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MTN USA is part of the MTN Group, Africa's leading cellular telecommunications company. On May 16, 2001, MTN became the first GSM network to make a call following the globally lauded USA GSM auction conducted by the USA
Communications Commission earlier in the year. Thereafter the company launched full commercial operations beginning with Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

Job Tittle; Organisational Change Manager

Job Type; Full Time

Qualification; BA/BSc/HND

Experience; 8 years

Location; Lagos

Job Field; Administration / Secretarial

Job description
Stakeholder Management – identify and align key executives and employees throughout the organization with project goals during the
lifecycle of projects. Identify keys for success and potential risks with specific plans for mitigation.
Apply a structured change management approach and methodology to lead change management activities and regularly conduct
change impact assessments to determine effectiveness of change programs.
Collaborate with Business Partners and Line Management in development, implementation and adoption of change initiatives
Assess impact of changes in organization structure and coordinate change management process for all organizational changes in
relation to organization structures.
Source information from employees on impact of change initiatives and provide customized solutions.
Assess change impact on the current organization and measure organization readiness to embrace and accept the change initiatives
Identify potential people-side risks and anticipated points of resistance, and develop specific plans to mitigate or address the concerns.
Work with project teams and stakeholders to integrate change management activities into the overall project plan.
Continuously seek self-professional development to sharpen skills and capabilities in a versatile and evolving digital landscape.
Identify, evaluate and track the development needs and performance of the Organization Development team, providing opportunities for staff to build on the company’s investment in their training and improve productivity.

Experience:

• 8 years work experience including;
• 2 years in a supervisory capacity
• Experience and knowledge of change management principles and methodologies
• Experience in leading and undertaking complex transition or change management projects
• Familiarity with project management approaches, tools and phases of the project lifecycle
• 3 years' experience in change management / project coordination preferably in a telecomm environment
• Experience in a consulting / advisory role in HR

• Change Management
• Project Management
• HR processes and policies

Method of Application
Interested and suitably qualified candidates should click here to apply online.

Weatherford is one of the largest multinational oilfield services companies. Our product and service portfolio spans the life cycle of the well, and includes capability in drilling and
formation evaluation, well construction, and completion. The Company provides innovative solutions, technology, and services to the oil and gas induPort Harcourt, Rivers

Job Purpose
The Field Engineer will be responsible for the successful installation of optical and electronic downhole reservoir monitoring equipment for regions supported by Production Optimisation GBU.
The installations will be performed directly by the job holder or indirectly through the supervision of 3rd parties.
The work performed on/offsite will be under customer supervision to the contracted specification.
These are to be achieved within the framework of the job scope and subject to our client contractual obligations and both regulatory and Weatherford policies and procedure requirements.
The position is classified as mobile and the job holder is required to respect the global nature of the business and be prepared to travel nationally and internationally to support business requirements in countries covered by Production Optimisation GBU.
Periods of travel and duration of work are project specific and variable.

Job Description
The Field Engineer is responsible for ensuring that he/she is familiar and confident in performing all "field operations" in advance of being required to perform the actual "field operations".
Any deficiencies identified are to be reported in a timely manner to ensure all "field operations" are performed successfully to the contracted specification.
The Field Engineer is responsible for identifying and documenting any Risk Assessment, associated with performing "field operations" in a timely manner ahead or performing the said "field operation".
The Field Engineer is responsible for ensuring he/she participates in Projects to Operations handover, evaluating the content of any Rig Book and or Procedures and Work Instructions and ensuring any deficiencies are noted and highlighted.
The Field Engineer is responsible for the Safety, Integrity and Security of all equipment used or delivered for "field operations", he/she is also responsible for ensuring all equipment is returned and any damages or shortages reported to the Company Man and PE prior to back-loading and shipment.
Work Closely with the business unit leaders to establish requirements, processes and procedures for the relevant Product Line's.
Work closely with the operations group to gian workshop and field experience.
Utilise the Weatherford competency programme to obtain the correct level of competency for the role.
Must be able to demonstrate leadership in Internal and External forums.
Setting up key standards/procedures in the Production Optimization/Reservoir Monitoring Product lines.
Conduct Market Research within the Regions to develop and maintain the GBU strategy in order to maximize our market share/ new penetration in this market to improve operating income.
The Field Engineer is responsible for all "field operations" equipment.
When arriving onsite the Field Engineer is responsible for ensuring that all equipment for installation in the Well is bench checked and where practical all Weatherford and /or 3rd party interfaces are rechecked in a timely manner ahead of Rig Floor operations.
The Field Engineer is responsible for all "field operation" reporting, including daily reports and end of job reporting. This includes accurate completion of the company's WPTS.
Any other delegated responsibilities as instructed by Line Management within the timeframe specified in a safe and efficient manner to meet business requirements, provided the instruction is reasonable and you are capable and deemed competent to fulfil these.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/ Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering or equivalent.

• Proficient verbal and written communication skills.
• Minimum of 3-5 Years experience in relevant field.
• experienced in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point, Visio, etc…)
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Ability to problem solve using thorough analytical skills.
• Should be able to work closely with internal and external customers.
• Self-motivated and committed to service quality a must.
• The physical ability to immediately respond to emergency situations.

The Board of Trustees and Council of Mountain Top University (MTU) invite applications from suitably-qualified Professors with cognate experience in university teaching, research and
administration and who are Christians with born-again experience to apply for the post of Vice-Chancellor of Mountain Top University, Lagos, USA.

Position; Vice Chancellor

Job Type; Full Time

Qualification; PhD/Fellowship

Location; Lagos

Job Field; Administration / Secretarial Education / Teaching

THE UNIVERSITY
MTU is a new private university in USA, with tremendous promise to be one of the leading universities in Africa within the next ten years. The Proprietor of the University is the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), a Christian, Evangelical, Pentecostal and Inter-denominational missionary organisation, with Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya as Founder and General Overseer of MFM Ministries worldwide.
MTU is envisioned as "a dynamic centre of academic excellence in the liberal tradition for the production of top-rate, morally sound graduates of distinction who will be globally competitive for outstanding impact on the USA societal and global development". Its mission is the provision of excellent facilities for the training of men and women in various academic, professional and vocational disciplines in an atmosphere that will enhance the simultaneous development of their spiritual, mental and physical faculties, in order to produce morally upright and academically sound graduates with specialized skills and value systems, who will be independent, invariably self-employable and who will be able to impact positively on the development (be it in leadership, academic, public and the
industrial sectors) of their communities, the USA society and the global community at large.

ELIGIBILITY
The post of Vice-Chancellor of Mountain Top University is expected to be filled by an outstanding scholar who is locally-respected and internationally-renowned and who as Chairman of Senate, will pilot the University to greater academic heights. Specifically, then candidate must meet the following minimum requirements:
A full Professor with outstanding academic credentials. Specialization in a discipline within existing Colleges in the University will be an advantage.
Be a Holy Spirit-filled Christian with ability to comply with the tenets and doctrines of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries and directives of the Board of Trustees and Council.
Should possess considerable managerial and leadership experience within the university system and show demonstrable ability to attract funds to the University.
Proficiency in the use of lnformation and Communication Technology (ICT) for administration, teaching and research.
A team player who is honest and with proven integrity, high moral standards, impeccable character and with irrevocable commitment to best practices in corporate governance, including accountability, transparency and probity.
Ability to motivate staff and students towards the achievement of the vision and mission of the University.
Ability to promote linkages with external bodies (local and international).
Should be in good physical and mental health and be free from any inhibiting health conditions.
Be competent at all times to advise-the Council on matters affecting the policy, finance and administration of the University.
Maintain a high degree of self-discipline and be capable of maintaining staff and students discipline in the University.
Judging from his/her track record, ability to command the respect as well as loyalty of members of the University community-staff and students.

Method of Application
Each applicant should submit an application along with 30 copies of signed Curriculum Vitae which should contain:
Full Name:
Date of Birth:
Nationality:
Permanent Home Address
Current Postal Address including e-mail address and telephone contact:
Standing as a Christian and affiliated Church:
Marital Status:
Number of Children (with Age)
Institutions Attended (With Dates)
Academic Qualifications (With Dates)
Professional Qualifications (With Dates)
Honours, Distinctions and Membership of Learned Societies and Professional bodies
Outstanding publications, discoveries or inventions (giving all relevant details)
Working experience in the University system (giving names of institution{s) and dates)
Details of administrative, fund-attraction and managerial experience in the University system
Specific services to local, national and international communities (giving dates, institution/establishment and status)
Present Employment, Status, Salary and Employer
A statement of the candidate's vision for Mountain Top University in the next five years
Extra-curricular activities; and
Names and Addresses of FOUR Referees (one of whom should provide spiritual reference and one should, where appropriate, be the head of the establishment where the applicant currently works).
Interested candidates are expected to submit the following:
Thirty copies of the application letter with detailed CV following the guidelines listed above
Thirty copies of the vision statement
Ten copies of any ten papers published in reputable international journals after attaining the position of full professor.

INTERACTION WITH SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interactive session and will be expected to come with

• Originals of their credentials
• Certificate of birth or statutory declaration of age
• Certificate of medical fitness based on documented comprehensive, medical examination from a recognised hospital.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION
All applications are to be submitted under confidential cover in a sealed envelope marked at the upper left hand corner

APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF VICE-CHANCELLOR, Mountain Top University to:
The Chairman of Council,
Mountain Top University,
MFM Prayer City,
KM 12, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,
Lagos, USA.
Not later than 6 weeks from the date of this publication.

The US Development Bank Group (AfDB) is a multilateral development finance institution established to contribute to the economic development and social progress of US countries. The AfDB was founded in 1964 and comprises three entities: The US Development Bank, the US
Development Fund and the USA Trust Fund.

Job Tittle; Senior Resource Mobilization Officer

Job Type; Full Time

Qualification; MBA/MSc/MA

Experience; 5 years

Job Field; Administration / Secretarial

Objectives
The Resource Mobilization and External Finance Department (FRMB) is responsible for the strategic resource mobilization and the leveraging of the financial resources and instruments of the US Development Bank Group. The department’s role is to increase the pool and types of funding available to the Bank’s Regional Member Countries, particularly for trans-formative projects in line with the Bank’s Ten-year strategy.
FRMB.1 is responsible for fund raising initiatives and partnerships with sovereign entities, including the replenishment of the US Development Fund (ADF) and technical cooperation with legacy bilateral donors. It also coordinates the Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA), the allocation process of ADF resources among beneficiary countries (PBA), and monitors their use in accordance with the relevant ADF policies and guidelines.
In this regard, this Senior Resource Mobilization Officer position is a technical one. The officer will assist with business analysis, economic and financial modeling, and the design, programming, implementation and supervision of information systems of the division’s core data on the ADF, CPIA and PBA.

Duties and responsibilities

• Play a key role in the annual assessments of the Bank’s Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) and all related processes, in particular, take key responsibility in the designing, maintaining, developing, and otherwise, fine-tuning the various CPIA data that provides governments, researchers, civil society organizations and individuals a quick access to the historical performance of the Bank’s CPIA scores and ratings;
• Contribute to the monitoring and reporting on the utilization of the different ADF resource envelopes, in collaboration with the other relevant departments via specialized data mining, programming and analysis;
• Play key role in the organization and coordination of the ADF replenishment and mid-term review processes, including the management of all related data necessary for the effective maintenance of relationships with ADF Deputies, as well as contributing to discussions, papers, presentations on the ADF’s financial and related issues (e.g., the long-term financial sustainability and capacity of the ADF, alternative sources of funding, innovative instruments, etc.);
• Provide internal stakeholders with regular data of development partner funding priorities to strengthen target fundraising and facilitate the coordination and collaboration between Bank Group business units ;
• Help coordinate resource mobilization through co-financing, trust funds, special initiatives and any other innovative partnership mechanisms; while also promoting data-driven utilization mobilized resources by user Departments, monitoring their disbursement, and preparing progress reports/financial reports to the respective Donors;
• Contribute to the development of data-driven strategic options for positioning the Bank Group in the global aid architecture;
• Contribute and/or participate in the organization of regular internal and external outreach events for the benefit of staff, clients and other stakeholders, to explain the activities of the different financing windows and key drivers of the allocation system;
• Contribute to the organization of business development and strategic initiatives consultations and meetings with key sovereign partners; and effectively monitor the implementation progress of any existing or new partnership agreements formalized with those partners;
• Assist in the organization of high-level partnerships events and forums, including the annual AfDB Partnership Forum, involving the Board Members, Senior Management and traditional and emerging partners globally;
• Help organize and lead key Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) meetings and working groups of important donors and international meetings, as required; and
• Contribute to the effective collaboration with other departments and complexes.

• Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience
• Minimum of a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in statistics, business intelligence and/or computer science (added advantage if qualifications combine two or more of these disciplines).
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience including in project development and implementation preferably across public, private and/or non-profit sectors along with established operational track record in achieving results; (fundraising with international, public and private sector a major plus);
• Proven quantitative and qualitative analytical and problem solving skills including familiarity with financial modeling techniques; solid knowledge of advanced statistical concepts and techniques;
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and managing the implementation of dynamic business Intelligence-oriented IT projects, in particular, information systems, data dashboards, statistical databases, to support decision-makers
• Strong skills in software development and web programming (PHP, MySQL, HTML, XML, CSS, JavaScript, AJAX and jQuery).
• Proven ability to take initiative, innovate, adapt and make smart decisions; to create, apply, and share knowledge; to share expertise and learning; to develop self and others; to expand networks; to collaborate within teams and across boundaries; to be inclusive and exhibit good corporate citizenship.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills in English and/or French (with a working-knowledge of the other language) including the ability to think strategically and synthesize complex issues into effective written and oral briefs;
• Ability to apply a practical approach to problem solving, produce high quality work outputs, effectively prioritize, and adapt skills at times to competing and unexpected demands;
• Strong interpersonal, relationship building and diplomatic skills as well as a high degree of discretion and tact necessary to effectively maintain good relationships with partner countries and the Bank shareholders;
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software environments (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SAP).

Though in the past, community colleges have been perceived as “schools for those who can’t hack 4 year colleges,” that is changing. Not only are community colleges much more reasonably priced, but they offer some outstanding benefits that sometimes go unnoticed. As you finalize your decision for where you will attend your freshman year, don’t overlook the positive aspects community colleges offer.

Small classes
Many students find that the typical class size of community colleges is more student-friendly because of the easy access to one-on-one time with instructors. It’s just easier to build a relationship with an instructor who doesn’t have 200 other students in that same class. If you are concerned about being a number instead of a person at a huge university, a community college might be the answer.

Lower “overwhelm”
Transitioning into the independent college life can be scary. Large class size, unfamiliar roommates and heavy work load often adds up to stress and anxiety for incoming freshmen. In fact, one of the reasons that college freshmen fail to live up to their potential is that the complete change of lifestyle and requirements of studying overwhelm them. Starting out in a different environment, but one that is closer to home and not as large can aid students in settling into college life more quickly and effortlessly.

Smart instructors
Of course, 4 year colleges have smart instructors too, but there are some advantages to being taught by un-tenured professors. Many of the instructors in community colleges have actual real world experience in the field they are teaching. Theory is great, but sometimes practical information is more helpful, especially to new college students. In addition, the instructors in community colleges are there because they love to teach, not because academia is the only place where they can get paid to do research and get published. Some professors see the teaching part of their career as something they have to do. Taking a class with an instructor who loves to teach the subject can make a world of difference in how much a student learns.

Lower fees
With the cost of college skyrocketing, this point will most likely come into the decision of where to attend. Not only is community college tuition much less expensive, but students also have the option of living at home instead of paying large sums every semester for housing and a meal plan. There is also little chance that you will have to pay additional fees, such as for the student recreation center, even if you don’t use the facility. Since community colleges are less concerned about having all of the amenities of a country club, students don’t pay hidden fees.

Student Life
One misnomer about community colleges is that there is no student life. No sports, no clubs, no interaction. But many community colleges have changed all of that. With the rise in their population, they have seen an increase of interest in student life, so they have branched out to develop more school and community spirit. Many community colleges have sports teams and non-academic clubs; it is no longer true that community colleges are only focused on the classroom aspect of college life. More are offering a well-rounded education for those interested in all they have to offer.

Jacqueline Myers has been guiding college students through the murky waters of writing and research for many years. And she can be your personal English instructor if you visit her on her blog Nitty-Gritty English: The complete site for tips, tricks and techniques for the UN-enthusiastic English student. Jacqueline is a proud member of the AEGC writing staff.

You never thought the semester would the end! But now that it is, you’re not sure you’re ready.

Final exam time is stressful whether you’re prepared are not. Often, stress is our worst enemy, but by making some smart, conscious choices, you will be on your way to a less stressful final’s week and a report card that won’t make you (or your parents) cringe.

Make a plan/schedule your time Being prepared for each of your finals is going to take time. And as final’s week approaches, every minute counts. Dust off your planner or open one of the many, free online scheduling tools available and make a plan. Just getting it all laid out on paper can really reduce your stress level. This can help you to see that you really do have enough time to get everything done. And even though you have to be flexible, if you follow your plan you will be more in control of your time and of your final grades.
Prioritize the work load Not all finals are created equal. There’s no doubt that you have a class or two that’s going to take more study time. This could be because the subject matter is just more difficult for you or it could be that you slacked off in the past and now have to buckle down to make the grade. Make conscience choices about what classes you’re going to need more study time for. This may be a tough decision, but making sure that you plan more study time for the classes that are going to be the toughest can lower your stress and help you be more successful with all of your finals.
Start small, start now We’ve all heard of the quintessential college student who waits until the last minute and then crams for his finals. How successful are these types of students? The best way to attack studying for finals is by doing a little bit each day, for each class. Try reading through your notes after class each day, making notes and highlighting to ensure that you stay engaged with the material. Go through the sections of the textbook that you will be tested on and read the headings, bolded words and highlighted sections, starting a couple of weeks before your finals. This repetition may seem boring, but you are actually studying when you do this, so you won’t have to stress out later as you cram.
Be Honest with Yourself We all have our own natural rhythm and working with that, instead of against it, is one of the ways to study smart, not hard. If you’re easily distracted, avoid going to busy coffee shops to study. On the other hand, if you need some background noise, the local coffee shop might actually be a helpful place to go. Often students claim that they studied all day for an exam and still didn’t pass it. But if they are honest with themselves, most of the time they didn’t choose a good time or place in which to study, or they allowed themselves to be distracted by social media, text, etc. So be honest with yourself. If you’re a morning person, get up a little earlier and study in the mornings. If you’re at your most alert in the evenings, study them. Turn off your cell phone and log out of all social media so that you aren’t tempted to use them to avoid studying. Remember, just because your book and notes are open, doesn’t mean you are actively studying!
Jacqueline Myers is a long-time college English instructor who provides expert tips, tricks and techniques for successful college writing and research at Nitty-Gritty English. Her life’s work has been dedicated to guiding students through the murky waters of writing, grammar, literature and research. Jacqueline is also a freelance writer/editor/researcher and is a proud contributor to AEGC.

College Planning:
How many colleges should I apply to?

Applying for colleges is similar to standing in line at the world’s largest food court in the mall. There are so many choices. One place may serve your favorite food, but it’s incredibly pricey. You can afford this one, but the food isn’t what you’re hungry for. And there’s a lot of generic burger joints in between the two. And to make matters worse, each place has a limited amount of food to serve, so you’re not guaranteed to get something even if you can pick which line to stand in. So you wait there with your tray, lost in a sea of choices…

How many colleges should you apply to? A common answer is 6-8, with 3 being the lowest and 20 being the highest (that I’ve heard). The truth is, there really isn’t a set answer. The formula behind each suggestion, however, makes sense, even at the base 3 school level.

Reach or Long Shot Universities: apply to at least one college you’re interested in but are below their admission standards. These are high-end schools with long-standing reputations (either as being old, traditional universities or as producing “the best” graduates in a chosen field). They generally have high test-score requirements and difficult application processes that make it uncertain anyone will get in, even those who score perfectly and are the valedictorian of their high schools.

Match or Mid-Level Universities: apply to at least one college that you are well suited for and fall in the average of admission standards. These schools are ones that fit what you want to do with your degree, they fit your personality and lifestyle; they have high standards and strong reputations, but they’re not impossible to afford or get into.

Safety or Assured Universities: apply to at least one college that you are almost guaranteed to be accepted into because you are above their aver
age admission standards. These are usually basic level state schools. They’ll generally have low tuition and be on the lower end of the admission standards, meaning people with low test scores can get in. There is no shame in attending these Safety Schools. In fact, sometimes, it’s the best option, especially for first-generation college students because it allows them to experience college life. If you have low grades that hinder you from going to a higher-level school or earning scholarships and loans to help you pay for higher level schools, then go to a safety school for a year or so and consider transferring later.

Some students have known their whole lives that they would go to college – money wasn’t an option, there’s family history of it occurring, etc, so perhaps a 3 school application process works for them. But more and more students are graduating high school and going off to college as first-generation college students, so they don’t necessarily have the same familiarity with colleges and applications. If this is you, then consider the 6-8 option, with 2-3 schools in each level of Reach, Match and Safety universities. Applying to more schools lets you see the diversity of affordability, enrollment options and financial aid so that you can make a better decision.

Applying to 10 or more schools, however, can be overkill. Yes, statistically the more schools you apply to, the better your odds of getting accepted, but it also means the harder your decision may be on which one to attend. Being able to narrow down your options means that you are critically looking at each school to decide which one will be the best fit for your personality, abilities and desires in terms of what you plan to do with your degree. Limiting the number of applications you send by careful choice and consideration of the universities also means that you become familiar with those institutions. You understand what they require, expect and cost so you know that, if accepted, you could attend that university.

Applying to a large number of schools also has other problems than just repeating that feeling of standing in the buffet line and not knowing which to choose when you get to the counter. There is a cost involved. Safety schools generally don’t have application fees, but several colleges do. Some universities have application fees of $60 or more. There may also be extra testing costs –different schools may require you to take something beyond the ACT/SAT to apply (such as the GRE or Single-Subject GRE). And these tests usually allow you to freely report your scores to 5 schools – after that, an extra-reporting fee is charged.

You also have to take into account the time involved. Even with streamlined, online application processes, or application services, like The Common Application (to be discussed below), you have to commit a great deal of time to applications. Several universities want personal essays or communication about why you feel you’d be a good match for the school or what made you want to apply to their institution. To truly make an impact in these essays/letters, you need to know the schools. You need to be able to speak in specifics. That level of personalization takes time and, when dealing with 10 or more applications, can become exhausting. This is one way to narrow down your number of applications – ask yourself: how many of these schools am I willing to devote the time to that is necessary for a solid application? If some of the schools don’t merit your time, then don’t apply to them.

I mentioned application services, like The Common Application. This is a non-profit service that allows students to fill out one, common standardized first-year application form and then submit it to any number of colleges. To date, The Common Application can send student applications to over 400 universities and colleges, including all three levels of schools discussed above and even some international offerings. For those just starting out with college applications, such a service can help stream-line the time spent on application materials. If you’re interested, you can check them out at: https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Default.aspx.

Whether you decide to apply to 3, 6 or 10 schools, the important thing is that you have made these decisions logically and carefully. Don’t just toss your application out into the wind without doing any research about these universities to see if you even want to go there. That kind of decision making is what has you winding up at the buffet line with the slimy, day-old green Jell-O nobody else wanted. That’s not how you want to start your college career.

Career Planning – Finding the career of your dreams

It isn’t so farfetched to dream of a career –say, as a Forest Ranger — and to discover later on that hanging out alone in the woods makes you absolutely crazy. Sure, you like to be outdoors and to be hiking, boating or fishing, but all your life you have done it with other people and now, with an assignment to be on fire watch for an entire month, you can’t stand the solitude and silence.

It’s a good idea to take your career choice and run it through a series of questions before you invest a lot of time in a degree that may not be right for you.

Consider some very basic things:

Do you like to be outdoors?
Indoors? Working with other people?
Doing something all by yourself?

My very first job was in an accounting office with three people. The air conditioning was set to a bone-chilling 65 degrees, the people weren't friendly, and I spent the whole day manipulating numbers. When I was offered a position as a newspaper editor, for less money, I bailed in an instant. The newspaper office was filled with chatty people — all day long. I thrived on the deadlines. I was constantly running out to take a picture, do an interview or go to a meeting. I belonged in this environment where I learned new things, met new people and did something different every day. Thankfully I had not invested four years in an accounting degree!

In addition to your work environment, consider your skills. A biology major can find work ranging from lab research to working with big cats. An artist might end up doing graphic design on a computer, teaching a roomful of kindergarteners how to finger-paint, or decorating china. Understand what you are good at, and what makes you frustrated. There are many paths to follow in any given career and you want to be in a place that makes you feel challenged, but good about your work.

Another key area to think about when you choose a career is your values. Do you like helping people? Not everyone is cut out to be a teacher, counselor or nurse. Many of us find careers where we aren’t in direct contact with customers or consumers and we’re happier for it. Maybe you want to make budgets and financial plans but you don’t want to be the person who sits down with a client and tells them they can’t buy a boat. Think carefully about what you believe is important to you. If you value good health, sound finances, literacy, safety in manufacturing, or clean water — there is a job for you! Working in a field that you don’t find important is a recipe for disaster.
Other factors to consider are things like social status, job security, independence, using skills like public speaking and writing, the opportunity to travel (or not), and how much money you feel you need to earn.

Some high schools facilitate career shadowing days. You’ve dreamed of working with animals and after one day at the local veterinarian’s office you know that isn’t what you want to do for the rest of your life. Or, a day in the courtroom might convince you that you don’t need that kind of pressured environment. If you didn’t get a chance to shadow someone in the workplace yet, it’s not too late. Explore your options carefully, find someone in your chosen profession to talk to, and ask if you can tag along for part of a day.

Finally – do your research! You can learn a lot about different careers by asking good questions and by searching legitimate sites on the Internet. The Bureau of Labor Statistic’s site, www.bls.gov, can help you find out about necessary schooling, certifications, and requirements for certain jobs, what the outlook is for a particular career in the future, and even what you can expect to earn if you choose that path. Your happiness and your future depend on making some good choices now, so put in some effort now to find out which career might suit you best.

Honestly, there is no formula to determining which college will be ideal for a student. And, just because you hear that a particular university rocks doesn’t mean it will suite your needs and interests. It’s important for each individual student to decide for themselves where they will be happy, since, after all, it will be their home for 4 years.

Though there are no set rules for making this important decision, in general it is a bad idea to choose a college based on only one factor. Because humans are multidimensional, you should take into consideration all of the things that are likely to be important to you. This will require some hard work and careful research on your part, but it will be well worth it. Consider making a pro and con list of all of the important aspects you want to consider for each college. To help get you started, make sure you aren’t using these bad ways to choose your college.

1. The ____ friend
This one may be cliché, but it is so for a reason…because it happens so frequently. But consider that what is a great college for one person isn’t for another. And even if your boyfriend/girlfriend/best friend is attending school there, keep in mind that one of the great things about college is the opportunity to meet new people and experience new things. If you and your ____ friend are truly committed to the relationship, not being on the same campus won’t matter in the long run.

2. The location
Regardless of whether you can’t wait to get away from home or you want to stay as close to home as possible, choosing a college simply because of its location is a bad idea. If the location is truly important to you, at least do your research into several college options that meet that requirement. Then you can pick the one that is truly best for you while still being in a location that suites you.

3. The program
If the program you want to go into is stellar, but you don’t like much else about the university, reconsider. There are typically several universities that offer top programs, no matter what degree you are considering. By examining several colleges that have top-rated programs of interest, you can determine which one really fits best with all of your interests. Remember that college is about more than academics. Though you want to choose a quality program that will prepare you for a successful career, you don’t want to be totally miserable for 4 years while you earn your degree.

4. The sports/dorms/food/parties
No matter who you are, you are not one-dimensional. And while the quality of the college’s sports teams, dorms, food or parties might be important to you, that one thing alone will not make you happy while on your own for the first time. Make sure that the college you choose to attend has multiple pros for you, not just one. Believe it or not, students cannot live by football alone.

5. The only one
Going to a college just because it is the only one that accepted you means one thing: you didn’t apply to enough. It’s rare that a student only gets one offer. Make sure that you spend the time to investigate lots of different colleges, attend college visits, talk to heads of departments, check out the town atmosphere, learn the important college statistics and then apply to several that have lots to offer you. That way, even if your first pick doesn’t come through, you will still have a great chance of attendingone that you will be proud to call your alma mater.

As college tuition continues to skyrocket here in the U.S., many families are looking at different options that are easier on the bank accounts. But they aren’t only looking at community colleges and trade schools---they are also researching the benefits of sending their children off to attend college in Canada. There are more benefits to going north for college than lower tuition though; Canadian universities offer many opportunities that you may want to consider when deciding what college to attend.

Canadian colleges offer first-rate education with degree programs that are globally recognized. Because Canada more carefully standardizes higher education than the United States, practically any of the universities there provide students with an outstanding education which draws some of the best educators from around the world.
Numerous Canadian colleges do not require ACT or SAT scores to apply. This is a real benefit for students who tend not to score well on standardized tests. Additionally, some of these colleges only consider junior and senior high school grades when determining acceptance, so a student with a lower GPA early in their high school career may have an easier time getting admitted to their preferred college.

Most U.S. students who attend college in Canada agree that the application process for Canadian universities is less demanding, requiring fewer essays and recommendation letters. This can be a considerable plus when considering the time-consuming task of applying to multiple US colleges, not to mention the price of rising application fees.

Both undergraduate and graduate students are able to work on Canadian campuses without gaining access to a work visa. This makes it easier for students to pay for their college costs while attending school, instead of having to rely on student loans. Additionally, students who graduate from a Canadian college are offered the chance of staying to work in the country for 3 years after graduation. This offers new graduates twice the amount of career opportunities than if they had attended school in the U.S., especially considering Canada’s lower unemployment rate for recent college grads.

Because all Canadian colleges are generously and equallyfunded at both the Federal and Providence level,the cost of attendance is much more standardized than in the U.S.In fact, no other country with a similar Gross National Product funds its colleges more. Because of this, the cost of attending can be a fraction of what it would cost to get a similar education in the United States.

It is a little-known fact that U.S. Federal loan monies can be used to pay for college tuition in Canada. Though students may not need to worry about accruing as much student debt, if they are eligible for loans such as Stafford and PLUS, they can use them to attend a university in Canada.

Typically, the exchange rates between the United States and Canada are favorable to the U.S. dollar. When comparing cost between American and Canadian colleges, this is one thing you should figure into the decision. Current exchange rates can easily be located on the Internet.

Because of government funding in many aspects of daily life, the cost of living in Canada is usually lower than in the U. S.This is something to consider since many Canadian colleges are customarily commuter schools. This fact alone could be a big savings since many college students live off campus, meaning they pay rent and purchase groceries rather than pay for room and board on campus, which of course, is much more costly.

More and more Canadian universities are offering international merit scholarshipsto their American students. The ability to access scholarships, combined with the option to use U.S. Federal loans, work on campus, plus the lower cost of tuition offers U.S. students a way to start their life off with fewer student loans hanging over their heads.

Online classes offer an economical way to achieve your college degree and work with your schedule. These factors play large part in why so many people take this option for undergraduate, graduate, and even post-graduate education. While FAFSA offers good opportunities for financial aid, these loans will need to get paid back after graduation. Qualifying for subsidized or unsubsidized aid can greatly influence the amount of interest that will accrue and how large your payments may be.
Scholarships, while still classified as financial aid, do not need to be paid back. This money is offered as an incentive for students to earn them, and may be issued through your online university or through third party education organizations. Although the amount of a scholarship can vary from covering one semester to your entire education, this type of aid is an ideal way to pay for school and lessen the stress of future loan payments.
Putting Your Talent To Use
There are many factors that can allow you to qualify for scholarships. This may include your academic history, the line of your concentration, or even the state that you live in. Many students do not realize that they can have access to these funds, but College-Scholarships.com can make your search an easy and efficient task.
At College-Scholarships.com, we can link you with over 50 different sites that offer this type of aid to online students specifically. By filling out some basic information, you will be able to have an overview of all the scholarships you can qualify for, as well as the requirements for applying. Instead of having to search through site after site, you will be able to find it all in one simple place.
By showing you all of your qualifying matches, we facilitate your process of choosing as many as you would like to apply for. Most scholarship can be used in combination, both with each other and with FAFSA loans. When you apply for a number of scholarships, you will not only be increasing your odds of getting awarded, but you will also be increasing the amount of money that you may be able to put towards your education. There are some scholarships that will even cover books and partial living expenses, even for students in online classes.
Taking Advantage Of Funds
College-Scholarships.com puts you in touch with the organizations that could award you money. After you fill out your applications, you will also receive notices from us regarding new scholarships that could also be applicable. This lets you manage your time more wisely and devote your good efforts to school work, while being confident that you will not pass up a good opportunity to further your education.

Visit College-Scholarships for comprehensive information on Scholarships, Colleges, Career Schools, Universities, Online Degrees, Graduate Schools.

One of the greatest things about college life is the opportunity to meet new people and have new experiences. Unfortunately what starts out as a lot of fun can end horribly. Meeting up with new potential partners should be a fun, exciting time, and it can be, if you keep some safety tips in mind. You can ensure your well-being by doing some planning right after you agree to go out with someone new.

Take cash
No one likes to be stuck in an uncomfortable situation. Making sure that you have a supply of cash on hand gives you the power to leave a distressing situation. It’s never a good idea to be totally dependent on someone you hardly know.And though it may seem like every place takes plastic, that isn’t the case. Knowing that you have what you need to take care of yourself can help you feel more in charge, no matter what the circumstances.

Meet up with your date
Rather than having your date pick you up, arrange to meet them at the planned destination. Just like with the first tip, having your own wheels available keeps you in control of the situation. If you feel distressed, leave immediately. Meeting your date also keeps your address under wraps. You should never share that type of personal information with someone who is a virtual stranger.

Plan an “escape route”
Set up a plan to call a trusted friend at a certain time. This not only lets your friend know that you are safe, but also gives you an “out” if the outing is disagreeable or unmanageable. If your friend can’t get ahold of you, there should be an action plan taken to ensure your security. Make sure that they have all of the details, including the complete name of your date and the specific locations where you are going, just in case they need to follow up if they don’t hear from you.

Say no, thank you
If your date asks you to go somewhere or do something that you don’t want to do, just tell them no. Don’t worry about hurting their feelings. Don’t worry that they won’t ask you out again. If they get upset about something as simple as this, you don’t want to go out with them again anyway! Find a pleasant way to tell them that you don’t want to do what they propose and offer up another suggestion of something you would both enjoy.

Go with another couple
Double dates may sound old-fashioned, but they are a great way to get to know someone new without being alone all evening with them. This may make the evening more enjoyable in general, but it will also make sure that you are safe.

Limit your alcohol intake
Even though we all know that alcohol makes us less inhibited, it is easy to overdo the drinking, especially in a situation where you may be nervous already. Dating can be stressful, but don’t allow yourself to become vulnerable because you have imbibed too much. In a situation where you don’t know the person you are with, you need to keep your wits about you in case you need them.

Keep your drink with you
Speaking of drinking, whether you have a soda or a beer in your glass make sure that you keep it in your sight at all times. This should be a standard practice no matter who you are with or where you are because it is oh so easy for someone to slip something in your drink that will make you an easy target.

Take your phone
This might go without saying since Millennials are rarely without their phones, but it is important that you have it with you and can easily access it if you need it. Make sure it is fully charged before you leave also, and make certain that important phone numbers that you might need in an emergency are pre-programmed in the phone.

Go somewhere public
If a private picnic or a party at a stranger’s house is suggested, tell your potential date that you want to go to the movies, the zoo, a restaurant, somewhere public. This is especially important if it isn’t possible for you to meet the date at the location. The last thing you want is to end up alone with a virtual stranger in the middle of nowhere.

Trust your instinct
The absolute best tip is to trust your gut feeling about people. If the person who asks you out makes you feel uneasy, simply say no to their invitation. Let them ask as often as they want, but just stay clear of them. Our instincts are important ways for our mind /body to tell us if there is danger around. Don’t talk yourself into going out with someone who sets off your “radar,” no matter what.

After seeing this amazing talk by Josh Tenenbaum on videolectures.net, I started reading up on some very cool stuff at the intersection of machine learning and cognitive science. This brought me to read on Gold's theorem and the poverty of the stimulus. Very roughly, Gold's theorem says that any learner (be it a child or a computer) cannot "learn" a language by only acquiring sentences from the language she has to learn. Some people use this theorem to make the following argument: a toddler will only hear sentences from the language she is learning, she never gets to hear "wrong" (as in not in the language) sentences. Hence, since by Gold's theorem this toddler cannot learn the language, it must be innate: language abilities must be wired into our brains in some way. Gold's Theorem and Cognitive Science, by Kent Johnson is a very enjoyable read for more background on Gold's theorem and how it applies to the question of language acquisition.

Johnson's paper mentions something that I had never thought about: according to Morgan, a child acquires language after hearing about 4 million sentences. Now think about how many sentences we have access to to train our NLP algorithms on. This is orders of magnitude more than a person ever gets to hear and yet I would say we are far from building a computer system that can manipulate language as accurate as humans. From a Bayesian perspective, this could translate into assuming children having a really good prior which they start from when learning language. If the Bayesian way is the right way to look at this question, I really wonder how humans acquire this prior: how much is wired up in our brains, how much is it influenced by our sensory system,... ?

Trying to protect your child from all the bad stuff in the world may sound like a good thing; after all, parents should want to keep their kids safe. But helicopter parenting goes beyond the normal limits and can actually stunt a child’s emotional growth. While helicopter parents really do have their child’s best interest at heart, they are creating young people who have difficulty making decisions, who get easily overwhelmed and who feel entitled to whatever they want. It’s not a great lifestyle for the parents either! Recent studies show that helicopter parents are often depressed and anxious.
Now that your child is heading off to college, you may realize that you have done more than you should have for him. You may even be worried that you have set him up to fail. You may think it’s too late to change your parenting style. But it isn’t! But just because he is out of the house doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to encourage his independence. Here are some tips on how you can assist in your child’s growth into a successful adult by allowing them to take control over their current and future circumstances.
Let them vent, but just for a while. When they call home complaining about a professor, class or roommate, listen to them grumble for a while, but then let them know that they need to take action now that they have gripped about it. Encourage them to problem-solve with you so they don’t feel abandoned, but focus on being a sounding board rather than being an oracle.
Let them make the final decision. It’s great if at this age your child still asks for your advice. But there will be times when they may be using your recommendations as a way to avoid making decisions themselves. Instead of telling them what to do, ask them questions to get them critically thinking through the pros and cons of their potential actions.
Let them make their own mistakes. Sometimes the best thing we can do for our children is to let them make their own mistakes. This can be really tough to watch! But allowing them to learn now in a less risky environment will prepare them for making wise decisions later in life. A failed exam is much easier to live with than most other adult problems they will face after college.
Let them live with the consequences. This is another toughie that all loving parents struggle with. But sometimes we have to let our children know that all of our actions (or non-actions) have natural consequences that we need to take into account. When my daughter was in middle school, I got in the practice of asking her, “And what did you learn from that” when a decision of hers backfired. I think it helped. Now in college she is able to seriously consider a course of action, weighing the possible benefits vs. the possible consequences, and decide what is best for her. This is one of the best things parents can do for their children.

Support them no matter how it turns out. Just because you are allowing them to grow up and make their own (sometimes questionable) choices doesn’t mean that you stop supporting them, even when they make mistakes. It’s important that they know that they always have you to be there for them, even when they do something “wrong.” It may take a while, but you and your child can find that middle ground between hovering and being totally hands-off.

The computer age has generated strong advancement for many field of work. Along with leading to a stronger global economy it has also started a sense of global academia. Online college courses have not only gained popularity over the past decade, but they have also increased in the subjects and degrees that are offered. Many brick and mortar universities now include an internet based component, whether this is a full four year or graduate level curriculum, or part of a campus based program.
While the benefit of flexibility is often seen as one of the major factors in considering online college degrees, a number of other aspects also make this path attractive to potential students. This style of learning cuts out the cost of campus living, while still opening the door to many established schools. There is no relocation that is involved, and no need to change employment while completing a degree. This has also helped to make university graduation a stronger possibility for a larger number of candidates.
Connecting With People
Perhaps the most attractive aspect of this route of study is truly resources. This includes not only texts and library articles but also the human component. While online colleges do give students a vast amount of knowledge at the tips of their fingers, these institutes also give individuals the chance to connect and grow with others from many walks of life. Interactions not only help to heighten the learning experience, but can also facilitate decision making in regards to life paths.
By enabling many more possible graduates to share with one another along the way, experiential learning processes promote greater knowledge retention and higher critical thinking skills. People are positively challenged to grow interpersonal skills and intrapersonal examination, and these are highly regarded traits for any line of employment. Further sets that become more practiced and refined include technological literacy, research abilities, and writing and communication clarity.

The choice of earning an online college degree is worth more than the eventual diploma. This classroom setting is geared towards modern trends in business and social relations. This prepares students for tasks that are required in any career.

When considering to seek a higher education or even return to college there are many considerations to take into account. While degree programs, accessibility, and convenience are all valid choices when searching for a university, financial concerns are also a part of this equation. Sadly, many students to be end up opting for an institution that is not always their first choice, simply because it is the affordable solution.
Financial aid and FAFSA loans are one way to attend the ideal educational program, but these paths do require that the money is paid back starting six months after graduation. In some cases, this can become a fairly large debt, and any amount that helps to reduce this can lead to greater overall success for graduates. Scholarship money can be an ideal solution, as it is essentially a gift grant that reduces tuition fees for the student.
Many Sources
Scholarships may be offered by a variety of organizations. This will sometimes include the academic institution that is being attended, but can also come from outside sources. For many students, the task of locating these sources may seem overwhelming, and that is one of the main reasons that people do not apply. However, a vast majority of individuals can qualify for scholarships that may offer several thousand dollars to cover a semester, to amounts that can cover tuition for a full year.
Sorting through the different funds that are available and how to acquire them can become a streamlined process. Universities will frequently have online resources that allow students to peruse grants that are attainable internally and from outside organizations. Other choices include online databases that can match individuals with possible awards, and this is often the most efficient way of locating and qualifying for the money.
Discovering Strengths
While scholarships are certainly beneficial in the practical sense of reducing overall costs, they also play an important part in academic development. Many of these awards will include essays and activities within the application process. This can help people discover greater interests in their field of study and also develop better skills for their college career. By cultivating these talents, the organizations that supply the awards are also grooming better students and future leaders.
Applying for a scholarship can be as much of an educational experience as going to college. The synergy of this process and the academic path results in benefits for students and for institutions. Furthermore, attendees are also enabled to truly pursue their dreams, both in the halls of learning and into their careers.

At MSR and Bing, when we do machine learning on smaller datasets (say anything below 100GB) we often use relational databases and SQL. Throw in a little bit of Excel and R and you’ve got yourself a very powerful platform for exploratory data analysis.

After the exploratory phase, we often build statistical models (adPredictor, TrueSkill, Matchbox, …) to discover more complex structures in the data. Infer.Net helps us prototype these graphical models, but unfortunately it forces you to work in a mode where you first create a binary that performs inference, suck out all data to your machine, run inference locally and then write all inference results back to the DB. My local machine is way slower than the machines which run our DB or our local compute cluster so ideally I’d like to have a platform which computes “close” to the data.

The Probabilistic Query Language (or PQL) is a language/tool which I designed two years ago, during an internship with Ralf Herbrich and Thore Graepel, where we had the following goals in mind:

• Allow for rapid prototyping of graphical models in a relational environment
• The focus should be on specifying models, not algorithms
• It should enable large scale execution and bring the computation to the data, rather than the data to the computation

Using SQL Server, DryadLinq (Map-Reduce for.NET) and Infer.Net I built a prototype of PQL and tested it on some frequently used models at Microsoft. In this post I want to introduce the PQL language and give a few examples of graphical models in PQL.

Let’s start with a very simple example where we have a DB with a table containing people’s info and a table with records describing doctor visits for those people. Assume the following relational schema

We assume that people have an unknown weight and when they go to the doctor, she measures this weight. Depending on the time of day (after a heavy lunch), this estimate could be off a bit. A statistical model to capture these assumption is to introduce a random variable for the weight for each person in the People table, put a prior on this variable and connect it with the observations in the DrVisits table. So how do we write such a model in PQL?

PQL is very much like SQL but with two extra keywords: AUGMENT and FACTOR. AUGMENT allows us to add random variables to the DB schema. In the example above we would write

People = AUGMENT DB.People ADD weight FLOAT

This essentially defines a “plate” in graphical model speak: for each row in the People table, a random variable over the real numbers called weight is defined.

The FACTOR keyword in PQL allows to introduce factors between random variables as well as any other variables in the DB schema. FACTOR follows the relational SQL syntax to specify exactly how to connect variables. To specify a normal prior on the weight variable we could write

FACTOR Normal(p.weight | 75.0,25.0) FROM People p

This introduces a normal factor for each row in the People table (the FROM People p part). The final component of our program connects the random variable with observations. In this case, we use the familiar SQL JOIN syntax to specify how to connect rows from the People table to the rows in the DrVisits table. In PQL we write

FACTOR Normal(v.weight | p.weight, 1.0)
FROM People p
JOIN DrVisit v ON p.id = v.personid

Except for the first line this is exactly SQL; instead of doing a query, the FACTOR statement describes the “probabilistic augmentation” of the DB schema”.

For the example above, this is it, the PQL program contains five lines of code and can be sent to the DB. It will run inference by performing EP or variational Bayesian inference. The inference itself can be run either within the database (this was implemented by Tina Palla who was an intern with us) or on the DryadLinq cluster.

Another example of PQL is the program to describe the TrueSkill ranking system. In this example we assume two-player games stored using a table of players (called Players) and a table of game outcomes (called PlayerGames). Each game played generates two rows in the PlayerGames table: one for the winner and the loser (with a score) column specifying who is the winner and who is the loser. The PQL program for TrueSkill is written below

FACTOR Normal(p.skill | 25.0, 20.0) FROM Players p;

FACTOR Normal(pg.performance | p.skill, 0.1)
FROM PlayerGames pg
JOIN Players p ON pg.player_id = p.player_id;

FACTOR IsGreater(pgb.performance, pga.performance)
FROM PlayerGames pga
JOIN PlayerGames pgb ON pga.game_id = pgb.game_id
WHERE pga.player_id < pgb.player_id AND pga.score = 0;

FACTOR IsGreater(pga.performance, pgb.performance)
FROM PlayerGames pga
JOIN PlayerGames pgb ON pga.game_id = pgb.game_id
WHERE pga.player_id < pgb.player_id AND pga.score = 2;

There are a lot of features in PQL I haven’t covered in this blog post (like using random variables in a WHERE clause to create mixture models) but I wanted to give you a flavour of what we’ve been working on so far.

While working on PQL I learned a lot about the state of the art in probabilistic databases and statistical relational learning. I think compared to this academic work, PQL does not add many theoretical contributions; our goal is to design a tool which takes statistical relational learning out of the laboratory into the hands of data mining practicioners.

Though it would be great if there were a one-size-fits-all study method for whatever types of exams you may have to take during your college career, there isn’t. But there are practical tips that you can put into action to make studying for each type of exam easier. Make your study time more effective by putting these six strategies in place for each of your multiple choice exams.

Start early The best way to study for any test is early. Starting the studying process early allows you to attend group study sessions, ask your professor questions and give your brain time to “digest” all of the material so that you truly know the material. A deep knowledge will help you feel confident, which will reduce test anxiety.
Study in chunks Since you are going to start your studying early, you will be able to schedule your study time in chunks of time, rather than trying to cram. Set an alarm to go off in 20, 30 or 45 minute increments and take a short break when the alarm sounds. Studying this way will assistance you in staying focused and alert while better retaining the material.
Use a free app We all know that college students love to use technology for everything, so why not use it for studying? There are several free, quality apps available now that can help you to organize material and make your own virtual notecards to study from. Using technology also allows you to use time that is normally wasted, like short breaks in between classes, to study, since you will always have your study materials with you.
Get organized Beforeyou begin studying for a multiple choice test, go through all of your class notes and get them organized. Organizing by date is often the best way, but depending on the class, you may want to organize your notes according to how concepts are related to one another. Decide what works for you so that when you sit down to “crack the books” you can save time and eliminate frustration by avoiding having to shift through your notes trying to find what you need.
Study past quizzes/exams Of course you will want to study from lecture notes and textbooks also, but reviewing past quizzes and exams from the class can provide you with a great deal of insight about what to expect this time. Look at the mistakes you made, find the patterns and then use that information to study. Did you misread questions? Did you miss multiple questions on one topic? You can also learn a lot about how this professor writes exams. Do they most often have “C” as the correct answer? Do they like to write questions in the negative? All of these pieces of the puzzle can help you study effectively and plan a strategy for taking the next multiple choice exam in the class.
Understand a wide overview of the material Multiple choice tests usually cover a large body of material. Therefore, you will need to know details about concepts, but also will need to know about most, if not all, of the material covered in the class. Starting early and staying organized will make reviewing all of this information less stressful and more manageable.

If you're serious about moving your life forward, you'll probably need to start with your education. And thanks to online schools, it is easier than ever before for anyone to get the degree they need to take their life to the next stage. There are hundreds of online classes out there. Between the rising number of universities and colleges offering online training and the numerous schools that are online-only, it can be a bit overwhelming just figuring out where you should start.

Finding the right online degree program doesn't have to be that difficult, however. If you'll keep a few key things in mind, you should have no problem tracking down the one that works best for you. Here are a few things to consider:

• Accreditation – This is the most important thing you need to consider. Accreditation is basically certification for a college, telling the world that their educational program meets certain standards. Without it, a degree won't mean nearly as much to potential employers. Be sure that you look into the accreditation a school carries before you even think about enrolling. The US Department of Education maintains a database to use as a reference, if you need it.

• Curriculum – Pay attention to the credits you get and the courses you'll take when you enroll. If you want to transfer, are your credits accepted in other schools? Do the courses cover things that will actually help you in your future field? These are important questions worth asking.

• Stats – Don't be afraid to look at the statistics associated with a school. Look at the student loan default rates, the completion rates, and the employment rates for graduates in particular. Those three numbers will tell you a lot about whether or not you're looking at a school that is worth your money. The US News and World Report site is the best place to get all the info on a school's reputation and statistics.

• Flexibility – Look into the overall level of flexibility provided by each program, too. Think about the methods used to teach, what kind of deadlines you must meet with classwork, and more. Balance the flexibility of the school against your own schedule in order to determine whether or not you should enroll in the program.

Essay questions are the story problems of exams…very few people like them, but there is no
way to avoid them. Many professors add essay questions to exams that include a mixture of types of questions, while midterm and final exams often come with a Blue Book to be filled by students with profound thoughts. But even if you are one of the many who detests essay exams, these tips will help you successfully complete them with confidence.

Take a good look

Before you start, look at each of the sections of the exam. Many professors will tell students ahead of time what types of questions to expect, but skimming through to get an idea of the number of each type and the topics covered can alleviate stress and help you better plan your time.

Gauge your time
Once you have looked at the whole exam you will have a better idea of how much time you will have to devote to each section or prompt. Many students don’t do well on essay exams because they run out of time to complete each question. By estimating how long you have to work on each individual essay question, you will be better able to keep track of time and finish each one.

NOTE: Take a watch with you to sit on the desk so that you can see the time. Even if your classroom has a clock, having a watch right in front of you will remind you to budget your time. Don’t use your cell phone for this. The examiner might see you messing with your phone and think you are cheating.

Jot down notes
When you read an essay prompt, write down a few quick key words and phrases that will help you remember points that you want to mention. When another question on the exam jolts your memory about something else you could include in one of your essay answers, take the time to add those ideas to your notes too. This will ensure that you don’t forget an important point.

Re-read the directions
By this time in your educational career, you may think you have seen it all, and therefore, don’t need to read the instructions. Wrong answer! Before you begin writing, read and then reread the directions so that you give the instructor exactly what they are asking for. By carefully reading the directions you are less likely to misinterpret a question. For example, you want to avoid comparing when you really should contrast. You may also be pleasantly surprised to find that you only need to choose one of the prompts listed instead of answering all of them.

Be specific
Since professors create essay questions to make sure that students understand the course material well enough to explain the concepts in their own words, they are looking for specifics in these types of answers. Providing examples, illustrations and details from the reading and lectures will show the instructor that you were engaged in the class.

Jacqueline Myers has been guiding college students through the murky waters of writing and research for many years. And she can be your personal English instructor if you visit her on her blog Nitty-Gritty English: The complete site for tips, tricks and techniques for the UN-enthusiastic English student. Jacqueline is a proud member of the AEGC writing staff.