University of California Ends Standardized Testing Requirement

If you hate taking standardized tests, then the latest news out of the University of California should be music to your ears. Last week, the UC system decided to end testing for admission across all undergraduate campuses.

One of the big reasons why the UCs are scrapping the standardized test requirements has to do with providing a fair opportunity to everyone applying. High school grades have proven to be a better way to assess students and do not require spending thousands of dollars on test preparation and fees. 

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Students first started having difficulty taking the SAT and ACT tests during COVID-19 lockdowns, driving many universities to search for alternatives. UC had already waved the standardized test requirements for this current year, so this change makes the policy permanent. 

This means that UC colleges will rely on remaining application materials including personal statements, academic history aka grades and classes, extra curricular activities, awards, and anything else you might submit in the application. The schools will still accept test results, but will not consider them for admissions. 

It is unclear if other universities will follow the lead of the University of California. Standardized testing has received greater scrutiny in the past few years as schools have placed a greater focus on inequality and discrimination. 

Overall, this seems like a great change as it will remove another stress that high school students face and focus attention on everything that an applicant can bring to a college. The full story can be found here.

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4 Ways to Pay for Your Degree Without Getting a Job

As if college itself wasn’t stressful enough, nothing can weigh on the mind like crushing loan debt. Having a job to alleviate some of that financial pressure would be nice, but when you’re an architecture student studying 30 hours a day, where will you find the time for a regular job?

Luckily, there are plenty of ways for you to earn some supplemental income while you’re contributing the majority of your time to your studies.

Selling Unused Clothes

This plan sounds quite tedious, and it can be if not executed properly. Sorting through your clothes is exceedingly mundane, even when it’s just to put them away during the laundry process.

And remember, you have to make time to study, so you can’t waste any of it separating old clothes from the rest. You need an efficient way to market the clothes you know you can get rid of, and that people would want to buy.

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Utilizing social media is an effective way to market your clothing, as well as set up and close sales. All it takes is a little legwork. Take a picture or two of the article of clothing and post that picture to a group in Facebook, direct message it to people you think would be interested in it, or post it on Instagram using the #ShopMyCloset hashtag.

And if you don’t have the time to sit down one afternoon and sort through all of your clothes, kill two birds with one stone. When you’re doing your laundry (your clothes have to be cleaned eventually), pay attention to what clothes are left sitting dormant in your closet and drawers.

More often than not, these are clothes that don’t fit you anymore, or that you’ve simply forgotten about. No matter the reason, they would be much more useful in the hands (or on the body) of a person who would actually wear them.

Volunteering for Scientific Studies

This is the method that is most likely to net you the highest amount of money in the shortest amount of time. Research institutions all over the country are constantly looking for test subjects to take part in experiments for new drugs, studying diseases and even sleep studies.

For as much as thousands of dollars at a time, you could offer your body and health in a variety of ways, such as battling the flu, lying down in bed or donating bodily fluids.

You can participate in experiments that allow doctors and medical students to understand how our bodies fight diseases, and others that allow them to observe sleep patterns. No matter the experiment, most researchers are more than willing to fork out some extra cash to keep them from having to become the experiment subject.

If you don’t really mind being a lab rat, go ahead and take the money!

Selling Your Car

Before you say it, no, this isn’t a suggestion that you sell whatever car you have right now. Obviously, if you need a car in order to function, you should have a car.

But you don’t have to have a nice car. An easy way to raise money that could be dedicated to paying for school is to sell a classic or vintage automobile.

There are many models made before 1971 that have market values in excess of $19,700 today. The 1967 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am in particular would rake in an incredible $136,000 in 2016.

Sure, you look pretty sweet cruising around town in a classic ride. But you know what’s even sweeter? Relief from $100,000 in student loan debt.

Tutoring

You’re already studying anyway, so you might as well teach other people how to become better students, especially if their particular struggle is in a class you passed with ease.

College students will be very willing to pay you to help them pass a test, write a long essay or even improve their overall grade in a crucial class.

Your hours can be whatever you want them to be, and there are no contracts or limitations to how much your workload can be from month to month. If you know everything about the SAT, ACT, and subject tests, then you can help future college students as well!

The best part is that the better you are at tutoring, the more referrals you’ll get, thus increasing your earning potential. You’re basically getting paid to study, and help others get better at studying. You never know, you might even help your own grades at the same time!

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Career Opportunities Through Geriatric Social Work

For most people, when you say “social worker” you think of someone working with children and families — your first thought might even be an incorrect image of an overworked caseworker removing children from their homes and placing them in foster care. 

However, there is a much wider range of opportunity for social workers outside of the realm of children and families. In fact, social workers are committed to helping all people in need. They help people at all ages and stages of life access the services and tools they need to thrive and live healthy lives. Yet there is one population in dire need of help, and a shortage of qualified workers could mean that many people do not gain access to the services that they need.

As the population ages, seniors have a greater need than ever for help managing the social, financial, and health issues that come with old age. Whether it’s someone facing a chronic disease who needs daily medical care, or someone facing the isolation that can come from the loss of family and friends over time, the range of services required by older adults is vast, and there’s a great need for social workers trained in gerontology and aging issues. Add in trends such as the increase in elder abuse and the desire of many people to “age in place” rather than in assisted living or nursing care facilities, and the need for qualified social workers becomes even more apparent.

So how do you get involved in geriatric social work? The first step is understanding what social workers do.

Geriatric Social Work Overview

Geriatric or gerontological social workers are focused on meeting the physical and social needs of older adults. They can be found in a wide variety of settings, such as hospitals, state agencies, service and referral agencies (i.e., agencies on aging), rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and private practice.

Depending on the agency and the specialty of the social worker, some of the services that one might provide include:

1) Referral to necessary services, including health care, financial advice and assistance, and legal services.

2) Functional evaluations to determine eligibility for services.

3) Mental health evaluation and counseling.

4) Discharge planning after hospitalizations.

5) Support and advocacy in matters of health, money, and social lives. For example, social workers are trained to identify signs of elder abuse and take action when necessary. 

Social workers often work closely with other professionals, including health care providers, attorneys, and financial advisors, as well as families, to ensure that older adults are well-cared for and have everything they need.

Becoming a Geriatric Social Worker

At minimum, to begin a career in geriatric social work you need to earn at least a bachelor’s degree, in a field such as social work, psychology, or gerontology. In some cases, nurses have moved into social work roles as well. However, every state requires social workers to be licensed, and that means earning a master’s in human services or social work and passing the licensing exam. In addition, to be eligible to take the social work examination, you generally need to complete a minimum number of supervised practicum hours; in most states, the minimum is 3,000 hours, but the specifics vary. 

In any case, you will be expected to have specialized knowledge of the issues that affect older adults, including mental and physical health issues. You will generally complete coursework not only related to working with the elderly themselves, but also in social policies and current issues relating to older people, ethics, and gerontological research.

Career Opportunities

The number of people age 65 or older is expected to reach 72 million by the year 2030, comprising 20 percent of the U.S. population. This means that going forward, there will be a wide array of opportunities for gerontological social workers. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistic predicts demand to increase by 19 percent, which is faster than average. 

Salaries vary for jobs in this field. The BLS reports a median annual salary of about $44,000, with the highest earners topping out at around $57,000 per year. Earning potential varies according to the employer, region, and level of experience, with those working in private practice or for private agencies earning the most.

Geriatric social work is a rewarding and growing field. If you have the urge to help, but aren’t sure you want to work with children, you have other options — and senior citizens need your help.

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5 Things You Must Do to Work in Government

 

Working for the government has several advantages over private sector employment. From opportunities for growth, advancement, and job security, to competitive salary and benefits, working in the public sector is an ideal way to build a satisfying career while also making a difference in the lives of others. And considering that more than 80 percent of all government jobs are located outside of Washington, D.C., there’s a reasonably good chance that you can find a government job wherever

you happen to live.

However, just because there are plenty of government jobs, that doesn’t mean that they are easy to get. Landing a position in the public sector is slightly more complicated than landing one in the private sector, as the requirements tend to be a be more stringent, and there is a bit more red tape to cut through. You can improve your chances, though, and help streamline the process by taking certain steps ahead of time.

1. Keep a Spotless Reputation

Clearly, most people don’t deliberately cultivate a poor reputation. However, when you want to work for the government, how you conduct yourself before you’re hired can make a significant difference in whether you’re hired or not. Some positions require extensive background checks, and unfortunately, your wild “party days” during college could come back to haunt you. That doesn’t mean you need to be a stick in the mud, but as you make decisions, consider how the fallout during a background check. If you think you might be embarrassed or that it could hurt your chances, don’t do it.

2. Earn Your Degree

Most well-paying government positions require applicants to hold at least a bachelor’s degree. In most cases, though, a master’s degree will move you higher up the list. Government leaders — city managers, agency directors, and the like — need the skills in decision-making, communication, leadership, and problem-solving provided by degrees like a Master of Public Administration. With such a degree, you stand a better chance of landing your perfect governmental position.

3. Develop an Appropriate Resume

It might sound bureaucratic, but when you apply for a government job, your standard chronologically formatted resume isn’t going to get you interviews, especially when you are applying for federal jobs. Applicants generally have to include additional information on their resumes, particularly if you have ever held a position within the government before. In addition, this is one area in which creativity doesn’t really count, at least when it comes to your resume. Your best bet is to visit a site like USAjobs.gov, the central hiring database for government jobs, and use the tools there to format your resume properly.

4. Become an Intern

It might seem unfair, but many government agencies and departments rely heavily on their internship programs to find new employees, hiring primarily from the pool of successful interns rather than seeking outside applicants. This means that you may never have the chance to even apply for certain positions, or at the very least, face fierce competition from those who have direct experience. This is just one reason that you should seek internship opportunities in the public sector. Not only do you gain a competitive advantage when it comes to employment, you also gain insights into the inner

workings of a department or agency that you may not otherwise have. In addition, you can begin building your network, which is a vital component to success in any field.

5. Develop In-Demand Skills

It’s not difficult to determine what the federal government’s priorities are. Just pay attention to the news and follow the development of government programs and initiatives. For example, current government priorities fall within the realm of health care, education, cybersecurity, and the Middle East. Therefore, applicants with experience within those areas have a better chance of standing out in a crowded talent pool. Consider studying a second language, particularly one in high demand, such as Arabic or Farsi, and building your expertise in a specific area. Look for skills that will allow you to stand out and help you do your job better. 

Of course, even if you do all of these things, landing that plum assignment can still be challenging. Above all, you need to be persistent and patient. The hiring process can be slow, particularly with federal jobs, and it might be three months or more before you hear back on an application. However, when you have the right skills and a commitment to public service, you shouldn’t have any trouble landing a government job.

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Thesis, Capstone, Dissertation: What's the Difference?

After several years of attending classes, writing papers, and taking tests, you might think that your work is done and you can waltz out of college with a degree. That may be true in some cases, but many programs have one more requirement for students who want to earn their degrees: A final project. 

Every program and school has their own specific parameters, but the final project usually falls into one of three categories: A thesis, a capstone, or a dissertation. Which type of project you’ll be required to complete varies depending on your college program and what type of degree you’re seeking. However, understanding the difference between them will help you to plan ahead to ensure that your final project is the best it can possibly be.

1. Thesis

In the past, the thesis paper was the most common type of project completed by both undergraduate and graduate students as a final requirement for graduation. At the undergraduate level, these intensive research papers were often offered as either an option for students who wanted to get a head start on graduate-level research or a requirement for graduating with honors in their major. 

In the simplest terms, a thesis paper is an academic research paper built around a strong thesis statement. Depending on the subject, the thesis either is a new interpretation of existing research on the subject, or based on original research conducted by the student combined with existing knowledge in the field. For example, an undergraduate media studies student may choose to research the portrayal of a certain demographic on television, and conduct a content analysis of several programs to compare the current state of television to existing conclusions. 

The purpose of a thesis paper is to provide an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge they have gained in their college coursework while simultaneously expanding their knowledge via research. It’s not a “typical” research paper; it’s much longer, for starters, with specific formatting requirements. In addition, students are generally required to present and defend their research to a thesis committee, who may ask for revisions before accepting and grading the project.

2. Capstone

A capstone project shares many characteristics with thesis papers, in that it’s a large-scale project in which a student can demonstrate his or her knowledge and apply what’s been learned in class. However, capstone projects are more than just a paper, although they usually include a written component. 

In most programs, the capstone project requires students, working either individually or in a group, to complete a “real-world” project involving an actual product, service, or client. For example, a capstone project may involve developing new software or communication tools to improve client processes. In addition to developing and implementing a solution, capstone projects usually involve developing a thesis statement, conducting research, and reporting on the results of the project in a written form as well as a presentation.

3. Dissertation

While thesis and capstone projects are usually reserved for undergraduate and graduate levels, doctoral candidates often must complete a dissertation in order to earn their degrees. A dissertation is the most rigorous type of academic research. While a thesis or capstone relies on the application of existing research, a dissertation requires highly focused and original research and application. For example, a student seeking a doctoral degree in educational leadership might conduct an action-based study, examining an existing practice to identify potential areas for change, and then testing a proposed solution to those issues. However, the most important point is that rather than reinterpreting or applying existing research and theories, a dissertation is a new addition to the canon of research on the topic. 

Because dissertations are expected to represent the pinnacle of academic excellence, they generally take several years to complete (as opposed to the one to three semesters needed for a capstone or thesis) and there is a high level of guidance at every step. In most cases, dissertations are reviewed and approved by committees, who are involved with the projects at every point. However, in addition to earning a doctoral degree because of the project, most students are able to publish their research, adding an additional credential to their CV.

Completing a final project is an important part of concluding any type of academic program. Look into your program’s requirements well in advance, so you’re prepared with a proposed topic and plan when it comes time to complete your research project. You might even find that your final project to be among the highlights of your academic career.

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