Posts Tagged ‘Online Tools’

Balance Your University Online Degree Program: 5 Firefox Add-ons

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Balancing work and family with your university online degree program can seem overwhelming. That’s where your web browser can come in handy! Using a web browser like Mozilla Firefox can help you get organized and improve your distance learning study habits — so you don’t fall behind in your work, online studies, or family commitments.

Your web browser can help you balance your university online degree program!

aretadobem / Areta do Bem

My College Guide collected together a sampling of add-ons that can help you do every day tasks faster and more efficiently. From list-making add-ons to the way you read, we’ve got the lowdown on what your browser has been missing!

Time Saving Add-ons

WebMail  Notifier – You don’t have time to waste! Keep from updating your inbox constantly and receive an instant update message instead. Using WebMail Notifier, you can find out if your Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, or other email account has received new messages—so you can spend more time working in your university online degree program and less time clicking through windows.

AutoPager – Instead of clicking ahead to read more of an article, AutoPager will load it up for you! Get what you need without a bunch of waiting around. AutoPager works on the sites that you use most: Yahoo, Google, Digg, and even the New York Times. Spend more time on your university online degree program and less time waiting!

List-Making Add-ons

ReadItLater – If you find yourself becoming distracted by the latest on Mashable and LifeHacker when you should be searching for research paper resources for your university online degree program, you might want to use this extension! Simply click the checkmark and it is saved so you can easily ReadItLater—without cluttering your bookmarks with something you may never need to see again.

list.it – Composing the perfect discussion post for your online classes but suddenly remembered you need to pick up a gallon of milk? Don’t stop while you’re ahead! Instead, consider using list.it so you can simply write down a little note to yourself right from your browser. Fast, easy—and sure beats digging out the paper and pencil!

…And Then?

Stylish — So this one won’t save you time, but it sure will perk up your browsing experience! You’ll be spending more time online now than ever in your university online degree program. Why not make your browser (and then some) a bit more Stylish? The Stylish add-on enables you to customize some of your most used sites (Yahoo, Facebook, Google, etc.) with skins and themes.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on the right university online degree program and career for you!

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Posted in Choosing a College, Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Education, Online Tools, Preparing for College, Technology, Vocational School | No Comments »

Distance Learning College Study Tips or Make Your Way to An “A”

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Finally going back to school to finish up your distance learning degree? Or, are you a first time student? Either way, you probably realized that it will take a lot of balancing to get everything done. Good study habits can go a long way in helping you not only improve the way you study, but to reduce the time spent studying!

Distance learning college study tips to make your way to an "A!"

betsyjean79 / Betsy

Distance Learning College Study Tips

If you are returning to college or are new to the higher education game, My College Guide has tips to help improve the way you study. You don’t need to study harder—you just need to study smarter!

Turn it Off – It might be tempting to study while catching up on Modern Family episodes or to rock out to your latest iTunes download–but don’t! Cut out the distractions so you can concentrate on your distance learning coursework.

Get Away From It All – Is that unread mail calling your name? Is your phone constantly ringing or is Fido hounding you for another walk? Head out to the door and go! Try the library, your office, the local coffee shop, or anywhere where you can soak up some free wi-fi and a little peace and quiet. Just take your laptop and work on your distance learning college classes without the distractions!

A Family Affair – You don’t have to go it alone. If you have school-aged children, make studying something you do together as a family. It’s important for your kids to see that school should be a priority. By working on your distance learning college homework, you’ll be setting a positive example and sending a powerful message that will last a lifetime.

Get Organized – Time flies! Don’t miss points because you lost track of time and forgot to turn something in. Using a daily planner, a reminder function on your computer, or the family calendar, wherever you keep track of your day and write down your distance learning college assignments. Don’t wait—right them down as soon as they are assigned. For adults going back to school, this will certainly help you stay on top of schoolwork—no matter how busy life becomes!

Keep it Together – Right from the start, you should be keeping all of your school files separate from your work files. Create a separate folder and give it a name that you can remember: the name of your school, the class, whatever works for you. Always save your assignments to this folder so you don’t lose anything—and waste time searching for missing files! From the start of your distance learning college classes, you should create a separate place that will house all of your assignments.

There you have it! Five great study tips to help keep you on track. Keep these tips in mind to get more done in less time. Now that’s smart!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students discover the best college degree and career for them. Get information on how a degree at a distance learning college can help you find the right career for you!

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Posted in Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education, Vocational School | No Comments »

Traits of a Successful Distance Learner or Is Online College Right For You?

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

If you’ve been wondering if online learning is right for you: you aren’t alone! It’s a convenient choice for busy adults wanting to earn an online bachelor’s degree and a viable option for students with health concerns who can’t attend a traditional college. However, distance  learning doesn’t mean “easy” – here are a few things to keep in mind as you weigh whether or not online college will work for you.

In online classes, your fingers will do all the walking.

derekGavey / Derek Gavey

Independent – Chalk it up as one more reason why high school is different from college, in that college professors don’t really do a lot of hand-holding when it comes to getting your work done and turned in. Some won’t ever mention due dates (they will be on the semester’s syllabus) – which closely resembles the way online college works.

Internet Connection – This might sound like a no-brainer, but if you don’t have either a stable internet connection or any internet connection at all: forget it! There are no excuses in college and being unable to turn in your assignment because your internet went down again or because you couldn’t make it to the library’s computer just won’t cut it. The speed of your internet connection is important too – if it takes hours to upload or download the smallest document, you might want to upgrade your internet. In fact, some online college programs have computer system requirements!

Organized – There’s a lot of work involved in online college, probably much more than you are planning on. To keep it all straight, you are going to need to be able to stay organized, to get done what needs to get done, and to stay on top of upcoming deadlines all at the same time. Your organizational ability will keep you from falling behind.

Typing Speed – Okay, so no one will tell you that you need to be a speedy typist to enroll in college classes online, but it definitely helps! If you type one letter at a time, you may want to consider learning how to type before you enroll. It will save you plenty of grief in the long run!

Books, books, and more books! Online doesn't mean there won't be work.

greenasian / Chrystal Parsons

Time Management – As an online learner, it’s a likely assumption that you’ve got more going on than just college classes, like a career, health, and/or family concerns. Knowing how to manage your time and having or improving study habits will play a big role in your online success! You will have limited time to get things done and possessing the ability to figure out what needs to be done first (and do it efficiently) will go a long way in reducing your stress (and improving your grade).

Motivated – Can you hit the books (or ebooks) without someone reminding you that you need to? If procrastination is a word frequently used to describe you, you may have trouble in an online environment. With no one telling you what to do or how to do it, you’ll need to find ways to stay motivated on your own.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Classes, College Life, Online Tools | 2 Comments »

eType: Spell Your Way to An “A” (1,000 Free Invitations)

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

My College Guide is all about online tools, like eType, a user-friendly tool to help change the way you type! In fact, we even go so far to say it could help you pave your way to an “A.” We’ve got 1,000 invitations for My College Guide readers to download eType and use it: absolutely free! But first, let’s back up a bit and see what Daniella Toaf Lieber, the eType Product Manager, has to say about eType – before you download away!

eType has introduced badges! You can type your way to unlocking fun new badges!

Courtesy of eType

So — what is eType?
In one sentence; eType is a multi language dictionary that completes your words while you type. While you type, the eType window pops up and suggests completions for your words. You can easily download eType to your computer, add a dictionary in the language(s) you speak, and use it to help your typing.

eType has many features that you can configure, to suit different needs and typing levels. For example: You can define the number of keys before the window opens, set eType to open with a delay (so it will open the suggestions box only when you find yourself dawdling), or you can set eType to assist you only on your second language (and not while typing in your native language).

How did this idea come about?
The idea came from our founder, Daniel Scalosub, who is the Co-Founder of DSNR, DMG and more. One day, he started playing around with Microsoft’s programming suite Visual Studio. What Daniel liked most about VS is the fact that the program would automatically pull up a history of variable names typed in the past, before he even had the chance of misspelling a variable.

Later while working on a presentation for work, Daniel found himself waiting anxiously for a dropdown list of words to assist him as he began to type the word “Methodology.” He came to realize that people could really benefit from software that would complete their words for them in other environments as well. Eureka! The idea for eType was conceived.

eType in action: simple, clean, and effective!

Courtesy of eType

Translation, eh? What languages are currently supported on eType — do you have any others currently in the works?
Our new version 1.0.1.102 came out this morning as planned and it supports English (Thesaurus), Spanish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Arabic, Greek, Turkish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

We’ve also released beta dictionaries for Chinese, Japanese and Korean – I call it beta because for the moment it will complete you only in English, showing a Chinese/Japanese/Korean translation (and will not complete you in the opposite direction). We will progressively add more languages.

Our next goals are:
Create dictionaries from any language to any language (for example German-French).
To let the users create their own dictionaries by supplying API files.

What can someone do with eType? Why do you believe that this would this be a useful tool for a college bound student?
We’ve added a new feature – The scoreboard which includes statistics of the users’ typing and contributions. It has badges, which users can earn by participating, typing, adding new words, etc. and later share with friends on Facebook and Twitter.

So, eType doesn’t just help users’ spelling on Facebook (or should I say help them not get into Lamebook…) but it also became a popular group with over 11,000 followers and a cool topic for statuses (see above image).

image

Courtesy of eType

eType sounds too good to be true! What’s the catch? How much does it cost?
eType is free. There is a price for being free though, our dictionary is not perfect. Some words and translations are still missing, that’s why we call it beta, and that’s where our beta users come in. Our goal is to create a dictionary that’s always relevant and up to date.

A community based dictionary where people will add words and translations, which later on the entire community can enjoy. Think for a minute about the word “tweet” which until not long ago, had a whole different meaning, and I’m not sure anybody used “tweeting.”

And on a privacy note:
eType doesn’t record the words the users type.
User contributions (added words and translations) are sent to our servers anonymously.

My College Guide has 1,000 free invitations to eType so you can instantly try it out for yourself! Give it a spin, see what it can do for you – and enjoy! eType could be that must-have college accessory! While you’re at it, don’t forget to enter My College Guide’s Apple iPad and iPhone Giveaway, too!

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Posted in College Classes, College Life, Preparing for College, Technology | 2 Comments »

Apple iPad: it’s ALL the Rage — Even in Higher Ed!

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Sleek 'n Shiny: the Apple iPad! If you think your high school textbooks are heavy now…just wait until college!  But, if Apple has its way, the sleek 1.5 lb Apple iPad tablet could end up changing the way you learn at college…and possibly save you a few bucks (and your back) in the process.

How?  With eBook capability built right into the multi- touch-sensitive device (and their own iBookstore)!  Almost 150,000 iPhone applications will cross-over from Day One – so you can use your favorite iPhone apps to help fill out your college applications or take a break with a little Plants vs. Zombies, without having to wait!

No drab gray here, the iPad is all about color – and interaction!  Touch highlighted words (like vocab or concepts) for more information.  Create bookmarks to pick up where you left off, browse a touch activated slideshow, and flip through images, charts, or diagrams.  Surf the web or watch an awesome college video lecture.  Think of the possibility!

Pick a social media network and chances are somebody, somewhere is talking about it – what they heard, what they read, what they hope to see — and who can blame them?  Even colleges share in the iPad enthusiasm!  The Abilene Christian University student newspaper, The Optimist, is the first college newspaper to declare their intention to be on the iPad –  or, at least, it will be when the Apple iPad (finally!) hits stores April 3, 2010.

Don’t forget about George Fox University!  GFU is offering incoming students a choice between a computer (as they have done for the past 20 years) or the new iPad tablet.  Great idea for GFU’s computer possessing freshmen – or for those planning to purchase eBook textbooks down the line – and hoping to save big in place of hefty college texts.

The 429978333803sleekness of the iPad tablet dazzled My College Guide so much…well, what could we do?  Offer up a chance to win an Apple iPad of your very own, of course!  Request college information and you will be automatically entered to win the sleek and shiny Apple iPad (it isn’t like you don’t need college information)!  The contest will end on June 1, 2010.

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Posted in College Life, Fun Stuff, Preparing for College, Technology | 3 Comments »

The FAFSA Wins a Makeover

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

FAFSA on your list? Get 'er DONE!Procrastinating about completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid?  Thanks to a bit of pruning by the Department of Education, the 2010 – 2011 FAFSA may not be as complicated as you think!  Yes, you read that right.

The shiny new version of the online 2010 – 2011 FAFSA is reportedly easier to use and navigate!  On web pages alone, the Department of Education boasts a 65% decrease in the number of webpages and omitted over 20 questions!  That’s big news for the millions of students that fill out the FAFSA each year.

A streamlined FAFSA means you can spend less time filling out the FAFSA and more time on other important things like choosing a college and applying for college scholarships.

Changes on the 2010 – 2011 FAFSA include:

Side Tabs. Clearly labeled sections on the left of each screen make it easy for parent (light blue) or student (dark blue) to quickly find and complete specifically labeled sections without a lot of guesswork.

Help Text. In previous versions of the FAFSA, the help text took up large sections, creating an online FAFSA as bulky as the paper version!  Now, the help pops up in the sidebar and changes as you move from section to section so you can easily find what you need without a lot of digging.

Assets? The new FAFSA no longer requires students with family incomes around $40,000 to claim assets, in the hopes that, in the future, families will tuck a little away for higher education for their children – without worrying about being potentially penalized for it later.

Data Sharing – Future data-sharing between the IRS and the Department of Education could make answering questions a snap – or at least a lot easier than it has been in the past.  Students filling out the 2009 – 2010 FAFSA for the Spring semester can take advantage of tax information right from the IRS.  It should make filling in the blanks a whole lot easier!

Non-Traditional?  Married? If you are at least 24 or married, the Department of Education has good news for you!  You no longer have to provide parental information – which means it might be easier for you to qualify for financial aid since your parent(s) information will no longer count against you.

What do you think?  Do the changes to the FAFSA make you feel more confident about tackling (and completing) the form?  Why or why not?

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Posted in Financial Aid, Paying for College | 2 Comments »

6 of the Greatest Online College Planning Tools

Monday, November 30th, 2009

computerYou use your computer for just about everything, from taking notes to sending instant messages to friends to buying the latest MP3s. So why hasn’t the college application process gotten with the program?

Filling out paper applications and forms can be tedious and confusing. But the truth is, you can do just about everything online these days if you know where to look. We’ve rounded up some of the best online tools to help you out with the college application process, from finding scholarships to learning what your odds are. If you’re ready to put down the pen and paper for good, click on over to these great sites.

College Planner

Undoubtedly, you’re familiar with Facebook—in fact, you’re probably logged in right now. It’s the perfect way to keep up with friends and relatives, share photos, and play FarmVille and the rest of your favorite online games. Now, thanks to a cool app called College Planner, you can even use Facebook to apply to college.

College Planner lets you research user reviews of schools, discover schools based on your interests, find out what schools your friends are planning to apply to, and discuss school choices with your friends. Best of all, you can apply to any school online without even leaving your Facebook page!

Peterson’s College Search

There are so many decisions that go into choosing the perfect school for you—so how can you narrow it down a little? With Peterson’s detailed search tool, it’s easy to find the perfect selection of schools.  You can view detailed profiles for thousands of colleges, and run searches based on criteria including location, majors, and cost to find the schools that fit your needs.

FastWeb

As your parents have probably told you time and again, college is really, really expensive. Most families can’t afford to pay anywhere near the full tuition prize, so scholarships can really come in handy. You may not realize that there are thousands of available scholarships out there, which can be put towards any college. Is your GPA a bit lackluster because you dedicate so many hours to volunteering at a soup kitchen? You could be the perfect candidate for Cappex.com’s $1,000 “A GPA Isn’t Everything” scholarship, which rewards students who’ve shown valuable skills outside of the classroom. Learn about all the other ways you could be eligible for free money by visiting the site.

FAFSA4caster

It can be tough to know where to set your sights if you don’t know which schools are realistically within your budget. Luckily, in addition the scholarships we just mentioned, many families are also eligible for significant financial aid from the U.S. government. If you’re a senior, you can fill out a FAFSA form to determine your financial aid eligibility, but in the meantime, you can predict your needs by filling out the FAFSA4caster, which will let you know how much aid you’re likely to receive before you start applying for schools. Ask your parents to fill out the form here.

What Are My Chances?

For each college you apply to, you’re likely to be up for an application fee of between $50 and $70. That’s no small change, so when it comes to filling out your applications, you’ll need to choose your schools wisely, and choose a few safe bets along with the long shots. If you’re not sure how your odds stack up for getting into your favorite schools, Campus Compare’s handy “What Are My Chances?” tool will take account of your GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities to measure your chances at any college you select.

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Posted in Choosing a College, Financial Aid, Online Tools, Paying for College, Scholarships | 3 Comments »