5 Hints To Select Your Online University February 7, 2010
Posted by admin in : Admissions , add a commentSelecting the right university is just as difficult online as it is offline. One must find a school that is the right fit for them and will help them reach their career and life goals. Below is an article that provides tips when looking for an online school to ensure you find one that will help you.
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Online Universities have become a place for many busy working individual who are lacking of time and tight up with their job and family responsibilities to continue their education. If you are among the group who are looking to continue your education through an online university; here are a few important hints that you can use in your consideration when selecting your online university.
1. Accreditation
If you try to read any of online education guides, I believe you have come across this word “accreditation”. Almost all education guides will ask you to make sure that the online university or the online degree program that you are going to enroll must be accredited by any of the agencies that are recognized by the US Department of Education. In fact, all those guides are right and it is the most important factor to be considered when you select yours.
Basically, accreditation is a formal review process on school programs and policies by one of the agencies that are recognized by the US Department of Education to see if these programs are meeting certain criteria. When a school is found to meet these criteria, it is granted accreditation. If your degree is from an accredited online university, your degree will be accepted by most of employers. Hence, you eliminate the risk of unrecognized degree or fake degree issue when apply a job after graduation.
2. Get an Online Degree that Will Look Good In Your Resume
There are so many online universities and colleges available, sometime you will find it hard to decide which school to choose for your degree. Well, ask yourself, if you are an employer who are looking for a candidate for a position in the company, when you interview the job applicants and review their degree, degree from which school will make you feel better, a degree from well known universities like University of Phoenix and Kaplan University or an unknown university like University of ABC? I guest if you are the hiring manager, you probably will select the candidate who is holding a degree from well known university, right?
A degree from a well-known & prestige online university will make your resume look good. A candidate from a “good brand” online university will definitely impress the hiring manager and it make ease for you. Hence, you can do some analysis and get some feedback from any of online degree forums about the online universities short listed to see which one is the best known and best acceptable before you make up your decision.
3. Lab Works (if any) Near At Your Location
Some degree programs require you to complete a certain hours of lab works before you can earn the degree. If so and if your busy working schedule does not allow you to travel far, then, you need to consider the online university that has local facility or arrangement with any of local institution for you to carry out your lab work.
4. Credit Transfer
There are many online universities that allow you to transfer your credits earned from previous degree to save you some credit hours and credit cost. You can consider it if you have credits that may transfer to your new degree program. Always check out this information from the admission officer before your enroll into the program.
5. Good Academic Support
You will attend the class online by login into the online university teaching & learning system. Technology sometime creates difficulties such as unable to download the learning material or upload you assignment. Sometime, you may need help from the school to resolve the problems. Hence, a good support from online university is very importance to ensure the smoothness of your learning process.
In Summary
Selecting on online university for your degree sometime is a hard decision: too many options available, too many degree programs that seem like meeting your requirement. I hope the above hints will help to narrow down your scope of your choice and finally reach the ultimate decision on which online university to pursue your degree.
If you want more FREE and detailed information on choosing the right online degree programs, accredited online universities, and other online education information, you can visit http://www.your-online-degree.info
Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles
University of Phoenix Legal Issues January 31, 2010
Posted by admin in : UoP Reviews , add a commentUniversity of Phoenix is at the top of it’s game in break through educational delivery. However, just like any other organization that blazes a path, they are burdened with their own legal woes. Either from poor management at the local level, disgrunteled employees or students or poor organizational enforcement of policy. Below is an article related to some of those legal woes:
University of Phoenix Legal Woes
Author: Audrey Davis
For such a massive college with over 397,000 students and over 200 campus locations, you would expect the University of Phoenix to have some lawsuits filed against them. This is just a list of some of those suits.
1. Latrish Elaine Tarhini was an enrollment advisor at the Houston campus of the University of Phoenix. She was told that she would not get a raise due to her filling a pregnancy discrimination charge against the Apollo Group Inc. ( parent of the University of Phoenix ). Basically the University of Phoenix violated the retaliation statutes of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The company settled the suit for $32,500 in June, 2009.
2. The Apollo Group Inc. (parent of the University of Phoenix ) is presently in settlement talks to bring a six year old Fed whistle-blower legal action over its hiring tactics to an end. The trial is ready to start shortly in the U.S. District Court in Sacramento and basically at the heart of it is the fact the University of Phoenix paid recruiters based mostly on the quantity of scholars they enroll. Apparently ensuing in all types of aggressive hiring tactics. The court action was brought by 2 University of Phoenix counselors back in 2003. The settlement is estimated to be in the $40 million to $250 million range.
3. In December 2008, 3 previous students at the University of Phoenix were looking for class-action status for a Fed. legal action which accuses the college of improperly saying its record on loan defaults. According to the suit the University of Phoenix allegedly pays off federal student loans and then goes after the students themselves to collect the amounts due under more onerous terms than the the federal loans. By doing this, the college impedes those loans from being considered in its official default rate. Colleges with high default rates can be barred from federal student-loan programs or face other restrictions. We are not able to get any further details on the suit including any settlement terms under consideration. It is vital to note though that Fed. Title IV loans are the backbone of the money stream for the entire for-profit education industry and that Apollo derives over 77% of their revenue from these loans. Accordingly, this may be a huge problem for the University of Phoenix.
4. In Jan 2008, Apollo Group Inc. Lost a stockholder securities fraud lawsuit saying damages of as much as $277.5 million. The jury agreed with the speculators that Apollo together with previous head honcho Todd Nelson and CFO Kenda Gonzales, mislead shareholders by not disclosing a February 2004 U.S. Education Department report. The department charged the Phoenix-based company of violating a federal ban on students based on the number of scholars they enroll. It seems like the Apollo Group was successful at getting this call over-turned in August of 2008. We are not sure what the present standing of the suit is today.
5. In November 2008, Apollo Group, Inc. Settled a federal suit alleging discrimination against non-Mormon workers at the University of Phoenix on the web. This class-action court action was filed by 52 former enrollment counselors who charged that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were favored in sales leads, promotions, schooling waivers, and more at the faculty. The settlement was reportedly for $1.89 million.
If you’re aware of all other suits that impact the University of Phoenix or any other school or varsity, please let us know. We are interested in following all lawsuits especially those concerning online colleges and universities. It is inevitable that these for-profit institutions will experience some suits given how massive they have grown to be.
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University of Phoenix Legal Woes
Criminal Justice University
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/online-education-articles/university-of-phoenix-legal-woes-1434936.html
About the Author
I’m a Personel Clerk for a small company in Dillon CO, and currently looking at getting a degree in Office Management through an online college.
UOP Series – Learn About the University of Phoenix Admissions January 25, 2010
Posted by admin in : Admissions , add a commentEach degree program at the University of Phoenix has specific requirements that must be met in order to enroll in them. Listed below are the admissions guidelines for the program that you might be interested in enrolling in at the University of Phoenix. Some credits from colleges are transferable, so make sure you check with the University of Phoenix to see if you can get any credits from your previous college experience.
To enter an associate or bachelor degree program at the University of Phoenix, a student must:
• Have already earned a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. If a student does not currently meet this standard then they can arrange to take the GED through the state or through the nearest GED testing center.
• Currently have a job and be employed. The reason that this is a requirement is that students need to have access to an organizational environment that will allow them to apply the concepts that they learn in their courses at the University of Phoenix. Some of the undergraduate programs even require students to already have one year of full-time work experience.
• Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. Students need to hold a valid visa if they are taking classes on a campus that is located in the United States.
• Complete and submit all the required forms for admission to the program of their choice.
• Submit documentation of immunizations received if the student is a resident of Oklahoma or Tennessee and is enrolling in a campus-based program.
As part of the admission process at the University of Phoenix, and depending upon the grades and/or scores you have achieved, prior classes taken at regionally accredited or nationally accredited degree-granting institutions, or the credit a student has earned through a national testing program may be looked at and considered for academic credit. If you have already had professional training or if you served in the military and then join the family at the University of Phoenix, it may very well be possible to convert your training or experience into academic credits.
Are you a University of Phoenix college student? Upload your photo and rate other students at http://www.rateuniversityofphoenixfan.com/blog!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deshea_R_Witcher
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Student Loan Consolidation: Getting Out of Debt January 18, 2010
Posted by admin in : Financial Aid , add a commentIntroduction
When we talk about college graduation, several promising life changes occur in our minds – potential careers, independence as well as new beginnings. However, although it means beginning of something, it still signifies something less enjoyable too – the repayment of student loans.
As you all know, the repayment of ample student loans can be off-putting for both students and their parents. It was found out by the Public Interest Research Group in the US that the average debt among student borrowers is currently in excess of $16,500. That large! The Associated Press also noted that graduates of public colleges and universities usually emerge owing more than $10,000 for their undergraduate years alone. Those who are in private institutions typically owe $14,000, while the graduate-level students often owe more than $24,000. What’s more for those studying medicine or law? For sure, they accumulate even more debt. And, the bad thing is, repaying these debts are even becoming more difficult for graduates in the midst of uncertain jobs and the recession.
With the interest rates in all student loan programs are now at record lows, there is no reason for the graduates not to consider student loan consolidation. It is often said that with student loan consolidation, students and graduates can save thousands of bucks in interest charges.
Now let us look at the things involved in student loan consolidation.
Student Loan Consolidation: A Definition
Student loan consolidation is typically defined as the process or the act of combining multiple loans into a single loan in order to decrease the monthly payment amount or elevate the repayment period. There are a lot of reasons behind it, and among those is money saving payment incentives, decreased monthly payments, fixed interest rates, and new or renewed deferments.
The Plus Factors of Consolidation
Student loan consolidation has a lot to offer. That is what many experts often say. To find out what consolidation has to offer, let’s read on.
Overall Interest Savings
Over time, the student loans you have borrowed have been assigned with different variable interest rates. Note that the key word here is variable. While the loan you received may have offered, say, 3.5 percent at first, the rate will actually go up as the interest rates go up. So, if you have two or more of these loans, there is a great possibility that you may have owed amounts at different rates, and these rates can rise and fall yearly. Considering that the interest rates have nowhere else to go but up, it is no doubt a safe bet that the debt you have accumulated will mount faster than it would if you consider a student loan consolidation.
By considering consolidation and remaining on your 10 years payment plan, it is possible that you can lock your interest at today’s current loan rates and save some bucks over the long haul. Aside from that, all of those loans that may have come from different lending companies or banks can be a burden to deal with. So, if you consolidate, it means that you only deal with one single company and one payment rather than several. Other than that, you have the great chance to receive added bonuses like payment and interest rate reductions in case you pay your debts on time over a period of months. These benefits are also possible to come if you have automatically withdrawn your monthly payment from a checking or savings account.
Improved Credit Score
By considering a loan consolidation, borrowers not only save or reduce their long term debt but can also help change their credit score for the better over time. It is worth noting that an improved credit score is a very important factor when a person enters the “real” world and wants a new car, apartment or charge card.
Here are some tips for you that can help you as you enter the job market.
More Open Accounts, The Lower the Score: Over the student borrower’s life, he or she may have borrowed up to eight separate loans to pay for school. Each of these loans has a different payback amount, payment terms and interest rate. The more accounts the student has opened, the lower the over credit score. Thereby, lowering the amount of open credit lines on a credit report is needed, but this can only be made possible through a student loan consolidation in which the older accounts will be combined into a single account.
The Lower the Payments, the Higher the Score: When the credit report evaluation comes, it is usual in the process that the amount of the borrower’s monthly minimum payments is taken into account. So, when you hold a number of loans, every payment is considered part of the borrower’s monthly payment obligation. Those who have considered consolidation have only one payment to make, which is typically lower than the minimum amount of the separate, multiple loans.
The Debt to Credit Ratio Matters: As you may know, the credit bureaus typically find out if you are in debt. They do this by way of evaluating the amount of your available credit you actually use. So, in case you have a total of $10,000 available on three credit lines and you owe $2,000, your score will then be considered higher than especially if you have maxed out your on credit line with a $2,000 limit. It is worthy to note that if a person has several loans with a maximum used, it will reflect negatively on his or her credit score. Given this fact, consolidating the accounts is very important in order to lessen the number of open accounts being used.
Returning to School is a Possibility
Many students and graduates left school for family, career or financial reasons. The odds here are they will want to return to college down the line. However, if they fail to pay on their student loans while they are out of school, there is a great possibility that they can be kept from receiving any financial aid when they return. So, if financial reasons were part of the primary reason they left school, it therefore implies that digging a much deeper hole will only make it harder for them to come back.
By consolidating, the loans will also become easier to manage and pay off. And, once the loans are consolidated, you can retain your right for forbearance as well as for deferment. You can even take advantage of income sensitive and graduate repayment options which you may not have encountered before while you’re on your multiple loans.
Hiding from Loans is Impossible
There is one particular truth when it comes to student loans – you can’t hide from them. It may sound extreme though, but school loans are completely immune to bankruptcy and those students or graduates that failed to pay their bills face stiff punishments. The usual consequences are poor credit ratings, garnishment of wages, and IRS penalties.
Besides, attaining licenses in certain fields is impossible when you failed to pay off your student loan debts. There is even a chance that you may be excluded from some government contracts if you own a small business. With all these consequences, it is then clear that avoiding a student loan is no way to start a life after college. If you do come back and take out more and more student loans, you will be able to consolidate again after graduation.
In the end, about half of the students coming out of college have actually gained their degrees. Of course, it can be tough to remain and stay in school with financial burdens, and it is harder to come back. But, thanks to student loan consolidation that creating one less barrier to coming back to school and keeping your credit rating clean is now possible.
The Right Period to Consolidate
In the government consolidation loan program, it is interesting to know that there are actually no deadlines connected to it. It is supported by the fact that you can apply for the student loan anytime during the grace period or even on the repayment period. But to consolidate student loans, some considerations must be paid attention. To consolidate student loans, you should know that it usually take place during your grace period. At this moment, the lower in-school interest rate will then be applied to estimate the weighted average fixed rate to consolidate student loans. And once the grace period has ended on your government student loans, the higher in-repayment interest rate will be applied to estimate the weighted average fixed rate. Given such process, it is then understandable that your fixed interest rate for government student loan consolidation will be higher if you consolidate student loans after your grace period.
And when you are interested to consolidate student loans, you should know that even of your student loans are already in repayment, to consolidate student loans is still allowed and beneficial. It is for the reason that when you consolidate student loans at this time, you already fix the interest rate on your government student loans while the rates are still originally low.
Conclusion
As presented, student loan consolidation can help most borrowers in many ways. But, it is still necessary to note that rates won’t actually stay low without end. In fact, they are so low now and the only place for rates to go is up. So, if you are on your way out of college, saving every cent you can in today’s tough job market is worth considering. And, regardless of the situation you are in to right now, consolidating your college loans is a practical decision.
Student Loan Repayment Tips for the Life of Your Loans January 9, 2010
Posted by admin in : Financial Aid , add a commentIt is often said that the most effective debt management strategy is to be debt-free. But, in order to pay for your college education, you may need to take out student loans.
Student loans are applied by many people these days. It is for the hope that student loans can greatly support their education. Well, that is primarily the purpose of student loans, but there are some instances that getting student loans is what lead people to be buried deep in debt. This is common among those who failed to repay their debts or those who actually escape from their obligations.
Now, planning for successful repayment involves a lot of considerations. The planning should start before you place and strike your pen on your first promissory note. Just as you are making a commitment to your career by way of investing time and money in higher education, you should also make a commitment to your financial future by way of effectively managing your student loans from the beginning.
Here are the most recommended tips and tactics that may help you handle your student loan debt effectively and repay the loans successfully.
Tip #1: Do Your Own Research
Always note that not all loans are the same. Some of them, such as the ones provided by the Indiana Secondary Market for instance, offer benefits during school as well as after graduation in the form of repayment incentives, while other do not. They will pay the 3 percent origination fee normally charged on Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans, and this process actually means more money for the books, school supplies and living expenses. And, after you graduated, there is a chance that you will be qualified for reduced interest rates especially when you ready your payments up on automatic withdraw. So, with the differences in student loans, it is necessary that you do your research before signing the first promissory note.
Tip #2: Pay Attention to the Mail
Typically, every borrower receives important information regarding the student loan he or she took out. The mail usually comes in before, during and after school. So, it is somehow important that you read all of the materials you receive carefully. In case, you have questions, the source of the materials is available to welcome you with your questions. Don’t hesitate to ask, and never ignore the correspondence or you may miss out a very vital deadlines or details about your loans.
Tip #3: Be Organized
When taking out student loan from a particular institution, it is always best to save all of your student loan documents and correspondences. This makes you aware of what exactly you’ve agreed, what is expected from you as a student loan borrower, and how much you have borrowed. At the start of the student loan process, you may find it unnecessary to keep all the documents, but when the repayment period is approaching, there is a great possibility that you may refer to some or all of these documents.
To makes things easier for you, begin by setting up an easy to use record-keeping system where you can store your student loan documents and correspondence. As you may know, there are a number of books and software products on personal finance to help you get started. Whatever you may use, whether file folders, binders, portfolios, or envelopes, it is a good idea that you set up one folder for every type of loan or account you have and keep the items sorted accordingly.
Here is what you should keep:
- Important documents like your student loan applications, promissory notes, disbursement and disclosure statements, as well as loan transfer notices.
- Copies of all correspondences between you and your student loan lender, loan holder, and/or servicer, including your school’s financial aid office.
- Addresses and telephone numbers of your lender, loan holder, and servicer. These must be maintained up-to-date.
- The name, the date and time of the conversation, as well as a summary of what you have discussed. These must be considered especially when you are speaking with anyone regarding your student loans as these may be valuable for future reference or clarification.
Also, when setting up your record-keeping system, be sure that it is comfortable to use. This means a system that you will find easy to maintain over the life of the loan. This record-keeping system must also be secured from theft or fire. Many experts also suggest that you should keep all your student loan related documents and correspondences until all the education loans you’ve taken have been fully repaid.
Tip #4: Be present at All Required Entrance and Exit Sessions
When you take out student loan, you will be required to complete student loan counseling sessions. This is often considered when you first obtain the loan and upon graduation. Also, it is worth noting that some schools these days offer this on-line and the sessions will not require a great amount of your time. However, they will provide you with a great deal of information on your right and responsibilities as a borrower.
Tip #5: Learn to Manage Money like an Expert
It has been said that if you live like a professional while you are in school, you will live like a student once you’ve finished your degree. In other words, it is important that you know very well how to handle your money while you are attending school. This will help you lessen the total amount you end up borrowing, and in turn, the amount you will responsible for repaying.
Here are some of the tactics that are worth considering:
- Develop realistic budgets for while you are attending school and even after you graduate. This will allow you to borrow not more than you need, giving you a great chance to repay your loans.
- Learn to live as cheaply as you can. Always remember that you are just a student. You will enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle once you’ve graduated especially if you lessen your borrowing while you are in school. Some of the most recommended ideas for how to be thrifty include getting a roommate, renting a movie instead of going out to the theater, as well as bringing your lunch from home instead of eating out. Be thrifty as possible.
- For any credit card bills you receive, try to pay the full amount due.
- Establish a budget for yourself and follow it. While you are in school, it is important that you know how to resist the urge of using credit cards or your student loan funds to purchase things that are included in your budget. Don’t just buy unnecessary things.
- If possible, explore work-study or other part-time employment. As often said, it may give you an opportunity for you to study or obtain valuable professional experience, other than help cover overheads.
Tip #6: Maintain at least Half-Time Enrollment
Considering a half-time enrollment is highly necessary in order for you to qualify for an in-school deferment. The half-time enrollment normally takes six credit hours. Regarding your school’s requirements for half-time status, see your financial aid officer.
Tip #7: Take Advantage of Tax Savings
Some of the student who takes out student loans qualifies for tax credits. To see your own status, check with your tax advisor. The credits are actually based on your qualified tuition payments, and they can help reduce the amount of Federal tax you pay. Now, if you are paying interest on a student loam, you may also be able to take a deduction on your Federal tax return for those interest payments. Therefore, to obtain the full benefit of the credits as well as the deductions, grab the opportunity of employing the additional tax refund to pay down your student loan debt, or perhaps to handle your educational overheads.
Tip #8: Repayment Tips
As you enter the repayment period, note that being aware of your student loan obligations is very crucial. This is where the student loan default usually happens. It occurs when you fail to pay back the loan as agreed or meet the other terms of your promissory note. The promissory note for each of the loans must then be referred prior to your graduation or before you leave school so that you know what your rights and responsibilities are in repayment.
Here is what you should do as you enter the repayment period:
- Send your education loan payments when due every month, for the full monthly payment amount or more. This must be done regardless of whether or not you receive a bill.
- Note and understand the repayment options provided by your student loan lenders. With some available options, there is a possibility that you can lessen the total cost of the loan by making a high monthly payment. Other options may even lessen your initial monthly payments and may make it easier for you to pay back your leans early in your career.
- Understand the deferment as well as forbearance. In case you need them, just learn to exercise your options.
- Remember that the loan consolidation and its repayment options have its pros and cons. So, understand them.
- Keep your school, lender or servicer informed of your whereabouts. Contact them immediately if you change your name or address; have questions about billing statements; have problems making your scheduled payment on time; or if you want information on or application for deferment or forbearance.
- Read, note and understand all the correspondence you receive from your student loan lender, loan holder, or servicer. And, respond them promptly if asked to do so.
For Further Information
If for instance you need further information regarding your student loans, always remember that the financial aid staff at your school is probably your most important resource. However, there are also some consult publications from federal and state governments, lenders and scholarship granting organizations, and financial ad guidebooks that are available from your local bookstore. They are great enough for you to start your own search.
