Liberal Education is the Key Piece of the Puzzle

Article: U.S. Falls in Global Ranking of Young Adults Who Finish College

What we are striving for personally, and as a nation, in higher education?  Anthony Carnevale, director of the Georgetown University Center for Education and the Workforce, comments that, "you don't need to get a BA, you need a degree with labor-market value.  The link between level of degree and earnings has broken down.  Years of education matter less and field of study matters more".  Do you agree?

Because I am an advocate of liberal arts education, I don't agree with the above comment.  For many reasons, liberal education is the fullest and richest form of college education.  It is for that reason, that it should be a key piece in a two-year (and four year) education.  Two-year colleges/programs are not doing their graduates any favors if they don't include liberal studies in their technical degrees. Go to a two-year college and earn an Associates degree in Heating and Cooling, but include liberal arts courses in your major.  If you want to insure life long learning and thrive in a world that is complex and ever changing, liberal education is your key to continued success.

 Scholarship Application Tips


As you know, you have to apply for financial aid in order for colleges to put together a financial aid package/award for you.  With that thought in mind, you and your parents should now be  familiar with the FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Aid). If you have not completed and submitted the FAFSA, don't panic but try to complete it as soon as possible.


While you wait for your college acceptances, you can now focus on applying for scholarships.  Colleges award institution based scholarships, but there is other FREE money out there that could be YOURS!  Below are twelve (well, really thirteen) tips for applying for scholarships:


1.  Fall and Winter Scholarship Deadlines?
Many scholarships have deadlines that are in the spring.  However, there are also scholarships that have fall and winter deadlines.  So if you missed some spring deadlines, research those that have later deadlines and remember to apply for those.  After all, it doesn't mater when you get the money as long as you get some money.  Right?


2. Be Neat!
This may sound stupid, but when you mail your scholarship applications, make sure that your envelope has the proper postage, is neat and clean, and has a legible address.  Resist the urge to doodle or draw attention to your envelope-just use a properly sized, neat, clean, envelope.


3.  Strange Email Address?
Don't use any weird email addresses.  If your email address is funny, or unusual, select a new address to use for your applications.  Email addresses are free and you can usually select one that incorporates your name; such as, lisafrisbie@gmail.com.  


4.  What is on Your Facebook Page?
Clean up any social media that you have going on out there.  It is not unusual for admissions counselors and scholarship judges to do a little stalking of their applicants.


5.  Get it in the Mail Early
Get your applications mailed at least a week before the deadline.  By planning ahead you reduce your stress and present better quality work.  Remember "snail" mail can be just that-slow.


6.  Apply Local
Local scholarships are usually posted in your Guidance Office.  These scholarships are usually easier to apply for, have fewer applicants, and often give you better chance of being awarded the dollars.  


7.  What are the Other High Schools Posting?
There is no reason you can't check out other local high schools' web sites to search for scholarships that your school may not have posted.  


8.  Name, Address, and Telephone Number
If your application includes more than one page, make sure that your name, address, phone number, and email address are on ALL THE PAGES.  If for some reason the pages become separated, the judges can easily match them up rather than tossing them in the trash.


9.  Read the Newspaper?
You don't have to read the entire newspaper but peruse the "Names in the News" section.  You can often learn about scholarships from the announcements that other students won.  This is a good way to accumulate scholarship information that you can use for the following year.


10.  Please Use Correct Grammar
You are presenting yourself and your accomplishments for consideration for a scholarship.  Do you think that the awarding society/business will award a scholarship to someone who doesn't write well? 


11. Leave No Blank Spaces
Complete the entire application.  If a question does not pertain to you then write, "does not pertain".  Don't forget to submit your application with the pages in the correct order.


12.  Don't Assume
Don't assume that your parent make too much money if the scholarship specifies a certain income level. 


My Final Point! 
If your scholarship requires you to appear in person then you need to dress for the occasion!  You will be sorry if you show up in blue jeans, sneakers, and a hoodie.