college Archives - A Million Lives

October 30, 2018 by Greg Underwood

How To Prevent College Dropout

On average there are an estimated 20 million students that enroll in either college or university in America every year. The sad reality is that there are high numbers of those students that fail to make it to graduation. There are studies indicating that only 45% of enrolled students complete their studies within six years of starting classes.

The reasons why a student drops out of their education are many, but for those teachers looking for ways to reduce their falling student numbers, there are some clear and practical ways to prevent college dropout. Combining these methods can keep your class size static, and that will mean that you are making a significant difference to the lives and futures of your students, and becoming a better teacher as a result.

Using technologies to reduce dropouts

Technology has become an integrated part of every area of our lives. Teaching is no different. Every good teacher has learned the value of using technology in the classroom, but it can be used in much more direct and productive ways outside of the classroom too.

Data analysis is a proven way of identifying those students who are likely to drop out, and that identification can help you to focus your attention on their needs. It’s a fact that college retention software is able to help not just your attendance rates, but highlight those students that need the help that you can provide, without disruption. Use technology to help your students, and your classes will improve as a result.

Funding aids

One of the most common reasons for college dropout is financial limitations. Mature students are especially prone to this, but it is an issue across every age range. This can be a frustrating issue for teachers because seeing a promising student fall behind due to money problems has seemingly few solutions.

One thing that you can do is to research financial help options, with some states already having in place retention grants that can help struggling students to get access to help with their finances. Grants are in place, so check with your state to see if these are applicable in your case. These retention grants are just that, and they are not loans that will need to be paid back. The more that you learn about potentially life-changing financial resources, the more that you can help your students and reduce your dropout rates.

Recognizing what the problem isn’t

When discussing the reasons for college dropout, it’s essential to look at the problem in a practical way. The fact is that not every student should be in college. There is a minimal work requirement that not every student is going to be capable of, and pushing those students who lack the commitment means taking your time and focus away from those that will put the work in.

Forcing work onto students who simply don’t want to be there is a waste of both time and money and does neither the student nor the teacher any favors in a very real sense. If you identify those students who have simply chosen the wrong course or the incorrect career pathway, then discuss their alternative options clearly. Give them advice on their options, and you reduce their chances of struggling on a course that they have no interest in.

There’s no disputing that America has a problem when it comes to high dropout rates. As a teacher, it is your responsibility to ensure that your students have the resources and help that they need to take full advantage of their education. Take your time and find the best ways to help your students, and your dropout rates will be vastly improved.

July 7, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Simple Tips for Investing While You are Still in College

It’s never too early to start investing, even if you are still in college. Unlike a professional investor, you may not have near unlimited amounts of capital, however, you can start investing with just a dollar using a few different methods. To become more financially literate in the field of investing, take up an economics or finance class, where knowledge is always a key to becoming a successful investor.

Open a Savings Account

The easiest way to invest as an undergraduate is to head to the nearest bank and open a savings account. The risk you take on would be extremely minimal. Put any supplemental income you earn in your savings account and watch your money grow quite literally. The interest rate is not as high as in the stock market, but your money would be better off than spent on new clothes or stored away in a drawer.

Understand the Risk Associated with Cheap Stocks

Some college students are only too eager to “play the stock market.” Students with limited amounts of capital are highly likely to invest in penny stocks, which are securities with little to no oversight that cost less than $5. Though these stocks seem so cheap to buy, you are taking on more risk than you should. Before buying any stock, particularly penny-grade stocks, it’s advised that you understand the type of risk you are undertaking. This type of trading is highly vulnerable to scams, particularly pump-and-dump schemes. College undergrads should invest in blue-chip stocks that are financially transparent to actually expect returns. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with low-end stocks, buying these without realizing the risk is a surefire way to lose all your money.

Think about Repaying Your Student Loans

Paying down debt is also a form of investment. It is, perhaps, one of the most important forms of investment for regular income earners. Unless your parents are wealthy, you will probably end up tens of thousands of dollars in student debt when you leave campus as a graduate. The student debt trap affects millions of graduates. However, you don’t have to fall into the same debtor crisis like so many others. If you earn income right now by working on-campus or at an internship, save that money for repaying your student loans. The grace period will eventually end, at which point you will have to own the debt. Think about how it might affect your future ability to take on other essential forms of debt such as a mortgage, therefore, make repaying student loans a priority to protect your post-graduate financial status.

Open a Retirement Account

If you are a young college student looking forward to a satisfying career, you may wonder why you should start investing towards retirement right now. Would your future employer take care of all that with a 401(k)? Yes and no. You can formally start investing in your golden years by matching your employer’s contributions toward a 401(k), however, until you are employed full-time, invest on your own towards retirement. You could do so in a savings account that you can later combine with an IRA or a 401(k). The reason to start this early is simple: the compounding factor. If you invest towards your retirement now, your contributions would mature impressively in the next 40 to 60 years. The longer the investments have to compound, the more money you will have to spend in your senior years. That’s why you should open a retirement account right now, even if you are not formally employed.

May 13, 2018 by Greg Underwood

7 Reasons For Going Back To School

Are you looking for a way to improve your professional career? Getting a degree will open up amazing opportunities for you. Here are 7 reasons for going back to school and continuing your education.

Would you like to earn a higher wage?

Who doesn’t, right? One of the best ways to make that happen is to go back to school.

But going back to school is not for the faint of heart. As an adult, you may have other responsibilities that you have to keep up. You may have a full-time job, a relationship, and maybe even a kid or two.

Is going back to school worth the work? Let’s take a look at 7 of the top reasons that people decide to go back to college. Then you can decide if it’s the right thing for you.

1. Potential For Earning More Money

People are always looking for a way to add a few extra bucks to their paycheck. Going back to school is one of the best ways to make that happen.

Did you know that college grads, on average, earn 56% more than those with a high school diploma? That’s a huge difference, and the gap keeps getting wider.

You may have to take out a loan to get that college degree. But, if you’re smart about it, you can get that loan paid off and start reaping the benefits of a higher salary in a few years.

2. Less Risk of Unemployment

As education level goes up, the unemployment rate goes down. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that high school grads have a 4.6% unemployment rate. It goes down to 2.5% for those with a bachelor degree, and 1.5% for those with doctoral degrees.

There are many factors that play into this. Companies may be more apt to hire a college graduate. Some may even require a bachelor degree as a basic hiring requirement.

Plus, if you get a degree in a high-demand field like electrical engineering there are a plethora of job opportunities. Even if you move or decide to change jobs, it’s relatively easy to find a new one.

3. More Advanced Qualifications

Going back to school gives you the chance to get more advanced qualifications. Do you want to go further in your field but are held back because of a lack of qualifications? Getting a degree may be just what you need to get ahead.

If you’re already working for a company in your field of interest, check to see if they offer financial assistance for classes. They may require that you have a good employment record and/or maintain a certain grade. But the extra financial help might be just what you need to make it work.

Then, once you finish your degree, you’re practically guaranteed a better job in your field. After all, they wouldn’t have paid for you to go to school if they didn’t think you would do an awesome job.

4. Career Change

Back in the day, people tended to work in the same job for the duration of their career. Nowadays it’s not quite so restrictive. Now people move from job to job and even from career to career with relative ease.

Do you want to be one of those? Maybe you’re stuck in a dead-end job with no hope of advancement. Or maybe you entered a field you thought you’d like but now realize you hate it.

It’s never too late to make a career change and look for something better. Going back to

college can help you do that. Even if you already have a degree, this can be a great way to move in a different direction.

5. Personal Development

Sometimes people go back to college for an entirely different reason. It doesn’t have anything to do with making more money or landing a more enjoyable job. They just want to enrich themselves and learn something new.

Even outside of the classroom knowledge you gain, college is a great experience. You can better hone your self-discipline skills by meeting deadlines and tackling big projects.

It can help build your confidence and social skills. These are things that will come in handy not only for your job but also in life as well.

6. Set a Good Example

Do you have kids or plan to someday? You can set a good example for them now by going back to school.

In fact, for some people, this is their motivation to go to school. Not only do they want to provide better for their children, but also they want to set a good example.

When it’s their turn to go to college, they’ll understand how important it is. Plus, with the way things are going in the US college degrees will only become more important for getting a good job in the future.

7. Be Successful

Sometimes you just flat out want to be successful. You want to prove to yourself, or maybe even friends or family, that you can do it.

What if you’ve always wanted to study law but everyone told you that you couldn’t do it? Maybe it’s time to prove to them–and yourself–that you can. Check out these MLS degrees (legal studies degree programs). You may be surprised how accessible that law degree can be with an online course of study.

The world is full of opportunity. Don’t let anybody, not even yourself, tell you that you can’t achieve your dreams.

Your Reason For Going Back to School

More money. A better job. More education. More prestige.

There are many reasons that people decide to go back to school. Your reason for going back to school may be one of these, or it may be something completely different. Regardless, if you want to earn a degree, you can do it.

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