Advancing Your Education

I joined The College Network in 2008 as an Editor in the Product Development department. My present responsibilities include acquiring authors; developing, editing, and formatting content; researching advances in online learning; and reviewing marketing pieces.

I graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a bachelor's degree in English and some of my hobbies include reading non-fiction, swimming, cooking, rock climbing, and learning something new every day. 

Cut the coat according to the cloth - a tailor, making a coat, would pay no attention to the pattern in the cloth; he would make it out of whatever material there was at hand, taking advantage of every scrap. 

Think of education as a huge sheet of cloth; it can be cut, folded, mended in to just about any shape. For years, education has been a traditional cut, made the same way in the same style for everyone, regardless of whether it fit or suited them. For those who wanted something different, they were left desirous.

But in 1992, a new tailor showed up to take the cloth of education and make a new, avant-garde design. The College Network was designed to break with tradition and fit the masses who had been neglected by the traditional educational system. With its online Resource Center, printable resources, academic support, and a myriad of other unique qualities, TCN is truly a different cut of the educational cloth. 

According to U.S. News and World Report, "Students graduating with a bachelor's degree in nursing entered the workforce to the tune of nearly $50,000 in 2011—the average starting salary for new grads was $48,100—making it one of the top-paying professions for new graduates outside of engineering and information technology." It's difficult to ignore a statistic like this, especially when nursing is a career field struggling to reach its recruitment numbers.

If you're an LPN making 18 dollars an hour (that's $37,000 dollars a year if you're working full time), the salary jump between degrees is enormous. Think about what you could do with over $10,000 more a year. If you got your RN license and worked for 30 years with it, you could possibly make over $300,000 more than you would if you were just an LPN.

When you do your research, you'll realize that there is a plethora of distance nursing programs available to choose from. What can The College Network offer that makes it unique? Partnerships with some of the nation's top universities; personal, friendly academic support; effective Comprehensive Learning Modules; etc.

To learn more about what TCN has to offer, visit our web site.

In recent times, companies and consumers have been trying to find ways to accomplish tasks more efficiently - saving on the amount of time and money invested. Consumers can do this by paying attention to sales, clipping coupons, price-shopping online, but how do companies figure out how to cut costs in order to increase profits?  

One method used by many companies is enrolling employees in a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt program. The Green Belt program focuses on how to eliminate waste, improve the quality of products, and increase customer satisfaction. Recently, it has become an invaluable asset to add to any resume since many companies are restructuring in order to acclimate to the current economy climate.

If you're interested in improving your resume with an asset that showcases your ability to efficiently improve a company's production, visit The College Network for information regarding the Purdue Lean Six Sigma Green Belt program. Purdue's comprehensive program includes reading; watching video lectures via the Internet (available via streaming video, 24/7 throughout the 10 weeks of the course); participating in asynchronous online discussions; taking online quizzes and a final exam; and completing assignments related to the course case study. You will also have the opportunity for coaching via email and phone by your instructor.

A quote by the basketball coach Pat Riley sums it all up, "A particular shot or way of moving the ball can be a player's personal signature, but efficiency of performance is what wins the game for the team." Visit TCN's web site to learn more about becoming lean six sigma certified.

Is a million dollars still a lot of money, or to rephrase, does a million dollars still sound like a lot of money? Albert Pujols' recent contract with the Angels is for $240 million dollars over 10 years - that's 24 million dollars a year guaranteed.  Compared to that, a million dollars is a drop in the ocean.  

Baseball and sports stars aside, most people would see a million dollars as a vast amount of money; it would be more than most could hope for or image to earn. It's a childhood wish to have a million dollars, but as we all know, money like this doesn't come easily. But it is a possibility. Michael MacDowell, President of Misericordia University, recently stated in an online article, "On average, people with an undergraduate college degree earn more than $1 million more over their lifespan than those without one." After reading that statement, a million dollars sounds like a lot of money, doesn't it?

If you're interested in making a million more dollars over the course of your career, then earning a degree is the path to take. If you're interested in doing it efficiently and at your own pace, then The College Network is the solution for you.  With online degrees from top universities, TCN can help you on your way to a more lucrative career. Visit our web site for more information. 

The philosopher David Hume once said, "Man is a reasonable being, and, as such, receives from science his proper food and nourishment." To deprive oneself of an education is to deprive oneself of the fuel that feeds the mind.  Through school or independently, everyone should take the initiative to broaden their horizons.

There's a variety of ways to accomplish this: reading a book, taking up a new hobby, sitting in on a class at the local college, etc. But there's a way to kill two birds with one stone - a way to broaden your horizons on your own time and earn college credit. How? The College Network's Comprehensive Learning Modules. 

The CLMs offer over sixty different topics covering a wide array of disciplines, including lifespan developmental psychology, college algebra, and business law. Nourish your mind and let The College Network help you on your path to learn something new every day.

I had a recent discussion with a friend of mine who I swam with in college. During his undergraduate program, he was an exemplary Biology major who devoted all of his time before and after practice to studying. His goal was to do well enough to get accepted to a local Dentistry doctoral program. Despite good grades and great test scores, he was not accepted into the program and was left in a sort of limbo, unsure of what to do with his life since his four-year goal had been denied.

He told me that he took some time off to re-evaluate his situation when his sister, who was a year younger than him, suggested a local nursing program that she was enrolled in. His life was in idle, so he figured it was worth a shot if it meant getting him out of his current situation. He took one class and shadowed a local nurse and he said, "I found my calling." He said it didn't have all of the glamour and prestige of a doctorate, but he couldn't imagine a more challenging/rewarding career. He just recently graduated from his nursing program and is now studying for the NCLEX exam.

If you're like my friend and are searching for a rewarding career in the field of nursing, The College Network can help you on your way to earning that degree. If you just need nursing school prerequisites or are interested in an online degree program, visit TCN's web site.

  

In his Meditations, Marcus Aurelius said, "Practice, even when success looks hopeless. The left hand, inept in other respects for lack of practice, can grasp the reins more firmly than the right, because here it has had practice." This quote can be applied to many aspects of life, but it makes me consider the use of the mind. 

As people get older, they become entrenched in specific thought processes and neglect certain parts of their mind, which in turn can lead to a poor-performing long term memory. In an era when an infinite amount of information is at your fingertips, there's no longer any excuse for not keeping your mind stimulated. 

If you're interested in getting a tour de knowledge, The College Network has a diverse collection of educational material that any one can take advantage of. From American History to Nursing, our Comprehensive Learning Modules cover a wide array of topics that can invigorate even the most stale of minds. Take the opportunity to challenge yourself and your mind by looking into what The College Network has to offer.

In the Product Development department, there are always multiple projects in the works. There is of course the day-to-day work of editing content, preparing modules for customers, reviewing marketing material, etc., but there are also the big projects that we're hoping will change the way people learn and earn college credit.

A couple of these projects rolled out last year in the form of the lesson plans - basically concise versions of the modules that are narrated and far more interactive than the standard module. The good news is that more of our titles are having lesson plans created for them, so if you have a module that doesn't currently have a lesson plan, chances are one will be coming your way in the near future. 

There are also some things in the initial stages of development that are being kept secret, but these projects will give The College Network more unique and effective products to provide its customers. 2012 is an ambitious year for the Product Development department, which will help lead The College Network to one of its most successful years to date.

Let's face it, it's one of the worst things about going back to school - the infamous textbook. They can be bulky, heavy, nonessential to passing a class, and, worst of all, the ridiculous expense. Paying for college these days costs an arm and a leg, but the additional cost of textbooks is adding insult to injury. It's an expense that we wish we could avoid altogether, and maybe that day will come in the future, but right now there are alternatives.

A recent article in Education News stated that, "K-12 schools, students and colleges are increasingly experiencing significant savings by adopting digital textbooks." The article also went on to say, "Digital textbooks are becoming more refined, incorporating better note-taking, application, and interactive tools." The College Network's Comprehensive Learning Modules in the online Resource Center are perfect examples of how digital learning is both efficient and cost-effective. 

For those familiar with 6th century Roman and Persian history, you're probably familiar with Khusro the Great. Despite being one of the most feared enemies of the late Roman Empire, he was also one of the greatest emperors in history who has many architectural, military, and cultural advances of pre-Islamic Iran attributed to him. Very little is known about him outside of Roman historical sources, but he is well-known for stating, "The most disgraceful thing for kings is to disdain learning and be afraid of science." Such a forward-thinking ruler benefited his empire in many ways, but as history shows, when Khusro's reign ended, so did his legacy, and so began the downturn and eventual end of the empire. But his lesson, over time, has gained steam and become a reality in virtually every corner of the world.

Acknowledging the benefits of an educated population, The College Network was founded on the principles of promoting learning and providing education to the masses. At its core, TCN exists because people need a practical and efficient way to further their education without the encumbrances that traditional institutions have become well-known for. We have helped hundreds of thousands of people get started on earning an advanced degree, and we want to continue to help anyone interested in higher education online. Education is quintessential for a civilization as a whole to prosper, but it's also necessary for an individual in today's society to thrive. Don't disdain education; recognize it for what it is, and take the next step to secure your future by visiting The College Network's web site.

In a recent issue of Popular Mechanics, there was an article titled "The College Bubble" that stated, "As bubbles burst in one economic sector after another, we're now hearing talk of a 'higher education bubble,' in which cost increases, buoyed by cheap government loans, may be hitting their limit. Can technology save the day?" I believe the answer to this question is yes.

You can see it just about everywhere you look: billboards, commercials, print and radio advertising - all are being used as mediums by colleges and universities to announce their commitment to making education more convenient for any one interested in obtaining an advanced degree. What's the one thing they don't advertise? The cost. It's no secret that the cost of most colleges and universities has inflated over the last decade - now to 25% of a typical family's annual income (Forbes). With no sign of a cost plateau in sight, what is one to do to be most efficient with their time and money investment in earning a degree? Simple answer: research The College Network.

When you do your research, you'll find that the advancements TCN has made in online learning over the past several years surpass many other universities most recent remedies to increase enrollments and decrease costs. Since 1992, The College Network has been making earning an advanced degree more convenient and affordable for working adults, and therefore has years more experience than many other educational service companies. So how do you beat the system and drastically reduce the cost of earning an advanced degree? Visit our web site to learn how.

Have you ever heard of the story of Prometheus? In Greek mythology, Prometheus was a titan who stole fire from the god Zeus and gave it to humanity. Unfortunately, Prometheus paid for his theft by being chained to a rock and having his liver eaten by an eagle every day for all eternity, which I think most would agree is a pretty rough punishment. 

Aside from Prometheus' fate, the story of a man rebelling against the establishment to provide others with knowledge/give them an ability to prosper and flourish is timeless. But what I think makes this tale unique, is that Prometheus didn't steal the fire for spite or personal gain; it's because he had faith in the ability of men. 

After rereading the story, I can't help but see the similarities between Prometheus and The College Network. Before The College Network, higher education was solely possessed by the university system, leaving people who didn't fit the mold for the brick and mortar institution left in the dark. But in 1992, The College Network took the fire, so to speak, and passed it along to anyone interested in furthering their education.


If you're interested in the light of education from a source outside of the establishment, visit TCN's web site.

A good mind is a terrible thing to waste. You heard it when you were watching television, daydreaming, and now you're hearing it from The College Network. It's easy to spend your free time with reality television and video games, which there's nothing wrong with - in moderation. Taking the time and effort to peel yourself away from something entertaining can be difficult; I know I have a really hard time getting much done on Sundays during football season.

The key is to find something as interesting as what's entertaining you. For instance, I think the Western Civilization and American Literature modules are some of the most interesting modules. They are very well written and are full of page-turning content that has led me to research several different topics contained within. If history and literature aren't appealing, there are a myriad of science and nursing modules on a wide array of topics. 

Don't waste a good brain; visit our web site to learn more about the diverse products The College Network has to offer.

Do you remember the first time you went down the water slide? Most people do, or have some recollection of a similar experience. Feeling the fear build as you look from the bottom up, each step bringing you closer to the apex, until finally reaching the top and realizing how high up you are. It's when you're at the precipice that fear of doing something new usually reaches its height and either you surrender to it and head back down the stairs or you embrace the challenge of something new and take the exciting way down the slide. 

Not all decisions are so easy, and much like going down the slide for the first time, they take much personal deliberation, encouragement from others, and a lot of courage. But after you take your first plunge and overcome the initial fear, you realize that it's not as bad as you thought it was going to be and the reservations you had were irrational.

Furthering your education can feel the same way; the inital fear, coming to a decision about what to do, and deciding to pursue a degree or stay where you're at. The feeling of working toward and earning a degree has no equal, just like that initial fear/excitement of going down the water slide for the first time. The College Network can help you earn online degrees from top universities, so if you're interested in taking the exciting route and not going back the same way you came, visit www.collegenetwork.com.

Let's be honest, how much outside of breaking diets, shopping, and surviving family get-togethers do we get done during the holiday season? My guess for most is not a lot; we see the holidays as a time to relax - not just rest, but a chance to stop and reflect on the previous year and focus on how we want to improve the upcoming year.

2011 was a rough year for many of us: unemployment is still high, available jobs are few and far between, and good news is difficult to come by, but there is hope. Compared to 2008, the economy has improved, unemployment numbers have dropped, and the job market is improving - not nearly as well as we would like, but its a start; and a little hope and a good start is what most of us need. 

So I have a challenge to those with the luxury of having some time off this holiday season: Use some of that time to figure out how you want your 2012 to be. Will it be a year of improvement or a year of disappointment? The saying in business is that you're either growing or dying, and I think that's true in life, so don't waste time waiting around for something to happen to you because chances are it will never arrive; go and find it for yourself. If an education is something you're interested in pursuing, start by researching The College Network and learn about how higher education online can make 2012 one of the best years in recent memory.

The English philosopher John Stuart Mill was one of the great philosophical thinkers of the modern era; his major contribution was his analysis and defense of utilitarianism - an ethical philosophy that is summarized best by Mill as, "Actions are right to the degree that they tend to promote the greatest good for the greatest number."

In one of his essays, Mill states that people "lose their high aspirations as they lose their intellectual tastes, because they have not time or opportunity for indulging them; and they addict themselves to inferior pleasures, not because they deliberately prefer them, but because they are either the only ones to which they have access or the only ones which they are any longer capable of enjoying." Basically, people become content with their lack of education and decide to not pursue higher goals because they have not had the opportunity to do so.

Thanks to The College Network's convenient online Resource Center, this does not have to be the case. With unique degree programs, including associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, as well as multiple certificate programs, earning the credentials to improve one's resume is more convenient that ever.  Don't be content with the "inferior pleasures" in life; pursue higher education with the help of The College Network.

The title of a recent article in Education News made me think, "How Will We Read?" For most of us, a textbook, is a texbook, is a textbook. For those that remember high school and college, the process of buying, carrying, and studying out of textbooks was an expensive burden. Now with the advent of the digital age and the shift from traditional printing to online publication, information has become cheaper, more efficient, and more accessible to the masses.

Staying ahead of the trend, The College Network moved all of its Comprehensive Learning Modules into its cutting-edge online Resource Center several years ago. Without having a textbook to carry around, you can use any computer to access all of the information you will need to help you earn college credit, and with that college credit, you can obtain that degree or certificate to help you advance your degree.

For more information about the The College Network and the online Resource Center, please visit The College Network's web site.

A recent article from U.S. News University Directory reports that more nursing students are choosing to earn bachelor's degrees instead of associate's degrees. The article goes on to state a couple of important facts: "According to a press release, enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by approximately 3.9% between 2010 and 2011. Additionally, the survey found that enrollment in bachelor's degree completion programs, or RN-to-BSN programs, grew by 13.4%."

More importantly, the article says, "As more students opt to enroll in these courses of study, many schools across the country have found that they are having trouble accommodating so many degree seekers due to faculty or space restrictions. Preliminary data from the report shows that in 2011, about 51,082 qualified students were turned away from 503 entry-level bachelor's degree nursing programs." 

For aspiring bachelor's degree nurses, this is troubling news. Demand for bachelor's degree nurses is still very high, but traditional colleges don't have the means to satisfy the desires of many who wish to earn these degrees. So what can one do? Give The College Network a try. With a myriad of degree programs in nursing, whether associate's, bachelor's, or master's, TCN can possibly help you bypass the long wait lists of some universities by offering convenient higher education online.