Suspect identified in California hair salon shooting (Reuters)

Reuters – Mourners laid flowers at a hair salon in Seal Beach on Thursday, a day after a gunman, identified as the ex-husband of a stylist there, killed eight people in a shooting rampage.

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Suspect identified in California hair salon shooting
(Reuters)

Going Back to School at 50

Many people returning to college find themselves completely lost with the abundance of misleading or incomplete information out there on the internet. Making the decision to go back to school is hard enough but it’s made much harder by its confusing nature. Fortunately there is help in terms of accurate information and also different loans and scholarships available for people in certain situations.

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School is expensive! That’s something that everyone knows and has been a deterrent throughout the years to people with lower incomes. The secret is loans and grants – there are huge amounts of them available and most people don’t understand just how much help you can get. If you are going to a four year college and you have sufficient grades many private schools will offer you a large percentage of your tuition for free. If you are returning to school without a great track record of good grades, loans are available and can be repaid after graduating.

Many people take the strategy of applying for dozens of scholarships and grants in the hopes of getting one of them. For example, there are specific ones designed for people in different situations like scholarships for single parents. There are also grants designed for people going back to school at 50 and for many other reasons as well. The key – do your research and you can find yourself in a good situation.

How to Get Scholarships for Adults Returning to College

Not everyone gets the chance to finish school when they are young. The good news is that an adult going back to school is not unusual. Many people who are well into their middle ages or even older go back to school. Of course, just because they are older does not mean that schooling becomes cheaper for them. It is just as costly and can make a big dent in one’s bank account.

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The good news is that there are lots of scholarships for adults returning to college, which can be applied for. The first step to getting accepted for a scholarship is to find one. More often than not, schools provide these, but there may also be some institutions and companies that offer scholarships and grants.

Once you know where you want to apply for a scholarship, you need to make sure that you accomplish all the requirements. More often than not, requirements include proof that you are unable to support your own studies, old school records, and an essay or letter expressing your desire to apply. When you write your letter or essay, remember to explain your side clearly. Be straightforward and lay down the facts, along with your reason for wanting to go back to school. A well-written letter will go a long way.

Finally, make sure that you submit all the required documents, along with a properly filled out application. A complete application is less likely to be sent back for revisions. This will increase your chances of getting single mother grants or another type of adult scholarship.

Simple PSAT Prep Tips Bbefore The Big Test

It’s called the National Merit Scholarship Program and in order to be considered eligible, you have to score well on this test in order to get into the college or university that you’ve always dreamed of as a child.

 

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It’s vital that you do score high on this test (which is no different from the Chemistry SAT II test if that’s what you want to pursue in college) as it will take the burden of high college tuition that the best colleges and university in the United States seem to charge students these days.

Of course, working with reputed tutoring franchises that provide you with the necessary guidance and teachers for you to succeed in this test can be the best thing you ever did, but here are a few simple tips concerning small things that we might forget when leaving to write the test.

#1: A Calculator

Attending the test without an approved calculator will end in complications that you don’t want to deal with. Make sure you carry one with you when you go for the test.

#2: Extra No. 2 Pencils

While conventional advice might suggest that you carry two sharpened No. 2 pencils, it’s a good idea to carry three so that you can be of help to someone who might have forgotten. In doing a bit of good for someone else, you will be able to take the test in a positive frame of mind.

#3: Snacks and water

Since the test is about two-and-a-half hours long, it’s wise to carry some snacks and water that you can use to ‘fuel up’ during the test. It will help you stay focused.

#4: The Night Before the Test

PSAT prep isn’t effective if you are trying to study too much the night before the test. Just go to bed early and remember to wake up early. Being fresh and attentive during the test can help you focus like no other.

Three Reasons Why Going Back to School at 50 is a Good Idea

While the age factor can be a deterrent to many people who are going back to school at 50, the truth is that there are opportunities that you cannot afford to miss out on. Interestingly, statistics from the Census Bureau indicate that most students who do attend college are 25 years old and above. If there’s anything that should stop you from attending college, it shouldn’t be your age.

If that’s not enough, here are three more reasons why you should go back to school:

#1: Finish what you started

If you did attend college in your younger years and did not complete college, then there couldn’t be a better time to go back and complete your college education. Another reason why people might wish to go back and finish their college education is the fact that they might be ignored for a promotion due to the lack of a qualification. Yes, finishing what you started is definitely a good idea.

#2: New Career

For some people, their current career holds no more interest and they want to pursue something that is in line with their knowledge, skills, and interests. So now, in order to take up a new career, it only seems logical that they go back to the drawing board. And what’s more, getting grants for going back to school is much easier for older adults than younger students these days.

#3: Personal events in your life

For most people who are now living as single parents, perhaps their priority might have not been education for a while, and with being forced to earn a living now that they are on their own, an education becomes increasingly important. Thankfully, you can obtain single mothers grants that can not only reduce your tuition costs, but help you accomplish this goal.

Going Back to School at 50 is a Good Idea!

Do you think that going back to school at 50 is a good idea?

Well, there is no doubt that if you are geared to study regardless of what the reason might be then age should not be a hindrance in getting or pursuing an education. After all, we all stop learning once we stop living.

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Sometimes older students returning to college often show more commitment due to the fact that these are life skills that need to be acquired in order to improve the quality of their lives as adults. And this could pertain to a pay raise or even a promotion which will, no doubt, allow you to live a little better than usual.

Since most of the courses in the online world allow students to study the courses at their own pace, this makes it easier for adults to better their qualification while not ignoring their pressing responsibilities as well.

Now if the problem lies with finding financial aid for longer courses, not only can you find single mothers grants but also scholarships that are available for adults, provided they prove themselves worthy through their grades.

All in all, what this means is that with these options, adults of every age group and who are dealing with particular issues will be able to benefit from studying further, and thus improve their lives in the years ahead.

Article submitted by Alex Saroyan of Benefits Of Education.

Special Education

Special Education is an educational instruction specially designed for children with disability, at no cost to parents. This definition is according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that is governed by federal law in most educational authorities. To avail this service, children with disabilities must pass the criteria set by IDEA and defined by the jurisdiction’s law surrounding special education.

There are 13 categories of disability under IDEA that include autism, deaf or blindness, developmental delays, emotional disturbance, hearing impairments, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairments, other health impairments, specific learning disabilities, speech and language impairments, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairments.

Idyllically, all students must have equal access to good education to achieve their potential. And the goal of special education is to make sure that students with specials needs can take part and have access to education and the curriculum at any time possible. Under IDEA, gifted and talented special students are seen extraordinary, although, other jurisdictions may also put Gifted in part of their legislation.

At school, a child who is seen or observed to be needing special education support is normally referred to the school’s special education committee. Both parents and teachers can make referrals for special education. If this is the case, parents must have all necessary information and documentation of the result of every test and every process done in relation to the child to inform the school about the child’s disabilities if already known before attending school. Any child being considered for special education services will have to go through several assessments and psychological testing to determine if he or she qualifies to receive special education supports. But, before any assessment or testing will be done, the parent must sign consent forms.

Secondary Education

The secondary education is considered to one the most critical stage of a student life next to early childhood education as this makes or breaks the identity of the student. This is the time when a child discovers more about himself, decide what he wants to be, express himself, and explore new things. This is also the time that students must survive from bullying and other challenges that come along the way. Next to primary school, secondary education is normally the final stage of compulsory education, depending on context. Once a student graduates from high-school, he may or may not continue to college. In the contexts of first world countries, individuals who graduate from high-school can get a job and be paid doing blue-collar jobs just as how much professionals are paid for. However, in other countries (3rd world countries), finishing a degree is of utmost importance because the competition is high and job opportunities are low. Blue collar jobs do not pay much so the only hope for survival is having good business or landing a good job, which requires good educational background.

The secondary education serves as a link between primary and higher education where students are being prepared to enter work or further higher education. Finances, health and parental support are three major important factors that help a student decide whether college is a good fit for him or not. What is good about finishing secondary education is that a person can just take up a college degree whenever possible, without having to deal with age issues.

Online Education

People who want to study or continue their studies but couldn’t make it to school now have opportunities to finish a degree at the convenience of their home. With the availability of online education worldwide, learning has become extensive, enabling many students to achieve their potentials despite difficulty in going to school. Online education, also known as e-learning or distance learning is an education facility done over the internet, which in most cases is a self-directed learning.

Online education is normally helpful to college and graduate students who want to finish an undergraduate or masters degree while attending full-time to their career and other responsibilities. This type of education gives so much convenience as compared to classroom learning. Some of its benefits include:

  • getting a degree without quitting jobs;
  • attending to children’s need while still learning;
  • learning without having to go through a heavy traffic jam just to get to the University;
  • students can learn at their own pace;
  • students can have more one-on-one access to their instructors; and
  • students earning degrees in less time compared to traditional courses.

Online education works by first researching the best accredited institution that fits a student’s need or desire for learning structure. It will be followed by applying into an online program and signing up for appropriate courses. After completing the whole registration process, students are accepted into the program, and then the work commences. The learning process starts by logging onto the internet and accessing the education program account. Once logged in, students can access their reading assignments, ask questions, and receive instructions and feedbacks from the instructors.

How to Qualify For Student Loans

Almost everyone in the first world countries qualifies for certain types of college student loans whether by means of federal or private financial assistance. By filling out the Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) that can be accessed online, students may begin submitting their student loan application as early as possible.  But, before filling out the form, it is important to note that an applicant must have ready information about his social security number and all personal information, including the previous year’s tax return, the codes of the potential school, and the parents’ information if he is an underage applicant.  

For fast release of loan, student applicants are advised to apply for loan prior to the start of a school year or semester. With this, the lag time between passing the loan application and receiving the financial assistance is less. Ideally, a big sum of money is set aside for loan purposes at the start of each semester so students who need to loan a large amount of cash must act immediately before the money runs out.

What about a student with bad credit? Can he apply for student loans? Actually, yes! There are different types of loan available for different types of student loan applicants. The Stafford Loan for example is a student loan offered by the government – who will sponsor the principal amount and the interest payments. For subsidized Stafford loans, the government institution covers the interest accumulated while the applicant is studying and it never needs to be paid back. On the other hand, the unsubsidized Stafford loans, interests are held in reserve, and then the student will pay for it after graduation. Stafford loans do not oblige a credit check. Other loans to be explored by those with bad credits are the Perkins loan and Federal Pell Grant.