What’s A Scholarship Anyway?

A scholarship is an award allowing access to an educational institution or a financial aid award for an individual or student scholar, for the purpose of furthering their education.

Scholarships can be awarded based on a large range of criteria and specifications which usually reflect the value and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.

For example, did you know there are scholarships for women, left-handed students, tall students, vegetarians, people with asthma, adults over a certain age, and even for twins? So you can see the opportunity for you to qualify for a scholarship is not as low as you might have imagined. In fact, many are surprised by the sheer number and variety of scholarships which are available.

Free Scholarship Resources

There are a variety of free search resources available on the Internet to help you find the scholarship you deserve.

Some web sites provide you with information regarding types of scholarships available, the amount of the scholarship, requirements of the scholarship, how to apply for the scholarship, and the deadline for applying for the scholarship.

Many web sites also provide a number of valuable recommendations regarding available schools and colleges specific to your needs based on the criteria you provide.

So by dedicating some time and utilizing the Internet search engines you can type in certain keywords which will assist you in locating a scholarship specific to your needs. For example, you may wish to type in: “scholarships for women over the age of 40″, “scholarships for women athletes” or just “scholarships for women” to start. By narrowing down your search criteria you increase the chances of finding the scholarship best suited to your qualifications and needs.

A Word of Warning

You need to be aware of what appears to be legitimate scholarship offers but may in fact be scholarship scams, especially if the scholarship offers are unsolicited or will be provided in exchange for some type of cost or fee.

Now we want to be clear that this applies to obtaining the actual scholarship from the supposed scholarship providers. We are not referring to information you may purchase online or in a bookstore for instance, that may contain extremely valuable information and tips to help you meet your scholarship goals.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states on its web site that there are many legitimate companies which advertise that they can get students access to scholarship lists in exchange for an advance fee. Other legitimate services charge an advance fee to compare a student’s profile with a database of college and university scholarship opportunities and provide a list of scholarship awards for which the student may qualify. To assist you in separating the legitimate offers from the fraudulent offers you should always keep in mind that legitimate companies never guarantee or promise scholarships or grants.

So, don’t lose heart! Take advantage of all the resources available to you and with persistence and research you have a very good chance of finding the scholarship you need and deserve.

Statistics show that college costs are rising dramatically. Some schools cost upwards of $30,000 per year, not including textbooks and other supplies. This is leading to a sharp decline in enrollment. Should you give up your dream of becoming a nurse? Perhaps not, there is high demand for nurses. For this reason, nursing school scholarships are easy to find.

Though there are many nursing school scholarships available to men and woman who dream of entering the field of nursing, you do have to do your research. Plan to spend a good deal of time searching for grants and scholarships online, in medical publications, local hospitals, and through university financial departments.

The best place to start searching for nursing school scholarships is at the colleges or universities where you plan to apply. Every college or university has a toll-free phone number. Call the financial department and ask for help in finding scholarships or grants that apply to your needs and financial standing.

In some cases, the institution for higher learning will only give you this information if you have been accepted. If that is the case with one or more of your choices, you may want to start your search online. Check with the federal government as they have many programs available. Many online companies will run the searches for you at no charge, use them to your advantage. Avoid companies who make you pay any fees.

Check with hospitals and medical practices in your area for any grants and nursing school scholarships that are available. They will have lists of grants, scholarships, and even work study programs. They may also be able to help you select the best area colleges and universities. Some hospitals may even agree to pay for your education if you sign a contract with them that states in exchange for your college education you will remain an employee of their hospital for a certain number of years. This is an excellent program that keeps young adults from leaving states after college.

Remember that some scholarships will be restricted to minority groups, low income families, children of labor union organizations, athletic groups, children whose parents are employees of certain businesses, foster children, and honor students. Do not become discouraged when you discover that there is not much out there that fits your needs. Keep searching because you will come across a number of suitable programs. It just takes time.

Being organized is essential when searching for nursing school scholarships and grants. Keep all necessary paperwork on hand and ready to be faxed or mailed to the financial program. Income statements, personal essays, and school transcripts are usually required additions to the application. Make sure you have them handy.

Regardless of your financial or ethnic standings, there are nursing school scholarships available. Stick with it and you can make your dreams of nursing come true.

As the economy suffers, many people are interested in finding a new career. Sometimes this is a personal choice, and sometimes, like in the case of people who have lost their jobs or have gotten laid off, it is a necessity. There are certain types of careers which become at risk when the economy takes a turn for the worse. A career in the medical field is not one of those risks.  If anything, a career in the medical field can be expected to increase in demand overtime, regardless of our economic situation. That is because the medical needs of the population are not necessarily driven by the status of the economy.  As the population grows the need for highly trained and qualified medical workers will rise.

The Healthcare Job Outlook for 2008/2009 describes new job growth from 2006 - 2016 as excellent with over 3 million new jobs added for the period.  As well, the projected salary increase is 22% compared to just 11% for other industries combined.

The Department of Labor shows similar findings, projecting that medical assistant jobs are expected to increase over 35 percent over the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The health care industry is expanding as our population grows and ages, and as technology advances, so will the need for highly trained health care workers such as a surgical assistant medical assistant, vocational nurse, computerized office assist, and so on.

A career in the medical field has been referred to as “recession-proof.”  Few industries can boast this kind of employment outlook.  If you’ve been laid off in another work field, this should not be a concern for you in considering starting training in a medical career.  It is highly unusual for medical layoffs to occur.

And if you are considering a career in the medical field, even if you have no medical training, or even a GED, it is best to get started right away, in order to take advantage of this growing industry. Medical career college courses are available for every type of lifestyle. You will receive hands on training, job placement assistance, and in some cases even financial aid. The career choices are nearly unlimited, from vocational nursing programs, to diagnostic medical sonographer training, to pharmacy technician careers, and so much more. Take your first step towards that new career today!

Copyright (c) 2008 Karen Bolton

With the rising cost of college, it is important to utilize as many cost cutting strategies as possible. Let’s explore some top academic and admission strategies to help reduce the cost of college.

1.Career Planning

Career planning is often overlooked during the college planning process. However, this is one of the most important decisions that students will make. Without proper career planning, many students take 5-6 years to complete a degree. Many students receive degrees in declining growth fields or fields with a surplus of applicants and cannot find employment after graduation.

However, this can play a critical role in reducing the overall cost of college. A contributing factor in the college dropout and transfer rates is a lack of career planning and a failure to make college decisions based on career goals. Research by the US Dept of Education and American College Testing show that each year, approximately 50% of college freshman leave the college in which they first enrolled. Of the dropouts, about 30% transfer to other colleges at least once, and 20% transfer twice and typically take 6 or more years to complete a 4-year program.

Students who receive career planning prior to college selection and attendance have few major changes and college transfers, graduate on time, and tend to be more goal- and academic-focused. You may want to check out web-based career planning services at www.careerdimension.com and www.myroad.com.

2. Use Smart Admission Strategies

Apply where the student is academically above the incoming freshman class profile. Private colleges place a premium on good students and will often use tuition discounts to attract them to their campuses.

Apply for admission early. The student should submit an application to the college as soon as possible in the senior year of high school (September through December). After a college begins to fill the upcoming year’s freshman class, the need for the college to offer a tuition discount diminishes. Colleges need to complete their enrollment quotas as early as possible, so they often offer scholarships (tuition discounts) to the students who apply early (even students who do not qualify for need-based aid).

Apply to schools that have a low enrollment yield factor. The lower a college’s enrollment yield (yield percentage), the higher the probability of the student receiving tuition discounts. The enrollment yield is calculated by dividing the number of students enrolled by the number of students admitted. Enrollment is key to a college’s survival. Many colleges select students for admission to their school, only to have them enroll in another school. The colleges have a constant battle to fill seats every year (lesser-known private colleges are even more challenged because they must compete with the low cost of public universities and the popularity of the elite private schools).

The student should also apply to private colleges. Many private colleges have declining enrollments due to their high cost and competition from low-cost universities and popular elite private colleges. These colleges often give a tuition discount to students to fill empty seats at the college. Private colleges must compete with less-expensive, state-subsidized public universities.

Many private colleges offer incredible financial award packages to attract good students. Plus they offer smaller class sizes, which increase the student’s chance of attaining a degree in four years. Be sure to include a few private colleges in your selection process. You might be surprised with the outcome.

The student should apply to six to eight colleges. Do not limit your ability to negotiate the price of college. Apply to several colleges to maximize your financial opportunities. By applying to several colleges, the student is given the opportunity to receive a tuition discount from one college and use that discount to ask for a comparative discount, or better, from the college the student prefers to attend. Try to pick at least several schools where your child lies in the top 25% of the incoming freshman class. This strategy is more applicable to students attending private colleges.

If the student is planning to attend a private college, the student should create competition between colleges. The following types of colleges will create competition for your child:

A college in the same athletic conference

The student should apply to colleges that are competitive in the same area or location, athletic conference, or intellectual fields. The most competition often occurs between colleges that are in the same athletic conference.

An in-state public university

Even though you plan to go to a private college, always apply to a good in-state public university. The public university’s low cost may force the private college to offer a tuition discount to make its cost competitive with the public university’s cost. Low-cost public universities are the private colleges’ main competition.

A similar college outside of the student’s region of residency

The student should apply to similar private colleges that are located outside of the student’s region of residency. Most private colleges try to achieve regional diversity in its student body. The college may offer tuition discounts to entice students who are located in a different region.

3. Use the CLEP Program and AP Tests to Reduce the Cost of College

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a widely accepted credit-by-examination program in the United States today. Although Advanced Placement (AP) courses are usually taken by above-average students, CLEP exams seem to benefit the average student and also the non-traditional (adult ed) student. The CLEP examinations are a series of examinations in undergraduate college courses that provide the student with the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement and achieve college credit. The examinations, which are sponsored by the College Board, are administered at colleges year-round. All CLEP exams are delivered on computer, providing test takers with instant score results. Be sure to check the college’s CLEP policy before taking any exam. The CLEP program can help students save time, save money, and advance to more specialized courses.

Perhaps the easiest and most effective way for a student to stand out academically for admissions is to score well on Advanced Placement (AP) tests offered by the College Board (www.collegeboard.com). While these studies are for the academically gifted student, they can represent real dollar reductions in the cost of college. The student can receive a full year’s credit and be granted sophomore standing from more than 1,400 higher education institutions by earning satisfactory grades on enough AP Examinations.

College Scholarships For Free

The first thing that should come to mind when you think about college scholarships is the word free. You do not have to pay to apply for a college scholarship. When you see advertisements for a scholarship that is not free that is a red flag and most likely a scam.

Apply for Scholarships Online

When you apply for scholarships online there are a few things to expect.

Within a few days of being awarded with that scholarship you should receive a phone call from a representative of that orginization.

An email confirmation with the information you provided

A pin number or password if you are using a scholarship search

Information aobut additional scholarship opportunities that you are eligible for

Combining Scholarships and Financial Aid

The title of this paragraph says it all “Yes you can Combine Scholarships and Financial Aid. Many people don’t realize that you can combine financial aid: Scholarships, Grants and student loans can all be combined to pay for your College Tuition. Also you can use multiple sources of each for example: You can use more than 1 scholarship, grant or student loan - you can have as many of each that are needed to pay for your tuition.

Misconceptions of Scholarships & College Financial Aid

It is hard to find scholarships -False use a scholarship search

Universities and Colleges are the only sources that provide scholarships

You can only use scholarships from the school your are attending -False you can find other scholarships and grants from private organizations

Student Loan Consolidation is the best option -False sometimes it can hurt your more than it can help you

You can’t apply for scholarships if you aren’t currently enrolled in school -False you can always apply for scholarships

Every scholarship requires an essay to be submitted -False some just require a standard application

You can’t get a student loan without a co-signer- False

You can’t get a student loan with bad credit -False

There are 2 free scholarship searches provided at scholarshipsupport.com. Also many people think that they are allowed to use one scholarship, you can use as many as you need to pay for college. As far as student loans go, student loan consolidation isn’t always the best option to find out more from in the link in the about the author section.

Kara Lilly asked:


You are ready to go to college or maybe your child is and you want to know what types of scholarships are available. Maybe you are asking yourself where to start? If so, here are a few tips.

Scholarships are either given by colleges or universities that you plan to attend or by the private sector. But most scholarships are private-sector, that is scholarships that are offered by businesses, professional associations, community service organizations and individuals. Both types of scholarships often requires an application and some type of essay.

Before researching scholarships, know that most have some sort of criteria that you must meet before qualifying. This criteria can be academic performance, financial need or even race, ancestry, sexual orientation and hobbies. Making a list of all of your hobbies, clubs or organizations you have belonged to, whether your parents have belonged to organizations or the armed services, and what your interests are, will help you with your search.

To search for scholarships you can use the Internet, libraries and college counseling and financial aid offices.

Using the Internet and search engines such as Google and directories such as Yahoo! Requires some research skills. Simply typing in the world scholarships and return over 60 million results. Typing in scholarships for women will narrow the results substantially. Add to the search text your major, such as women engineering scholarships to refine results further. Search by all germane academic and personal factors, including your specifics from your list, and combine these where apt; examples include: engineering scholarships, engineering scholarships women, chemical engineering scholarships women, Filipina scholarships, etc.

Most colleges and universities will have a library collection of texts on funding your education and librarians have a great deal of expertise on how to search printed material and the Web. University libraries customarily have larger collections and more resources than community colleges and you can search the catalogs over the Web.

Local public libraries may be useful in several ways. They may have a collection of financial aid and scholarship texts, and the professional librarians may be able to help your search. Public libraries may also have information on local and regional organizations, such as university alumni, association branches, community service clubs and organizations, chambers of commerce, religious institutes, and professional associations that may offer scholarships. Local organizations may offer substantial scholarships, some of which may be renewable. Use the library to get contact information and ask the organization about scholarship offerings and whom to contact for application material.

Check with counselors and professors at your college and the college(s) to which you plan to transfer for scholarship information. Professors in your major may know of scholarships in their field or of professional associations that may offer scholarships.

Check also with employers in your major field. Organizations, such as hospitals, may assist employees who will commit to working for a period of time after graduation. Some hospital work-study programs offer 40 hours pay while the employee works 20 hours and attend a college nursing program for 20 hours work week. Many employers offer tuition assistance programs to help employees gain expertise related to the company’s business or operating areas or needs. Some universities offer free or reduced tuition for their employees.

There are many scholarship opportunities out there, the difference in who finds them is how they conduct their research.

SCs and STs: Educational Realization

- Ramaiah Bheenaveni*

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The world of today, by and large, is comparatively a rapidly changing one and the changes have been in a variety of directions. Not long ago society was through of as a reality sub-generis far beyond the control of individuals to change it –and education as a process of inducting new entrants into society. The idea that societies can be changed and, that too, education can be vital instrument of social transformation is increasingly felt. Geared to the preservation and perpetuation of tradition in the past, education is now being used to bring about social transformation in a large scale. This represents a kind of dilemma in respect of the social role of education in traditional societies.

Ignoring this dilemma, many social scientists today re inclined to believe that education is a powerful instrument of social transformation. The prevailing opinion in circles of social science is that education is an agency of modernization. It is argued that education promotes modernity in many ways but chiefly in two: (i) by sharpening the “critical awareness” of the people about the social structure in which they are placed, and (ii) by changing the consciousness of the people in a direction congruent with the dominant value of our age-rationality-which is also the mainspring of modernity. Following this reasoning, there has come up an impressive body of literature in recent years of documenting the impact of schooling on individual modernity in developing societies. The profound social changes that India has witnessed in the last few decades or so have affected its entire population, yet in some sections of its society their impact has been much more marked than in others.

Education is the key to development of any community. It can broaden the world view of the people, equipping them to meet the present day challenges. Education can be an input to their development. It can also build up inner strength of the people. Almost all studies have emphasized the importance of education in the development of the people. Ignorance is the biggest reason for weakness and knowledge is power. In the development effort, education has a pride of place in the priorities of the people. This is particularly so when the two systems of unequal strength come in contact. Education brings knowledge to he community and keeps in acquiring a new strength to enable it to face the new challenges which naturally come by when the process of change unfold unforeseen forces.

The role of education as an investment in human resources has been increasingly recognized all over the underdeveloped and developed countries. Education has special significance for the weaker sections of society, which are facing a new situation in the development process to adjust themselves properly to the changing circumstances. For them, education is an input not only for their economic development, but also for promoting in them self-confidence and inner strength to face the new challenges.

This position SC/ST education critically examines the contemporary reality of schooling of children belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities who have been historically excluded from formal education – the former due to their oppression under caste feudal society and the latter due to their spatial isolation and cultural difference and subsequent marginalization by dominant society. There are thus sharp differences between these two categories of population in terms of socio-economic location and the nature of disabilities. However, there is also growing common ground today in terms of conditions of economic exploitation and social discrimination that arise out of the impact of iniquitous development process. Concomitantly, the categories themselves are far from homogenous in terms of class, region, religion and gender and what we face today is an intricately complex reality. Bearing this in mind this paper attempts to provide a contextualized understanding of the field situation of the education of SC/ST children and issues and problems that directly or indirectly have a bearing on their future educational prospects.

The educational effort so far as the SC and ST communities are concerned has to be somewhat different than for the general areas. In case of advanced groups and areas, demand for education is already there. Establishment of an educational institution itself is sufficient to attract the children from the advanced communities because their parents are interested in their education. This is not the case with the poorer section of the community. The message has as yet not reached the more backward rural and tribal areas where the citizen is still not very much aware about the practical utility of education. Thus, a number of socio-economic factors are coming in the way of members of SC and STs in sending their children to schools. In many cases, it is sheer economic hardship. Therefore, the universal educational programmes at the elementary stage in the case of these communities have to be much more than mere opening up of educational institutions. The students belonging to these communities may have to be provided with free textbooks, mid-day meals, and in the case of girls, even a pair of uniform. As the children grow, they become economic assets to the family. It may be necessary, therefore, that they are provided suitable scholarships and stipends in higher classes. It has to be ensured that if we cannot compensate the family, at least education should not be a burden on a poor family. In the case of tribal areas, it may be necessary that at middle school and high school levels adequate hostel facilities are also provided, as an institutional network itself will not be of much help. It is commonly observed that in some tribal areas much of the institutional capacity remains under-utilized.

Special state institutions were set up for the advancement of SC/ST and various legislations, social policies and programmes were drafted which were geared to their economic and political development and achievement of equal social status. It has been difficult however, to identify these categories in terms of criteria laid down by the state. The ‘problem’ of the scheduled tribes has been a vexed one, given the various levels of social and cultural distance and varying degrees of voluntary or forced assimilation exploitation and/or displacement. In fact, it has been pointed out by Galanter that just where the line between Scheduled Tribes and non-Scheduled Tribes is to be drawn has not been clear. There are problems of overlap with caste and controversy whether a specific group is more appropriately classified as a ST or SC. Policy however treats the SC and ST groups homogenously. Moreover it rests largely on the assumption that mainstreaming is progress, while paying lip service to preserve distinctive cultures, especially of tribals who are coerced into assimilation.

Education was perceived as crucial to processes of planned change. It was seen as the key instrument for bringing about a social order based on value of equality and social justice. Expansion and democratization of the education system was sought, the two primary egalitarian goals of which were the universalisation of elementary education and the educational “upliftment” of disadvantaged groups. The State’s special promotional efforts have undoubtedly resulted in educational progress for the SC/ST especially in regions where policy implementation combined with the dynamism of reform, and most crucially with anticaste, dalit, tribal and religious conversion movements.

The last two decades have spelt the decline of the Welfare State under the powerful impact of global economic forces and neo-liberal economic policies. The egalitarian ethic underlying planned change and development is being rapidly decimated. The ideology of the Indian State’s New Economic Policy emphasizes the pre-eminence of markets and profits. In the context of an elite directed consensus on the inevitability of liberalization and structural adjustment, the predominant problems and debates of education have undergone major shifts. Structural adjustment have provided the legitimacy and impetus for a number of educational reforms that pose a direct threat to the mission of universalizing elementary education and equalizing educational opportunity for SC/ST, especially those left behind. The state is withdrawing from social sectors of education and health and delegating its social commitments and responsibilities to private agencies and non-governmental organizations. There is already enough indication that basic educational needs of the SC and ST are getting seriously undermined under the new dispensation adversely affecting life chances of vast sections of those who have yet to make the shift to first generation learning.

Urban migration, education, occupational change and religious conversion have been pursued by the scheduled castes as key strategies of socio-economic emancipation, status change and acquisition of a new social identity. They have achieved varying degrees of success. Anti caste and dalit movements have provided the bases for political consciousness and assertions of new self-consciousness and new self-respecting collective identities grounded in both moderate-reformist and radical ideologies. Contemporarily, the rigours of pollution, social practices of untouchability and social relations of servility vary greatly in different parts of the country. The widespread upsurge of atrocity signifies continued caste based oppression. Caste and occupation were closely interlinked in the traditional socio-economic order, and the lowest manual and menial occupations were reserved for the SC. The link has gradually been broken but not completely. There have been shifts to caste free occupations. Changes took place with the arrival of new opportunities in rural employment and petty business as well as through education based occupational and social mobility in rural and urban contexts. However, economic exploitation and economic disadvantage and continued concentration in menial occupations continue to sustain and reinforce the degraded social position of the majority of the SC. Rural SC are predominantly landless and impoverished agricultural labour. Women are multiply subordinated.

By modernization is meant a process of long range social and cultural change, often regarded as leading to the progressive development of society. It is a multifaceted development specifically leading to the industrialization of economy, and increase in the geographic and social mobility and, the secularization of ideas, which give rise to secular, scientific and technical education. It also means a change from ascribed to achieved status and a higher standard of living. Thus, modernization is a question of changes in the social structure, norms and value orientations, and as such it demands certain norms and value orientations, and as such it demands certain adoptive devices. As a consequent of this modernization SC and STs are egger to adopt the new trends of modern culture which is possible only by the modern education.

State Provision for Education of SC and ST and Recent Trends in Their Educational Progress

State commitment to the education of SC/ST children is contained in Articles 15(4), 45 and 46 of the Indian Constitution. Article 15(4) underscores the state’s basic commitment to positive discrimination in favour of the socially and educationally backward classes and/or the SC and ST. Article 45 declares the state’s endeavour to provide free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of 14 years. Article 46 expresses the specific aim to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of SC/ST.

In its effort to offset educational and socio-historical disadvantage, the Indian state conceived a range of enabling provisions that would facilitate access to and ensure retention of SC and ST children in school. In the initial Five Year Plans, the focus was on making available basic educational facilities such as schools especially in remote areas and providing scholarships and books. Both Central and State governments took up the responsibility of special educational provision. The scope of enabling interventions expanded considerably after the Fourth Five Year Plan.

Special schemes pertaining to school education of SC/ST children currently include: i) free supply of textbooks and stationery at all stages of school education ii) free uniforms to children in govt. approved hostels and Ashrams schools, and in some states also for children in regular schools; iii) free education at all levels; iv) pre-matric stipends and scholarships to students at middle and/or high school stage; v) special scheme of pre-matric scholarships for children of castes and families engaged in unclean occupations like scavenging, tanning and flaying of animal skin; vi) girls and boys hostels for SC/ST students and lodging facilities in hostels of backward classes including SC/ST; vii) ashram schools for tribal children started with the intention of overcoming the difficulties of provision in remote regions and also rather patronizingly to provide an environment “educationally more conducive” than the tribal habitat. In addition, several states have instituted schemes such as scholarships to SC students studying in private schools, merit scholarships, attendance scholarships for girls, special school attendance prizes, remedial coaching classes, reimbursement of excursion expenses and provision of mid-day meals. The last has been recommended as an integral element in schooling by the Working group on Development and Welfare of the Scheduled Castes.

Conclusion:

Education has always been considered an instrument of social change. In present day society education has been considered a sound economic investment and that is the reason why in all the developed and developing societies greater attention is being paid to education. The role of education is to transform a static society into one vibrant with a commitment to development and change.

In out national perception, education is essential for all. This is fundamental to our all round development such as material, psychological, spiritual and so on. Obviously, it implies that education of the Scheduled Tribes is fundamental to the development of the people of this area, and hence, it is essential for them also. Education is a potent agent not only for the social and psychological changes but it may influence productivity and economic development also, and, that is the reason why, for the last few years in the literature on development there has been much talk about the relationship between education and economic development and about education as investment. Educational will also help in the socialization of a child, and the development of the human personality, social mobility, occupational change, and the rise of professions. Education is not only a means of adjustment into the society and all round development, but it is also an end in itself. Education affords protection of life. In addition to its relation with moral values, it is closely associated with socio-economic development. Education is, therefore, very significant for the development of a country and in spite of having many severe problems, the developing countries provide high priority to education. India is, undoubtedly, one among them.

References:

1. Das, A.K. and R.N. Saha, (1989): West Bengal Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes: Facts and Information, Bulletin of the Cultural Research Institute, No.32, Govt. of W.B., SC & TW Department, Calcutta

2. Nayar, P.K. , (1975) : “The Scheduled Castes and Tribes High School Students in Kerala, Dept of Sociology, Kerala University

3. Pratap, D.R. et al, (1971): Study of Ashram Schools in tribal Areas of Andhra Pradesh, Tribal Cultural Research and Training Institute, Hyderabad.

4. Mani, Gomathi, (1991) Education in the International Context, Sterling Publishers (P) Ltd., New Delhi, pp118-132.

5. Thomas, Joseph A. (2001): Dynamics of Educational Development: A Case Study of Selected `Backward’ Villages in Kerala, in Vaidyanathan, A. & Nair, Gopinathan, P.R. (eds.) Elementary Education in Rural India: A Grassroots View, New Delhi: Sage Publications, pp. 166-216.

6. Sujatha, K. (1994): “Educational Development among Tribes: A Study of Sub-Plan Areas in Andhra Pradesh, New Delhi: South Asian Publishers.

7. Muralidharan, V. (1997): “Educational Priorities and Dalit Society”, Kanishka Publishers, New Delhi.

Ask anybody: “Who are the great men in human history?” Likely you will hear names such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, or perhaps even Ronald Reagan. What do these men have in common? What made them great? They were successful because they were powerful, and with this power they changed the course of history by their heroic actions, or by ruling countries or even whole continents. Ronald Reagan was born in 1911. I have said before I am not a Republican nor a Reagan fan, but it is significant history for northern Illinois and needs to be talked about. Today we see the Ronald Reagan Birthplace building. He was born in the second floor apartment of a commercial building in downtown Tampico, Illinois. Where did president Ronald Reagan go to college ? The Reagan’s lived in the second floor apartment. For a case of pareidolia, notice the apparition in the window, who could that be? From 1915-1919 the structure housed a bakery and from 1919-1931 a bank, First National Bank. Today the first and second floor have been restored. The first floor is a spot-on recreation of a 1920s bank that incorporates original elements from the building’s stint as a bank, such as the vault. The second floor is done as a period apartment from the era when the Reagan’s occupied the space. Interestingly, the apartment features a skylight in the center of its main room and is decorated to the period when the Reagans lived there, although none of the original Reagan furnishings are there. Did Ronald Reagan go to college ? The Graham Building matches up with the harmony of the rest of the district

map of u s electoral college

disadvantages electoral college

he building is very similar to the other structures in the Main Street Historic District. It is two stories with three upper floor, flat-headed windows. The Graham Building also has a metal cornice which closely matches the cornice lines of the adjacent structures, contributing to the overall architectural harmony of the historic district. When I went it was July, 105 degrees, and the woman inside, a volunteer, seemed truly glad to see me. In fact she chased me down on the hot street. Initially, when I tugged at the door, I couldn’t get it to open, I think she thought I was inept but it really wouldn’t open. But she came outside to get me, eventually she gave me a free tour of the bank, the apartment and told me numerous tales about the Reagan family. Even recalling when Ronald Reagan actually visited the birthplace during the 1980s or 1990s or some such. It was very interesting and for her kindness I bought a magnet and donated five dollars to the museum. As president, Reagan implemented bold new political and economic initiatives. His supply-side economic policies, dubbed “Reaganomics,” included deregulation and substantial tax cuts implemented in 1981. In his first term he survived an assassination attempt, took a hard line against organized labor, and ordered military actions in Grenada. He was reelected in a landslide in 1984. Reagan’s second term was primarily marked by foreign matters, namely the ending of the Cold War, the bombing of Libya, and the revelation of the Iran-Contra affair. The president had previously ordered a massive military buildup in an arms race with the Soviet Union, forgoing the strategy of détente. He publicly described the USSR as an “evil empire” and supported anti-Communist movements worldwide. He negotiated with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, resulting in the INF Treaty and the decrease of both countries’ nuclear arsenals. Reagan left office in 1989; in 1994 the former president disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease earlier in the year and died ten years later at the age of ninety-three. He ranks highly among former U.S. presidents in terms of approval rating.

Sandra Stammberger asked:


When reaching college, as well for those who cannot afford in paying the expenses of obtaining a degree, the word “scholarship” is confusing for both students and parents. We instantly categorize it as like student loans or grants.

Actually, knowing everything about the scholarship process can really help and save you money when trying to cover all the expenses. To make it clear, scholarships are “FREE MONEY” given away by the government, private companies and organizations, charitable institutions, well known schools and universities, etc. Unlike student loans, scholarships are not repaid to the scholarship provider.

With so many scholarships available across the country, how can you possibly identify in which one you can submit applications. First, you can search possible financial aids within your location, preferably you ask someone who knows where financial aids are still available for grab. If there are no slots anymore, you can find outside your state depending the distance it will take for you. Or maybe it doesn’t matter anymore as long as you can get your much needed scholarship money.

Finding information on scholarships on the web can be a difficult one as you won’t find all you need to know in financing your education. In searching the internet, some details and informations are not properly stated and can confuse you.

If possible, you must search in advance for there had to be other resources for your education. For this many resources, you will learn how college financial aid offices actually determine what kind of scholarships will be given out to potential students. And it’s better to search in advance because you will have many options to choose.

When you finally found and applied a slot for a scholarship, you will notice that some have guidelines for making it that depends on your personal background or abilities. It’s because some scholarships are based on your high school grades, financial situation, while others are for ethnic groups, athletic or artistic abilities, or students interested in a particular field.

You can be lucky if some instances qualifying exams are not taken anymore. This can be an advantage for you as you will not take the gruelling test anymore. For sure some exams can be a mind buster for you.

If you have a sport that you excels in a particular way, this can also qualify you in such a way that some schools or universities has a program in a designated sports in which they want to upgrade the team into a competitive status. This can be very appealing to as you can take the scholarship money in an easy way. This type of entering a preferred learning school resembles to a kind of a “recruitment method” in a way that you will be automatically in.

For a work-study scholarship, this will require you to work part-time for the money given to you but most jobs are near in the campus. Some scholarships also doesn’t require you to have good or perfect grades in high school as long you’re very determined to pursue a college degree. Then, if your family’s financial status is way below the average, you could be a perfect candidate for a scholarship aid.

For better reference about what type of scholarships that can be available whether in your place or outside the state, these are:

• Academic and Athletic Scholarships • Work study Scholarships • Ethnic and Religious Scholarships • Community Organization Sponsored Scholarships • National and Local Companies Sponsored Scholarships# • Government Sponsored Scholarships • And many other Special Scholarships

Lastly, when time came and a scholarship is at hand, be prepared for all what it takes from you. This can be very demanding for you that some scholarships are expecting very good results from you. For it is because a scholarship helps you in every way it can. Return the favour for studying seriously and vigorously as in the end your education will be yours forever.

Vocational nursing programs are offered at schools throughout Southern California. A career in nursing is still in high demand, both here and abroad. Nursing offers immense employment opportunities, as well as many financial and professional advantages. Through an accelerated program, a nursing student can become a licensed vocational nurse (LVS) in as little as 11 months.

As a vocational nursing schoolgraduate student you will be able to demonstrate competencies in direct patient-care activities and ethical, caring behaviors while providing nursing care.  Often, graduates and active students in upper level vocational nursing classes are offered free review classes to help prepare for the NCLEX-PN exam.  Upon passing this licensure exam, graduates may obtain employment as a licensed vocational nurse.

A California Licensed Vocational Nurse works in hospitals, both public and private, in nursing and convalescent homes, in medical clinics and for health service agencies, government agencies such as the Peace Corps, and in the military. Some are self-employed working through nursing agencies for private duty service.

The average licensed nurse in the U.S. earns between $43,370 and $63,360 a year-some even earn as much as $71,000 to $113,000 a year. Most nursing jobs come with good benefits as well, in addition to bonuses, family-friendly work schedules, and subsidized training. This is because there is a shortage of nurses, so employers will offer benefits to attract and retain more nurses on their staff.

Vocational nursing schools also offer training programs for other successful careers in the healthcare sector, such as surgical technology, pharmacy technician, diagnostic medical sonographer, and medical assistant training.