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The Affordable Care Act (also known as ObamaCare) has begun to roll out in earnest. While the politics of the bill are certainly something that continue be debated, the fact is that the Act is certainly here today. If you have a student who is in college or who is going to college, you are faced with a very different health care landscape than you were looking at last year. The major differences are in the types and cost of coverage available, as well as who will pay for that coverage.

Longer Coverage

Perhaps the best-known provision of the Affordable Care Act was the increase in the length of time that a single college student could remain on his or her parents’ insurance. The new limit is 26, which is enough time for most students to finish an undergraduate degree as well as a Master’s program. This gives parents a chance to make sure that their children maintain coverage even after they head off to college, and it gives most students a better level of overall insurance coverage than they might be able to afford on their own. The coverage is not indefinite, but it does help to fill in the gaps that many experience in their 20s.

Required Care

The longer coverage period will be quite helpful, since your student will now be required to have health insurance. Many schools have already required some form of coverage for their students (the SUNY system in New York is a notable example), but the new government regulations will apply a tax penalty to adults who are not covered. It seems likely that more major universities will require some form of health care for students to attend, though this is only conjecture at this point. What is important, though, is that all students will be required to have coverage or to pay the tax penalties at the end of the year.

Exchanges and Insurance

As the health insurance exchanges go live, it is important to remember that your college student might have a chance to get insurance that is actually cheaper than what is available to you. While these exchanges are certainly experience their share of problems at the moment, the fully-functional version of the system will allow most people with lower incomes (including college students) to become insured for a far lower rate than what was possible even a year ago. This will allow your student to get better coverage without requiring you to go into debt.

Changing Coverage

Regardless of where your politics stand on the Affordable Care Act, it is objectively true that many traditional insurance companies are changing their programs as well as their pricing structures. If your college student is covered under your current health insurance, you may want to check and see how the coverage may change in the next year. In most cases, the coverage will remain the same but the premiums might change. It is always a good idea to contact your insurance company to find out what changes might be afoot.

Politics aside, the Affordable Care Act will change the way that college students and their parents deal with the issue of health care. The best way to determine how the Act will impact you or your students is to contact your insurance company and the child’s school to get more information about changes that might be made. While the landscape is certainly changing, it is not changing in a way that you cannot grasp. With a little research, you should be able to get a firm handle on the new reality of health care.

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Author Bio

Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he describes health care changes through new policies and aims to encourage further study with an NEC Master of Art in Public Policy .

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Engineering is a great college major. It is a versatile degree and that makes getting a job in a related field right out of college a lot easier. The downside is, even though engineering is a high-paying field, getting the right education is still expensive. One of the best ways to reduce expenses without giving up getting an education altogether is to apply for scholarships. Here are five scholarships for engineering students.

SMART Scholarship

Award: $25,000-41,000

Deadline: December 16

Eligibility

This scholarship is available to United States students who are at least 18 years old and pursuing further education and a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Current enrollment in a college or university and a high school diploma or GED and are required. Applicants must be available for summer internships, willing to accept a job after graduation with the Department of Defense and have at least a 3.0 GPA.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online at http://smart.asee.org/. The scholarship may cover up to 5 years of education.

Maureen L. and Howard Blitman, P.E., Scholarship

Award: $5,000

Deadline: March 1

Eligibility

This scholarship is open to high school seniors who have been accepted into an engineering education program at college or university. The program must be ABET-accredited and applicants must be legal residents of the United States. The scholarship is specifically for those of an ethnicity that is under-represented in the field of engineering. Specifically Native American, Hispanic or African-American engineering students.

How to Apply

Applications can be downloaded at http://www.nspe.org/Students/Scholarships/blitman.html and must be mailed in to the NSPE Education Foundation and received before the deadline.

Lillian Moeller Gilbreth Memorial Scholarship

Award: $10,000

Deadline: February 15

Eligibility

This scholarship is awarded by the Society of Women Engineers. Only women in their junior or senior years of pursuing a an ABET-accredited college or university education in Engineering. Applicants must be full-time students and maintain a 3.0 GPA.

How to Apply

The application must be started online at https://scholarships.swe.org/applications/login.asp. The application and the contact information for your faculty and personal references must be submitted before the applicant deadline. If FAFSA has also been filed, then the Financial Aid representative’s contact information must also be submitted by that first deadline. The deadline for the letters of recommendation is a bit later. The scholarship may be renewed once for undergraduate education only.

Barry M. Goldwater Excellence in Education Scholarship

Award: $7,500

Deadline: January 28

Eligibility

Any United States citizens, United States nationals or permanent residents who are pursuing and education in engineering, natural science or mathematics. Applicants must also be college juniors or seniors maintaining at least a B average. While 300 scholarships are awarded, applicants must be nominated by their school’s Goldwater Faculty Representative who can be located using the listing found at http://www.act.org/goldwater/gfacrep.html.

How to Apply

To apply for the scholarship, visit http://www.act.org/goldwater/apply/index.html and read the checklist and instruction documents provided before clicking “apply now.”

Future Engineers Scholarship Program

Award: $5,000

Deadline: October 31

Eligibility

This scholarship, offered by Kelly Engineering Resources, is open to United States citizens, United States nationals or resident aliens who are pursing a degree in engineering at an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants must be full-time students maintaining a 3.0 GPA. College freshmen and college seniors who complete their education before June of the year the scholarship is awarded are not eligible.

How to Apply

The application requires official transcripts from the college you are enrolled in, two recommendations and an essay form and a background information form to be filled out and returned by mail. Visit http://www.kellyservices.us/US/Careers/Kelly-Engineering-Resources/Future-Engineers-Scholarship-Program/ to download the background information form, essay form and recommendation form and get the address for Kelly Services.

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Author Bio

Ryan Ayers, today’s guest blogger, is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he describes a few scholarships available to engineering students and aims to encourage further study through Norwich Online Civil Engineering Programs.

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College is an exciting time; it’s a time to meet new people and experience new things. However, it’s important to remain safe while socializing in college. Often, freshmen run into issues, as this is the first time that they are away from the watchful eye of their parents. By keeping their safety and health in the forefront of their mind freshmen are sure to have an enjoyable and safe first year or college.

Robberies

Depending on the campus, nighttime robberies can be a concern. This is why it’s important to travel in twos or more. Traveling in pairs is especially important for women. Sexual assaults and rapes are under reported on college campuses and are a serious threat and danger to young women and men alike. Freshmen, both male and female, should consider carrying a whistle and pepper spray with them in order to ward of attacks and be in a better position to defend themselves and reach help in a bad situation. If stuck in a dangerous situation always remember that your valuables are replaceable and to give them up without a fight.

Alcohol At College Parties

Parties that occur during high school tend to be at parents houses with a relatively small amount of alcohol available. However, on a college campus there is generally an abundant amount of alcohol and many drinks are made to hide the taste of the alcohol it contains. This is where students can get into trouble imbibing too much alcohol. In addition to these hazardous concoctions, college parties can be dangerous because they may often feature students drinking way past their limit and sometimes end up with individuals hospitalized due to alcohol poisoning. While underage students are highly recommended to avoid such social gatherings, if they do find themselves in this situation it is best to take care of yourself and your friends, as well as encourage others not to drink and drive.

Drugs On Campus

When people think of drugs on a college campus they usually think of marijuana and alcohol. However, increasingly prescription medications are also recreational drugs found on college campuses. An example of one that is used for studying purposes is Adderall. Adderall is often prescribed to an individual with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and is aimed to specifically treat that disorder. It is prevalent on many college campuses and is used to aid in studying, keeping students awake and alert for long periods of time. This is not a beneficial way to study and will directly affect as student’s sleeping schedule and ability to remember information. Along with Adderall, a myriad of other prescription medications such as painkillers and anti depressants are seen on college campuses. Unless directly prescribed such medications, students should never take other’s medications and avoid those who do.

Identity Theft

Another important danger to consider is that of identity theft. Freshmen are used to their parents managing important documentation that holds identifying information. Students may not realize the proper techniques involved when disposing of sensitive paperwork. Often a shredder is best, this eliminates the changes of someone people able to put a paper together and gather identifying information that may lead to identity theft. Also, when on an unsecured wireless network it’s important for students to manage their online accounts and ensure that no hackers can easily access their network and ultimately their information.  Another important safety habit that freshmen should practice is shutting down or locking their computer whenever they are away. This will ensure that no one can access important information whether it’s grades or bank account info. By utilizing proper disposal methods and safety habits regarding sensitive paperwork identity theft is a low level threat.

College is an exciting time for young adults. However, there are certain precautions that must be taken into consideration to ensure the safety and good health of all freshmen. By having an understanding of the dangers that abound on college campuses students and parents alike are better prepared for the journey ahead of them. Safety is key in maintaining good grades and good health.

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Author Bio

Andy Lawson is a blogger and writer who focuses on college health. In this article, he attempts to explain what to expect when attending social gatherings while in college and wishes to promote further study through ADU Online RN to BSN Programs.

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Getting sick in college can be difficult. It can keep you out of class as well as out of the social scene. And, unfortunately, many college students are forced to deal with illness without access to medical care. If you want to avoid getting sick, you might want to try following the five tips below.

Get Some Sleep

Sleep is often the last thing on a college student’s mind. Staying up until all hours of the night and waking up at the crack of dawn is just part of the college experience. It is also a part of the college experience, though, that might keep you from feeling your best. If you want to avoid getting sick, make sure that you are able to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. This might mean actually going to be on time during the week, but it is more than worthwhile to do this if it means being healthy.

Watch Your Diet

Most college freshmen gain wait – the dreaded freshman fifteen. The reason behind this is actually quite simple: for the first time, most students are able to eat what they want, and the most widely available foods are simply bad for you. Unfortunately, eating these foods may cause you to miss out on getting vital vitamins and minerals that can keep you from getting sick. If you want to stay healthy, make sure that you eat a good balance of proteins, fruits, vegetables and healthy carbohydrates. This will help you to keep the weight off while allowing you to stay healthy.

Exercise

It is incredibly easy to become sedentary in college. If you do so, though, you stand a much higher chance of getting sick. As such, you need to make sure that you find an appropriate physical outlet every day. Join an intramural sport, work out at the gym or just walk to class instead of taking the bus – anything that you do that keeps you active will help you to strengthen your immune system. This will also help you to start a habit that will help to prevent heart disease and other issues as you grow older.

Take Your Vitamins

Most people take a few vitamins as children, but slowly grow out of the practice. As a student, it is incredibly wise to get started again. Taking a good multivitamin with plenty of essentially ingredients can help to shore up anything you are lacking in your diet and keep you healthy when everyone else is getting sick. Try to stick with typical multivitamins instead of gimmicky medications that claim to keep you healthy year round – you are looking for something that is simply going to give your body what it needs, nothing more and nothing less.

Take it Easy

You might feel like college is the perfect time to do everything that you’ve ever dreamed of, but it is important that realize that your body cannot run at full speed forever. Try to take a little bit of time for yourself to slow down, relax and to distress so that you can stay in good physical shape. The stress brought on by college can weaken your immune system, leading to more missed school and expensive doctor visits. Try to set aside at least a few hours a week to unwind and to focus on yourself.

In most cases, concentrating on your health means taking care of yourself. Eating well, exercising and getting rest will take you most of the way. This will not only help you to stay healthy, but should allow you to keep going even when all of those around you are shut in their dorms.

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Author Bio

Sarah Daren, today’s guest blogger, is a writer who creates informative articles relating to the field of health. In this article, she offers ways to stay healthy in college and aims to encourage further study through health law programs.

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Gerontology is proving to be one of the fastest growing–if not the fastest growing–fields of study in the United States. Look at what this exciting new field is and why making gerontology your field of study or adding gerontology classes to your curriculum will almost certainly benefit your education and earning potential.

Why Gerontology?

The population in the United States is aging. It is not only aging, it is doing it in unprecedented numbers and then living longer on top of that! Between 2000 and 2010, the U.S. total U.S. population grew a little over 9%; furthermore, the population of those over 65 grew at 15%. To put it in graphic terms every day for the last two years and for the next 17 years almost 10,000 people will celebrate their 65th birthday. 79 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 are going to need medical care and other special care. Gerontology is by far the fastest expanding facet of medical care, and employment in general, in the United States. It is up to the students of today to get the education to prepare for this huge demand. One short-term projection says there will be a 36% increase in the demand for professionals trained in some facet of gerontology.

Comparing Geriatricians and Gerontologists

Plainly speaking gerontology is the scientific study of aging. Geriatricians are physicians who specialized in treating the health problems of elderly patients. Gerontologists are multi-disciplinary: including but not limited to medical workers, biologists, psychiatrists and psychologists, and sociologists. Medical workers with education specifically in gerontology would range from caregivers to surgeons; accordingly, Certified Nursing Assistants, EMTs, Paramedics, Physician and Medical Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and of course, D.O.s and M.D.s. The common goal of gerontologists is improving the quality of life for seniors.

Putting It Together

Given the extreme elderly redistribution of the population, all of the above named fields of employment will have huge demands placed on them in the near future for professionals with education in gerontology.  Professionals trained in gerontology, especially medical professionals, are one of the fastest growing employment opportunities currently and are projected to almost be a professional field without limit soon. Other related careers such as nursing home directors, activity directors, social workers, scientists will all need people with education in gerontology. One interesting new field is that of caregiver coach or director. The task of care-giving is a special one and having someone who has education in the gerontology field can be invaluable.

Other Facets of Gerontology

Other services and industries will soon place a premium on employees with some gerontology education. Financial services, such as banks, are one such example, fitness trainers and teachers, and wellness workers—alternative health workers and life coaches. People working in the travel industry, such as hospitality and transportation, will be another facet of the workforce that will benefit from and place a premium on workers who have some background in gerontology studies. Housing is another employment sector that will provide new chances at employment for person with the proper training, from new construction to planned communities to adaptive remodeling for seniors, all will benefit from someone with some education in gerontology. Research and volunteer management are two other fields that will certainly need a vast number of people with some training in gerontology.

Education and Gerontology

Many Colleges and Universities are now offering certificates in gerontology along with individual gerontology classes. Higher education gerontology degrees include, Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and PhD Whether one is an entrepreneur, changing careers, or starting their higher education, the field of gerontology is a very profitable and rewarding addition to any curriculum.

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Sarah Daren, today’s guest blogger, is a writer who creates informative articles relating to the field of health. In this article, she explains the growing field of gerontology and aims to promote businesses in this industry such as home health care Colorado.

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Further to our recent article highlighting the benefits of studying a foreign language, we thought it logical to next discuss the importance of learning English. It is after all, the most widely used language today, both socially and in the working world. It is hardly surprising then, that a high level of English is highly sought after by employers in an increasingly competitive and international work market. As a native English speaker, be it in the US, UK or Australia for example, it is often easy to take for granted our English speaking and writing capabilities. Is your fluency in English as good as it could or should be? As for non-native speakers, English is most commonly studied as a second language. Education systems around the world now place greater emphasis on the teaching and learning of English from an early age, not just as a subsidiary subject, but as essential as mathematics or science.  This article will seek to answer some of the most important issues when it comes to studying English, and to hopefully convince you that it´s never too late to get out those books and start learning something new!

The Benefits

Okay so we´ve already touched on this, but why else should you learn English? In simple terms, English is a truly global language. Let´s have a look at the figures… According to the British Council, English is the first language of approximately 375 million, while it is believed that around 750 million speak it as foreign language. One in four of the world´s population has at least a basic command of the language, and this is growing.

Of course there are benefits attached with learning any language, as discussed in our previous article. Specific to English however, it allows native speakers to consolidate and improve their current level, and perhaps even lead to a future career in English teaching. After all, the demand for such profession is huge and often lucrative. Nowadays it is not just enough to write in your CV “Fluent in English”. Employers want proof. For assistance in gaining an English qualification, you can take an IELTS course at an English language school in England. Such courses are also recommendable for those learning English as a second language, as visiting and learning in an English-speaking country (where better than London, England?) is one of the best things you can do to improve your fluency. This brings us neatly on to…

Where should I study English?

Deciding to spend a period of time abroad to study a language is obviously a very exciting and life-changing decision. It is easy to be drawn to those places often popularized in modern culture, for example the bright lights of ‘the city that never sleeps’, New York, or the grey skies of ´The Big Smoke’ that is London. However careful planning and research is essential if you are to maximize your time learning there.

An important issue to consider is accents. The diversity of regional accents within the British Isles is something that frequently surprises and challenges foreigners when they visit. Do your research beforehand. Listen to clips and decide where you would feel most comfortable, or if you´re the adventurous kind, where you think would challenge you the most linguistically. English teaching standards are considered some of the highest in the world, due to a rich history and rigorous auditing. Ireland is also proving a popular destination for English learners due to the friendliness of its inhabitants; Lonely Planet listed Ireland as the friendliest country in the world.

Know your learning style. Learning a language is not like learning other subject areas. Knowing this will allow you to select the learning institution (there are many), program or place best suited to your learning needs. Whatever you decide, remember that it is important to submerge yourself in the culture and practice the language with locals. The British Isles is small and therefore relatively easy and inexpensive to travel around. It is one of many reasons why an impressive 700,000 people choose to come to the UK each year to study English.

The Bottom Line

The English language is everywhere we look nowadays. From books to airports, technology to pop music, the internet to entertainment, there is no escaping its transnational influences. Now more than ever is the ideal time to refresh or improve your English level and join the one billion plus already doing so!

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Aside from the fact that most competitive colleges require at least two years of a foreign language, and some require three or more years, studying a foreign language can enhance your life and broaden your horizons.

Studies have found that speaking two or more languages is a great asset to the cognitive process. The brains of bilingual people operate differently than single language speakers, and these differences offer mental benefits. Even if people begin language study in their adult lives they can still achieve the same levels of fluency as a young learner, and still reap the same mental benefits. For example, there are a lot of students who study English in Ireland as adults.

What exactly are the mental benefits of studying a foreign language? Consider some of the following:

You actually become smarter

Speaking a foreign language positively affects your brain by challenging it to communicate using varied language systems. This boost in brain power also translates into being able to complete other problem-solving tasks. An added benefit is that students who study a foreign language tend to score better on standardized tests, especially in math, reading and vocabulary.

Studying a foreign language teaches you to multitask

Multilingual students are skilled at switching between two systems of speech, writing, and structure. Penn State University conducted a study that showed the “juggling” skill makes learners multitaskers, because they can easily switch between different structures. In one study, participants used a driving simulator while doing separate, distracting tasks at the same time. The research found that people who spoke more than one language made fewer errors in their driving.

Your memory improves

Everyone knows that your brain is like a muscle. It functions better with exercise. As you study a foreign language your brain becomes more adept at memorizing and this helps strengthen your mental muscle. This means that multilingual students are better at remembering lists or sequences, such as names, shopping lists and directions.

Your senses are heightened

A study from Spain’s University of Pompeu Fabra showed that multilingual people are better at observation. They are more adept at focusing on the relevant and sifting out the irrelevant. They’re also better at spotting misleading or incorrect information.

Your ability to make decisions improves

According to numerous studies, students who speak more than one language tend to make more rational decisions. The nuances of a new language subconsciously influence your judgment. Bilinguals are more confident with their choices after thinking it over in the second language and seeing whether their initial conclusions still stand up.

Your brain stays alert during the aging process

As you get older, your brain is often less active. If you study a foreign language, either as a young learner or as an adult, your brain muscle is being exercised and your mental alertness stays consistent as you get older.

If you study a foreign language you not only improve your brain power, but knowing a second language allows you to become immersed in other languages and cultures.

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Students attending a university find many new activities to participate in and organizations to get involved with.  For some students, just participating and enjoying the camaraderie is enough, but for those who want to take the bull by the horns and act as leaders or managers, there is no better place to start than in college.  Getting experience as a leader not only looks good on a resume, but also helps you to understand what types of decisions to make in order to better at communicating and motivating others. 

Join

It may seem obvious, but the first step to becoming a leader is to join into a student organization.  Students going to college tend to be inundated with requests to join everything from fraternities to clubs to frisbee teams to debate.  Choose which one or ones you want to join based on several criteria.  Most important, of course, is how much you think you would enjoy the group, but also whether or not it has an active community with strong participation.  Ask recruiters about their current leaders, and if possible talk directly with team captains or club presidents. 

Organizational Hierarchies

Whether you join a chess club or whether you find yourself getting a spot on the football team, spend your first few weeks in an organization determining how the social structure works.  Every group has some sort of leader and many have a pecking order, even if it is a fairly loose one.  Once you have an idea of the hierarchy of a group, play to your strengths.  If you are passionate about a particular idea, whether it is having a school debate or taking a road trip, talk it up.  Do not try to be an expert, and do not try to take the spotlight.  Help empower others if they have ideas they would like to see come to fruition.  Get as many people involved as you can, while doing your best to minimize conflicts.

In Classrooms

While it may be difficult to stand out in a lecture hall of two hundred students, smaller classes allow students to take charge of coursework and group projects.  You do not necessarily need to volunteer to be the one “in charge”, but ensure that everyone is kept up to date on their requirements, send out emails or texts when needed, and arrange for meetings at the library to make sure everyone is on the same page.  Suggest to classmates who share your interests to join the groups or organizations you belong to. 

Jobs and Work

Seventy percent of students in college work a part- or full-time job, with another twenty percent clocking at least forty hours per week on top of their studies.  Think about whether you would like to develop leadership skills by getting a job, and see if you can find one closely related to your major.  For example, science majors can attempt to find lab work, social studies majors can work in museums, and business students can take on the entrepreneur model and try to sell products to their fellow classmates.  Once you have a job, take note of the managers you consider effective and less than effective, and do your best to imitate the positive traits while eliminating the negative traits in your own work.  Don’t act like a manager to other workers, but instead encourage them to work harder (one surefire way to get fellow workers to work harder is to say that everyone should get done and clock out early).  Remember never to work to the point where your grades suffer, since your development as a leader must come second to your education.

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Author Bio

Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he offers leadership tips to students and aims to encourage further study with a Norwich University Master of Organizational Leadership.

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One of the unnamed difficulties of college is the allocation of resources and time. All too often, students are blindsided by the sudden responsibility of managing and scheduling their classes, courses and homework dates without any overseeing parental body to guide their hand. The proper management of time can impact the success of academic and social lives, while the mismanagement of the many distractions and temptations will result in a convolution of unmet deadlines, incomplete assignments, and a schedule that always seems to be one step ahead of the output.

The Compromise

The college compromise means finding a way to have your personal time and your academic time with their own allotted schedules and time frames. A successful college experience doesn’t have to mean focusing on studies without enjoying the social niceties, or conversely, partying without bothering to practice and study for assignments and tests. As with much in life, moderation is a key. Managing academic chores in one hand with personal choices in the other is the kind of mature grace that the most successful students exhibit.

Here are the essential five steps to help manage your studies:

1. Prioritize Your Work–Academic work comes second to nothing. Classroom assignments are inflexible schedules that students must meet within the time frame — no excuse. Students need to lay out when they have classes, how much homework they should do when those classes are over, and any preparatory time that needs to be given over to upcoming quizzes and exams.
2. Schedule Dates to Tackle Your Assignments Quickly and Efficiently–It might seem counterintuitive, but although the scheduling of events might make the week’s work seem busier than it actually is, abiding by those schedules and sectioning off realistic time frames for each assignment will ultimately free up more of the day for other pursuits. Realistically setting dates for assignments also allows students to keep from getting overwhelmed.
3. Allow Yourself Breaks–Brains need breaks; that’s why students set down specific times and dates for their studies. Procrastination is the death of the academic, and it can be stressful even while partying when there is a looming report that sits unfinished on the desk of the dorm. Setting adequate time to study also allows your brain to rest and distress, which has the bonus of boosting academic performance on future assignments.
4. Sort Out Healthy and Unhealthy Distractions–Students need to compartmentalize personal time around academic time so that work can be finished without excuse and play can be enjoyed without guilt. There are healthy and unhealthy distractions, and distinguishing between the two takes finesse. At times, distractions can actually be productive. Whether or not a distraction is healthy often comes down to a student’s mindset about it. Sometimes, students are able to use a distraction as an incentive to get his or her homework done sooner rather than later.As a general rule, however, first year students should make it a rule to stay away from unproductive social media tools that preoccupy their minds during study time. Twitter, Facebook, and other websites can be helpful for social outreach, but they are typically detrimental distractions that keep a student’s eyes off his or her homework and glued to their personal feed.
5. Ask for Help–Sometimes students need help with their time management. Luckily, there are places to go and people to turn to in the event that college becomes overwhelming. Campuses actually offer help with time management through academic advisers and tutoring centers, while technological apps and software like Google Calendar can help students quickly and easily track their schedule the moment they open their tablet.

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Author Bio
Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he offers management tips to students and aims to encourage further study with an online project management degree from Get A Real Degree.

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Baby boomers are people who were born in the late 1940s to 1960s and are defined so because the birth rate increased significantly during that time period. Currently, baby boomers are reaching retirement age and are facing the many ailments that elderly people face. Because of their current condition, the baby boomer generation has influenced the college degree and career choices of the current generation.

Baby boomers have influenced the current generation to receive medical degrees and go into medical professions. More elderly people are in need of healthcare or medical assistance than ever before because of the large baby boomer generation. The nursing and healthcare job market is very stable, as medical professionals are needed regardless of the state of the economy. The job security rate for these professions is currently high because of this, catching the eyes of many young college students.

Jobs in the healthcare industry generally pay very well, with nursing positions on the lower end of the spectrum and doctors at the higher end of the pay scale. This is part of the reason why these positions are so attractive to college students. Another reason is altruism.

The baby boomer generation was inspired by their hard-working, depression-era parents, who instilled realistic goals and a good work ethic, as well as stressed the need for financial and economic security, in their children. These values were then passed down onto their children, along with the encouragement to follow their dreams. Many college students today are a product of the “follow your dreams” generation, and many of their dreams include helping others. The medical industry is probably the best place where one could practice helping others. People from all economic backgrounds, ages, and needs come to hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices for medical help and advice, whether their need is dire or not. The notion and opportunity to help a variety of people attracts young people as well because of their interest in uniqueness and diversity.

Currently, colleges have had increases in applicants applying for medical degrees. These applicants are undergraduate students who just graduated from high school, as well as registered nurses (RN) going back to school to receive a more advanced degree. Acceptance rates for these programs, on the other hand, have not been as high as the application rates.

However, this increase in people with undergraduate nursing or medical degrees means that the job market is oversaturated. Many people who have graduated nursing school or college with only an associates or baccalaureate degree are having a difficult time finding jobs in their field. Those with at least a bachelor’s degree, on the other hand, have greater chances for finding a job after graduation because of the need for skilled nurses, doctors, and medical professionals. The requirements for nursing positions have become more relaxed recently, but hospitals and clinics are looking to change this. Studies say that by 2020, the Institute of Medicine will require more medical professionals to have a baccalaureate, masters, or doctorate in medicine. More people will be applying for medical degrees because of this.

The baby boomer generation has influenced other degree programs as well. Education and child development degrees have also increased because of the baby boomer generation. The education field, like the medical field, is also oversaturated because of the large number of applicants facing less and less jobs. There has also been a decrease in the requirements to become a teacher, making it easier for applicants to apply for these degrees.

The baby boomer generation has inspired a sense of altruism and hard work in the college students of this generation, inspiring them to get degrees in fields such as education and medicine.

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Author Bio
Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he describes the influence of baby boomers on degree choices and aims to encourage further study through USC Aging Degrees.