According to a recent 2009 survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (which tracks college graduates and their job offers), the following are 15 of the highest paid areas for new college graduates:
1) Petroleum Engineering - $83,121
2) Chemical Engineering - $64,902
3) Mining Engineering - $64,404
4) Computer Engineering - $61,738
5) Computer Science - $61,407
6) Electrical Engineering - $60,125
7) Mechanical Engineering - $58,766
8) Industrial Engineering - $58,358
9) Systems Engineering - $57,438
10) Engineering Technology - $56,447
11) Actuarial Science - $56,320
12) Aeronautical Engineering - $56,311
13) Agricultural Engineering - $54,352
14) Biomedical Engineering - $54,158
15) Construction Management - $53,199
Of course, not every student earning an engineering degree is going to receive a large paycheck. However, graduates with a technology degree do have an advantage over many other fields.
8 Critical Tips To Securing A Scholarship!
1) Apply only to those scholarships that best fit your profile! Find as many as you can, then weed them out until you can find the 10 best-fit applications.
2) Pay attention to deadlines!
3) Send the application in with a "thank you" cover letter!
4) Provide answers and items to the committee in the order they are listed on the application!
5) Add extra items to your application (if not prohibited). These "extra" items could include any letters of recommendations, a short essay on your career goals, an acceptance letter from a college, and school transcripts.
6) Sell yourself!!! Find every little thing you can to brag about yourself. Get your parents to help you with this.
7) Proof-read all the materials before sending the application in and make sure everything is in a neat order.
8) Submit your application land and other information in a clear plastic folder with a slide-locking binder. Make sure the "thank you" cover letter is on top, followed by the application, followed by the extra informatioin.
2) Pay attention to deadlines!
3) Send the application in with a "thank you" cover letter!
4) Provide answers and items to the committee in the order they are listed on the application!
5) Add extra items to your application (if not prohibited). These "extra" items could include any letters of recommendations, a short essay on your career goals, an acceptance letter from a college, and school transcripts.
6) Sell yourself!!! Find every little thing you can to brag about yourself. Get your parents to help you with this.
7) Proof-read all the materials before sending the application in and make sure everything is in a neat order.
8) Submit your application land and other information in a clear plastic folder with a slide-locking binder. Make sure the "thank you" cover letter is on top, followed by the application, followed by the extra informatioin.
Cover Letter For Scholarships
August 17, 2008
John Doe, President
XYZ Scholarship Committee
1234 Expressway Park Rd.
Kansas City, MO 11111
Dear Mr. Doe,
This letter is to introduce myself, (your name) , and my desire to participate in the XYZ scholarship program. I have been accepted to (name of college) for the fall of 2009.
I would like to thank you and the XYZ Scholarship Committee for your interest in helping college bound students with an opportunity for financial assistance through your program. I am enclosing my application form, ACT results, school transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other information you requested.
If you should have any further interest in additional material, I would be more than happy to submit that to you as well. Once again, thank you for all you do on behalf of myself and the students of our great state.
Most Respectfully,
(Your Name)
John Doe, President
XYZ Scholarship Committee
1234 Expressway Park Rd.
Kansas City, MO 11111
Dear Mr. Doe,
This letter is to introduce myself, (your name) , and my desire to participate in the XYZ scholarship program. I have been accepted to (name of college) for the fall of 2009.
I would like to thank you and the XYZ Scholarship Committee for your interest in helping college bound students with an opportunity for financial assistance through your program. I am enclosing my application form, ACT results, school transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other information you requested.
If you should have any further interest in additional material, I would be more than happy to submit that to you as well. Once again, thank you for all you do on behalf of myself and the students of our great state.
Most Respectfully,
(Your Name)
The 15 Steps Students Must Take!
Here is a list of the 15 steps students must take to make sure they increase their opportunities for more funding and a better transition to college.
1) Try to increase your ACT/SAT score.
2) Take as many AP courses you can.
3) GPA and class rank are important. Work on them.
4) Participate in extra-curricular activities
5) Take a Career Assessment test.
6) Determine the Right School For You.
7) Research Schools
8) Apply to Schools Before Deadline.
9) Apply for Scholarships before deadline.
10) Visit Campus with a Checklist
11) Meet Financial Aid Counselor
12) Meet Major Department Head
13) Make sure all paperwork is submitted.
14) Take advantage of all orientation opportunities.
15) Get dorm choice early.
1) Try to increase your ACT/SAT score.
2) Take as many AP courses you can.
3) GPA and class rank are important. Work on them.
4) Participate in extra-curricular activities
5) Take a Career Assessment test.
6) Determine the Right School For You.
7) Research Schools
8) Apply to Schools Before Deadline.
9) Apply for Scholarships before deadline.
10) Visit Campus with a Checklist
11) Meet Financial Aid Counselor
12) Meet Major Department Head
13) Make sure all paperwork is submitted.
14) Take advantage of all orientation opportunities.
15) Get dorm choice early.
3 Reasons Why An Online Education Is Good!
Due to the enormous rise in costs associated with college, online classes are becoming more and more of a "normal" method of receiving a college degree than attending traditional classes. In fact, there are several interesting and important reasons why an online education may be good for a motivated, self-disciplined student. Here are at least 3 good reasons why...
1) Online classes be more successful than traditional classes. Recent studies show that an engaging online class (for many students) can be more successful than traditional courses because of the capacity of the technology to customize the learning opportunity.
2) You can receive a degree in many areas. Nearly every kind of class is available online now. Many of them even offer courses that allow you to earn as high as a Ph.D. from an accredited school.
3) It saves substantial dollars. The costs associated with online courses are fractional compared to attending a state school and living on campus.
1) Online classes be more successful than traditional classes. Recent studies show that an engaging online class (for many students) can be more successful than traditional courses because of the capacity of the technology to customize the learning opportunity.
2) You can receive a degree in many areas. Nearly every kind of class is available online now. Many of them even offer courses that allow you to earn as high as a Ph.D. from an accredited school.
3) It saves substantial dollars. The costs associated with online courses are fractional compared to attending a state school and living on campus.
7 Deadly Myths Believed By Most Parents & Counselors!
Here are the most common college myths that are believed to be true by most parents and high school guidance counselors, and sadly... they are DEAD WRONG!!!
1) College financial aid is only for the top students. WRONG! It's for everybody! Everyone, including the affluent can receive government financial assistance for college.
2) Only low-income families receive financial aid. WRONG! Many families earning $100,000 or more can still earn financial assistance, if they know how the financial aid process works and what they need to do to increase their eligibility for aid.
3) Low-income families cannot afford private colleges. WRONG! Many Ivy league schools (such as Harvard and Yale) offer free tuition to students who are bright but have a family income of $60,000 or less! There are also "tuition free" schools for these types of families.
4) Scholarships and college admission is based on a student's GPA. WRONG! It is primarily based on the student's ACT and/or SAT score! While the student's GPA may be factored in (as well as class rank), the college primarily use these standardized tests to determine admission and scholarships.
5) Shifting income or assets into the child's name is a good idea. WRONG! This will absolutely destroy any chance of earning financial assistance. It might be a good tax strategy, but it is one of the worst college funding strategies known to man!
6) Affluent families have no chance of saving money on college. WRONG! There are many strategies, both financial and tax wise, that can help the affluent save substantial dollars on the cost of college.
7) Most families have saved enough money to pay for college. WRONG! 99% of the families I've worked with over the past 10 years have little to no money saved for their children's college education. Even the most affluent haven't saved enough.
1) College financial aid is only for the top students. WRONG! It's for everybody! Everyone, including the affluent can receive government financial assistance for college.
2) Only low-income families receive financial aid. WRONG! Many families earning $100,000 or more can still earn financial assistance, if they know how the financial aid process works and what they need to do to increase their eligibility for aid.
3) Low-income families cannot afford private colleges. WRONG! Many Ivy league schools (such as Harvard and Yale) offer free tuition to students who are bright but have a family income of $60,000 or less! There are also "tuition free" schools for these types of families.
4) Scholarships and college admission is based on a student's GPA. WRONG! It is primarily based on the student's ACT and/or SAT score! While the student's GPA may be factored in (as well as class rank), the college primarily use these standardized tests to determine admission and scholarships.
5) Shifting income or assets into the child's name is a good idea. WRONG! This will absolutely destroy any chance of earning financial assistance. It might be a good tax strategy, but it is one of the worst college funding strategies known to man!
6) Affluent families have no chance of saving money on college. WRONG! There are many strategies, both financial and tax wise, that can help the affluent save substantial dollars on the cost of college.
7) Most families have saved enough money to pay for college. WRONG! 99% of the families I've worked with over the past 10 years have little to no money saved for their children's college education. Even the most affluent haven't saved enough.
15 Key Steps For Parents Of Seniors!
Families entering the college planning process for the first time during their student's senior year of high school are often filled with a great deal of anxiety. Many families find themselves wishing they had started earlier. The sooner a family starts, the more options are available to increase their eligibility for financial assistance.
However, all is not lost. If you've just begun and your student is a high school senior, there are several things you'll want to urgently consider:
1) Your student needs to get the highest score possible on the ACT or SAT. This will determine eligibility for a college and for scholarships or grants. I would recommend that your student apply for and take the test at least 3 times.
2) Your student needs to clarify the right kind of college they want to attend. At this point, they don't necessarily need to know what field of major to enter, they simply need to feel comfortable with the college they attend.
3) Students need to apply early to the colleges. You need to know the admission deadlines and scholarship deadlines. Also, some college scholarship deadlines come early during the fall of the student's senior year.
4) Students need to increase their student positioning. Class rank, GPA, and ACT and/or SAT test scores combine to either help or hurt the student's chances for scholarships and grants, and even admission.
5) Parents need to do some financial and tax planning before they fill out the CSS Profile, FAFSA, and all other financial aid applications. These are point-in-time contracts, therefore you have a small amount of time (if you have the knowledge) to make some last minute changes to double, or even triple, your student's eligibility for financial assistance.
6) Parents and students need to determine what forms are required to be filled out and to meet every deadline. You need to determine if your student is required to fill out a CSS Profile form. If required, the CSS must be submitted in the fall of your student's senior year and it must accurately reflect the tax information that will be submitted on the FAFSA after January 1st. Therefore, tax planning must be done early.
7) Financial aid forms need to be filled out and submitted regardless of income and assets. Don't let anyone tell you that you make too much money to fill out a FAFSA. This will eliminate any chances you have of utilizing or leveraging low interest government loans.
8) Determine what merit-based and need-based scholarships are available.
9) Determine which schools offer the most "free" money.
10) Assets are very important to the entire college funding process. There are "includable" assets and "non-includable" assets. It's important to know which are which. Use the guidance of a college funding advisor when attempting this. CPA's are good at accounting and financial planners are good and financial planning, but neither of them may know anything or much about the college funding process. A good tax strategy from a CPA who doesn't understand the college funding asset rules could cost you thousands of dollars in lost funding.
11) Develop cash flow strategies that maximize tax deductions, exemptions, tax credits, and lower your overall out-of-pocket expenses.
12) Consider powerful tax strategies for reducing college costs that are over and above the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit, The Lifetime Learning Credit, Tuition and Fees deduction, and the student loan interest deduction.
13) Compare college award letters and attempt to negotiate a better award package.
14) Consider a "special circumstance" appeal if you've lost your job, going through bankruptcy, or have high medical bills.
15) Carefully analyze your college bills. Unfortunately, this is a problem with many schools. It seems that the financial aid office and the billing department often disagree with each other.
However, all is not lost. If you've just begun and your student is a high school senior, there are several things you'll want to urgently consider:
1) Your student needs to get the highest score possible on the ACT or SAT. This will determine eligibility for a college and for scholarships or grants. I would recommend that your student apply for and take the test at least 3 times.
2) Your student needs to clarify the right kind of college they want to attend. At this point, they don't necessarily need to know what field of major to enter, they simply need to feel comfortable with the college they attend.
3) Students need to apply early to the colleges. You need to know the admission deadlines and scholarship deadlines. Also, some college scholarship deadlines come early during the fall of the student's senior year.
4) Students need to increase their student positioning. Class rank, GPA, and ACT and/or SAT test scores combine to either help or hurt the student's chances for scholarships and grants, and even admission.
5) Parents need to do some financial and tax planning before they fill out the CSS Profile, FAFSA, and all other financial aid applications. These are point-in-time contracts, therefore you have a small amount of time (if you have the knowledge) to make some last minute changes to double, or even triple, your student's eligibility for financial assistance.
6) Parents and students need to determine what forms are required to be filled out and to meet every deadline. You need to determine if your student is required to fill out a CSS Profile form. If required, the CSS must be submitted in the fall of your student's senior year and it must accurately reflect the tax information that will be submitted on the FAFSA after January 1st. Therefore, tax planning must be done early.
7) Financial aid forms need to be filled out and submitted regardless of income and assets. Don't let anyone tell you that you make too much money to fill out a FAFSA. This will eliminate any chances you have of utilizing or leveraging low interest government loans.
8) Determine what merit-based and need-based scholarships are available.
9) Determine which schools offer the most "free" money.
10) Assets are very important to the entire college funding process. There are "includable" assets and "non-includable" assets. It's important to know which are which. Use the guidance of a college funding advisor when attempting this. CPA's are good at accounting and financial planners are good and financial planning, but neither of them may know anything or much about the college funding process. A good tax strategy from a CPA who doesn't understand the college funding asset rules could cost you thousands of dollars in lost funding.
11) Develop cash flow strategies that maximize tax deductions, exemptions, tax credits, and lower your overall out-of-pocket expenses.
12) Consider powerful tax strategies for reducing college costs that are over and above the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit, The Lifetime Learning Credit, Tuition and Fees deduction, and the student loan interest deduction.
13) Compare college award letters and attempt to negotiate a better award package.
14) Consider a "special circumstance" appeal if you've lost your job, going through bankruptcy, or have high medical bills.
15) Carefully analyze your college bills. Unfortunately, this is a problem with many schools. It seems that the financial aid office and the billing department often disagree with each other.
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