Looking for Scholarships for Special Needs Students

In a world that is aiming to be increasingly politically correct, there are more avenues opened for different types of people. So whatever background, religious affiliation, ethnicity and nationality a person has, it will have an equivalent supporting scholarship. It is just fair to also have opportunities for people with special needs. After all, special needs students may need extra expenses during the course of their studies.

Types of special needs scholarships

There are several categories of special needs scholarships that they can almost compete with the number of general scholarships out there. The reason behind this is that special needs people are not one-dimensional students that can be labeled with what most perceive to be their disability. They can also be labeled by their chosen fields and their outstanding skills.

Disability scholarships

Disability scholarships refer to grants that are given based on a physical constraint, such as blindness or deafness. Blind or deaf students need special equipment.

Illness scholarships

Students with cancer, diabetes and other potentially debilitating or expensive to treat illnesses may also avail of scholarships.

Level of education

As with the rest of the other students, special needs students can apply for college, masters and professional degree scholarships.

Merit-based scholarships

Being special needs does not equate to not having any talent or degree of academic skill. Special needs students can apply for merit-based scholarships as well.

Photo Credits: Ed Yourdon

Source: Different Dream

MBA Placement Rates Increase

Despite a difficult year due to the recession, b-schools in general were able to make a turnaround in terms of placement rates. The market for MBA graduates has made a rebound from probably one of the most difficult MBA hiring seasons ever. Many of the top-ranked MBA programs (full time) have experienced an increase in job landing rates for their graduates, according to Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Some of the schools that were able to make a slow recovery include Harvard Business School, the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University, the Wharton School of (University of Pennsylvania), and the Booth School of Business (University of Chicago).

Effects of recession still linger

However, the effects of recession can still be seen in the dramatically altered MBA career landscape. These effects include fewer or lower signing bonuses for MBA graduates, not-so-good compensation packages compared to previous years, and internships that have resulted to fewer or even zero job offers. Because of these lingering effects, some business school administrators are advising their students to adjust job expectations based on the current trends.

Still, some MBA graduates have expressed their optimism and persistence in landing a job with good perks and compensation packages. According to Olin Business School’s Weston Career Center director and associate dean Mark Brostoff, the marketplace for MBA graduates has improved, but it still needs a lot of boost.

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source: BusinessWeek

Listing Extracurricular Activities in College Application Forms

College applicants, when filling up the Common Application form, may feel a bit queasy when they see the numerous white blanks set aside forExtracurricular Activities and Work Experience. What if an applicant hasn’t done so many extracurricular activities or doesn’t really have any work experience at all?

The truth behind extracurricular activities

According to Kenyon College Dean of Admissions Jennifer Delahunty, they do appreciate students with lots of extracurricular activities, but what makes them cringe is when they see items such as “personal reading” listed down. Delahunty is happy that a student loves to read, but items like these are just fillers.

The space provided for in the Common College Application form for Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience can reach a total of 12 blank spaces, but that doesn’t mean applicants are required to list down 12 activities. As a matter of fact, admissions officers are looking for more in-depth experiences. They prefer quality over quantity in terms of activities. After all, colleges and universities prefer well-rounded students who made distinct achievements in a specific field over students who have done plenty of little things.

For this year’s Common Application form, the sections for the extracurricular activities and work experience have been combined into a 12-line space. This was done so as to imply that there is no hierarchy between work experience and extracurricular activities.

Photo Credits: L.E. Macdonald

source: New York Times

Look Before You Leap: Mindset before Applying to Law Schools

There is a certain challenge offered by a law school that can spark the fire in a conscientious and ambitious student. A student, who has always aspired to be in a legal profession, whether through the legacy of his/her parents or through other personal reasons, may go to law school no matter what the cost – physically, mentally, and financially. However, the current trends are suggesting that even this type of student should stop, look, and listen.

The legal profession as of late

As of the moment, the legal profession is not at its prime. In the job market, there are lawyers who have had fantastic grades in law school and in the Bar exam settling for other career alternatives. Some legal professions are not as lucrative or rewarding as they used to be. Some may even find out that this is not the glamorous profession that aspiring law students dream of and imagine about.

The future of law students

It takes extra years to earn a law degree, and those years might feel extra long because of the long nights of studying. Law school, without a doubt, demands a lot, since the years you spend in one also cost a lot. There are many law school students who are looking at a pile of debt from their student loans. Because of the poor job market for law graduates, those loans will not get paid fast. Current law students may later find themselves in a dilemma given the state of today’s job market.

Of course, the most brilliant of the lot can still do wonders in the legal profession. Determined law school students can earn their degree and rise above the competition.

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Source: Shilling Me Softly

Job Market for MBA Graduates on a Positive Turn

A few weeks back, there were reports of the decrease in MBA enrollment nationwide. Because of this negative trend, supposedly top business schools have relaxed their admissions standards. Now, there are reports of a significant rise in job opportunities for MBA graduates. This could actually turn things around for MBA enrollment and may also tighten business school standards again. Managing director of London-based Quacquarelli Symonds, Nunzio Quacquarelli, says that the downward turn for MBA graduate hiring is short-lived. Now, the MBA job market is pretty robust again.

A general positive turn?

The trend on MBA job market increase is worldwide. However, there are some areas that best experience the positive turn. For example, Russia is experiencing a 22 percent rise in the MBA job market. That is pretty good compared to the United States’ 9 percent rise this year after a hard fall in 2009. What is important though is that both countries are experiencing a good turn for MBA graduates. As for salaries, European companies offer the best ones, accompanying the positive rise in the MBA job market.

Effect on the MBA graduate enrollment and admissions

The rise in the MBA job market should help in encouraging more enrollees to the top business school list. They will want to take advantage of the current trend while it lasts.

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Source: Businessweek