Is Using an Essay writing Service Ethical?

Many students often rely on custom essay-writing services to get their paper or essay written within the specified deadline. They choose this option for many different reasons – they may not have sufficient time to research or lack the knowledge to write a compelling essay. Whatever the reason, these essay-writing services are increasingly popular.

However, it is important to point out that there are also certain ethical issues associated with the idea of using these writing services. In almost every educational institution in the United States, using these services is considered a form of cheating. There is another viewpoint as well – some people think cheating is wrong only if it affects other people. In case of essay writing services, a student gets better grades for their essays and the school itself enjoys better reputation; therefore, you cannot say the idea is wrong or harmful. Professor Richard Gunderman in his article for The Atlantic magazine said that: "These services have names such as College-paper.org, and Essayontime.com. Bestessays.com claims that "70% of Students use Essay Writing service at least once [sic]" and boasts that all its writers have M.A. and Ph.D. degrees."

Are there instances when using these services is harmful?

By digging deeper, you will realize that there could be a few situations when using essay-writing services may affect others in a negative way. For instance, if your school asks you to write an essay and grades you on a curve, then it may affect hardworking students, as their work may not be as

impressive as the one submitted by the student who has asked a professional to write him/her an essay.

Similarly, there is another instance when using an essay writing service is not good for others. For instance, a student who has not invested any time and effort in writing an essay and still secures good grades for submitting a professional written essay, he/she will cheapen all the hard work done by those students who didn't use an essay writing service. Moreover, if it is found that students in any particular institution cheat a lot, it will affect its reputation and, at the same time, will also make things difficult for those who have worked hard to get their degrees.

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The Existence of Essay Writing Services

Interestingly, many people doubt the existence of essay writing services. It is due to this particular reason that you cannot talk much about the ethical side of essay writing services when many people don't take it as a problem. It is quite the same as it was witnessed during the Great Leap forwards in China.

 During this period, millions were dying and people were worried about the seriousness of the problem. On the other hand, there were political leaders who were completely unaware of the severity of the issue. You can see the same thing happening with the essay writing services, as many people are bent on discussing the ethical and moral aspects of these services but many others are reluctant to take it as a problem.

Essay Writing Services are Ubiquitous

The biggest problem many ethical people have to deal with is that they cannot do anything about these essay-writing companies, and that's mainly because they are present everywhere in the world. That's the reason why it is hard to take a stance on a problem that is not just an American problem.

In fact, most of the companies serving people in the United States are based in a foreign country. This raises another question: will these services be unethical if the money stays in the country? Some believe that no one in the United States would consider it a problem if these companies pay taxes to the American government on the money they make. It is true that you are not doing anything illegal to buy or sell essays, which is why many people don't take it as a problem at all.

These people also have other concerns about using these essay-writing services. For instance:

·      One common concern is that you shouldn't be using these services because you will never know anything about the writer – there are good, bad, and average writers, and the money a company asks for doesn't tell anything about the quality of the writer. 

·      Another ethical aspect of the problem is that many companies ask you to pay a lot of money, but the price is usually not relative to quality – you often get substandard work.

·      Almost everyone is aware of the fact that no one can stop them from using these writing services, but if they get caught, they will face serious consequences – you may be rusticated from your school and have your credits stripped from you. 

·      These writing services can affect the grading curve, which will ultimately be devastating for good students who will fail to find a place in their preferred colleges. 

·      Yet another nasty object is that most of these essay-writing companies are unregulated, they may be offering third world and Middle Eastern terrorists a way to make money. It may be a concern, but you can overcome the issue by getting to know the company you're buying from. 

·      Another unethical thing associated with the problem is that the whole idea is quite useful for richer students. Considering the price these companies charge, not every student can use their services, which is why a rich but an average student can get good grades. 

·      One important ethical problem is that many people use an education visa to come to America and then involve in illegal activities. They purchase essays from online essay-writing companies to stay in the college.

The fact of the matter is that there sure are several ethical aspects of the problem, but it doesn't mean you cannot use it for ethically sound reasons. If a student falls ill for a few weeks and the deadline for submitting an essay is fast approaching, asking a professional company to write an essay would be the best bet. What it means is that it is hard to make any concrete decision – it basically depends on how and why a student contacts these essay-writing companies.

Korah Morrison, UCLA student, owner of Blogoloola blog.

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Getting Health Insurance While Studying Abroad

When preparing for a study abroad trip, health insurance probably isn’t in the forefront of your mind. But whether you’re a U.S. citizen traveling to another country, or an exchange student studying in America, health insurance is one necessity that shouldn’t be overlooked. Here’s why you should have health insurance while studying abroad.

For those studying abroad in the United States

Not only is getting health insurance important when studying in the United States, it’s required for exchange students by the U.S. Department of State. Health insurance for those studying in the U.S. must cover these requirements, as stated by the D.O.S.: coverage of at least $50,000 for each accident or illness, coverage for evacuation to the student’s home country of $10,000 and a deductible of $500 at most.

Many U.S. universities provide health insurance for exchange students, but it does help to do research first and find options for reliable health insurance for international students in the U.S. Although you might think the costs of staying insured are high, or you doubt anything could happen to you while you’re in school, the cost of being uninsured and requiring hospitalization in America is much higher than taking precautions and paying for good health insurance.

Gingerbread House in Prague

For those studying abroad outside the United States

While medical insurance isn’t required for U.S. citizens to study abroad, it’s smart to purchase a policy that will cover you while abroad. A typical medical policy in the states doesn’t cover healthcare outside the United States, so obtaining another, short-term policy is needed if you want to avoid high medical bills. For example, a medical evacuation to the United States could cost around $50,000.

If students require prescription medication while overseas, they should bring letters from their doctor or physician stating the need for the drug, in case the drug is considered a narcotic overseas. Also, make sure that medications brought overseas are in the original containers and labeled properly.
Studying in another country can be a life-changing experience. By making sure you’re covered during the trip, you won’t have to worry about having to pay for expensive medical bills in case you need hospitalization overseas. Stay covered and enjoy a safe trip abroad!

By: Kristine Esser

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Tips for Traveling as a Teen

Most young adults, from teens to college students, have some form of wanderlust. The need for independence coupled with the mystery and romance of traveling to a foreign country grip young hearts and minds. There are major benefits to traveling across the world — without parents — that you can't experience by staying at home. Parents worry for their young adult's safety and do so with merit, but there are many ways to satisfy both teens and parents. By taking the time to prepare and setting specific goals for your travels, you can have a fulfilling, life-changing trip and keep your parents happy.

Why Teens Should Travel

One of the most difficult parts of traveling across the world without your parents will be convincing your parents that it's a good idea. Fortunately, there's an arsenal of resources at your disposal to help you out. Traveling will help you grow as a person, broaden your horizons, immerse you in a new culture and give you experience looking after yourself. It's going to be a challenge that will force you to be self-sufficient. If you're traveling with a group, you'll have to learn to live closely with people not from your household. It's a great way to prepare yourself for your experiences in a college dorm.

Ways to Travel

Volunteering Abroad

Want to travel and gain valuable experience that looks good on a college application or resume? Volunteer abroad. What could be better than traveling to a beautiful remote country? Giving back to the community while you're there. Help alleviate poverty, protect wildlife, teach kids to play sports, teach ecological sustainability or help impoverished and at-risk children.

WWOOF

The World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms helps people find organic farms to volunteer at. You can spend an entire summer taking care of dairy cows in France or just spend a week or two earning your keep at an organic orchard in Germany. You negotiate the terms of your visit directly with your host, so you always know exactly what you're getting into.

House Sitting

Use a service like MindMyHouse to hook you up with house sitting opportunities around the globe. Homeowners can have a hard time finding someone to mind their pets, plants and home while they're away, but this service lets them find people willing to take care of their stuff in exchange for free accommodations. Check it out if you want to travel but can't afford to stay in a hotel.

Taking a Gap Year

One of the most popular reasons for teens to travel is to take a gap year. Take a year off after high school and backpack across Europe, Asia or South America. There are hundreds of places you can go to find information on backpacking, including guides for every country out there and how to save money on your travel.

Kafka Statue in Prague

Travel Tips

Budget: Unless you get a job during your trip, you'll be living off limited funds. Figure out how much money you have to spend on food, travel and sleeping accommodations, then take your leftover funds and divide them by how long you'll be there. That's your daily spending limit. If you go over one day, you'll have to make up for it later. Wait to buy your souvenirs until the end of the trip, so you can focus on having fun, not pinching pennies.

Be safe: There are hundreds of guides, blogs and websites out there that will alert you to dangerous countries, cities and districts. Before you go on your trip, look up each of your destinations and find out what areas you need to avoid. Do your research on general travel safety tips and stick to them. Learn from others wisdom and keep yourself out of danger.

Use a checklist: Keep a list of everything you need to do to prepare for your trip. You don't want to get to the airport and realize you don't have your travel itinerary or an updated passport. Make a list for things you need and want to do while you're overseas, too. Make sure you take care of the things you need to do before you do the fun things.

Research: Take the time to learn about whatever country you're heading to. Pay special attention to the culture. Learn what phrases, gestures and clothing are taboos so you can avoid them. Take the time to learn a few phrases in the native language, like "Where is the bathroom?" and "I'm lost. Will you help me?" They can save you embarrassing and stressful situations.

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The Affordible Care Act: Where do College Students Fit In?

Lately, President Obama has spent a lot of time touring the country to discuss the economy and the middle class as well as touting the benefits of his landmark legislation, the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Poor and middle class Americans will likely benefit the most from the ACA with its system of subsidies and tax credits for purchasing health insurance, which is something that the president is keen to highlight.

Less positive attention however, is paid to those individuals who are in the process of gaining the skills necessary to enter the work force and embark on a career, namely college students.

With all the stories in the news about sticker shock for young people buying health insurance, many college students are skeptical, wondering how the ACA will help them, if at all.

The good news is that there are many provisions in the ACA that are aimed at helping young people, so that they too can transition into the lives they hope to lead, without worrying about healthcare.

Admittedly this is a tall order, and though it is still unclear as to how exactly the implementation of the ACA will play over the next few months, let’s looks at some of the ways so far that college students can benefit.

 Medicaid: Big Changes, For The States That Want It

One of the ACA’s more controversial and celebrated provisions is one that calls for the voluntary expansion of Medicaid on a state-by-state basis.

The expansion would allow adults who do not have children to apply for and be covered by Medicaid, a first in the history of the service.

Medicaid, for those of you who don’t know, is a taxpayer and government funded healthcare plan for people whose income is too low to be able to afford private health insurance.

Currently, the annual income requirement in most states is 100% above the federal poverty line, per family. The expansion will raise that requirement to a considerably higher 138% above FPL, which would mean that more people stand to benefit from Medicaid.

Although the expansion is not mandatory, New York and New Jersey are among the states that have already begun expanding their policies, and 26 states in all are either on board with the changes or leaning toward expansion.

You may be able to receive benefits under Medicaid, once the ACA comes into full effect in January 2014.

Photo: Stockvault

Student Health Plans

Most accredited four year colleges and universities in the U.S. offer health insurance to their students at a reduced rate, during a given period of enrollment. You may be familiar with these plans, or you may already be enrolled in such a plan.

The ACA requires that all healthcare plans provide coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions, and a list of health services are to be covered as well. These services, which include prescriptions, emergency medical, and mental health services, are currently not covered by most student health plans.

The end result: SHP’s aren’t going anywhere. And it looks like they will be better under the ACA.

Catastrophic Insurance: The Risky Choice

Many students don’t benefit from student health plans, and may be wondering how they can find healthcare that protects them from a big medical expenses at a low cost. Catastrophic insurance does just that.

Catastrophic Insurance Plans are cheap, and they are set up to shield you from paying thousands due to major unforeseen medical emergencies.

The problem with these plans is that it’s a one-way street: you pay less to prevent a disaster, but common health services like regular checkups are not often covered. For this reason, this option is not recommended unless you know what you’re getting into, and you’re sure it’s the best choice.

Mom and Dad May Be Able To Help

If you’re a working student trying to make it on your own, you may be too prideful to ask your parents to help with your insurance. But in actuality, it might be your best option.

In 2010, the ACA implemented a provision that allows adults to remain insured through their parents’ insurance policy until age 26. This was of course great news for millions of Americans. If your parents are working and have insurance, and you’re not yet 26, it’s worth exploring this route to healthcare.

If All Else Fails: Subsidies

The Affordable Care Act requires states to have an online marketplace in operation by October of this year that will allow individuals without insurance to purchase it so as to comply with the individual mandate.

Aside from not having to pay a fee, the bright side of the mandate is that tax subsidies are available for people under the age of 65. The government calculates how much you can save based on your annual income, number of dependents, and marital status.

The Henry J. Kaiser foundation has set up a subsidy calculator that will give you a quick estimate of how much you can save, so you can know going in, what breaks you’re entitled to.

Conclusion: It’s Not So Bad After All

Despite the warranted concern of many young Americans, it appears that healthcare reform is indeed on their side.

This knowledge is not yet enough to lessen concerns about the future that many Americans have, but it is enough to help them move forward without hesitation, into an option that will give them some security, in a time of extreme and relentless uncertainty.

Michael Cahill is the Editor of the Vista Health Solutions Blog. He writes about the health care system, health insurance industry and the Affordable Care Act. Follow him on Twitter at @VistaHealth

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Buying and Selling on Craigslist to Finance that College Education

Not interested in working that traditional job while in college or need to supplement your income because your job isn’t paying enough. Buying and then selling products bought on Craigslist may be the perfect answer for you.

First you should choose between higher and lower priced items to sell. The higher priced items have a much greater ability to earn higher profits. You will need the higher profits to offset the expense in buying the items (think gas prices). Also, with a lower priced item, you have a much more limited ability to increase the products worth.

For instance, let’s say you buy a lawnmower, that originally costs $200 new, for $50. You decide to fix it up. How much more can you expect to sell the lawnmower for? Maybe $100.  Now let’s say the lawnmower was $1000 new. You pay $200 for it. You fix it up and culd probably sell it for $500. That’s $300 in your pocket instead of $50 – and for the same amount of work!

So, what productss are best for buying and selling? First think about what your area of expertise is. Do you have an interest in mechanics? Then maybe dirtbike or bicycle may be just the thing for you. Are you interested in sports equipment? Then look at name brand exercise equipment.

Speaking of name brands, it’s always best to stick with name brand products because you will have the largest section of the market interested and they will be willing to pay the highest prices for them. For instance, let’s say you are interested in buying ellipticals machines since they are a hot fitness item. If you search for ellipticals on Craigslist you will find tons of them priced anywhere from $25-$3000 plus.
 

Photo: Stockvault

So, why not take the cheap no name $25 elliptical and sell it for $500? That’s a nice profit! Unfortunately that won’t happen. Buyers spending $500 on an elliptical know they can get $25 elliptical day in and day out. These buyers aren’t looking for a cheap elliptical. They are looking for name brands that have a great reputation (like Precor). Now, consider buying that $250 Precor elliptical and selling it for $750. That’s a very nice profit for very little work.

So how do you find these great deals? Craigslist search engines like CLGenie is great for this purpose. Basically you enter your area of the country, the product and how much you are willing to pay. Then you are emailed results as soon as they are listed. Be quick about responding to the ads or you’ll lose out on some great deals.

So, here’s a list of products that you should have great success buying and then selling for a quick profit:

1.     Cell phones. Best to stick with phones you have some knowledge about so you can check that they are functioning completely.

2.     Bicycles. If you know the basics of bike repair then this is a great option. Stay away from the cheap bikes as there’s very little profit in them.

3.     Computers. Do you know the ins and outs of computers? People are always upgrading so there are always tons on the market.

4.     Furniture. There is a lot of money in furniture. If you stick with modern classic furniture like Le Corbusier or Eames you’re sure to make great profits. Watch out for knock-offs being sold as the real thing.

5.     Power tools. Many times you will find people selling their entire collection of power tools. This is an ideal buy as you can sell them piecemeal at a substantial profit.

And just a couple of final notes. Always be careful when you deal with Craigslist because it can be a strange place with strange people. Also be on the lookout for people selling junk and mis-describing products. It doesn’t happen much but does happen. And also, have fun!

Kimberly Lawson. Kimberly Lawson is the director of marketing at www.Boostapal.com & www.BoostaCause.com. Boostapal is a website where teenagers earn money when their family does their everyday shopping online.  BoostaCause donates a percentage of every shopping dollar to the member favorite non-profit, church or charity.

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Being a Green College Student

The idea is everywhere. Being “green” is as important as ever and everyone wants to do things to be less wasteful and help the environment. However, what if you are on a college student budget and can’t afford that new top of the line hybrid vehicle? Here are something you can do to be a “green” college student AND save yourself some money in the process.

eTextbook

Make the switch! Traditional textbooks are not only heavy and a pain to try and lug around, but they are expensive and will put a huge strain on your pocketbook. Transitioning from traditional textbooks to online textbooks and course materials will not only lighten your load, but they will save you a significant amount of money. Renting etextbooks compared to buying its traditional hard cover or paperback counterpart will in most cases reduce your textbook costs by half. 

The environment also benefits from etextbooks. A common occurrence with textbooks is that a new edition will be released and often times the new edition will contain only grammatical or spelling corrections and not actually any new material or information. This is a huge waste of paper and trees, especially when there are five or even nine editions of a particular text. An etextbook on the other hand doesn’t require any additional paper or printing to release its newest edition. It is just digitally updated instantly. 

Recycle: Stockvault

The 3 R’s and Paper

Unfortunately there’s not much you can do to get around using paper. You are a student after all, and some teachers will require you to do assignments on paper or do an essay that requires you to print it out and hand it in. However, you can reduce the amount you use. For instance, even if your professor wants a printed copy of your assignment, don’t write out your first, second, and third drafts. Do all your drafting, editing, and revising on a computer or laptop and only print out the final draft, the one you will end up turning in.

You don’t just want to use less paper though. Reuse old paper. Before you through the paper in the recycle bin make sure both sides have been used up. If one side is blank, you can use it as scratch paper for figuring out math problems for example. Post-It’s cost money. Instead take that piece of
paper that has once side blank and cut it in half twice. Do that with several sheets and staple them together. Now you have a scratch pad for jotting down quick memos, and it didn’t cost anything to make it!

Of course, once a piece of paper has been used completely make sure it goes in that blue recycle bin instead of the trash can. Once it’s full just take it down to your local recycling center.

Transportation

So you already know you can’t go splurge on a brand new hybrid vehicle, but there are other ways to go green while saving money instead of spending it. If you live close enough to campus walk or ride a bicycle to class. You won’t be contributing to pollution, you will be saving money on gas, and you will be improving your health with exercise. 

If you live farther away however, you might need alternative transportation. Instead of driving your own car, you can ride the bus. Again you will be cutting back the amount of automobile pollution and saving money. Many places offer student discounts for monthly bus passes. Pay a onetime fee at the beginning of the month and have unlimited access to bus rides. 

Another option you have is getting to know others on campus with similar schedules and setting up a carpool. If you were able to get enough people to join in, you could end up driving only once or twice a week.

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College Graduation: Determination over Duration

“I wanna go to college for the rest of my life,” the words of Asher Roth from his song I Love College. We get a lot of input about how wild or enjoyable college life can be from the different things we hear and see from the media. Say for example the introductory sentence, movies like Van Wilder and things like that. Although, how true can these claims be? Yes, life before college graduation can be a party but what if you’re actually falling behind because of it?

It is a struggle to keep up with classes while all you want to do is skip class and have fun with friends. During your days in college, that’s when you start to feel independent and rebellious. That’s not really much of a problem since everybody goes through that though some go through it later in life. The issue here is to counter that before it gets worse.

Most college students believe it’s too late for them. It shouldn’t be, because it never really is. What has happened in the past is a learning experience, most especially those mistakes you’ve done like wasting time getting drunk. As ridiculous as it may seem, committing faults in while in college is better – better than having to commit them after college graduation where stakes are higher.

While people believe that the ultimate goal of college is to graduate, that’s where they’re wrong. The whole point of going to school is to learn. College is no different. This is when you realize how to put things into order and apply the things you’ve previously learned, in real life. So no, it doesn’t matter how long you take to graduate college for as long as in the long run you understand and fix your mistakes, you’ll get there.

And, with the fact that you’re already screwing around surfing the net, allow us to help you out with certain advices that will keep you on track and keep you from sinking.

Writing on Chalkboard: Stockvault

Begin by asking yourself why you’re in college in the first place. Usually, our choices and goals are influenced by family and friends. Often times we get pushed into college without even being certain so we’re not really in the proper state of mind set when we start. But that’s okay. As previously stated, these things help us grow and now that you’re in the right mind to process all these, it’s time to ask yourself what you actually want to get from college.

By doing so, you can turn yourself around and set things straight. You get a better perspective of things thus giving you more reasons to set goals properly. Not only that, you get to understand yourself more – assess your capabilities and weakness and work your way around them.

Now that you can recognize your needs and wants for your life in college, build a routine. Building a routine allows you to manage your time better. This way you can allot time for your studies, socializing, and more importantly, sleep. Turning your college life around doesn’t mean you have to let go of things you like, things that make you happy. College isn’t punishment, for crying out loud. The stuff you hate and things you enjoy, when incorporated equally into your life, makes you a well-rounded person.

With an improved self-control, you can set higher standards for yourself. This may seem like asking for too much but you have to be aware that when you target a higher benchmark, if you do miss it, there’s a certainty you’re less likely to fail. If you aim for something greater, chances are you’d reach your primary goal which is the passing. Make sure you’re not any higher than your grade.

Other than that, don’t forget to take breaks. After all, you’re only human. Even machines need time to cool down – you do too. These breaks should be your time to recuperate and relax. There’s no point in being hard on yourself. Let’s face it; student’s that overwhelm themselves with studies and pushing themselves on the very edge of their limit tend to fail because of the stress they get themselves into. It’s only logical to give it a rest sometimes.

Finally, remember, college is supposed to be one of the greatest times in your life and students are bound to get distracted at some point but it’s never take the easy way out and flunk college graduation. Who knows, one day this’ll all be just a fond memory and it’ll be your turn to buy gifts for college graduates.

Author Bio:

This article is by Gabrielle Nicolette Roales, a recent graduate of Fine Arts major in Advertising Arts who now works with GradShop as a content writer. Gabrielle plans to take up a Master’s Degree in Psychology in the near future and aspires to motivate students to pursue their education.

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Getting Laptop Insurance in College is Essential

The college years are both an exciting and expensive time in a person's life. It is exciting because it is preparing a student to go out and make his/her mark on the world. It is expensive because tuition, books, room and board, and other living expenses for college students is enough to bankrupt a few third world countries.

To mitigate the financial damage that college inevitably causes, it is a good idea to protect oneself from any unexpected expenses. One good way to do that is by insuring essential devices like laptops.

Economics 101

The average financially prudent college student is already working hard to save a buck whenever possible. Eating cheap meals and walking instead of driving are common ways college students save money. Insuring a laptop is another example of good economic planning. For a comparatively small investment, a student can ensure that unfortunate circumstances will not mean a hefty financial loss down the road.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

It is widely known that the college years can be a bit "free-spirited". Friends and party seekers can and do often show up and behave a bit on the reckless side. Spilled beer, smoke, or even hot food can destroy a laptop. Without replacement insurance, a struggling student may end up incurring major debt to replace it.

Man of Steel

While Superman might be invulnerable to damage, laptops are not. Simply dropping a laptop could render it useless. Other potential causes of laptop destruction include getting stepped on, having something heavy dropped on it, or even being left in a too hot or too cold room for a long time.

Laptop Insurance Policy: Stockphoto

No Honor Among Thieves

Colleges can be, unfortunately, great places for thieves to operate. Many students can be distracted by all the business of college life and forget to take simple measures to protect property. A laptop left alone for only a few minutes can be stolen by a light-fingered larcenist who is in the right place at the right time.

Even the somewhat "safe" haven of a student's dorm room is not really as protected as one might wish. Roommates or people that roommates allow into a room may find the allure of a quick buck via a stolen laptop too hard to resist.

Simple Measures

For the student looking to avoid all the distress that comes with being forced to buy a new laptop, follow a few simple rules. First, backup everything essential. While recovery experts can sometimes save files from a dead computer, if the computer is lost or stolen, those files are gone forever. Make sure that any important documents are stored somewhere other than the laptop hard drive.

Second, store the laptop somewhere secure. Leaving it on the floor, in the bathroom, or on the edge of a table are recipes for disaster. Set it somewhere that is protected from damage. Secure also means not leaving it alone where it could be stolen. For the sake of the laptop, assume that everybody is a potential crook.

Better Safe than Sorry

Finally, make sure that the laptop is insured. Even the most vigilant student will sometimes accidentally lose or break this most necessary of college gadgets. Make that small investment and get the peace of mind that comes with knowing an accident will not cost a fortune.


Desmond Kramer is a freelance writer based in Dayton, Ohio who contributes articles on a variety of topics including computers, gadgets, gadget insurance, cell phones, futuristic technology and other areas as well. Those with iPhones may want to check out the iphone5 insurance brand Protectyourbubble.com.

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4 Tips to Earning your Bachelor's Degree Quickly

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When it comes to your education, there are a lot of new choices out there these days. If you are interested in earning a bachelor's degree, then you do not always have to go down the traditional path. There are a lot of different programs that will enable you to get your bachelor's through other means. Many of these programs are used by adults who want advance their education, but who want to minimize the length of time before they’re awarded their degree. Competing responsibilities, such as career and family, often do not allow them to attend classes as a full-time student. As a result, utilizing nontraditional means of getting a degree provides them with a greater amount of flexibility.

 

Transfer Courses

If you have already earned some credits from a university in the past, or even earned an associate's degree from a community college, then you may be able to transfer your existing credits and build off of that foundation. Policies regarding credit transfers vary from college to college, so be sure to speak with an admissions counselor before applying. Transfer courses may help you shave a few semesters off of your intended program. .

Accelerated Evening Courses

Most bachelor degree programs follow the traditional academic year with breaks winter vacation, spring vacation, and summer vacation. All of these holidays can end up slowing down your progress considerably. If you want to speed up earning your bachelor's program, look into accelerated

evening courses, which are in session throughout the year. Courses like these will significantly shorten the time it takes to earn your bachelor’s. Accelerated courses are often held in the evenings so that they are more accessible to those with stiffer schedules.

Distance Learning and Online Programs

Some universities offer students opportunities for distance learning, particularly in graduate programs. Often these classes will need to take place at certain times for live discussions between classmates and professors, but the freedom of location allows students to pursue their education without relocating or moving their families. Colleges and universities across the country now offer online programs and courses. These courses may allow students more freedom to complete coursework quickly as long as they have time for it. Course materials, such as readings and lectures, are all posted online, allowing students to work ahead while managing other responsibilities.

Assess your own needs to narrow down which type or types of programs will work best for you and your schedule. After deciding on a program type and subject, you are ready to begin your college search.

Author Bio:

Michelle Patterson is a freelance writer and blogger who is writing on behalf of Duquesne University School of Leadership and ProfessionalDevelopment, which hosts evening and weekend adult undergraduate programs. For more information about leadership and management program offerings, check out the Duquesne University School of Leadership and Professional Development.

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Essential Tools Every Student Writer Should Know and Have

         Being a writer is a difficult job, especially when you rely on your skills for a living. You must be able to convey your ideas and make sure to relate to them in a manner that readers can understand. At the same time, you also have to ensure that what you write is believable and based on facts and information. Otherwise, you will lose your credibility and no one would want to read your work.

            Fortunately, there are a lot of tools which writers can use. Although everything else still depends on your ideas and own style, these aids can help you make a quality output and assists in improving your work by making sure that the content is error free. Hence, here are 10 useful tools an experienced writer should consider looking into.

Plagiarism software

            With the wide-range of information available on the Internet, it’s no wonder how some people can lift a sentence or two on their papers and make those ideas as their own. In order to prevent being accused of plagiarism, then plagiarism checker Plagtracker is the ultimate tool to check any copyright issues. It has a unique checking algorithm that will immediately inform you if any of the sentences or

paragraphs is similar to other people’s work. Even if you did not copy anything while writing your content, there will be instances that your ideas are already conveyed by the other. Hence, it is better to make use of Plagtracker to make sure that nothing is duplicated. If you want further assistance, a minimal fee is required to purchase the program.

Visual Thesaurus

            Google doesn’t want you to keep repeating the same word all throughout your article. To avoid being penalized, then Visual Thesaurus is going to be your new best friend. It gives you the possible choice for every word typed, whether it is a noun or an adjective. To maximize this product, you need to pay for a subscription fee at a minimum price.

Dragon Naturally Speaking

            Typing, especially when you’ve been doing it all day, can be exhausting. Luckily, there’s a speech recognition software that allows you to talk and your computer will do the typing for you. Simply say the words and everything else will be translated directly on your computer screen, accurately. Hence, it saves you more time and energy which can help increase your productivity.

Scribe

            SEO is a very important tool in writing online. If you want to generate the right amount of traffic in your site, then Scribe is essential for you. It follows an online marketing trinity of content, social and search, making sure that all SEO-related areas taken into account by Google will be covered.

Xmarks

            It is an essential add-on that synchronizes all your passwords and bookmarks and at the same time, can be used for searching information, all for free. It will not help your writing career in a big way but it can contribute a lot as it saves you time which you can use to focus on your writing.

Dim Dim

            Through this web conferencing service, you are able to talk to your clients in real time while giving you an inexpensive way to share any documents in a secured network. However, it requires a payment of monthly subscription fee, which is still affordable.

Skype

            In order to maintain a strong writer-client relationship, then this software should be installed in your computer. Skype is the primary source of communication for most clients since it’s easier and more convenient to use with no fees required. 

Wridea

            Wridea promotes the idea of collaboration and brainstorming. You simply post an idea and categorize them in pages, ask your friends to give a feedback and encourage discussion and brainstorming among them, to make sure that your ideas get better. If you’re geared towards the creative aspect of writing, then this web service is for you.

MS Word Macros

            If you have a task that you do most of the time, then MS Word Macros can become handy. It creates a shortcut to a task that you repeatedly which can help you save some time and allows you to focus on more important tasks. You can even use this to organize your daily writing schedule.

Web SEO Analytics Tools

            Definitely a useful tool for every writer, the Web SEO Analytics has the most complete tools that will help you meet Google’s online content standards. It has everything you need – plagiarism checker, keyword, link and domain tools, even Web SEO Analysis.

            Although these tools can be useful, the important thing is to be able to provide an original and high quality content article that can attract readers all over the world. 

Sandra Miller is a freelance writer from Brooklyn. She always uses professional editing services help to make her writing perfect. 

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Study Abroad in the USA

International travel is one of the greatest adventures you'll ever experience, but every trip has its own limits in terms of what you can comfortably handle and enjoy. Being away from home is a strain all on its own, and the stress of such travels can be amplified by the cultural discomforts and challenges faced wherever you're going.

Although the United States is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, different individuals respond differently to this change in scenery. As a student considering taking your studies overseas, it's worth your time to consider how you might acclimate to American culture. You might be unsure of how you'd respond to the American way of life and prefer a shorter period of travel, such as a single semester abroad, but more adventurous souls confident in their fit with America might want a full year of studies—or even to move there and become a full-time resident in the States.

Many of the top universities are located in the United States. On the west coast there’s Stanford and Berkley University near the sandy beaches and plenty of warm weather. There is also NYU or Columbia University both in New York on the east coast. If you are used to cold weather and fast paced city life then NY may be the place for you. If you are still undecided where exactly you would like to attend college, you can always explore the big city and find exciting things to do. New York is known as the city that never sleeps, so going to classes during the day and enjoying the night life should be pretty interesting.

In order to nail down your plans for studying abroad in the U.S., you need to make numerous preparations beforehand. It's important to take care of such considerations as making sure your passport is valid for the duration of your trip; purchasing a travel health insurance policy to cover you in the event of any medical emergencies; and obtaining the proper visa for a temporary or extended stay. Apart from those housekeeping tasks, here are some cultural considerations any would-be student should think over before embarking:

Different views on work/life balance

In general, the United States tips the scale more toward work than life happiness. Americans take fewer vacations than the average worker in many other countries. Hours may be longer, and in many professional positions it's expected that work will be brought home for completion in the evenings and over the weekend. For some people who have grown up in less demanding environments, that sounds like torture. If you're interested in education but don't want to sacrifice your quality of life to get ahead in your career, a short-term stay in America might be best.

Prices are as marked

Many markets and stores around the world allow for haggling and negotiation over prices, but this is a rare occurrence in the United States. You might be able to chew down the price of goods sold by outdoor vendors, or for larger purchases like a car or house, but in general, prices are not negotiable. This is a harsh reality for consumers who aren't used to paying full price on most of their purchases, but that's life in America.

Some restaurants are everywhere

Expect to see a lot more homogeneity when you go out to eat in the United States. The restaurant industry is dominated by national chains that you'll see in cities and towns across the nation. Consequently, those restaurants also sell most of the same entrées wherever you go. Some people like the idea of being able to find a restaurant and a meal they like in nearly any city in the country. If you're adventurous, though, you'll want to avoid these chain restaurants in favor of tracking down good, local establishments that offer a wider variety of regional cuisine.

And the food embraces salt and sweet

Mediterranean cuisine loves its olives. American cuisine? Sugar and salt, please. That's not to say that a ribeye steak comes with a caramelized sugar glaze, but in general the foods you eat in America will have their saltiness and/or sweetness level pushed to further extremes than you'd find elsewhere.

Ultimately, your time spent abroad is all about comfort—finding comfort in your surroundings and being happy with it. Short periods of travel make it easy to ignore the lesser aspects you might not enjoy, but over a long residence in America you may lose your tolerance for some of these differences. Consider your personal tastes carefully and don't commit yourself to more than you're confident you can endure—or else you might not return home with fond memories of your studies abroad.

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