A business degree can be really handy in many professions. A graduate with a business degree is often preferred simply because of the perception and confidence that the individual will be able to work in a variety of roles and departments within an organization. People looking to shake up their careers or even start off on their own benefit tremendously from a business degree. A business degree enables you to move to a different position within your own firm or to a completely new role in a new firm. There is perhaps no other degree that will offer the flexibility in choosing an area of profession and options to switch more that a business degree would.

A business degree can come with different names. Most colleges and universities offer courses in business administration and management. There are those that focuses on courses such as marketing or finance. Some degrees also come with a double major, such as business administration and accountancy.

Qualifications needed for a business degree

In order to qualify for a degree in business, students should first satisfy initial academic requirements, such as graduating from high school by means of formal graduation or attaining a GED. Some institutions also have minimum grade requirements which also need to be satisfied to ensure successful entry to the said field of study.

Some students enrolled in colleges and universities usually take up a liberal arts course during their first two years before studying major business courses. While this is common in bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees on the other than proceed directly to major subjects as their curriculum is much shorter.

Business degrees are also available through online universities and colleges. Most of the curriculum is packed in modules and webinars with the occasional campus lectures, field trip or internships. These programs are much easier to handle in terms of schedules since students can take them up during their free time. Online institutions require submission of requirements through email, and have less stringent eligibility rules to comply with.

Applying for a business degree

When applying for a business degree, students should first scout for their prospective colleges and universities. It is generally recommended to apply at the beginning of their senior year in high school, as this is the time where most institutions open up for college applications. Application requirements will be provided by the admissions office of the institutions that a student is interested in. Make sure to fully understand the academic requirements, necessary documentation needed for admissions as well as the entrance examination and interview schedules.

Transferees from other institutions or degree programs may have to comply with initial grade requirements, and are subject to one year probation. They should be able to maintain satisfactory academic standing in all subjects in order to be classified as regular students in the next academic year.

What can I do with a business degree?

A business degree can really work in your favor if you take advantage of the available opportunities for a business graduate. Most companies and organizations are actively scouting or looking for well rounded candidates to join their work force. Depending on your specialization and combined with your business courses, you could easily stand out from the crowd.

Another option that many graduates with business degree look to do is to study further for their master’s degree. An MBA is again one of the most sought after degree choices since the job opportunities for a MBA graduate is tremendous, both in terms of work environment and salary. Master’s degrees in business studies are commonly offered in business schools and universities with specialization in finance, international business, sales and marketing and many more. Keep in mind that a master’s will require the individual to take and score well in standardized entrance test such as GMAT for admission into a reputed business school.

All said and done, a business degree is well worth the effort and the money you spend to earn that degree.

Prepaid Tuition Plans Vs College Savings Plans

As you now know there are two primary types of 529 plans available, the prepaid tuition plan and the college savings plan. If you are not clear what a 529 plan is then read our detailed overview of 529 college savings plans. This will help you get familiar with savings plans. Back to the differences. There are differences between the way each state implements their specific 529 plan program. This will serve as an overall guide to the general differences between the two types of 529 plans. We will first take a look at the prepaid tuition plan and then the savings plan.

The 529 prepaid tuition plan is normally administered by the state where the beneficiary holds residency. Each state has their own specific rules as to the deductibility of contributions from state taxes and the taxable nature of subsequent withdrawals. These prepaid tuition programs allow the donor to lock in current tuition fees, in current dollars, and the plan will guarantee that the tuition will be paid no matter what the rate may be in the future. These plans offer maximum security for those using them because they are a guarantee that the beneficiary’s education will be paid in full, whereas the 529 savings plan has no such guarantee. This is a great option for those that want safety and security, but somewhat limits the beneficiary to attending a state school. There are some states that will allow you to move the money to another state school in another state, but you need to check with your state to determine the specific program rules.

The prepaid tuition plans normally cover tuition and fees only. There are a few states that allow for other expenses such as housing. Most of these prepaid plans put the donor on a payment plan based on the selected beneficiary’s age and how many units the plan is being designed to cover. Most of these plans are not only administered by the states, they are also guaranteed by the state. There are other restrictions on these plans such as residency, age, and current grade level of the beneficiary. Check with your state to determine their specific program outline.

The 529 Savings plan on the other hand is much more flexible. But along with this flexibility you lose the guarantee of current year tuition rates and you lose the guarantee of the investment by the state. The investment options in these plans is much more flexible than a prepaid plan and includes stocks, mutual funds, and other allowable investment instruments.

While there is no guarantee of the tuition cost or investment security, there are several primary differences between the savings plan and the prepaid plan. For example, the savings plan distributions can automatically be used for expenses other than tuition such as housing, books, computers, and even transportation. These plans do not have any age limit and you can even have a beneficiary of any age. The plans can also be purchased regardless of residency and they are more easily switched between beneficiary’s. These plans do not limit the beneficiary to a state run school either, the beneficiary is free to attend any school that is allowed under the IRS 529 code. The last difference is that their is no minimum contribution to this type of plan and can it can be started with as little as $25.

Best 529 plans

Choosing the right 529 plan involves a series of decisions and reflections on your overall financial situation. It involves your perception of the future as well as your risk tolerance for investing. It also entails your certainty that your intended beneficiary will even choose to attend college. These are a lot of factors, we will try to cover a few of them here, but many of them need to be discussed in consultation with your tax and financial advisers.

The first is whether you are thinking of a prepaid tuition plan or the 529 savings plan. This is a factor of your own personal risk tolerance and of how you see the beneficiary. Do you think the beneficiary will be attending a state school? Do you think it s wise to lock the beneficiary into knowing they can monetary help, only if they attend a state school? Do you like the security knowing that the tuition will be paid whether or not the rates skyrocket? Do you like the idea that the investment is guaranteed by the state? If you like all of these security features and the virtual guarantee, then you may want to choose a 529 prepaid tuition plan.

But on the other hand, there are advantages to the 529 savings plan over the prepaid tuition plan. The savings plan allows you to start with much less money than the prepaid plan and it does not require regular set payments. If you are starting a plan but do not have a lot of cash now then the savings plan is probably best for you. If you do not want to lock the child into a state school then the 529 savings plan is still probably the best option. If you like the idea that you can aggressively save now, and then if things do not go as well as planned, you can pull some of the money out, then the savings plan is also the best. It really depends on how you see the future and on your current financial status.

Other things to consider are the state specific tax benefits, the overall expenses and fees, the investment options, as well as the flexibility of the specific plan to pay for other schools, even state schools in other states. The rules on how much and how often you can contribute should also come into play. As should the availability to split the investment between aggressive and conservative investment options as the overall balance grows. You may choose aggressive investment in the beginning years, but want to go more conservative with a majority of the portfolio as the child nears college age.

When choosing the best 529 plan for you, these are just a few of the questions that need to be asked. From most of the analysis of the two 529 plans that I have seen, it more or less comes down to having flexibility or a guarantee. If you want flexibility then you need to choose the savings plan. If you need a guarantee then choose the prepaid tuition plan. The only time you do not have a choice is if you are limited in money to start the program. If you are limited in available cash to start, then the savings plan is your only option because you can start it with as little as $25, whereas the prepaid tuition plan requires a much larger lump sum to start.

A 529 college savings plan allows a donor, not necessarily related to the beneficiary, to use after tax money, to save for the beneficiary’s college education. The money saved is allowed to grow tax deferred and the distributions, as long as they are used for the beneficiary’s education, can be distributed tax free.

In many cases the beneficiary can be changed and the donor retains control over the investment at all times. This is not like the Uniform Transfer To Minors accounts of the past, where the money was irrevocable and solely for the benefit of the minor. Should the beneficiary wish to opt out of the program, they can. The distributions they take will be taxable and there will be a 10% penalty. This program is not only a boon for parents and grandparents but also for the investor that has already surpassed their maximum allowable contributions to their IRA and Pension plans.

These are well designed and flexible plans, and the potential for investor abuse is certainly present. But aside from the possible negatives, the positive aspects of the plans for parents an relatives of the beneficiary are enormous. Anyone is eligible to contribute to the plan as long as they designate a beneficiary. Beneficiary’s can be any age. The amount contributed to the plan is limited by what would be a reasonable amount to provide education for the beneficiary. This is not as much a concern because most will keep their contributions below the gift tax limitations. This is because, even though the contributions are using after tax money, they can trigger a taxable event should they exceed the maximum allowable gift tax for that year. The beneficiary can only be changed to another member of the beneficiary’s family. This means that if you are saving for one child, and that child does not go to college or does not use all of the money, the plan can be switched to a sibling, child, or other relative of that original beneficiary, subject to a few restrictions.

Distributions can be made tax free as long as they are being used for the beneficiary’s education expense, and as long as they are made while the beneficiary is attending an allowed institution. The money in the 529 plan can affect the financial aid calculations for the beneficiary. But as of the writing of this, it would only affect that calculation if the donor is listed as the parent of the beneficiary. The current Federal financial aid applications do not ask about funds held for the beneficiary by individuals other than the parents.

What are the differences between pre paid tuition plans and college savings plan?

While there are dozens of companies that can handle and manage your 529 plans and hundreds of investment options available from each of these companies, there are only two primary types of 529 plans. The first is called the Prepaid tuition 529 plan and the other is called the 529 savings plan. You need to understand the differences in these plans before choosing one or the other. This guide will help you know the basics and assist you in choosing the type of plan that is best for you.

What fees and expenses will I pay if I invest in a 529 plan?

The fee structure of the 529 plan you choose is dependent on many factors, including the type of plan you choose and the investment options you select. The specific company you choose to place your 529 plan with can also be a factor in the overall fees and expenses you can expect. But overall, most fees and expenses are similar to those that you see with other managed tax deferred plans such as self directed pensions, self directed IRA’s, and managed 401K plans.

Advantages of a 529 College Savings Plan

The 529 plan has a long list of advantages that were not previously available to individuals that wanted to save for another persons college education. While the contributions are made with after tax funds, the tax deferred growth and tax free withdrawal options are powerful advantages. The fact that the beneficiary can be changed, and that the donor retains full control of the funds, is also an advantage over the old Uniform Transfer To Minors accounts. Read through the advantages and you will see that the 529 plan is a way to save and invest on a tax deferred basis, while still retaining full control of the investment. The donor can also withdraw from the program if necessary at any time and take back all of the contribution. Subject to a small penalty and income taxes on the investment gain within the plan.

Is my financial aid impacted if I invest in a 529 college savings plan?

The first question anyone college bound has when using a college savings plan, or any savings plan for that matter, is if it will affect their overall eligibility for financial aid. The answer to this is two fold. The first is dependent upon the specific institution that you will be attending. The second is dependent upon if the federal financial aid package application is ever changed to include a question about any 529 plans that are hed for you other than by your parents.

Is 529 Savings plan right for me?

This question needs to be answered after a bit of analysis of your specific financial situation. The 529 can be a powerful tool that can be used to help the beneficiary go to a school, or any school, that they otherwise may not have been able to afford. Reviewing these many questions and factors will help you decide if the 529 savings plan is right for you.

How to choose the best 529 college savings plan?

How do you choose which overall plan to start when selecting a 529 Plan? There are many questions and concerns that need to be addressed before choosing. Some of which will be unknown until the beneficiary is almost ready to attend college, and by then, saving for their education may be too late. Determining the right plan is important, but more important is actually starting a plan as soon as possible. The built in plan flexibility can help you sort things out later if need be.

What is a Federal Work Study Grant?

The Federal Work Study Grant or FWS for short is a federally funded grant program that provides financial aid to students in the form of paid part time work, hence the name work study. The FWS program has been operational for a long time now, close to 50 years. The Federal work study program was started by Congress in 1964 and has helped many students till date alleviate their academic monetary requirements. That said, do keep in mind that the work study program will not pay for your entire cost of education but it will certainly help pay a portion of it

The Federal Work Study Grant is quite unlike other federal grant programs such as the Pell grant and FSEOG. In other federal aid programs such as Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, students receive the entire allocated grant money which is then applied to their tuition and other educational expenses by the college financial aid office. In the FWS Grant program, students are required to work part time in a field and position that is in line or closest to their chosen degree. The financial aid office will determine the amount awarded to the student and this is done based on the financial needs of the student in question.

How is the student`s financial need gauged for the FSW Grant program?

The financial status of the student is determined by the information that is filled by the student on their FAFSA. The U.S Department of Education uses the information from the student’s FAFSA and applies a standard formula to determine the Expected Family Contribution(EFC). The formula varies if the student’s status is independent or dependent. If the student is independent then the main factors that are considered as the student’s assets and income. On the other hand, if the student is dependent then the main factors that are considered are the assets and income of the parents along with the size of the family and the number of household members attending post secondary educational institutions.

Funding for the Federal Work Study program is provided to colleges only once per year and is limited. This means it is important to apply early. Students that apply early and are successful in securing a FSW grant must make full use of the entire grant money by working their allotted number of hours. Failure to do so will mean that the allocated grant money will not be used up completely and will deny other deserving candidates from participating in the program. It is for this reason that all students are strongly urged to fulfill their commitments to the FSW grant program.

How much money was awarded as part of the FWS grant program?

During the fiscal year 2010 a sum of $980,492,800 was awarded as FWS grants by the U.S Department of Education. The average sum awarded to each student amounted to $1524

In the next article we will look at how to apply for a Work Study Grant and the possible work options under the work study program.

Need based financial aid are for students that can demonstrate financial need for their education funding. With tuition costs spiraling out of control, the number of students applying for financial aid are increasing each year. More and more students are turning to the federal government for financial aid in the form of grants and student loans to bridge the financial gap. The good news is that financial aid packages have been keeping pace with the rise in tuition costs. Close to a 100 billion is awarded each year in the form of grants, loans and work-study programs by the U.S department of Education.

The primary responsibility for paying for your education is yours but when scholarships which are mostly merit based are not an option, it is time to look at federal aid. If federal aid does not suffice only then turn to private student loans as we always recommend. According to National Center of Educational Statistics, close to two third of the students that apply for need based financial aid receive aid in some form or the other. That statistic alone should give potential applicants cause to be optimistic.

There are two aid applications that are used to evaluate need based financial aid in the United States. The first one is the FAFSA or also known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The second application for financial aid that is also widely used is the College Board’s financial aid application service called the PROFILE application.

The FAFSA is the application that is to be used for all federal aid such as federal student loans like the Stafford Loan or the PLUS Loan. The FAFSA is the first step in the financial aid process to receive federal funding for your education and is required by all educational institutions. The PROFILE application on the other hand is the aid application that is used more for institutional and private funds. The PROFILE application is also commonly used by many colleges and universities and quite often you will find that a particular college that you are applying to will ask you to submit both forms of aid application.

The purpose of both forms of application is to determine how much money you can contribute towards your education. This contribution is commonly called the “Expected Family Contribution” or “EFC” for short. This amount along with the total cost of education are key amounts that determine your need based financial aid package.

It is important to be aware of application deadlines for both FAFSA and PROFILE. The FAFSA application can be submitted anytime after Jan 1st for the year while the earliest date for submitting the PROFILE application is Oct 1st but keep in mind that this must be no later than 2 weeks from the earliest priority date specified by the college or program.

We will soon be publishing extensive guides on how to fill out and complete both the FAFSA and PROFILE applications.

A student loan is one of the many options you have to fund your education. The terms “Financial Aid” is used to broadly cover the following

• Scholarships
• Federal Grants
• Federal Work Study Programs
• Federal Student Loans
• Private Student Loans

We have detailed articles here at Studentelligence.com explaining each of the above at great length. Do take the time and go through each. If you are beginning to explore financial aid we recommend that you always look at scholarships and grants as your first option for funding your education. The reason we recommend this first is that scholarships and grants do not require to be paid back. The money you get as part of a scholarship or grant is yours to keep and to use for your education related expenses.

Most often you will find that only a portion of your education related expenses will be met by scholarships and grants. It is then that you need to look at federal student loans to cover the rest of the costs. Finally you should only turn to private student loans only when you’ve exhausted all other options listed. Good luck !!

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a disorder in which a person has

1. a grandiose self-importance,
2. preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success
3. a driven desire for attention and admiration
4. an intolerance of criticism,
5. and disturbed self-centered interpersonal relations
6. They are often referred to as being conceited
7. They generally have a low self-esteem, as well They act selfish interpersonally, with a sense of entitlement.

I suffer from it. I see my doctor and take a cocktail of meds. Believe me it is difficult not to be the master of the universe, but I am trying to learn not to be.

We may feel like some of the most unlucky, most victimized people on the planet until we meet, or in my case, give birth to a child with ADHD (Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder), also known as ADD or adult ADD. Imagine a npd mother raising adhd child I was diagnosed with NPD, and it is difficult to say the least to deal with an adhd child but I often think it is my lesson in life. A way to pry open the condition I have been given, and raise my son with love that I did not know I had in my narcissistic interior. But maybe you have yet to experience the books, magazines (yes, whole magazines are devoted to Attention Deficit Disorder), articles, and other media sources giving up-to-date and exceptionally helpful information on ADHD, ADD, and the companion maladies (such as depression, manic episodes, and illnesses related to or brought on as a fallout of our having this complex disorder). I had to stop being me, and find the space in MY world for my beloved adhd child. God works in mysterious ways, indeed. Hope this helps. So here are a few places for you to look, sources for you to consult, or communities for you to join: ADDitude Magazine – I found copies of this in my colleagues office, where, as a differential skills therapist she worked with many students with ADHD. The magazine is so real-world coping, so progressive and proactive, I subscribed to it after reading the first two or three articles.

Any books by Thom Hartmann—Dr. Hartman, an ADD specialist, has clinical, casual, and readable materials. He also writes of a theory he has about ADDers, saying we are the hunters in a hunter-gatherer society—where secretaries, assistants, accountants, and agents, for instance, are our gatherers to our creative, out there, dynamic go-go-go personalities…. That book is titled ADHD Secrets of Success, though his other books and articles are equally fascinating and supportive.

You Mean I’m Not Crazy, Stupid, or Lazy? Will, if you have never read any information on ADHD yet, change your life. It was the first book I grabbed after a student with whom I worked and a friend recommended it to me. It is written by Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo, and is thorough, candid, and most informative. Also good to know, maybe, is that publishers rejected this book many times, so the authors humped it to bookstores until it finally got taken (by a VERY wise publisher). It is one of the best-selling books on ADHD, and when you read it, you will know why, and you will agree.

Other supportive and ADHD-proactive authors include Sari Solden and Michelle Novotni, who both tout and praise the creative side of ADDers, when many have written us off as having merely behavioral problems. Au contraire, say Novotni and Solden: we are some of the most creative people one could ever hope to meet.

And here are some urls for sites and specialists with whom I have limited experience but whom and which I have studied intensely:

ADHD Websites and Specialists

• ADD Consults– http://www.addconsults.com/
• All Kinds of Minds–allkindsofminds.org
• Disabled Peoples International—dpi.org
• Disability Information + Resources– http://www.makoa.org/index.htm
• Information Center on Disabilities and Gifted Children — http://ericec.org/digests/e560.html
• Learning Disabilities Resources– http://www.washington.edu/doit/Faculty/Strategies/Disability/LD/ld_resources.html
• National Arts and Disability Center– http://nadc.ucla.edu/
• PSPIZ—Artists with Disabilities– http://www.pspiz.net/
• Breath & Shadow, ROSC’s Journal of Literature and Disability Culture– http://www.abilitymaine.org/breath/

So we can quit bellyaching any time now, for not only are we gifted, I think, with the unusual talents and skills that come with being an NPD, but we are gifted with technology, sources, and resources for information on ADHD that not many before us (say, 20 years ago) knew about or had access to. Npd and adhd research are both almost rising simultaneously. And like my son, we grow together.

I was homecoming queen, and had never thought that might get me anything but a ride on a float.

When the time came for me to finance college, we as a family were shocked. You hear about the cost, but you are never prepared for how much it truly turns out to be. We are in a small town, some of us don’t get out to college, but I had to, and it was what my parents wanted for me all along. We were going to make it happen.

The cost of attending college continues to rise year after year. After factoring in tuition, textbooks, housing, travel, and spending money, it could easily cost $20,000 per year (or more) to attend college. The high price tag associated with getting a post-secondary education presents a quandary for many would-be students. There’s no question that you need a degree to get ahead in today’s world, but who wants to go into debt to the tune of $80,000 in the process? I started digging on the web. And I could not believe what I found.

American homecoming queen scholarships is just one of the staggering amount of American scholarships that are out there. These prizes are superior to loans because they never have to be paid back. And unlike grants, there are many American scholarships based on merit rather than need. This means that almost any student can apply for one of these prizes and have a chance to win money to help defray college costs.

Scholarships are available in a number of different categories. For example, students can win money based on their performance in athletics, academics, arts, or community service. In addition, there are American scholarships for students that want to pursue a particular field of study in college, such as engineering, mathematics, or education. Moreover, there are specialty categories such as Native American scholarships, African American scholarships, and so forth. These prizes may only be won by students of a particular ethnicity or heritage, and the awards are usually very prestigious and generous.

Because there are so many scholarships available, it’s difficult for students to keep track of all the offerings on their own. Fortunately, the Internet is making that task much easier than it has been in the past. We are compiling an exhaustive and comprehensive list and detailed descriptions of available scholarships categorized by state, type, degree or vocation and more on our scholarship section of our site.

Don’t let your dream of a college education get away from you because of lack of money. There are literally millions of dollars up for grabs in scholarships each and every year.