalism; therefore, you're tempted to write three full pages on the subject to show off your hard-earned knowledge. Don't. It's not worth it. Let it go. You're only going to get five points, tops, no matter how much you write. So answer the question swiftly and move on. Don't tell everything you know on this question; nobody cares. The shrewdest test-takers respect the Point of Diminishing Returns and are ruthless in allocating their time. They demolish the easy stuff quickly and efficiently, saving up those precious extra minutes for the really tough questions that carry big point values.

The essay exam, some professors assert, calls for a higher order of mental processes. Instead of merely recognizing material, as in objective tests, you must also be prepared to organize it, evaluate it, argue with it, generalize and particularize from it, and relate it to other situations. If an objective test calls for knowledge, then an essay exam calls for knowledge, judgment, and skill. Your judgment will be demonstrated by how well you organize your thoughts (what you use and what you leave out), and your skill by how well you present what you know.

Tips For Efficient Studies When Going To College

It often happens that students study a lot, but still feel the need to excel more. They feel that the amount of input is not proportionate to the output. This is because there is so much to study and with other activities around, it is difficult if not impossible to memorize everything and store that in memory forever. For most of the students there is a problem in learning and remembering. Moreover, these days, students are not only burdened with heavy coursework, but also other non-coursework activities.

As such students need to know as to how they should develop efficient study habit. Our brain takes time to take in information and process it. If you go on with this process non-stop for a long period, the system will get tired and will take longer and longer time to process information. So take a break of about ten minutes for every 50 minutes of work. This will help to refresh your brain and make work longer. This way you will retain information for longer time even if you do not memorize.

Review your notes at the end of the by reading, writing, thinking or talking about it. You can also do this every after one hour of study setting aside ten minutes for it. Researches have prove that if you do not review or recall what you have learned, you are most likely to forget 50-80 percent of what you have learned in the next 24 hours. So try to retain as much as possible by reviewing your lessons.

Review your notes at the end of the week setting aside five minutes to each hour of material for that week. Also set aside two to four minutes of review, per hour of study, at the end of the month. Weekly and monthly reviews are done to make sure that you curb forgetting.

You can also try changing subjects or tasks every hour. You will feel easily bored doing or studying the same things for hours. Hence the brain will take longer processing time. You read a particular subject for an hour, take a break, refresh yourself and come back to study something new. Remember that the human brain does not easily assimilate the same material hour after hour. So better reorganize your studying routine so that you don't get bored and end up squeezing your concentration power. The best concentration level can be retained for about half-an-hour. So change your task often.

Do not read with your mouth. Some students feel they learn faster when they are mouthing. But the fact is that the brain reads faster than the mouth. Moreover, the concentration level is also high when you read with your brain.

You should also read with a purpose. As you read, develop a questioning mind. Pose questions yourself as you read and also try to answer them. This way will develop an analytical reading habit that will help you to retain information for a longer period.

These study tips will be very handy for every student. For students pursuing distance education, these tips will be very useful. Since they don't attend classroom lectures, and learn at home, they can benefit if they use these study tips. The same is true of students pursuing online degree programs.

Online Degree Programs: Knowing Your Options

Considering an online degree? You are on the right track. Online degree programs are becoming increasingly popular these days. An online degree is can be pursued by students and working people from the comfort of their home and at a time convenient to them. Online degree programs, online certificate programs, and online courses offered by traditional and online colleges & universities have no geographical limitations as anyone who has access to Internet can pursue them.

Online degrees are popular among students who cannot attain regular classes for several reasons such as distance or other commitments. It also gives the students the extra time to do a part time job, which gives them organizational experience as well as extra pocket money. Moreover, in states such as Alaska where traveling or commuting to college especially during the winter is a harsh thing to do, pursuing a degree online is a viable option. Another advantage of online education is that it is less expensive than a normal degree.

It is not only the students who gain from online education but also professionals who find them convenient. At some point of time in their careers, professionals require a college degree to refurbish their skills and give them a competitive advantage over their peers. Many undertake such degrees so as to climb the career ladder, expand their earning potential. But since employed people cannot afford time to earn a degree, distance learning through an online university is the most feasible alternative. In the US there are many such online colleges and online universities offering online degree programs. The advantage of college online is that it enables you to learn at your own pace and at a time convenient to you. An online education degree can be earned even if you are living in some other states. So it is more flexible and can be pursued by all who have the will to succeed.

Whether you seek online associates, bachelors, masters, or PhD degree in business, technology, health care, or education, online colleges in the US will not disappoint you. There are many choices and it is up to you to decide which one you pursue.

There are several accredited online colleges in the US which award Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral Degrees. More than 96 percent of the largest colleges and universities in the U.S offer such online courses. But one word of caution here - you must check the accreditation of online colleges by going to the U.S. Department of Education database. Like any other college students, students attending online colleges can also apply for financial aid from the Federal Government provided the courses are a part of an associate's, bachelor's or graduate degree program.

You must take note that some of the online colleges offer diplomas on a fraudulent basis. These online colleges may offer you many attractive offers such a very nominal fee and no course work structure. Even if online colleges claim to be accredited, you must check if they are accredited by an unrecognized accrediting agency.

However, there are credible online colleges that are not accredited. Such colleges often offer certificate programs. Certificate programs are highly specialized that teach specific skills. They vary in length and may require less than two years of study.

Online Degrees - Are They Right For YOU?

Computers are great - the internet's even better! Now you can get your Bachelor degree online from the convenience of your own home. No need to move away or live on a costly campus to get a college degree. No need to even socialize too much with students if you prefer your education in the 'real' world!

More and more people are taking their degree online - especially more mature students who have built a family, home and a life in a certain area and who don't want to attend a traditional college environment. Perhaps they are studying alongside a job too. Online degrees have made that all possible. They don't require any great computer skill, so long as you - of course - have internet access.

But online degree courses are not for everyone. To undertake this kind of college degree program is a major step. Make sure it's right for you. Write a list of advantages and disadvantages. Advantages of online degree courses or any kind of distance learning might be that they are flexible so you can have some say over when you study; they are a less expensive way to get your bachelor degree; they avoid you having to socialize with hoards of young students; they allow you to work while attending classes - something which may be especially important to mature students with financial commitments, who have already climbed so far up the career ladder and don't want to jump off; there is no need - or less need, anyway - to put your children into daycare as you can study around their routine - and the mother of all advantages to online education - you can sit in front of the computer in your pajamas and no-one knows or cares!

Is that all sounding great? Well, online degree programs certainly *can* be great, but there are some potential flies in the ointment which you need to watch out for. Firstly, if your online degree is to be worth the paper it is written on, you must find out if your college is accredited. That's the only way that the online degree you get will be any good to you in your future career. Carefully check the school's reputation because fraud is easier online. Check that your online degree will be the same as the degree given for on-site courses, not a watered-down version. There are plenty of universities and colleges out there which offer you the real deal, so you can afford to shop around.

Are you the sort of person who learns better alone than in a classroom environment? Be sure that you are and that you have the drive and energy and self-discipline to go the distance in online learning, which can sometimes be as lonely and dispiriting as a marathon run. Check out also if the online program actually offers occasional seminars or workgroups to meet up with fellow students. Some do - or they offer web- and telephone-conferencing as a good alternative to face-to-face classroom environments.

It won't always be easy to fit in the demands of a family, home and maybe even a job around a degree course, so don't kid yourself. But you CAN do it. Get your partner and/or wider family in on it and have them support you with some of the day-to-day chores, and give you some peace and quiet in which to study. You'll all be happier for you being fulfilled, in the long run.

Of course, student social life is legendary. You won't get this with an online degree, but if you're coming to education later in life or re-training in a different area and as for student parties, you've been there, done that, got the tee-shirt - online bachelor degree programs may be just what you are looking for.

So get writing your personal list of pros and cons and decide if an online bachelor degree is the right choice for you.

How to Jump-Start Your Career With On Online Degree

Are you trying to figure out your career path? In the process of planning your career plan, there are many factors to be considered and need to take into account before you put everything into actions. Skills and knowledge are among two important factors that employers weight the most in hiring their employees; hence you should equip yourself with a good skills and strong education background to jump-start your career successfully. Online degree provides a good option for you to acquire the required knowledge and jump-start your career quickly.

First of all, you need to decide what type of career you are planning to involve; you can always start with your ambition or any field that you are interested the most. Then, you need to know how good the job demands are for this career in 10 years down the road, it is important factor because it directly impact your future. All these information can be found in Bureau of Labor Statistics Report.

Once you know your career direction, you need to get started your career plan. In your career plan, lists down all the requirements and actions that you need to carry out in order to achieve your career goal. A good degree and a strong education background are important factors, because it will determine the success or failure of your career jump-start after graduation. A good degree will make your resume look good and a strong education background will create confidence of your potential employers and increase your chances to get hired.

You can either choose to earn your degree that required in your career plan either from a traditional "brick & mortar" university or from an online college. Earning a degree online has becomes the recent trend of education due to its learning flexibility, ease & convenient of learning environment, time & cost saving benefits. You don't not need to worry about you can't find the degree of your choice because online degree programs cover all subjects offer by traditional class-based degree programs. The flexibility and self-pace learning schedule allow you to plan your study time to fit into your busy schedule. You will love this feature if you are a working individual who has hard time to choose between current job and education for brighter future, because you can now have both.

One you decide to go for online study, the next decision is about which online school's degree program should you enroll in? There should be many online schools offering the degree of you choice. But, be aware even two online colleges offering the same degree program, the syllabus might be different. It is important for you to understand the details and reviews and ensures the courses of in the online degree program are in-line with your career goal. The best thing to know is request as much information as possible for those online colleges, it's is free to ask online college to send you their degree program details; hence, make sure you utilize this benefit, and get to understand each and every degree programs before you decide one to enroll in. Most admissions of online colleges can be done online. Once you choose your degree, just submit an online admission form and get ready yourself to get start your online learning journey.

Summary

Online degree provides a convenient learning environment for you to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and prepare yourself with a strong education background to get you jump-start your career quickly.

French Online By Giving You Real Examples Of Conversations

French Online By Giving You Real Examples Of Conversations

So what better place to learn to speak French than in the Swiss Riviera. The real thrill comes when you're already on the real place where people speak French - in France. Language exchange is just that: you will team up with a French speaker either online, or offline, and offer one another your native language speaking skills for equal time periods.

These are some of the reasons why learning to Speak French would benefit you. Ministering in churches Pastored primarily by French speaking Africans from the mother country, Paul empowered them to be bold and change the spiritual landscape of France. You may not speak French, but if you are selling to the French, you need to at least learn how to say "Bonjour.

The adventure is Paris where obviously most people speak French. (For those of you that are native French speakers, that last sentence has nothing to do with baguettes. These strict regulations seem to be working thanks to the rigorous efforts of the French speaking population and government.

This audio program will teach you to speak French online by giving you real examples of conversations that real French people have. Further on just learn to speak French online and have fun. Thanks for the tip, Mister genius - I suppose next you"ll tell me that people from France all speak French.

Or are you living in a French speaking country and want to communicate better with the people around you. You need to be sure that your teachers are real French speakers who actually lived in France. Montreal has the largest French speaking community in North America and second largest in the world.

There exists a further benefit in learning to speak French, that many people do not consider. HTMT has announced plans to set up a call center in Mauritius to take advantage of the French speaking population there. Why learn how to speak French.

We begin in Canada but not in the part where they speak French because I'm already over my head trying to pretend I know anything about science. Some people want to learn because they are travelling to a French speaking country, others need it in their work. To be able to speak French is a very useful ability as French is now spoken by more than 300 million people around the globe and it will be very useful if you are equipped with the ability to speak this language wherever you go.

Work at the language learning grammar, vocabulary, phrases and idioms, and use any opportunity you can to practise your French with others, preferably native French speakers. The French speaking population called such a device a coquetier (pronounced kah-kuh-tyay). The moral of this little story is that if you ask to learn how to speak the French language for real you need either to take classes from a native speaker OR find a language learning program based on audio lessons made by a genuine French speaker that uses modern conversational French.

Interestingly you will be able to speak French only knowing some 500 basic words. There are more reasons such as being able to communicate with other French speakers. It will most likely be the early months that will provide the biggest challenge to you as a non-French speaker.

Its creators have thoughtfully provided instant-translation buttons so non-French speakers can re-render its pages in English, Spanish, German or Italian. Tip ,afford French speaking people in the Internet. When you learn to speak French you are able to increase the level of understanding you have with other French speakers.

Take part in what is known as a 'language exchange' with a French speaker who wants to learn English. Learning French gives you access to the real France, or the real beating heart of

What Can The Washington DC Schools Teach Us?

A mix of political power and extreme poverty, the Washington DC Public Schools face a struggle that epitomizes the state of education in this country. While the elite and affluent live in the best districts, or send their children to private schools, many students in the Washington, DC Schools function in poverty and need.

Why does this matter? The discrepancy between the haves and have-nots in the Washington, DC Schools mimics that which has led to the glaring racial achievement gap in the country. Recently, studies reporting on the gap percentages in all states have gotten a lot of attention. Also, reports on the correlation between income and achievement have received a lot of press. Although I don't think any jaws are dropping; the question for Washington, DC schools isn't if poverty leads to low achievement, it's what to do about it.

Methods in the Washington, DC Schools

The initiatives that the Washington, DC Schools implement are an important barometer for the rest of the schools in the country. If efforts work, they will be duplicated. If they fail, it is a cause for concern, and considered a waste of money. Vouchers are one big issue. Due to declining enrollment in the Washington, DC public schools, and a desire to offer school choice to low-income students, a federal program offering $7,500 school vouchers was offered to needy students in the Washington, DC Schools.

Not everyone is fond of this method because they are afraid it will actually encourage more students to leave the Washington, DC Schools for charter or private schools. Many feel this could degrade the quality of the system. Ironically, this is the same concern when affluent and educated families leave the public school system. The Washington, DC Schools loose both per pupil funding and the most involved parents when this happens. Vouchers may exacerbate the situation.

However, this may be just the thing to motivate schools to improve. Just like in business, competition can be a good thing.

Needed Construction in Washington, DC Schools

Washington, DC Schools are also a mirror to the nation is in terms of adequate space and buildings. As old schools deteriorate, the district is challenged to renovate them. Recently, this became a focus of the district. 120 schools are either being renovated or built at this time. Part of the effort involves reconfiguring these Washington, DC Schools for better efficiency. For instance, feeder 6-8 middle schools are being put on campuses with the appropriate high school. The location of administrative offices and special education facilities are being reconsidered to make better use of the space, and to better meet the children's needs. Other districts around the country are following the results of these changes closely. The successes and failures of the Washington, DC Schools will have consequences felt by a lot of students in the nation.

CCNP Boot Camp Certification

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is an intermediate level certification for IT professionals who can install, configure and troubleshoot local and wide area network for enterprise organizations. Network Professionals who achieve the CCNP have demonstrated the knowledge and skills required to manage the routers and switches that form the network core, as well as edge applications that integrate voice, wireless, and security into the network.

The CCNP is considered proof of having the ability to work with medium-sized networks (between 100 and 500 end devices) and with technology such as QoS, broadband, VPNs, and security-minded features. To acquire a CCNP, one must pass four tests, and either re-certify or upgrade to a CCIE every three years. The CCNA is a pre-requisite for CCNP, but CCIE does not have any pre-requisites.

To give yourself the best shot at passing the CCNP Certification exams you'll need to get your hands on some actual hardware to practice on, and if you can't do that then at the very least get yourself a good simulator to work. The CCNP certification track is not one where you can brain dump your way into a job.

The Benefits Upon the completion of our CCNP course, students will have the ability to install, configure, operate and troubleshoot *Complex routed LAN, *Routed WAN *Switched LAN networks *Dial Access Services.

Pre-requisites Candidate must be CCNA certified. If you are not a CCNA, you can take a CCNA+CCNP boot camp. The boot camp is designed for I.T. Professionals with a minimum of one year networking experience, supporting a TCP/IP network. Prior exposure to ISP networks and WAN network implementations can be an added advantage. Take the pre-assessment test in our member zone to find out if this class is fit for you.

Homeschooling - Making Priorities

Homeschooling - there is so much to do and so little time! That is often how we feel. But since Time cannot be managed or altered, we need to think how we can prioritize our lives. So, how do we prioritize? What is essential in our lives? What do we consider most important and how do we prioritize these things?

An illustration which helps one to think of priorities is one of rocks, pebbles, sand and water. Picture filling a bucket with large rocks. You may put in 4-8 rocks and the bucket would seem full. Is it really full? No, not really - we can fit smaller pebbles between the large rocks, filling up the spaces. Is the bucket full now? No, not really - we can fit sand between the pebbles and large rocks, in the same way that dessert seems to slide into the gaps after a large and filling meal. Is the bucket full now - with rocks, pebbles and sand? No, not really - for we can still pour quite a good amount of water over the rocks, pebbles and sand.

What does this illustrate as far as our time goes? Does it mean that we should structure our days into tiny segments- 15 minute time slots so we can achieve a huge amount in our day? No, this isn't the purpose of the illustration. Filling up our day with 15 minute time slots will bring us to a place of burnout. Scheduling each minute will ultimately leave us disappointed and frustrated with the reality of a messy, interrupted life. How do we cope with the inevitable interruptions if each minute is accounted for, even before the day begins?

The illustration is a reminder that if we clutter our days with the water, sand and pebbles, the large rocks will never fit in! What are the large rocks? Really, they are the precious gemstones. They are the important things in our lives. If we begin by filling up our days with the time-consuming and unnecessary distractions, we will never fit in the significant, life-changing tasks/duties/relationships that our lives should be characterized by.

So, what are the gemstones in your life? What is important to you? Here we are once again grappling with the goals you have - where are you headed and what is significant to you?

At a recent conference, I was challenged to prioritize my life according to roles. I had never thought of that before. The roles I have as a Christian, wife, mother, teacher, friend and so on, should determine my priorities in my life and these should play an important part in how I prioritize my life and days. I have considered three of my roles below.

Firstly, I am a child of God and therefore one of my large gemstones should be time set aside in communion with my Father, Creator, Saviour and Lord. We all know, and I am acutely aware of the shameful truth that if this time is not scheduled in my day and given priority, the sandy cares of life will smother my day and the most important rock of my life will not fit in the bucket anymore.

Secondly, I see my role as a wife. Is it not true as homeschoolers that our husbands can often feel short-changed in the whole process of homeschooling? Here, too I am guilty of spending an enormous amount of my time being devoted to programs, schedules, book orders and so on, working hard on what we see to be important, but at the same time - leaving out our spouse and forgetting what God has called us to do and be in that regard. How do we make our husbands a priority? By giving them quality time. Schedule in some special time together - it may be an outing, a walk around the block, or dinner together after the children are in bed. Whatever it may look like, or however fancy or commonplace it may seem, there needs to be intentional time set aside for relationship building and time-out with your husbands. Your children will be blessed by seeing their mum and dad enjoying a strong, vibrant, fun-loving relationship together. So, set aside time to make it happen!

Thirdly, I have the role to be a mother to my children. Even though I spend all day with my children, it does not necessarily mean that I am connecting with each of my children in their time of need. For some children that may mean a gentle, warm smile. Others may need time together - going for a walk, flying a kite, baking a cake.... spending special time. For other children, kind words of recognition or a thoughtful card would touch their hearts. Each of our children have different needs and one of our roles as mother is to communicate our love and acceptance. Also, as a mother, I want to teach and instruct my children. We want to encourage them to persevere in their difficulties and develop their areas of strength. We want them to grow more and more into the image of Jesus Christ and be the unique person which He has created them to be. What a wonderful blessing it is to walk beside our child, encouraging them and watching the work of God in them.

As we contemplate the enormous task of homeschooling and the limitations of a 24 hour day, we need to differentiate the "significant" from the "ordinary." If we do not deliberately make time for the "significant", our days and weeks and years will be filled up with the "ordinary." I'm not against schedules or day planners - not at all! What is important - is what you put in them! It isn't difficult to work out that our relationships - eternal and personal, are the gemstones in our bucket, so therefore the schedules and plans we make should reflect our priorities.

Homeschooling should be synonymous with relationship-building, since we share our lives so closely with our family members. But, the danger can overtake us so easily and we can fill our days with the sand and grit of the ordinary. Our challenge is not to forget the real gems in our lives and prize them close to our hearts.

Four Tips to Find Scholarships Online

Paying for college has become increasingly more difficult, as the college tuition fees have increased faster than the rise of inflation. At the same time financial aids from traditional sources such as federal government and the schools have dwindled. Hence, winning a scholarship from private sources has become an important way for college and graduate students to make up the different.

In order to find the free money to fund you college study, you need to take the initiative to search out the scholarships for which you are well qualified. Nowadays, many scholarship programs are published online, making it easier for you to find the up-to-date information and submit the scholarship applications quickly. This article will outlines some tips that can help you to find the scholarships you are qualified for using the powerful tool, the Internet.

1. Start To Search For Scholarships As Early As Possible

All scholarship applications have their own deadline and normally before the second semester start. Many scholarships programs are awarded in first-come-first-served basis. They many stop accepting more application submission even before the deadline if there are too many applications being received already. Hence, you should start to hunt for your qualified scholarship as early as possible; it's never too early to start searching for college scholarships during your sophomore or junior year of high school.

2. Use Scholarship Search Services

Although you can search for individual scholarship programs from internet, it may waste a lot of your time and effort. There are many websites provide access to huge database of scholarships that you can quickly search just by filing out an online form. The best news is almost all these services are free. Hence, you should fully utilize these services to search for scholarships, it is effective, save most of you valuable time and the most important is you get the required scholarships details in the shortest of time, so that you can submit for the applications if you are qualified for the scholarships.

Please takes note that no one scholarship database contain a complete list of scholarship programs, you should take time to search as many of them as possible. Of course you may come up with some duplicates, but it's better than you miss out any good scholarships programs.

3. Look for Financial Aids Page of College's Website

College websites are after gold mines of scholarship information, if you know where to look for. First, look at the admission page as it will contain a list of merit scholarships. Review the listed scholarships to see whether the scholarship programs apply for your field of study. Then, check the details at the college's Financial Aids page for details application requirement. If you are a graduate student, you should at the graduate section of the site, which often lists university-sponsored fellowships and fellowships from external sources. Besides, you should write down the contact information for further enquiries.

4. Look for Specific Scholarships Using Search Engines

If you type "scholarship" at the search box search engines such as HotBot, Yahoo or Googole, they will return thousands of results and most of time you will find most of matches will match your qualifications anyway, and you will waste your time to review one by one. In order to use search engines to find your qualified scholarships effectively, you should narrow down your search with a more precise keywords. For example, if you are looking for scholarships for sport management degree, then search with keyword "sport management scholarship" will return more related results.

Summary

Internet is a good place to find the up-to-date information about any scholarship programs and submit your applications quickly. Hence, you should use this powerful tool to help you find the scholarships which you are qualified for, in an effective ways using the tips provided above.

Advantages Of Online Education

Considering an online degree to improve your career and your living style? Online education is definitely a good option. Besides, there are so many advantages with which you can be benefited with if you pursue a distance learning course. Some of the benefits of online education are discussed below.

Low cost:

Online studies cost less than any college direct programs. Universities and college charge very less tuition fee for any online course compared to the direct program. You also do not have to live in college hostel or any other place away from your home. You can stay at your home with your family and pursue the online course. What you require is a computer and an internet connection. You do not have to spend a huge amount in living out of your home and family.

A flexible time schedule:

You will be the master of your own schedule. Time is not a constraint in an online course. You can attend lectures, complete assignments and take exams at your own time. You have to make your schedule as per your suitability. In case of a direct school program, you cannot schedule your own timetable. You have to go with the college timetable. So you are the driver of your own schedule of programs.

Effective learning:

Online learning is more effective due to technological involvement. You will get study materials easily through the internet. You do no have to work hard in taking notes of every lecture as in case of a direct college program. Universities and colleges offering online programs are facilitating transcripts, live discussions and training materials which can be retrieved via mail, e-mail or the school's website for reading, downloading and printing. Instructors are also available at Students' convenient times and respond to queries quickly through e-mail.

Convenient education:

Online education is student-centered learning. You can prioritize the things you want to learn as per your convenience. Also, it will be your choice that which distance educational methodology - audio, visual or oral components, you want to use. You will dictate your own terms and make the learning enjoyable.

Performance matters most:

In online education degree programs, there is fair playing field. Here there is no teacher-student direct interaction and the decision-making will not be based on the candidates' gender, physical appearance, ethnicity or gender. So your performance matters most in online study.

Despite all these advantages in online education, you may face some disadvantages also. Online courses are not accepted by some employers as they think it not so effective like other direct courses. You may not be able to motivate yourself in online learning, as you yourself have to drive your own decision and motivation.

All courses are not available online. Besides, online learning requires a complete dedication and patience from the students. So you have to decide whether an online course will help you or you will not be successful in a distance-learning program. There are so many universities and colleges offering online programs all across the United States.