The escalating cost of higher education is causing many to question the value of continuing education beyond high school. Many wonder whether the high cost of tuition, the opportunity cost of choosing college over full-time employment, and the accumulation of thousands of dollars of debt is, in the long run, worth the investment. The risk is especially large for low-income families who have a difficult time making ends meet without the additional burden of college tuition and fees.
The following question continues to be asked through our web forum or chat board: "What is a degree and is it worth getting?"
Well, here is our answer and we hope it will help you make an educated decision:
EDUCATIONAL DEGREES A degree is earned through a certain number of years of education from a college. Of course, before college comes high school. People who graduated from high school can further their education via traditional college education or distance education from online college courses. Colleges and universities in the United States (USA) offer a four level approach to education which are:
1. Associate of Arts Degree (A.A., often via community colleges)
2. Bachelor's Degree (B.A., via traditional college, also called undergraduate degree)
3. Master's Degree (M.A., also referred to as graduate degree)
4. Doctorate Degree (Ph.D., the highest degree)
To sum it up in simple terms, the A.A. degree is the least rigorous. It takes about 2 years to get. Next comes the B.A. which can take up to 4-5 years to achieve. The M.A. is awarded to students who have obtained their bachelor's degree. It can take another 1-2 years after the B.A.! After that comes the doctorate degree, which is the highest degree awarded in the U.S. and takes the longest to achieve. It is the most rigorous and in depth of all other degrees.
Prospective college students should keep in mind that different colleges have different graduation requirements. Also their cost can differ greatly. And before embarking on any college degree program it's a good idea to also check on their college credit transfer policies and (as mentioned) their graduation requirements.
There are many career training opportunities and training offered by vocational institutions, colleges, and through online distance education that lead to allied health professional diplomas and degrees such as in clinical and administrative medical assisting, medical coding and billing, and health care administration. The key is finding a program that perfectly meets your standards and needs! If you are interested in a degree, there are hundreds of subjects to choose from to suit all interests.
THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF HIGHER EDUCATION Research has consistently shown that while it is clear that investment in a college degree, especially for those students in the lowest income brackets, can be a financial burden, the long-term benefits to individuals as well as to society at large, appear to far outweigh the costs. There is considerable support for the notion that the rate of return on investment in higher education is high enough to warrant the financial burden associated with pursuing a college degree.
CONCLUSION Most students today-- about 80 percent of all students--enroll either in public 4-year colleges or in public 2-year colleges. According to the U.S. Department of Education a full-time student at a public 4-year college paid an average of $8,655 for in-state tuition, room and board (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2002).
A full-time student in a public 2-year college paid an average of $1,359 per year in tuition (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2002).
The average annual cost of in-state 4-year public school in 2003-2004 was $12,841. Out-of-state cost was $19,188 (The College Board 2004).
However, the sizeable differences in lifetime earnings put the costs of college study in realistic perspective. Though the earnings differential between college and high school graduates varies over time, college graduates, on average, earn more than high school graduates. According to the Census Bureau, over an adult's working life, high school graduates earn an average of $1.2 million; associate's degree holders earn about $1.6 million; and bachelor's degree holders earn about $2.1 million (Day and Newburger, 2002).
The causes of the "0x800a138f Windows Update Error" are plentiful, and there are quite a number of ways to go about fixing this problem. The steps used to repair this error, are similar to the steps completed to repair the 0x800a0007 Windows Update Error. These steps include correcting the date and time settings, the language settings, and disabling an antivirus or firewall program.
Having the wrong computer settings will produce the "0x800a138f Windows Update Error." The simplest computer settings to change will be correcting the date and time settings. You can refer to Windows XP's "Help and Support" section located on the "Start" menu, on how to change your computer's date and time settings.
An incorrect language setting can also cause the "0x800a138f Windows Update Error." To correct the computer's language settings in Windows XP:
1. Go to Tools 2. Click Internet Options 3. Under the General tab 4. Click Languages
When the "Language Preference" window opens up, click the Add button to add English as the default language.
The "0x800a138f Windows Update Error" can also be repaired, by enabling Secure Sockets Layer in Internet Explorer. To enable SSL 2.0 and 3.0:
1. Click Tools 2. Go to Internet Options 3. Click Advanced Tab 4. Under Security place a checkmark next to SSL 2.0 and SSL 3.0. 5. Press Apply then click OK.
Security Socket Layers are a way to enable secure transmission of data, and can cause update errors. It is also recommended you check your proxy settings in Internet Explorer, if you connect to the Internet using a proxy.
A fourth way in which to repair the "0x800a138f Windows Update Error," would be to disable your antivirus, spyware, and firewall software. Different types of software, such as these, can block access to your computer when connecting to Microsoft.
After exhausting these common ways to repair the "0x800a138f Windows Update Error," and an error message is still received, there are other options to choose from, which hopefully will correct the problem for you.
You can continue repairing the update error by going to your "Temporary Internet Files" folder, and deleting the files contained within it. This can be achieved by doing a general sweep of your computer using "Disk Cleanup" under Start > Accessories > System Tools; However, a more specific removal of the temporary Internet files in Internet Explorer can be accomplished:
1. Go to Tools 2. Click Internet Options 3. On the General tab, 4. Go down to Temporary Internet Files 5. Then click the Delete Files button 6. Afterwards, hit OK
The reason why this repair is needed after changing incorrect computer settings might be due to a corrupted or altered file within the "Temporary Internet Files" folder.
Another option to try is to delete the contents of your Windows Update folder. This is located under the "Program Files" directory on the main hard drive. The reason for deleting all of these files is similar to the previous repair above, and a corrupt or altered file could be causing the "0x800a138f Windows Update Error."
The options above should help you to correct the 0x800a138f Windows Update Error.
Both Danni R. & Robert D. Thomson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Danni R. has sinced written about articles on various topics from Education Toys, Education. Danni R. is a highly respected online educator, copywriter, website developer and search engine marketing expert. Her background is a unique blend of medical sciences, graphic arts, and web design. It is exactly THIS fusion of contrasting disciplines and. Danni R.'s top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.
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