Sunday, July 29, 2012

Different Types of College Scholarships in Utah


Figuring out what to do after high school is an intimidating endeavor. For most, college is the way, but many must figure out how they are going to pay for it first.There are multiple different ways to pay for college, especially here in Utah. Even if a long drawn out career isn't in order, you can still get a technical degree at a Utah college and be extremely successful.
Technical degrees from colleges in Utah are great ways to start making a living in a hard economy as their success rates are always high. Paying for a Utah college can seem stiff ticket, but there are scholarships for essentially anything you can think of. The most common of them are scholarships for good students, scholarships for technical, research, undergraduate, doctoral, masters, pretty much anything. Here are some of Utah's most sought after college scholarships.
The Utah State Board of Regents' College Scholarship 
This scholarship is for Utah college bound high schoolers. The base of the scholarship is $1,000 and must have scored at least a 26 on the ACT and have a high school accumulative GPA of at least 3.5.

The Centennial Scholarship 
Of all the college scholarships in Utah, this is one of the more coveted. It works slightly different than a typical scholarship as it gives $250 for each quarter a high school student graduates early. If they graduate four quarters early at a Utah school and head off to college a year early, they earn $1,000. Eight quarters and that number doubles.

The New Century Scholarship Program 
In 1999, the Utah Legislature created this scholarship to provide monetary funds for college for Utah residential students. The program gives help to students who complete the curriculum suggested by the Utah System of Higher Education in math and science by Sept. 1 of that academic year with a 3.0 cumulative GPA. They also give consideration to those with an Associates degree in the same subjects at a Utah college.

The T.H. Bell Incentive Loan Program, or TILP 
This program is one of the only scholarship programs in Utah for a graduate college education that gives it's recipients full tuition and fees for completion of their education. It is given in conjunction with Utah's preparation program for teachers. This isn't a bona fide scholarship, but rather a teacher enters an agreement with Utah to teach after college in a Utah school once a certificate is obtained. The program tends to favor] Utah College students who are pursuing degrees in special education, math and science.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Four Key Concepts of Accounting


Accounting is no easy job. It requires a mind for pure numbers and calculations with a sense for the world of business. Whether an accountant is employed within a single company, or acts as an intermediary for an entire industry, there are many factors which the accountant must master in terms of translating numbers, figures, assets and flows from one recognizable set of data to the next. How does one translate sales of manufactured products and intangible services? How is a company's competitive edge measured in terms of employee expertise or speculative markets? How are financial standings understood regarding money earned and money owed? These are just some of the questions an accountant must be ready to answer.
There are several key concepts that are integral to the education of an accountant. These are:
- Revenue Recognition
- Fixed Assets
- Intangible Assets
- Goodwill
These concepts are inter-related in sometimes complex ways; sometimes these concepts overlap and sometimes they stand in contrast with one another. There are several published guidelines the accountant must be familiar with that sets standards and principles for defining these concepts, such as the GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards). A thorough accounting program will ensure the future accountant is very familiar these standards and principles regulate how these four concepts function on a balance sheet.
Revenue Recognition
This is the principle which measures revenues of a company based on the company's activity regardless of whether the company has been paid. In simple terms, it is how much money one can count on receiving in a certain period of time, and not how much money a company has at a given time. An example would be if I sold my services as a house cleaner for a future date, and will only get paid after the job is done. The money I am expecting becomes listed as revenue recognition.
Fixed Assets
This is also known as Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE). This relates to the assets of a company that has value but is not easily sellable or liquefiable. An example of this would be a printing press in a book publishing company, or a fleet of cars for a pizza delivery restaurant.
Intangible Assets
These are assets a company has that are not actual physical objects, and thus have no clear way of measuring or valuing them. The basic principle of intangible assets are time and effort that a company invests in order to make money. Examples of these are things like professional expertise, but also things like intellectual property.
Goodwill
This is closely related to intangible assets. In simple terms, goodwill are intangible assets that have been given some sort of monetary value because they have been sold. For example, if a pizza restaurant has a secret recipe for tomato sauce, in itself it is an intangible asset. But if they sell their recipe to another pizzeria, the value of that sale is listed as goodwill.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Focus On The Important


Once you figure out where you want to go, wise students begin to focus on the things that will get them there. Obviously, some things are more important than others. It is easy to get distracted and waste time and energy on the unimportant. It is also easy to lose sight of the path and begin to move in the wrong direction.
What are some of the important things that students should focus on? 
  
a. Obtaining Good Grades 
b. Job Search Preparation Activities 
c. Building a List of Accomplishments 
d. Obtaining Some Job-Related Work Experience 
e. Demonstrating Leadership, Communication and People Skills 
f. Building Relationships with Potential References

Each of these activities is critical to landing a good job when you graduate. All require a sustained effort throughout the entire college experience. No serious student can afford to wait until the senior year to get started with these activities. They require an ongoing effort, so the benefits can accumulate slowly over time.
Things which matter most must never be at the mercy 
of things which matter least.

-- Goethe
Last minute flurries of effort and activity cannot achieve the results that will impress the best employers. Experienced recruiters look for substance. They recognize that many students try to take the easy way out. Only the best candidates understand that employers are seeking students who are prepared to perform over the long haul, strive for quality and are not easily distracted from the goal.
Things that are important require a plan, especially those that demand a sustained effort over a long period of time. Wise students:
- Identify the results that are desired 
- Determine the steps needed to achieve those results 
- Break complex steps down into small pieces 
- Prepare a semester-by-semester plan 
- Work on the plan every week 
- Focus on getting things done

We all know people who work very hard, but accomplish little. Effort without results will not impress employers. Results matter to the people who are going to pay you for your work. Would you hire someone who is not able to produce high quality results in a reasonable period of time?
The best employment candidates find out what is important to the employers they are pursuing. Then, they do everything in their power to obtain the experiences and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and accomplishments that are wanted, needed and expected by those employers. By the way, this all takes time. That is why they get started in the freshman year.
"People who aim at nothing will hit their targets with remarkable consistency."
Since employers do not just give away good jobs, you must earn them and compete for them. If you wait until you graduate to learn that lesson, it will be too late. Take notice now. Focus on the things that are important to the employers that will consider you for their employment opportunities.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

The Secret To Articulating Your Value


What do you need to land a great job? 
* An impressive qualification 
* An attractive resume 
* A remarkable appearance 
* For students pursuing education online, an online degree from an accredited online university.

Is that all? The answer is a big NO. These days, apart from the things listed above, you need to identify and define your value as a prospective employee in a powerful, striking way. In other words, you need to craft and articulate your personal value proposition. A value proposition is a statement that should be on your lips when you give an interview, should be present on the top of your bio and of course your LinkedIn/Facebook/Twitter profile.
A good value proposition should be able to differentiate you from others while defining how you are perfect for a specific set of potential target market (a.k.a the organization to which you are applying). It should define your mission and unique skill set. For example, if you are applying to an organization that values employee's proficient in the area of Software Development, you can differentiate yourself from other candidates by talking about your online degree from an Accredited online university and how facilities such as an online classroom further improved your knowledge related to software which is ultimately relevant to your field.
A value proposition should: 
* Identify what sets you apart and state your mission 
* Describe who you are and what you can offer 
* Portray your unique points and skills

So, how do you articulate your value proposition? 
To create a value proposition you need to identify your target market first. Next, you need to identify what distinguishes you from the competition and how your target market can benefit from you by taking your services. Once you have identified these points, you need to articulate them in a concise and powerful statement. 
While creating your value proposition, you should also consider the following points:

* What are my distinguishing factors? (Students enrolled at online universities have the advantage of an additional skill set, i.e. the extensive use of different software, that they can talk of as a distinguishing feature) 
* What qualifications and expertise do I possess? 
* What is my unique skill set? 
* Why would someone be interested in taking my services? 
* What solutions can I offer to their problems? 
* Why should they choose me? (Give reasons why you should be chosen) 
* Take the help of your friends, colleagues and bosses to answer these questions. They might provide you with some valuable information about you which you might not be aware of.

Finally, below are the most important factors to be considered while crafting a value proposition:
1. Keep it concise and simple. 
2. Avoid confusing terms. 
3. Share your point of view. 
4. Be specific and positive 
5. You should be able to have people ask 'Tell me more'. 
6. You should leave a favorable impression on your listener, such that they begin to consider you as a potential asset to the organization. 
All the best in crafting a powerful value proposition and defining your true worth!
About MUST University
If you are considering online universities, check out MUST University- the largest accredited online University. With presence in over 180 countries, 2500+ faculty members, 16 schools and colleges, and 71 fields of study, MUST University has become the first choice of students for an online degree. MUST University have a global presence in over 6 continents and students from different backgrounds join the University to achieve their goals.

If you are also thinking about advancing your career with an online degree from an accredited online University, look no further than MUST University.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

More Career Possibilities for Architect Students


When one thinks of an architect, one may have the idea of a creative genus pouring over blueprints on a fancy drafting table in a slick high-rise loft. This romantic stereotype is concerned with nothing less than the conceptualization and design of contemporary society's megalithic urban monuments. While this career and lifestyle is certainly very appealing, it undermines the vast majority of real career possibilities that a student of architecture can explore.
Modern society does not need to turn out droves of genius building designers as much as it requires professionally trained individuals to perform many different specialized tasks in the conception, design, building and maintenance of architectural projects. In fact, if there were no other jobs to be had in the architecture industry, than many graduates would find themselves without the possibility for real work. Fortunately, this is not the case.
Aside from the aforementioned artistic creative type that could be found in the architecture industry, the variety of careers awaiting students of architecture can demand other important qualities, such as mathematical minds, practical thinkers, organizational-orientated people, and detail-orientated types.
Careers in this industry are therefore not limited to design firms that we imagine occupy modern loft-style offices. One can find work in engineering firms, construction companies, and even in the public sector. Here is a list of other careers one can pursue after architectural technician college:
- CAD technician: CAD means 'computer aided design.' The CAD tech specializes in computer software for creating 2D and 3D graphic images of building and other engineering projects.
- Building inspector: This is often a certified position that checks that a building's structure and various systems are up to certain standards. Aside from architecture, they must also be familiar with basic plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems.
- Estimators: This person works under the supervision of the project architect to estimate the cost of a building project. They must know about building materials, labor, and other factors and figure out ways to be the most cost efficient.
- Project Scheduler: Like the estimator, the scheduler is concerned with the proposed length of time for a project to be completed. They then break up the project into various stages (concept, design, material acquisition, construction, wiring, etc.) and create the schedule for the entire project. Sometimes, one person can be both the estimator and project scheduler.
- Plans Examiners: This position must review all the planning involved in a building project for various reasons, including ensuring the plans meet local codes and regulations, and determining based on that the cost of permit fees and other plan expenses.
- Construction Manager: This is an overall position that is involved in overseeing the entire project from beginning to completion. This person often acts as a coordinator between all of the above specialists.
Erecting a building is a team effort. The many responsibilities and skills required of an architectural technician go way beyond the idealistic creative aspirations of a single designer.