Great Tips for Preparing for College

Attending college can be an exciting but anxious time. To help ensure that you get off to the best possible start, it is important to understand how to prepare for college. You should be focused and driven, but this does not mean that there is no opportunity to also enjoy this period of your life. Yes, there will be days when you wish you were still in high school, but, in general, most people look back on their higher studies as one of the best periods of their life.

In order to reduce the overall stress that is felt, and help your adjust to your new life, you should take a moment to check out the following advice. The right amount of preparation can help ensure that your first year is memorable for all the right*reasons.

One of the most important activities that you will need to do prior to starting college is to decide where to live. If choosing an establishment close to your family's home, you may want to continue living with your parents. On the other hand, most students take the opportunity to attend college as a chance to gain their independence. There can be the option of moving into a dorm or even getting your own apartment.

Where you choose to live would in part be determined by your financial situation. Always check out a number of options before coming to any decision. An off campus apartment shared with other students may be cheaper that a regular dorm, but it can involve additional transport costs. Just make sure you decide on what accommodation you want early, the best choices get snapped up quick.

Another important issue that you should address relates to health insurance. Once you turn eighteen and leave home, it is unlikely that you will be covered by your parents health insurance policy. If you need to find your own coverage, do so well in advance of leaving home. There are some insurers who specialize in providing plans to young people.

The summer before starting your studies should be spent in a productive way. There can be the temptation to sit back and relax, but by doing so you may not be prepared mentally for when your enrollment day comes around. Try and spend the time leading up to beginning your course in a positive fashion, for example you could take up part time work or devote your energy to a voluntary project. It can also be an opportunity to travel and see some of the world before your responsibilities begin.

Think about how much money you will need to attend the program of your choice. Explore whether or not there are any scholarships that you can apply for. Never underestimate the cost of attending college, a grant or scholarship can make a real difference.

On a final note, when learning how to prepare for college, you should not overlook the importance of gathering together the material and equipment that you will need. Find out what books you will require, as well as any other items. As long as you start preparing well in advance, the transition to your new life should not be so difficult.

Discuss Ways of Completing Your School Work on Time.
Socialize and Share Through Our University Network with Students from All Over the World.

Tips and Tricks for Tennis Scholarship Success

High school tennis players often hold the mistaken belief that only blue-chip athletes can qualify for college scholarships from colleges and universities. While raw talent is, of course, a factor in scholarship decisions, this is by no means the only qualification necessary to win a sports scholarship. There is college funding available at many levels of play, and students don't necessarily need Rafael Nadal's backhand to take advantage.

Tennis' rise in popularity in recent years has lead to a dramatic increase in competition for college-level tennis scholarships. The students who are most successful in their scholarship search are those who narrowly define their goals and abilities. Rather than concentrating on pursuing recruitment to a wide range of diverse programs, students should choose three or four programs which align most closely with their level of play.

There are many different competitive divisions within National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tennis, including NCAA Divisions I and II, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Each level has its own standards, which students should study carefully. Coaches most often award scholarships to students who fall within the top 10 percent of their bracket, so students are often more successful in pursuing scholarships in a bracket slightly lower than their top level of play.

One of the most common mistakes tennis players make is assuming that recruitment coaches will visit local tournaments and games to look for talent. In reality, most coaches develop prospect lists based on proactive contact with individual players. Prospective athletes should keep detailed records of their tournament history and game stats, and be prepared to send this information to recruitment coaches.

Contrary to what one might think, a student's life off the court plays a major role in scholarship potential. As a general rule, coaches must seek administrative approval before granting a sports scholarship to a prospective student. This means that grades, extracurricular activities and other factors play a role. Since colleges and universities have been faced with shrinking endowments in recent years, schools are more eagerly seeking players who can excel both academically and on the court.

While it's statistically unlikely that most tennis scholarship recipients will go on to professional-level play, there are still a wide variety of career options which are open to students who have played competitive college ball. As tennis continues to rise in popularity, the demand for qualified coaches and pros has grown proportionately, and coaching opportunities are plentiful in schools, country clubs and tennis academies around the US and abroad.

Author writes about a variety of topics. If you would like to learn more about sports scholarships, visit http://www.collegeanswer.com/.

Alcohol on Campus

Many students are excited to go to college and to be on their own for the first time away from mom and dad. Their college years are normally the years they decide to find themselves, but while they find themselves there are many things they should be aware of, like alcohol. Let's not pretend that college is an alcohol free zone and get down to the facts about alcohol and how it affects today's students.

Underage drinking at college is a large problem and many of these students don't know their limit and simply make poor choices while under the influence. The legal drinking age in the United States is 21; anyone under the age of 21 is considered a minor. It is illegal to give alcohol to a minor in the United States, and illegal for a minor to consume alcohol. While trying to ignore the fact that minors do indeed get drunk, we still need to look at the major safety issues that go along with drinking while in college or at any point in time for that matter.

Drinking and driving is the leading cause of death of minors; about 5,000 teenagers die from being involved in an accident from drunk driving. No matter how many drinks you have had, you should not get behind the wheel. If you do you become a hazard to not only yourself, but also to any passengers you have and other drivers on the road; not to mention it's illegal. Perhaps you find yourself in a situation where you did drive somewhere and then had a drink or two. You should find a way to get home that doesn't involve you driving, such as calling a friend or family member or getting a taxi. If you aren't in a place where taxis swing by regularly, ask the bar tender or someone to call you a cab or a car service and then someone can take you home. Most college campuses do offer pick up services or car pool services for that exact purpose. Check with the colleges University Police Department (UPD) to see if they offer this service or if someone else in the town does.

Another problem is binge drinking, meaning having four or more drinks in one sitting. Binge drinking can normally lead to alcohol abuse or dependency. People who do binge drink are normally people who have just turned 21, but really about two out of five college students are binge drinkers. Student's drink this way may wind up making huge mistakes that can have a huge impact on the rest of their lives. When someone does binge, they may become hurt or injured, hurt or injure another, drive under the influence, engage in unprotected sex or unplanned sex, miss class or work, fall behind on class work or other work, and may even get in trouble with the campus police or local police. Majority of rapes on campus result from an event or gathering that alcohol was involved, and some students have said they were too drunk to even know if they consented to sex.

Let's not pretend that drinking doesn't happen on college campuses, instead, we should learn the affects alcohol has on students. Being smart when it comes to drinking can help keep you safe, and who knows, may even keep you alive. Be sure you know your limit if you do go drink at a party, and call a cab, friend or family member instead of driving you home. Don't use the excuse that they will be angry with you because in the end, your safety is what matters and they would much rather know you are safe then you driving drunk and being in a serious, possibly fatal, accident.

The Arts Offer A Variety Of Undergraduate Degree Programs

The University of Central Florida has a variety of options for students who wish to pursue an undergraduate degree in art. Depending on what you want to accomplish throughout your Bachelor's program, you can be sure to find it here.

One option available for students is to enroll in the Emerging Media Track in Art. This program allows students the ability to combine art, storytelling, and technology through their work. A broad perspective of the arts and technologies is examined in the program. Students can choose from three different specializations in this track, one of them being Graphic Design. The foundation of the program provides competency in your area of specialization.

Students can also choose to study in Art History. In this program, students are able to study various techniques used throughout the centuries in the world of art. They are also able to gain knowledge from the past and apply it to their current work. The historical meanings and studio applications of the human image are closely examined and are critical to the core if this program.

Students also have the choice to earn a Bachelor's or Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Studio Art. The Fine Arts option is meant to provide students with a preparation in professional practices and is highly recommended for those who students who are planning to attend graduate school. Students are able to fine tune their craft through the use of a variety of artistic mediums.

The University also offers a degree in Visual Arts and Emerging Media Management. This option is designed to give students a background in the visual arts while also preparing them to step into roles as lead artistic directors and other such positions by the time they graduate. Students in the program are able to take a collection of courses that enable them to hone their craft while also giving them adequate management skills.

If teaching art classes is in your future, then you will benefit from the University's Art Education program. Students in this program will be able to learn artistic techniques and how to effectively teach them to others. By the end of your program, students will be able to apply for their teaching certificate and work with students in grades K-12. This is a great way to use your artistic skills to help others and is perfect for those who like to work with kids.

Students are also able to take part in the Digital Media program as well. Students can choose from two areas, either game design or web design, when they enroll into this program. Students are able to use various technology applications that are currently used in the industry. The aspects of humanities and related disciplines are also explored throughout the program.

The university has a lot of great options for students who want to earn their Bachelor's degree in art. Depending on what it is you want to achieve through your undergraduate program, you will be able to find it here. You will definitely earn a great college degree at the University of Central Florida. Some programs may allow you to earn a Bachelor online.

Reconstruction and the Post Bellum South

Cunning connivance is the thought that comes to mind when uttering the phrase "conjure tales." The word "conjure" itself is rich with meaning; it conveys the idea of a deliberate falsehood when someone conjures up a tall tale. Yet within the context of "Conjure Tales," it likely takes on the meaning, "of or practicing folk magic; a conjure woman." The oft-repeated phrase spoken by Julius, to "cunjuh wuk" likely seems to reference the latter of the two definitions, but takes on a myriad of meanings -- possibly even a double entendre - as Julius refers to the work of conjurers such as Tenie or Primus, all the while conjuring up tall tales himself! These clever yet untrue tales, which are met with great delight by his employers, most often relay a message that is supposed to not only entertain, but serve as a warning (i.e., not to knock down the schoolhouse, or not to purchase the vineyard). It is usually learned quickly thereafter that there was another reason for these tales: Julius had other designs.

Though Julius's warnings are ignored with respect to purchasing the plantation, his later screeds frequently result in decisions that are favorable to the African-American community: though the schoolhouse was supposedly haunted, and its wood not used to build their new kitchen, Julius nevertheless quickly used it for their temperance meetings, remarking that if there were a spirit within it, "no doubt the preaching would do it good." What this emphasizes, as well, are the subtle yet powerful actions that were necessarily employed by African-Americans in the period of Reconstruction - and later the Jim Crow South. In order to transcend the intentional and repressive acts perpetrated by white Southerners who greatly resented their emancipation and suffrage, these recently freed men and women had to battle predatory credit practices, racist labor policies, and even murderous lynch mobs. Nothing short of cunning tactics and oftentimes a conjured up tale (or spell) were all that could be done.

From the outset of Reconstruction, formerly wealthy aristocrats, landholders and great planters of the South sought by means of artifice to deny the recently-freed slaves their right to vote, their say in a representative government, or the ability to own land. These impediments were levied in the form of the Black Codes; the rise of the Ku Klux Klan; and poll taxes or other sorts of extremely difficult reading tests meant to disenfranchise. Of course, these tests also had the unintended (or intended?) consequence of disenfranchising poor, undereducated white males as well. Not surprisingly, unique and clever means were devised by the freed African slaves to circumvent such repressive tactics. Their efforts notwithstanding, the Republican Congress also sought - often by overriding Johnson's vetoes - to moderate these pernicious acts engaged in by the Southern leaders.

Interestingly enough, these tales also highlight a pervasive ignorance that can be seen not only in Julius's superstitious stories, but in his speech as well. In reference to the often inane stories, John, who is white, stated frankly: "your people will never rise in the world until they throw off these childish superstitions and learn to live by the light of reason and common sense." This is closely akin to the words of Booker T. Washington, who in reference to the freed slaves' inability to lift themselves up from poverty and discrimination, said that "Blacks should, moreover, refine their speech, improve their dress, and adopt habits of thrift and personal cleanliness; they should, in short, adopt the standards of the white middle class."

While any of these changes might have helped incrementally during the period of Reconstruction and the subsequent era of Jim Crow, it was more the pervasive ignorance of the white Southerners that perpetuated these injustices. Today, we have a rich and unique cultural heritage to draw from when reading tales such as these. Nevertheless, changing habits and dress to better "assimilate" into white culture would not bring true equality; it would not come until white males in power had the moxie to "conjure up" some fitting legislation in response to the 1960s civil rights movement. Only then were African-Americans truly able to reap the benefits of Mr. Lincoln's efforts nearly a century earlier.

JAMES ALFRED MOLNAR
Wake Forest University
http://www.CharlestonBattlefields.com

Top 3 LVN Schools In California

LVN schools in California are undoubtedly among the best in the country, but obviously some are much better than others. You can't simply enroll yourself in any school, you've got to make sure that it's the right school for you. There are a few good schools that are known for their standards of excellence and consistently produce graduates of a high caliber, and this is reflected in the hiring policy of the health industry in general. At the end of this article, you'll be able to make an informed decision as to which LVN schools in California to apply for so as to have the best career prospects when you graduate.

Why LVN Schools In California?

Before we get into the best LVN schools in California, firstly you may want to know why choose to study in California at all? Well, they have some of the best nursing programs in the country for one, and it's a state where there's already a very high demand for nurses so the funding, infrastructure and standards of education to produce good nursing graduates are all there as well. You can be assured that you are getting the very best nursing education that money can buy when you choose to study in California.

Top 3 LVN Schools In California

There are three major LVNs in California that I would highly recommend: the University of San Diego, the University of California (San Francisco) and the University of California (Los Angeles). All of these schools offer top LVN programs for undergraduates, and you can opt to take up your BSN and beyond with them as well. The healthcare industry gives greater recognition to nursing graduates of these three schools in particular both locally and nationally, and there are many well respected experts in the field actually teaching in these schools so you'll definitely be on the cutting edge of nursing practice in the U.S. and beyond.

Apart from these top three LVN schools in California, you have a wide range of options available in terms of many public and private colleges all around the state. You may have certain budget constraints or perhaps you just prefer to study in a smaller institution. You don't have to attend one of these schools to get top results, in fact many top graduates have come from other schools as well. So not to worry, no matter what your needs are, there is a school that suits you and I will help you find it.

Let me help you find the best LVN schools in California to meet your study needs.

Find out more about alternative LVN schools in California at my blog!