Thesis Writing - Formality

Remember that a thesis is not a story. It usually doesn´t follow the chronology of things that you tried. A thesis is a formal document designed to answer only a few major questions.

Cutting College Costs

Buy used textbooks. Get a part-time job. Consider cooperative education programs and study abroad. Sell your TV and VCR. Visit home less frequently. Some schools give Resident Assistants free room and board. If you´re a US citizen, consider ROTC or other forms of military aid. Eat a full meal before going shopping for groceries.

Cutting College Costs

Get to know the financial aid administrator at your college. While specific rules apply for financial aid calculations, financial aid administrators still have a certain amount of leeway in determining how aid is allotted. It´s important to let your financial aid officer know about any special circumstances that affect your ability to pay for college.

FinAid - Portfolio Tip # 10

Keep a current transcript, which includes your GPA, class rank, and test scores, in your file for quick reference.

Thesis Writing - Red Flags

Avoid red flags, or unsubstantiated claims such as "Software is the most important part of a computer system. Avoid including your personal opinion not substantiated by the literature or the solution you have presented. Examiners like to pick on sentences like that and will ask questions such as, "Can you demonstrate that software is the most important part of a computer system?"

Thesis Writing - The Skeleton

1. Introduction
2. Background (optional)
3. Methodology
4. Research question
------------------------
5. Your answers to a research question. The case studies
------------------------
6. Conclusion
------------------------
7. Appendix
8. Reference (if you didn´t have it through the thesis)
9. Bibliography

Colleges That Accept Homeschoolers - K

•Kalamazoo Valley Community College, MI
•Kansas State University, KS
•Kent State University, OH
•Kenyon College, OH
•Keystone Community College, PA
•King College, TN
•King´s College, NY

Seeing your advisor

1. Listen to what s/he has to say and don´t think instantly that you know better. They have vast experience.
2. Prepare questions ahead. Show the adviser what you have achieved so far, what your goals are and what gaps you still have to fill.

FinAid - Scholarship App. Help

Give concrete examples. If your answer to an essay question is abstract, support it with a concrete example that illustrates your point. The scholarship sponsor wants to see evidence that you satisfy their criteria, not just unsupported statements.

Need Financial Aid Help?

To get the Ambitious Student´s Guide to Financial Aid, write to:
PO Box 2748, Dept. P, Alexandria, VA 22301.

Cutting College Costs

Accumulate credits before college. You´ll save a lot in tuition by earning college credits while you´re still in high school. Take Advanced Placement courses or think about taking courses at a local community college to get a head start on your college career. You may be able to place out of required courses by taking an "advanced standing" exam at the school.

Cutting College Costs

Live at home during college. You can save a lot if you live in your parents´ home when you go to college. You might miss out on some ´classic´ college experiences, but your food and housing bills will be a lot lower. Or if you really want the residential college experience, compromise by spending some years at home and some years living on campus. Another method of saving on housing is to share an apartment with some fellow students, especially if you plan to work near school during the summer. But be sure to select your roommates carefully! On the other hand, commuting to college can be stressful due to late busses, heavy traffic, and the occasional car trouble. Keep in mind that you will learn more from your fellow students than from classroom lectures. So this may be one cost-cutting measure you choose to overlook.

FinAid - Portfolio Tip #9

Keep notes on ideas for career exploration including not only actual time spent shadowing or interning, but articles about careers that are of interest and the contact person for more information.

Student Aid

Tell the financial aid administrators about unusual family financial circumstances, such as elementary and secondary school tuition expenses, high medical and dental expenses not convered by insurance, unusually high child care costs, recent unemployment, death, or disability of a wage-earner, or other significant changes in the family´s income and assets. They may be able to make allowances to help you. (Mention the buzz words "Professional Judgment".)

FinAid - Scholarship App. Help

Identify the sponsor´s goals. Try to understand the sponsor´s motivation in offering the award. Do they want to promote interest in their field? Do they want to identify promising future researchers and business leaders? If you can identify their goals, you can direct your application toward satisfying those goals, increasing your chances of winning the award.

Thesis Writing - Keep it Simple

Choose section titles and wordings to clearly give them needed information.

Thesis Writing - Research Question

This section has three main parts:
1. A concise statement of the question that your thesis tackles;
2. Justification, by direct reference to the "state of the art" section, that your question has previously unanswered;
3. Discussion of why it is worthwhile to answer this question.
Since this is one of the sections that the readers are definitely looking for, highlight it by using the word "problem" or "question" in the title: e.g. "Research Question".

Grad School: Sending your application forms

Always send your forms as soon as possible. At some schools, such as medical schools this is highly important and can affect your acceptance.

Interviews - Thank You Notes

After the interview is over, a thank you note is always a good idea. Your note can be quite short, but it shouldn´t sound mechanical. As with any good thank you note, mention something specific for which you are giving thanks. You might ask a trusted adult to read your note before you send it. And remember, no smiley faces!

FinAid - Portfolio Tip #8

Keep all of your scholarship portfolio information organized in plastic sleeves in a 3-ring binder.

Thesis Writing - Trite phrases

Avoid using phrases such as, "Clearly, this is the case..." or "Obviously, it follows that ..."
These imply that, if the readers don´t understand, then they must be stupid. They might not have understood because you explained it poorly. Never assume readers have knowledge they may not have access to.

Secondary Applications to Med School

Secondary applications are short applications from each of the individual schools to which you applied through AMCAS.

1. Return them as soon as possible. If you do not stay on top of these secondaries and get them filled out, they will pile up on you! Returning the completed secondaries quickly may also show schools that you are really interested in attending there and are on top of things.
2. Also, the longer you wait to return them, the longer your application remains incomplete and the slimmer your chances grow of getting in.

Graduate School

If you don´t know exactly what graduate school to go or which discipline to study, pick up a job hunting guide (available at most libraries) and check the requirements for jobs you´re intersted in.

FinAid - Loan Types

Usually, grants and scholarships can´t cover all the schooling fees. A loan is a form of financial aid that must be repaid, with interest. (Scholarships, on the other hand, do not have to be repaid.) Your main loan options are:

* Student Loans (also called Stafford and Perkins Loans)
* Parent Loans (also called PLUS)
* Private Loans (also called Alternative)
* Loan Consolidation

The Federal education loan programs offer lower interest rates and more flexible repayment plans than most consumer loans, making them an attractive way to finance your eduction.

Source: Finaid.org

FinAid - Portfolio Tip #1

Be prepared for the merit based scholarship search by starting a portfolio, which documents your activities, interests, and successes. Keep a chart of all extra-curricular high school activities in which you participate and the positions of leadership you assume through these activities

Taping Lectures

Taping a lecture is a great idea for just about anyone. Some of us don´t write as fast as the lecturer speaks. Others have to "understand" before writing. Some professors start one idea and finish up with another. Ask your professor´s permission first and record lectures, unless your college has video-recording. Listening (or watching, if you´re lucky enough) to the lecture later, after hearing it in class, is helpful for general understanding of ideas, as well as in writing your notes.

FinAid - Portfolio Tip #7

Keep copies of any recommendations that are written in your behalf. You may ask to use them for another application or supply them to your reference person when you need another similar recommendation from them.

Advice on Grad School

You enrolled (and plan to go to) a grad school, but in fact, you have trouble finding your legs in the mess of your programme, its requirememts, and how many hours you should take in the first year. There are several places where you can get advice:
1. LifeTips gurus.
2. H-NET grad discussion group (H-Grad) has many tips and advices that will help you go through grad school (both in the archive and in the actual group). H-NET is a free academic discussion group service, operated by U-Michigan. You can subsribe at: www.h-net.msu.edu

Interviews

Sometimes college interviewers will quiz you on current events so read the newspaper.

Interviews

Read the brochures and other information you´ve been sent. Know the material well enough that you won´t ask questions that have already been answered in the material. Read them one at a time, at breakfast, before each interview.

FinAid - Portfolio Tip #5

Keep a list of people outside of the school system who know you, your skills and talents, and would be willing to be listed as a reference on applications. Ask their permission before naming them on any applications. Inform them about the nature of the scholarship for which you are applying and they will be better prepared to answer any questions they might receive from the scholarship committee.

Finding a Good Philosophy Department

"The Philosophical Gourmet Report" includes ranking of philosophy departments in US universities. You can find it at:
Philosophy Gourmet. The rankings are referred to by many if not accepted by all. The page also include grad school ranking and advices.

Prepare Before Grad School

In the summer before grad school, look at the courses aviable in your department. Start thinking about writing materials. Try to connect with teachers and professors in the department.

Colleges That Accept Homeschoolers - I

•Indiana University, IN
•Indiana U. of PA, PA
•Illinois State University in Normal, IL

Getting Advice Re Grad School

You enrolled (and plan to go to) a grad school, but in fact, you have trouble finding your legs in the mess of your programme, its requirememts, and how many hours you should take in the first year. Ask your advisor or advisory board. These folks all went through grad school already and have experience. You can also seek out successful grad students in your field and get their advice

Employee reimbursement

If you are interested in attending school while working, ask if your employer will reimburse you for classes attended. They will sometimes pay for courses that are useful to your particular job. This will offset some or all of the costs and you will be advancing yourself academically.

Signing up for classes

Mapping out a schedule for completing your degree can help you set realistic goals and budget your time efficiently. A typical bachelor´s program requires 120+ semester hours, or about 40 courses. For a full-time student, that works out to about four years. Visit your academic advisor - they usually have a "one size fits all" plan that you only need to modify to meet your needs.

Colleges That Accept Homeschoolers - M

Macalaster College - MN
Magdalen College - NH
Malone College - OH
Maranatha Baptist College - WI
Marlboro College - VT
Marshall University - WV
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - MA
The Master´s College - CA
McNeese State University - LA
Memphis State University - TN
Messiah College - PA
Michigan Technological University - MI
Middlebury College - VT
Midwestern State University - TX
Milligan College - TN
Millsaps College - MS
Minneapolis College of Art & Design - MN
Mississippi College - MS
Mississippi State - MS
Modesto Junior College - CA
Moody Bible Institute - IL
Morrisville College - NY
Mt. Vernon Nazarene College - OH
Muhlenberg College - PA

Don´ts for college freshmen

Don´t treat the college like your high-school, only bigger. In any way you used to treat high-school (the teachers are professors, they don´t have the time for pranks and excuses; your parent can´t really help you here in a nice chat with the headmaster; you really have to study for tests).

Graduate Assitantships

Graduate Assistantships Available

Ph.D. Program in Scientific Computing
University of Southern Mississippi

Applications are invited to the Ph.D. Program in Scientific Computing at the University of Southern Mississippi (Starting date January 10th, 2000). Applicants must have an MS (or equivalent) degree with grades significantly above average. GRE results (and for international students TOEFL results) required for admission. Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program is jointly run by faculty members from Computer science and Statistics, Mathematics and Physics Departments. Financial support available. At least one of Graduate Assistantships will be involved in work in the newly formed Trent Lott Center for Visualization (located at the Stennis Space Center). For more info, please immediately contact:

Marcin Paprzycki, Interim Coordinator
Scientific Computing Ph.D. Program
marcin@orca.st.usm.edu

Student Aid

Use free scholarship search engines like FastWeb.com to help you find the private sector assistance you need!

Scholarship Application Help

Remember - your scholarship application represents YOU! Your ability to submit a neat, timely, complete application reflects on you. It´s the face you present to the sponsoring organization. Take pride in yourself by submitting the best application you can.

FinAid - Scholarship App. Help

Apply only if you are eligible. Read all the scholarship requirements and directions carefully, and make sure that you are eligible before you send in your application. Your application will not be considered if you aren´t qualified to apply.

FinAid - Portfolio Tip #4

Many scholarship sources evaluate the effort you have made to help fund your own education. Document hours spent in employment, your income from that position, and the name of a reference person connected with the job.

Thesis Writing - Background

A brief section giving background information may be necessary, especially if your work spans two or more traditional fields. That means that your readers may not have any experience with some of the material needed to follow your thesis, so you need to give it to them. It is advised to use a different title, such as "A Brief review of X", and not just "background".

Student Aid

Take advantage of tuition prepayment discounts. Some colleges offer up to a 10% discount for early payment.

FinAid - Finding Grants

There are thousands of grants out there, waiting just for you. There are several free search datatbases where you can find the right scholarship based on your merits, the choice of college, ethnicity, etc:
•Fastweb.org
•CollegeQuest.com
•CollegeBoard.org
•SRNExpress.com
•CollegeNet.com

Source: - Finaid.org

FinAid - Scholarship App. Help

Generally, scholarships and fellowships are reserved for students with special qualifications, such as academic, athletic or artistic talent. Awards are also available for students who are interested in particular fields of study, who are members of underrepresented groups, who live in certain areas of the country or who demonstrate financial need.

Grad School Advice

Advice for grad students:
1. LifeTips gurus
2. H-NET grad discussion group (H-Grad) has many tips and advices that will help you go through grad school (both in the archive and in the actual group). H-NET is a free academic discussion group service, operated by U-Michigan. You can subsribe at: www.h-net.msu.edu
3. Other grad students - in a more developed level - in your departments.
In general, the rule says not to load yourself too much, especially if you´re not a full time student. The general advice is to take 2-3 classes.

Interviews - Parents

Admissions officers don´t like having your parents in the room with you any better than you do. Most will tell parents to wait in the waiting room. Avoid the problem. Ask your parents to go somewhere else . You will appear more mature and the interviewing officer will appreciate your thoughtfulness. If your parents are adamant about wanting to accompany you to your interview, don´t sign up for an interview.

Thesis Writing - Review of the State of the Art

After the introduction (and background, if needed), there should be a review of the state of art in the subject. At this stage, you don´t include your criticism of the state of art. You organize this section by idea, and not by author or by publication.

Colleges That Accept Homecshoolers - D

•Dallas Christian College, TX
•Dartmouth College, NH
•David Lipscomb University, TN
•Davidson College, NC
•Dekalb College, GA
•Delta State University, MI
•DePaul University, IL
•Diablo Valley College, CA
•Dickinson State University, ND
•Dordt College, IA
•Drake University, IA
•Drexel University, PA
•Duquesne University, PA

Colleges That Accept Homeschoolers - H

•Hampshire College, MA
•Harcum College, PA
•Harding University, AR
•Harvard University, MA
•Harvey Mudd College, CA
•Haverford College, PA
•Hendrix College, AR
•Heritage Baptist University, IN
•Hillsdale College, MI
•Hope College, MI
•Houghton College, NY
•Houston Baptist University, TX
•Howard Payne University, TX
•Huntington College, IN

Grad School - Getting Published

To be published, send material to a respectable, but non-academic journal, like The New Republican, Dissent, The Economist, Popular Science, Popular Psychology, etc. Write to graduate students journals - some universities have such journals, exactly for that purpose.

Research The Professor

Many universities have a lot of flexibility when it comes to electives and when you can take a course. Take the time to find out all about whom is teaching the course before you take the course. Find out if the professor has difficulty with the language, how s/he grades, etc. Also, ask others their opinion of the professor as well as the course if they have taken it. Finally, go to the student union office where they can give you the information you need. If the professor has a bad reputation, it may be better to drop the class and take it when it is taught by someone with whom you would enjoy taking it.

Colleges That Accept Homeschoolers - F

•Faith Baptist College, IA
•Fitchburg State College, MA
•Franciscan U. of Steubenville, OH
•Franklin and Marshall College, PA
•Freed-Hardeman University, TN
•Fresno Pacific University, CA

Grad School - Thesis Ideas

Many graduate students have difficulty deciding on their thesis subject and finding a tutor.

1. If you´re interested in a course you´re taking, consider "broadening" your seminary paper/essay you already have to write for the course into your thesis. That way you have a "ready made" tutor - the one who teaches that course.
2. Your thesis should be something you are really interested in lest you begin to truly hate the topic.
3. Don´t think you should come up with the next breakthrough with your thesis idea.
4. Read the latest academic journals in the library. They can give you a fairly good view on what´s "new" and "hot" in your field. They can show you which of your ideas have enough research background.
5. You´re allowed to feel eerie if your instructor changes your idea. On the other hand, your instructor knows the latests developments, and whether your initial idea can be developed.

Cutting College Costs

Search for free money. And since every little big counts, you should also apply for scholarships. Use the FastWeb.com scholarship search to help you find awards and then apply! To learn more about all your funding options, visit FinAid.org.

Cutting College Costs

Apply for financial aid. Even if you think you´re not eligible, be sure to apply for financial aid by filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

Thesis Writing- Address the Audience

Always keep the readers´ backgrounds in mind. Who is your audience? How much can you reasonably expect them to know about the subject before picking up your thesis? Usually they are pretty knowledgeable about the general problem, but they haven´t been intimately involved with the details over the last couple of years like you have.
Spell difficult new concepts out clearly. It sometimes helps to mentally picture a real person you know who has the appropriate background, and to imagine that you are explaining your ideas directly to that person.

Applying To Grad School

1. Keep copies of every form, certificate and application you send.
2. Meet all the deadlines - make sure everything is in on time or early.
3. Keep copies of recommendations, work samples and so forth handy so you can present it on request.

Research Experience For Med School Applicants

Reseach experience can increase your chances of getting into med school. It can also lead to summer employment opportunities during the first and second years.

1. Get involved in one of your professor´s projects - ask about it.
2. Do your own research - try a small research project of your own choosing, an independent study.
3. Get a summer job or internship that is involved in a research project.

Colleges that Accept Homeschoolers - B

•Baptist Bible College, PA
•Bartlesville Wesleyan College, OK
•Barbar College, OH
•Baylor University, TX
•Belhaven College, MS
•Bellevue University, NE
•Belmont University, TN
•Bethany Lutheran College, MN
•Bethel College, MN
•Biola University, CA
•Birmingham-Southern College, AL
•Blackburn College, IL
•Bob Jones University, SC
•Boise State University, ID
•Boston College, MA
•Boston University, MA
•Brigham Young University, UT
•Broome Community College, NY
•Brown University, RI
•Bryan College, TN
•Buffalo State College, NY Bartlesville Wesleyan
NY

Cutting College Costs

When applying for college, ask about application fee waivers and special discounts. The cost of applying to college, taking standardized test scores, and having those scores sent can add up. If you´re strapped for cash, consider asking about application fee waivers.

Student Aid

Learn all you can about the college financial aid process. Be sure to meet with your financial aid administrator and/or guidance counselor. Bulletin boards outside their offices often provide information about local awards.

FinAid - Scholarship App. Help

Watch all deadlines. Impose a deadline for yourself that is at least two weeks before the stated deadline. Use this ´buffer time´ to proofread your application before you send it off. YOU are responsible for making sure all parts of the application arrive on time. This includes supporting materials, such as letters of recommendation and transcripts. So make sure everyone who is contributing to your application has ample lead-time. If worse comes to worst, call the scholarship provider in advance and ask if it´s possible to receive an extension. Don´t just send the materials in late; many committees will refuse late applications. But don´t rely on extensions - very few scholarship providers allow them at all.

Thesis Writing - The Intro

The introduction is not just a description of the contents of each section, but also explenation of what the thesis is all about. Briefly summarize the research question (you will be stating the question in detail later), some of the reasons why it is a worthwhile question, and perhaps give an overview of your main results.

Colleges That Accept Homeschooler - G

•Garden City College, KS
•Geneva College, PA
•George Fox University, OR
•George Mason University, VA
•Georgetown College, VA
•Georgia State University, GA
•GM´s Inst. School of Engineering, MI
•Goddard College of Plainfield, VT
•Gonzaga University, WA
•Goucher College, MD
•Grace College, ID
•Grand Rapids Baptist College, MI
•Grand Valley State University, MI
•Grove City College, PA

Thesis Writing - Conclusion

You generally cover three things in the Conclusions section, and each of these usually merits a separate subsection:

1. Conclusions
2. Summary of Contributions
3. Future Research

Conclusions are not a rambling summary of the thesis: they are short, concise statements of the inferences that you have made because of your work. It helps to organize these as short numbered paragraphs, ordered from most to least important. All conclusions should be directly related to the research question.

FinAid - Scholarship App. Help

Neatness counts. Make several photocopies of all the forms you receive. Use the copies as working drafts as you develop your application packet. It´s always best to type the application. If you must print, do so neatly and legibly. Proofread the entire application carefully. Nothing is less impressive than an application with misspelled words or grammar errors. Ask a friend, teacher or parent to proofread it as well.

FinAid - Scholarship App. Help

Complete the application in full and follow directions. Many students fail to follow directions. You can give yourself a competitive advantage by reading the directions carefully. Provide everything that is required. But don´t supply things that aren´t requested. You won´t impress and you might be disqualified. Be sure to complete the entire application. If a question doesn´t apply, note that on the application. Don´t just leave it blank.

NCAA Athletic Requirements

The NCAA´s requirements, most recently modified in January 1997, involve your high school grades in thirteen subjects and your test scores. Generally, you must:graduate from high school,takea certain number of courses in English, science, etc., maintain a "C" average or better, and meet the minimum required SAT or ACT scores.

How to choose a med/grad school

1. Consider its ranking.
2. Check financial aid.
3. Check the location of the school to make certain you are going to be happy living there.
4. Check your opportunities to be a research/teaching assistant. Also consider faculty/grad student ratio.
5. In a research-focused grad degree, consider a university specializing in your chosen field, or one with a professor you´d like to work with.
6. Try to visit the university, not as part of the "visitors" round, but go alone and meet students, visit some classes. Get a feel for the campus.

Cutting College Costs

Apply for ´life experience credit.´ If you´re entering school from the work force, you may be able to earn college credit for your employment and life experience. Some schools administer their own tests and standards while others allow you to take CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) and Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) tests for college credit.

Student Aid

Investigate company-sponsored tuition plans. Many employers will invest in the education of their employees and offer assistance to the children of their employees. This was one of my biggest scholarships!

Student Aid

Start your search for scholarships early. Some scholarships have deadlines as early as September. You can´t win awards or receive funds if you miss the deadlines. The early bird always gets the worm - and sometimes the scholarship!

Open House

Universities and colleges hold "open house" when you can visit the place, enter classes, see the dorms, etc. It is very important to actually visit the university or college you´re applying to (or planning to apply to), even outside the "open house" period. Some things that look great on the web or in a brochure might turn out to be disappointing in person.

FinAid - Scholarship App. Help

Write an accomplishments resume. Compile a list of all your accomplishments. This will help you identify your strengths and prepare a better application. Give a copy of the resume to the people who are writing letters of recommendation for you. They will be able to work some of the tidbits into their letters, making it seem like they know you better.

Cutting College Classes

College success is based on what you learn: being in classes, reading what you have to (and even more) for next class, and being prepared for the test. Here are some important tips about classes:
1. Don´t miss classes.
2. If you do miss:
•Don´t forget to make up what you missed before the next class.
•If you start to photocopy missed notes only right before the test, you might miss something important that will be discussed next class.
•If you missed a class, it´s very important that you read the required reading done from the syllabus - what you missed as well as the for next class.

Student Aid

Prioritize your efforts, starting with the federal and state government. Then turn to the private sector for additional assistance. Visit your online financial aid sites to learn about all your funding opportunities. Your local public library will also have helpful information.

Colleges That Accept Homeschoolers - J

•John Brown University, TX
•Johnson & Wales University, RI
•Johnson Bible College, TN
•Joliet Jr. College, IL
•Judson College, IL
•Juniata College, PA

Student Aid

Money from grandparents should be paid in your name directly to the school. This avoids gift tax liability.

FinAid - Portfolio Tip #3

Save copies of personal essays, pieces of artwork (or slides of them), and audio or videotapes of performances, which document your talents.

Colleges That Accept Homeschoolers - L

•Lafayette College, PA
•Lake County College, IL
•Lamar University, TX
•Lancaster Bible College, PA
•Lansing Community College, MI
•Lawrence University, MI
•Lawrence Technological University, MI
•Lee University, TN
•LeTourneau University, TX
•Lewis and Clark College, OR
•Lewis University, IL
•Liberty University, VA
•Loyola College, MD
•Lubbock Christian College, TX