"How to become a nurse or a midwife," a recent article on News Olio's web site, details many of the steps necessary to enter and further a career in nursing. The most important thing the article states is, " The first thing would be to look into taking the pre-requisites that the local nursing programs require. Look into all the programs from all different angles: cost of the college, location of the college, how long the program will take, etc. "
The initial steps of anything are always the most important; if you get started on the wrong track, then it's normally a more difficult path and makes it next to impossible to turn around and start again - which nobody wants to do.Why not start with one of the top online nursing programs? Take the first step - the right step - by researching The College Network.
The next step - try to find a way to volunteer or help at a hospital. "Most hospitals have a lot of opportunities where you would be working closely with nurses that you could observe, help, and ask questions about the nursing field to." The more experience you have, the better off you'll be, so take the iniative to get involved at a local hospital or clinic.
If being a nurse is something you want to do, then The College Network is the place you need to be. Visit our web site for more information.
The writer, philosopher, and professor Noam Chomsky once stated, “The whole educational and professional training system is a very elaborate filter, which just weeds out people who are too independent, and who think for themselves, and who don't know how to be submissive, and so on -- because they're dysfunctional to the institutions.” So what exists for those who don't fall into the traditional university category?
You don't have to subject yourself to a system with semesters and 8:00 a.m. classes three days a week. Life doesn't have a schedule and neither should your education. You should be able to work, live, and learn in sync with the rest of your life.
Recently the Institute for College Access and Success, a California-based non-profit, stated that "nearly two-thirds of college graduates who finished college in 2011 left school carrying student loan debt in the amount of – on average – $26,600." The student loan debt problem, according to the recent trend, is only getting worse. But this is only part of the issue; "the unemployment rate for people looking for a job while holding only high school credentials is a staggering 19.9%."
What does it take to earn a degree and avoid the high price of a traditional university? The College Network offers a viable solution of self-paced learning and the tools necessary to gain the knowledge to earn college credit, saving money on the cost of entry level university classes. Visit TCN's web site to learn how you can change your future at a fraction of the cost.
From Education News, "The American Council of Trustees and Alumni has released a report that shows an increasing number of colleges and universities are failing to teach their students 'the basics.'” This begs the question, why should anyone invest money, time, and effot into introductory college courses that not only don't prepare students for higher level courses, but also deprive people of their hard-earned money and time.
Fundamentals are integral to developing the skills necessary to progress through a degree program and earn an advanced degree; The College Network recognizes this and is why we consistently are evaluating, assessing, and updating our content to provide students with the most current and accurate information possible. With TCN's Comprehensive Learning Modules, you can learn the fundamentals you'll need to succeed in your degree program, at a fraction of the cost of a traditional university. Visit TCN's web site to learn more.
As a member of the Product Development department and an avid learner, I'm interested in how someone would use a mobile device for learning, e.g., studying a Comprehensive Learning Module. Would you use it to study key terms? Would you use it to read your modules cover to cover? Would it exist solely as a compliment to learning on your PC or would you like it to completely replace your use of the PC and use your mobile device, e.g., iPad or phone, for all of your module studying?
"In America, the stories we tell ourselves and we tell each other in fiction have to do with individualism. Every person here is the center of his or her own story. And our job as people and as characters is to find our own motivations and desires, to overcome conflicts and obstacles toward defining ourselves so that we grow and change."
What do you want your story to be? Will the protagonist be the strong, self-determined individual - uncompromsing and unwilling to fall short of the goals set ahead of them? Being the hero of your own story doesn't take supernatural power, Herculaen feats of strength, or Einsteinian intelligence; the true test is one of willpower and whether you have the desire and discipline to not only set your goals, but meet and overcome the obstancles that impede your progress.
Start writing your story today by furthering your education with online degrees from top universities offered by The College Network.
Where is education headed in the next five years? From Education News, "A new report from the State Education Technology Directors Association is calling on schools to make plans to transition from traditional textbooks to digital texts in the next five years." It's hard to imagine, especially for those of us who grew up and were educated in an age when textbooks were a staple of classroom education, but the textbook is being phased out of the classroom. With the advent of the nook and the endless tablets being released by technology companies, publishers and consumers are finding it cheaper, and more convenient and efficient to bypass the bookstore altogther by downloading everything onto one device.
But what about those of us who prefer the textbook? The College Network doesn't believe in limiting learners to only one medium of learning, which is why you can access your learning material in many different ways: you can have the modules sent to you, you can access them in the online Resource Center, and you can access the printable resources in the online enviroment, viewing them in a file that you can print for your own personal use. Don't limit yourself to one style or format; earn an advanced degree with The College Network, at your own pace and in the medium that suits your style of learning.
1. Affordability - The average cost of a year of college at a public institution is over $22,000, which includes tuition, book, fees, and room and board. Over four years, that's almost $90,000 and if you consider the average salary of most recent college graduates, paying off this debt would seem to take a life time. Cut out the unecessary costs and fees and use TCN's Comprehensive Learning Modules to earn a degree at a fraction of the cost of a traditional institution.
2. Flexibility - Year after year, the average time for students to earn a bachelor's degree has increased with only 57% of students earning a degree within six years. When you're learning at your own pace with TCN's programs and modules, you aren't restricted by the semester structure and can earn college credit on your own terms.
3. Quality - Our Comprehensive Learning Modules are written by subject matter experts in a myriad of fields, allowing us to maintain high-quality content with support from some of the top educators in the nation. If you're interested in learning more, check out the "About the Author" page in your Comprehensive Learning Module.
4. Support - With The College Network, you'll have the support of an entire department dedicated to helping you succeed in your degree program, answering any questions you have regarding content, degree programs, registering for exams, etc.
5. Online Resource Center - The great thing about The College Network Comprehensive Learning Modules is that you aren't limited to a text book and a classroom. If you have a computer and an Internet connection, you can access the TCN online Resource Center, which puts all of your modules, printable resources, degree program information, exams and quizzes, and other helpful features at your finger tips.
A recent article on the Education News web site I think highlights many concerns about higher education and a weak economy. "With decreases in state financial grant aid, students are relying more on loans and off-campus work to cover their college expenses, forcing them to take fewer classes so they can work more hours, slowing time to graduation and leaving many students with insufficient income to cover these obligations. While student loans can provide a pathway to graduation, too much loan dependence can lead to unmanageable debt."
Investing in your future isn't going to be free and some options are far more expensive and less beneficial than others, but before you decide to committ the next several years of your life to one institution, consider The College Network. With a myriad of courses, all at a fraction of the cost of a course at a traditional university. Discover the difference in cost and you'll find that you get the most for your money studying The College Network's Comprehensive Learning Modules.
Why limit what you learn and how you learn it? If you attend a traditional university you will be subject to the rules and regulations of the school and have to follow a set curriculum, at the same time every week for months at a time. And the classwork assigned by the teacher, not optional with a set deadline; you're following the schedule and timeline of the teachers and the institution, not yourself.
So how best to remedy this issue? How do you earn a degree without being subject to a schedule that is not your own? Research The College Network and learn how we can help you become an independent learner.
No, it's not the wrestler Lex Luger; it's The College Network. When it comes to higher education, there isn't another establishment that provides the courses, support, online availability of content, and the quality of service. TCN, a leading online learning services company, since 1992 has helped provide support to any one interested in earning an advanced degree without the encumbrances of traditional institutions.
Once you enroll with TCN, the online Resource Center is at your fingertips, providing you access to not only interactive content, but also to resources and information that can help you hone your studying skills and better prepare you to earn credit by examination.
Research The College Network and learn how you can get access to the higher education total package.
We've been hearing the same thing for years - there are thousands of nursing jobs just waiting to be filled, plenty of opportunity, etc. We hear these implicit phrases frequently, but are they true? Where are the solid facts about the nursing job market?
A recent article published on the Scrubs magazine web site attempts to demystify the rhetoric and address the nursing job market head on. "The need for both RNs and LPNs is expected to grow like never before - by 21 to 22 percent between 2008 and 2018. What is particularly interesting is that these jobs will be in various fields, not just in long-term care and geriatrics." Which is great news if you're entering the nursing field, but I think the article had one better quote that helped put things into perspective. "Healthcare facilities across the U.S., including hospitals, long-term care and clinics, added 21,000 jobs in November 2009. In that same month, 85,000 people in other fields lost their jobs." So if job security is important to you, then I can't think of a better career choice.
If you're ready to get started on your path to an RN or LPN, then The College Network can help. With self-paced education and training, there isn't another institution that can provide the quality and flexibility that TCN does.
For most people, their education begins in infancy, when we first learn to use our hands, fingers, eventually learning to crawl, then walk. Formal education begins not long after with pre-school and kindergarten and continues, for most, through the 12th grade. From this point, we come to a crossroads: is college the path to take or do I pursue a career based on my current education? No matter which path you choose, your education doesn't stop after you earn your high school diploma - in your career you will continue to learn about the job(s) you have and what it's like to be on your own, supporting yourself for the first time in your life.
For some, this path is what they desire in their life, but for others, they find that the high school diploma they have earned will not suffice while they are pursuing different, more advanced career paths. So you realize you have to go back to school, but in order to build your career and experience in the working world, how do you go to a college and earn your degree at the same time? The answer is The College Network. With our Comprehensive Learning Modules and our dedication to eLearning with our online Resource Center, you can have your career and education as well.
Frederick Douglass is the epitome of the self-made man. Born into slavery, he never received a formal education - only with some brief instruction from his master's wife and from the white children he would interact would Douglass build the foundation for his lifelong education. He would eventually escape from his master and move to the North and establish himself as a writer, orator, publisher and abolitionist. When he wrote about being a self-man man, he said, "We may explain success mainly by one word and that word is Work! Work! Work! Work!"
Reading about Douglass helps me put things in perspective and realize how fortunate my life has been, receiving over 16 years of formal education relative to Douglass never having formal education and having the wit to trick others into teaching him. Most of us can't relate to Douglass on that level, but his story is inspirational - how much a man is capable of when he has the will, determination, and work ethic to acheive what he desires.
So if you're learning on your own, it's good to know that someone else has done it, and done it under the worst possible conditions, and not only succeeded, but excelled. Use Douglass as a model for how to shape your approach to learning with your Comprehensive Learning Modules provided by The College Network, and know that your success will be defined, as Douglass put it, by your work.
Roger Clemens made headlines this past week when he said he was going to come out of retirement to pitch for a minor league team with the hopes of being recognized by major league scouts for another shot at the big game. At the age of 50, a man was taking a legitimate shot at competing in a game being played by people a quarter century younger than himself. Just the idea of someone who is old enough to be the father of most of the men he would/could be playing against speaks enough for itself, but it also draws attention to the fact that age isn't the handicap that it used to be.
Other athletes, swimmers Dara Torres (age 45) and Janet Evans (age 40), tried out for the U.S. Olympic team earlier this year. Both of these women have families and careers, but found time to train and pursue a goal that most would consider to be far-fetched and somewhat ridiculous, but qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials and were only one step away from becoming Olympians.
So if you're over the age of 40 and debating whether age is going to keep you from earning your degree, think again. People aren't letting age get in the way of their dreams any more, and with education being more convenient and affordable thanks to companies like The College Network, working adults are able to take care of their families, work and earn a degree. With self-paced education and training, you can move at your own pace and find that you're just as capable as someone just graduating high school.
Nobody likes to stop and ask for directions, and thanks to smartphones and onboard navigation, running into the gas station to ask the attendant how to get somewhere is a thing of the very recent past. But what about destinations that can't be found with a smart phone? How do we get where we're trying to go when we're not even sure where the final destination is? These are questions that many people who start earning an advanced degree frequently ask.
Finding the answers to these questions is not simple, taking time and experience to guide you on your path to a college degree or certification. It's a challenge because it's not a decision that any one else can make for you; it's something you have to choose for yourself, but it's not something you have to do alone. With The College Network, you'll have the support of our Customer Support department, helping you access the online Resource Center, answer questions you may have about Comprehensive Learning Modules, scheduling testing to earn college credit, and whatever questions you may have about your degree program or certification track. You don't need our Customer Support, but like any good gas station attendant, we can answer your questions and help you get where you're going.
I remember when I was little, I loved to build things - partially to destroy them after it was built, but mostly because I enjoyed the challenge, complexity, and reward of creating something on my own. My mom used to buy me Legos, Lincoln Logs, Erector Sets - pretty much anything that I could follow a set of instructions to create a structure. The reward of having built something individually and the feeling of accomplishment and showing it off to my mom and brothers was motivating - it made me want to build more things with different parts and pieces, making more complex and bizarre things that can only exist in the mind of a child's imagination.
That hobby faded though for other interests, so now instead of building with my hands, I'm building my knowledge of the things I enjoy studying and reading in my spare time. Roman and Mediterranean history have replaced the Legos and Lincoln logs and the satisfaction I get from learning more about the things I love is reward in itself.
I think higher education should be the same way. You earn a higher degree not just for money or the tangible aspects, but because you're chasing a dream, a goal, and a feeling of accomplishment. You find what you love and you want to be as good as you can at it, or know as much as one can know - become an expert - someone people rely on and know that can come to if they have a question. Take the opportunity to build something on your own and learn how The College Network can help you find your passion with self-paced education and training.
Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things, but one of my favorite quotes of his is, "You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again." A recent article from Fox News stated, "According to a study by The Education Trust, fewer than four in 10 students graduate from college in four years. 'An extra $20,000 to $60,000 for another year adds up—especially when students are financing their eduation,' says Simple Tuition's co-founder Patrick Kandianis."
Is the additional cost worth the wait? If you could move at your own pace and not have to wait on semesters to begin and end, you could get done with college in four years without having to take on the financial burden of additional semesters. With The College Network's Comprehensive Learning Module program, you can circumvent the traditional school year schedule and move at your own pace, earning your degree in the time outside of your career and family. Visit TCN's web site to learn more.
A recent article in Education News discussed some upcoming increases to college tuition across the country. "At the University of California, for example, tuition was raised 32 percent in 2010 and 8 percent in 2011. The next increase could be as high as 20 percent in early 2013."
It's time to separate yourself from the trend too many students and working adults fall into - going to whatever post secondary school, no matter the price, because they believe college is a necessity, making the false assumption that you can't put a price on a necessity. But the truth is that you can put a price on a necessity when there are other suitable, more cost effective options available.
The College Network has been at the forefront of providing quality higher education since 1992. After twenty years in business, the product has gone from a binder to a course in our online Resource Center, which houses all of our Comprehensive Learning Modules. Get what you need at a fraction of the cost, and earn your degree with the help of The College Network.
I'm a fan of Roman history and over the years I have amassed a small library of texts on this ancient civilization. It's my favorite thing to study and read outside of work, but even though I love it, it's nice to read something different every once in a while, like a classic novel or a series of essays, short stories and poems. Even though I'm not focusing on my passion, I'm still expanding my knowledge base and keeping myself from getting completely burnt out on Roman history altogether.
It can be difficult when you're studying the same topic for an extending period of time. When you're focusing on your core classes, even though you may love the subject, reviewing the same material can be monotonous and brain-draining. At The College Network, we have over 60 unique Comprehensive Learning Modules to choose from. So if studying the sciences is wearing you down, there are a myriad of titles you could choose from to take a break from your major focus and still earn credit toward your degree.
To learn more about how you can earn your degree and diversify your education, visit our web site.
I remember the first time I opened Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time and felt like a Neanderthal relative to Mr. Hawking's genius. The concepts were so complex and beyond anything I had ever tried to comprehend that after the first couple pages I put the book down and declared that it was beyond my level of intelligence. About a year later there was a Discovery Channel 3-part special narrated by Mr. Hawking that discusses many of the same concepts presented in his book. Once again I was overwhelmed by the concepts of the beginning of the universe, dark energy, black holes, planet composition, etc. but I told myself that I would not let myself be overcome by something that was initially too challenging and confusing. I would slow down the video, rewind to repeat and listen to information I didn't understand, and watch the video in its entirety multiple times. After multiple views, I felt more confident in my understanding of several of Stephen Hawking's theories...I'm not ready to solve any mysteries of the universe, but I understand and appreciate his concepts more than I did before I understood them at all.
When you're stressed or overwhelmed by a topic or concept, don't see it as an insurmountable roadblock to the learning process. Take your time and slow down. Dissect the information into pieces that you can comprehend and then re-approach the concept as a whole. You'll find that breaking things down into more concise, simple ideas will make understanding the whole easier. So when you're reviewing your Comprehensive Learning Modules and interactive content provided by The College Network, know that you can overcome any mental roadblock, either by yourself or with the help of our Customer Support department.
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