College costs have risen ahead of inflation for the past 30 years and today the annual cost to attend a US school (out of state/private) hovers at $35 – $50K+ per year. Anyone who has looked at these costs immediately learns that after the college hits you with a $40K bill to educate junior this year they talk about the lavish amounts of money they have to offer based on their determination of need and merit. Many college endowments have swollen to the 10s of billions of $$. Clearly Colleges are overcharging for the service they provide and then use their own determination to decide how to redistribute the money you pay. There are no checks and balances in the system to stop this fleecing. It’s no different than an entrepreneur with a monopoly gouging consumers and then taking the huge profits and setting up scholarships that she/he thinks are worthy… and this is happening at 1000s of schools. What can/should consumers do to stop this form of social engineering by the academic elite?
Just to clarify. My question is not about the (obviously) absurd cost of a college education. My question is what can consumers do to begin to counteract what has become a means of social engineering in our culture by the academic elite. They decide who is worthy to afford an education. They decide what diversity mix is "right" etc. There is no social counterbalance as there should be in a democractic society. Schools fleece consumers for huge sums and are accountable only to themselves. There is no alternative to higher education. So what’s the answer?

Don’t blame the "academic elite." Blame the legislatures that don’t provide adequate funding to state institutions, preventing most of them from being a truly cost-effective alternative. Blame the dysfunctional public school systems at the elementary and secondary level that convince parents they have to pay private school tuition to secure a good education for their children long before college. Blame the luxuries like campus-wide wireless Internet access that students have come to see as necessities (in no small part because they see themselves as "consumers" rather than students), which eat up those big endowments. There are a lot of things you can blame, but simple greed isn’t one of them.

Achieving the American dream of a college education is not as simple or inexpensive as it once was. Therefore, it is imperative that students and their parents carefully scrutinize their Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) funding options, taking ample time to research the best deal and benefits out there to meet their needs, according to NextStudent, the Phoenix-based premier education funding company.

Since there are varying degrees of customer service, discounts, incentives and repayment options with different lenders, it is critical that students not only research their FFELP options with respect to funding the popular subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford student loans and PLUS Loans, but that they also are aware of their rights.

College Preferred Lender Lists Only are ‘Suggestions’

Many borrowers may not know that they actually have the ability to choose their lender since most colleges make a recommendation of which lender or lenders to work with, and many students simply go along with the recommendation. However, colleges cannot REQUIRE that a student go with the recommended or “preferred lender.” Many Colleges neglect to mention that students may select an alternate lender of their own choosing, based upon students’ personal criteria. The Higher Education Act stipulates that colleges cannot require borrowers to use the preferred lenders or those recommended by the school’s financial aid office.

At this point in time, most colleges fund students’ educations through either the government’s Federal Direct Lending Program (FDLP) or the FFELP. A little-known fact is that a few remaining schools offer both programs. So, when borrowers go with the FDLP, they are receiving funds generated through the U.S. Department of Education in conjunction with their school. On the other hand, when a FFELP lender is used, borrowers select from a pool of private lenders to fund their education.

Research is Key to Wisely Financing College Education

When borrowers use a FFELP lender to fund their educational dreams, NextStudent encourages families to strategically invest their time in careful research of the companies in order to select the lender that best meets their needs. Important factors may include a company’s reputation for quality customer service and character, flexible repayment options, and incentives and benefits.

At NextStudent, borrowers are assigned their own personal Education Finance Advisor who will answer any questions about student loans, private student loans and student loan consolidation as well as guide them through the financial aid process from start to finish. This makes financing your college education a simple, easy process, bypassing many of the frustrations often associated with it and making the transition from high school to college a seamless one.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about student loans, private student loans, and student loan consolidation at NextStudent.com.

Jeff Mictabor
http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/students-encouraged-to-exercise-right-to-choose-lender-124575.html

I live in rhode island but go to college in florida. During christmas break, I would like to take a math course somewhere in rhode island but do not know what Colleges offer it during those few weeks.

Brown, no.
J&W, no.
URI, no
So you can check out CCRI, RIC, Bryant, Roger Williams, and Salve Regina.
I don’t think your chances are too good, though.

In the present day, online accredited education has made it easy for people to continue their education or to get a degree that can help them to get a salary raise, a promotion or a better job.

Online education is a convenient option for students who have just graduated from high school, as well as for those who are returning to college after working for a few years.

Online accredited education is a boon for non-traditional adult learners, who want to continue their education or get a degree to improve their career prospects.

Accreditation is granted to an institution or educational program after proper verification by the authorities. Accredited courses are preferred by students because they are recognized and valued by employers.

How is accreditation granted?

The Higher Learning Commission of North Central Region (NCA), the Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities (NASC) and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSA), are a few of the main accrediting agencies of the United States Department of Education. Clear-cut evaluation criteria are followed by these agencies to evaluate an institution or program for granting accreditation.

If you intend to join an international program, ensure that the institution or program has been accredited by the ministry of education or other governmental department of the country.

Accreditation helps students to verify the authenticity and credibility of an institution or educational program. It helps to prevent fake institutions from selling phony programs to students.

Institutions providing online accredited education

The University of Florida offers online degree programs in pharmacy, engineering, etc. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, while its College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

The University of Cincinnati offers online degrees in criminal justice, educational leadership, nursing midwifery and women’s Health, clinical laboratory science, health information management, etc. It is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and many of its programs have national accreditations.

UMassOnline of the University of Massachusetts offers a range of diverse undergraduate and graduate degrees online. Its campuses at Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell and Worcester are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Several schools and colleges are also accredited by different discipline-specific agencies.

There are many compelling reasons for joining an online accredited education program and these programs are becoming more and more popular. Before you join an online course, ensure that it is accredited and find out if it is valued by employers. A recognized qualification from an accredited institution will increase your credibility with prospective employers.

Jim Zorn
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/online-accredited-education-increases-your-credibility-with-employers-125546.html

I am a junior in high school and reality just hit that with my not so good grades- I might not get into any colleges! What are some decent sounding Colleges that are relatively relaxed about gpa and weigh SAT more? Or are just easy to get into in general? Thanks!

MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology best university ever

I am thinking about attending a few different colleges, but they are all in a state that is over 2,000 miles away. I have never been to that state before. I have heard that some colleges offer a refund if you decide to go to their college, but I don’t think that the one I want to visit offers that. Does anyone have an idea other discounts I could get when I drive to the colleges I am thinking about attending?

see if they have a "stay overnight in the dorms" program. Some big Colleges also have ‘guest housing’.

In reality, think about it like this: you are going to invest the next 4 years of your life and a lot of money…. should you skimp now?

Why do people opt for medical colleges in United States?

The medical colleges in the United States of America are meant for the students who want to study medicine. The field of Medicine is one of the most highly honored fields for many centuries. The aspiring Medical Students from across the world are able to become qualified doctors in their liked fields. There are several medical schools which offer best medical degrees to the students.

You will get an admission to the prestigious medical colleges in the United States and thee will be trained medical professionals in USA to give you to due education.

Scope of Medical Courses in USA:

The field of Medicine is extremely wide and you need to specify about the sub-field in which you want to study.

Actually there are numerous respected medical professions to choose from such as Radiologist, Gynecologist, Anesthesiologist, Orthopedic, Pediatrician, Cardiologist, Pathologist, Oncologist, or a Surgeon. Medical Schools in USA provides you an opportunity to work as a Doctor or a Medical Researcher in Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Rehabilitation Centers, Correctional Facilities, and also in the Federal or Government Health Departments.

Eligibility Criteria in the Medical Colleges of USA:

If you want to get into some prestigious Medical Schools in USA you need to have a pretty good percentage in your undergraduate degree. You have to score a rank in the entrance examinations which are conducted in order to admit students to the pre-medical courses in such Universities. If you clear in these exams you will be admitted in the four years degree course in a medical school, after which you will be required to do a 3 to 8 years of Internship and Specialization according to your own preferences.

Some Prominent Medical Schools in USA:

The Medical Schools of USA are renowned and most of them offer degree courses to students as well as superb curriculum and systematic teaching methods. These Medical Colleges and Universities will enable you to gain theoretical and practical knowledge which will in course of time to come develop a flourishing medical career for you. If you want to survive in any medical school then you need to have a lot of devotion and diligence.

Below is provided a list of some of the best Medical Schools in USA -

· University of Washington

· University of California San Francisco

· Oregon Health & Science University

· University of Wisconsin Madison

· University of New Mexico

· University of Iowa

· University of Rochester

· University of Minnesota Duluth

· University of California San Diego

markmerissa
http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/the-way-to-medicine-practice-678044.html