UC Clermont College Review

Information about UC Clermont College, career training programs, and sample multiple-choice tests. Browse a practical guide to online classes, MOOCs, admissions info, and financial aid. Admissions officers seek to learn how a given applicant thinks, what kind of person they are, and their level of intellectual promise. The college degree majors with the best starting-salaries after graduation include physical sciences, business administration, and engineering. Public universities are more likely to evaluate applicants based on grades and test scores alone, while private universities tend to be more holistic. It's optimal to attempt the hardest courses that your high school offers, and the worst thing you can do is to drop a hard course just because you're receiving a low grade.

Every year, US News & World Report, Money Magazine, and a few other national magazines publish annual college rankings. About half of colleges use a waiting list, particularly those which are more selective. One survey suggests that 30% of wait-listed students are eventually accepted, so applicants who are wait-listed should contact the admissions office of their top choice by phone, to declare that they will attend if accepted. Many community colleges have agreements with four-year schools, particularly flagship state universities, so that the transfer of credits is handled smoothly.

Test Prep, Sample Practice Tests

Most colleges accept either the SAT or ACT, and have formulas for converting scores into admissions' criteria. Colleges use these standardized tests because there are substantial differences in curricula, grading, and difficulty among US high schools. One benefit of the ACT test is that it allows the test-taker to select scores to send to specific colleges. ACT test questions are geared towards higher levels of high school mathematics, while the SAT test is a better choice for students with an excellent vocabulary. Counselors suggest that students practice taking the test under actual testing conditions, and using a large watch with a sweeping second hand, rather than a digital display which may distract you.

On average, over half of juniors retaking the SAT as a senior saw improvements in their scores. These tests are designed to measure your accumulated knowledge over years of study. Further, Advanced Placement exams are offered in a variety of physical sciences, offering you college credit for honors-level classes that you have taken while still in high school. Test yourself with practice exams online, before visiting the College Board website to register to take your actual AP Tests. If you earn a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam, you may be able to receive course credits or advanced placement, when you start college.

The College Admissions Essay

Admissions essays are becoming more important as a way to judge a student's potential, and essays largely have replaced personal interviews in the digital age. It's a good idea to rewrite your college application essay as many times as you feel is needed, and have several other people that you trust read it over. Essays must demonstrate intellectual curiosity, maturity, social conscience, and concern for the community. Avoid writing about babysitting experiences, your pets, or experiences involving any kind of illegal activity.

The admissions essay topic should be something the applicant cares about, and which shows leadership in the sense of asserting yourself in the service of others. The best essay topics are a slice-of-life story, with poignant details, in which the writer shows what has been accomplished, and does not brag. There should be no spelling, grammar or punctuation errors in your college essay. Moreover, even if an application says that the essay is optional, you still should treat it as a mandatory requirement.

Financial Aid Information

According to the US Department of Education, nearly 45 million Americans are still repaying student debt incurred during their college career. The earliest that the FAFSA form can be filled out is January of a student's senior year. In contrast, the CSS Profile can be filled out during the preceding fall. Loan programs generally issue loans based on the credit history of the applicant and any applicable cosigner. This is in contrast to federal loan programs that deal primarily with need-based criteria, as defined by the FAFSA form.

Federal Direct Student Loans, also known as Direct Loans, are funded by the US Treasury. Private student loans, however, are not guaranteed, and are offered directly to students by a commercial bank, employee credit union, or finance company. Student loans should be seen as 'the measure of last resort,' as this entails graduating with substantial debt. Student credit cards may seem like a good short-term solution, but the interest rates are high, and credit cards often carry an annual fee. If you do end up using credit cards to meet some expenses, pay off the outstanding balance in full every month. You can get a credit report online by submitting a student credit card application, whether you are approved or not.

Scholarship Search, Government Grants

Peterson's Scholarship Search Award Database is drawn from Peterson's college guidebooks. Students with disabilities should apply for scholarship awards intended for people with specific disabilities, and search for foundations that support disability education. Some scholarships have a bond requirement. Recipients may be required to work for a specified period of time or to work in rural or remote areas. Average students often ask whether there are any scholarships available to students who don't have a 4.0 GPA. In fact, there are many scholarships for average students, such as athletic scholarships, music scholarships, and need-based scholarships.


Financial Aid Loan Calulators:

College Cost Projector Loan Calculator Compound Interest

Payment Chart Generator Loan Consolidation Calculator Stafford Loan vs. PLUS Loans

Government scholarships and grants, combined with private scholarships, only account for a third of total college aid. Loans, earnings, and savings make up the remaining two thirds. In exchange for a service commitment, the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program provides you with money for college while you're in school. Full ROTC scholarships pay for almost all tuition, fees, and textbook costs for four years of college. Call 1-800-USA-ROTC Army for more information. The terms for private loans vary from lender to lender. A common suggestion is to shop around on all loan terms, not just the student loan interest rate. Please note that financial aid application deadlines are strictly enforced by the financial aid office. The official FAFSA website is www.fafsa.ed.gov and is free. Copycat websites mimic the FAFSA website, but are deliberately misleading. A wealth of other financial aid forms are now available online.

Reduce Tuition Expenses via Online Courses

Finishing college a year early reduces your overall tuition bill, while taking extra years to complete your degree compounds tuition expenses, and delays entry into the workforce. To accomplish this end, look for online courses that may be applied to your degree requirements. Although the cost of tuition is rising for most 4-year colleges and universities, community colleges and trade schools remain an affordable option for those looking to earn an associates degree. The average community college student graduates with only a few thousand dollars in debt, compared to bachelors degree graduates. Beyond the cost of college tuition, students will face an array of additional expenses. Taking on work-study or starting an online business may help.

Doing business online is a great option to supplement your income while still a student. By registering a domain name, pointing the name servers to your hosting company, then building an active website in HTML or via a WordPress template, you're in the game. Similar to magazine page layout, website design includes the fields of graphic design, copywriting, and search engine optimization (SEO). Success is governed by two factors, visitor traffic and online sales conversions. Technical training programs are a low-cost alternative to attending college, and you might end up earning a lot of money as a highly-skilled, technical consultant.

Engineering Testing and Certification

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, also referred to as the Engineer in Training (EIT) exam, is the first of two examinations that engineers must pass in order to be licensed as a Professional Engineer in the United States. The exam is open to anyone with a degree in engineering, or who is currently enrolled in the last year of an ABET-accredited engineering degree program. The exam is eight hours long altogether, split into two four-hour sessions. The morning session is a 120-question test, while the afternoon session consists of 60 questions and covers more depth. Topics include:

Probability and Statistics
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Material Properties
Fluid Mechanics
Electricity and Magnetism
Thermodynamics
Biochemistry

Results are mailed approximately 2 months after the test date, and students who pass are designated Engineer In Training or Engineer Intern, depending on each state's engineering licensure board. After completing an 4-year apprenticeship, an EIT qualifies to take the Professional Engineer (PE) exam, for certification and licensure. For study purposes, an engineering testing handbook may be downloaded from the NCEES website, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Advanced Placement exams are offered in a variety of physical sciences, offering you college credit for honors-level classes that you have taken while still in high school. Test yourself with free practice exams online, before visiting the College Board website to register to take your actual AP Tests. If you earn a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam, you may be able to receive course credits, or advanced placement, when you start college. You must request that the College Board send your official AP score report to the colleges of your choice, either at the time of testing or afterwards, through a score report request.

Sports-related Injuries

Orthopedics, the strength of bone:

Substance	Lbs per cubic foot	Tension	Compression	Shear
Steel	490	65,000	60,000	40,000
Granite	170	1,500	15,000	2,000
Oak Tree	46	12,500	7,000	4,000
Compact bone	119	13,200	18,000	11,800

Every student needs to purchase health insurance, and that goes double for student-athletes. In the weight room, don't be fooled by players who are always pumping iron. It takes a lot more than big muscles to succeed in college sports. Players are becoming more agile, and developing superior game skills every year. You need to develop muscle strength as well, it's true, but your primary focus in weight training should be to use the equipment to help you develop strength along a natural range of motion.