Hispanics represent the fastest-growing population group in the United States. In fact, according to the National Center for Education Statistics’ most recent Projections of Education Statistics, between 2009 and 2020, enrollment in degree-granting institutions is projected to increase 46 percent for students who are Hispanic–compare that to a projected increase of only 1 percent for students who are white.
Taking the LSAT or the MCAT is not for the faint of heart. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a three-and-a-half-hour exam required for admission to all American Bar Association-approved law schools; the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a four-hour, 25-minute exam required for admission to almost all medical schools in the country. That’s why many aspiring law and med students take test prep courses to ensure a high score and entry into the school of their choice–though this can be a pricy burden.
U.S. News & World Report currently has the corner on the market for grad school rankings. It covers most, if not all, fields of graduate study, using specific sets of data and criteria to arrive at the numbers. (Other graduate school ranking systems are designed exclusively for specific fields of study, such as biomedical sciences, communication, engineering, philosophy, or psychology.) Here’s a bit about U.S. News’ always-anticipated guide:
To get into graduate school, you may need to take the GREs or the GMAT. But to get into a specific graduate school program (e.g., business, law, or medical), you’ll need to showcase more specific skills. Get the profession-specific grad school test lowdown here:
Graduation is both exciting and nerve wracking. Oftentimes, graduate school is an extension of being able to get an education without having to become a “real” person. But not all of us can be professional students forever. We need to get jobs. And with companies continuing to lay off employees and in hiring freezes, what can we do to ensure we’re not left out on the street, even with a plethora of degrees?
A recent survey was conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) on 5,312 students at 156 graduate schools both domestically and internationally. The 2011 Global Management Education Graduate Survey shows that new MBAs have been lining up jobs even before graduation. It found that the majority of these business students (about 54 percent) had at least one job offer before they walked to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance.” This number increased significantly from 2010, when only 32 percent had job offers.
In addition, the survey reports that those who are in full-time MBA programs expected to increase their salary by 59 percent, compared to their pre-MBA job. And this comes within an unpredictable economy. This type of increase is huge and a reason that business school on the graduate level is worth looking into. The fact that 92 percent of students rated the value of their education as outstanding, excellent, or good is a huge testament to the satisfaction and worth of business programs.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that the business field will continue to grow about as fast as, if not faster than, the average of all occupations through the year 2016. Some of these professions within the business field include accountants, auditors, investment bankers, etc. And those who have master’s degrees have a better chance of getting the top-coveted and top-paying positions.
The 2011 Global Management Education Graduate Survey certainly proves that students taking an MBA program are satisfied, have better job opportunities, and have the ability to make more money. By searching for the perfect business school, you too can become one of the top professionals in the business field in uncertain economic times.
Are you ready to take your education to the next level? Check out this advanced degree overview and determine if the degree you’re pursuing is the right one for you.
Master’s degree
Admission into a master’s degree program may involve taking a grad school test (e.g., GRE, MAT, GMAT) and completing a competitive application process. Earning a master’s degree typically requires one to two years of full-time study, cumulative final exams, and a master’s thesis. Academic master’s degrees — master of arts (MA) and master of science (MS) — are designed to lead to a doctoral degree. Professional master’s degrees prepare students for entrance into a specific career, and do not require any further education.
Examples of professional master’s degrees: master of business administration (MBA), master of social work (MSW), master of library science (MLS), master of fine arts (MFA).
Doctoral degree
A doctoral degree is the highest degree you can earn for graduate study. Admission to doctoral degree programs is competitive and usually requires high scores on the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) tests as well as a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field. Earning your doctorate can take anywhere from three to nine years or more, depending on your area of study and the time it takes to complete your dissertation. You’ll need to take comprehensive oral exams, and identify, research, write, and defend your dissertation.
Examples of doctoral degrees: doctor of education (Ed.D.), doctor of public health (Dr.P.H.), doctor of nursing science (D.NSc.), doctor of psychology (Psy.D.), doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.).
First-professional degree
Admission into a first-professional degree program typically involves taking a grad school test (e.g., LSAT, MCAT, PCAT) and completing a competitive application process. First-professional degree programs, which take at least six years of college work, consist of all the education required to begin practice in a particular profession, culminating in a national or state board exam, thesis, or dissertation.
First-professional degrees may be awarded in 10 fields: chiropractic (DC or DCM); dentistry (DDS or DMD); law (LLB, JD); medicine (MD); optometry (OD); osteopathic medicine (DO); pharmacy (Pharm.D.); podiatry (DPM, DP, or Pod.D.); theology (M.Div., MHL, BD, or Ordination); and veterinary medicine (DVM).
Advanced degree payoff
What you’ve heard is true — the higher the degree, the bigger the bucks. In fact, adults with advanced degrees earn four times more than those with less than a high school diploma, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Here’s an annual earnings breakdown by degree:
No high school diploma: $25,374
High school diploma: $34,197
Bachelor’s degree: $57,026
Master’s degree: $69,958
Doctoral degree: $88,867
First-professional degree: $103,411
Choose your advanced degree today, and reap career rewards for a lifetime.
Anyone who had planned on cheating their way to a high Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score should know that it won’t be an easy task. The company that administers the exam, the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) uses palm scans to confirm test takers’ identities and avoid foul play at testing centers.
What’s This All About?
With the high amount of cheating occurring on the GMAT, the GMAC deemed it necessary to increase security to prevent future incidents. Instead of the fingerprint scan used previously, students now get their palms scanned to take infrared pictures of the blood flowing through their veins. Since everyone has a unique palm print, it will be easy to match the scans and confirm that those who show up to the testing site are indeed the registered test takers.
Sound like an extreme measure? Maybe, but apparently, it’s called for. In an article by John Hechinger for The Wall Street Journal, it was reported that federal authorities had broken up a ring five years ago of six fraudsters who had taken over 590 exams for customers who had paid them at least $3,000 to take it for them.
Businessweek reported that in 2008, more than 6,000 students were in danger of having their GMAT scores canceled. The controversy began when a site by the name of Scoretop was discovered to have been releasing questions from recent exams. Users of this site could have their applications rejected or be expelled from school.
The GMAT is the first standardized test to use this security measure. The palm scanner devices cost $1,000 or less to install. So what kind of effect will the installation of this new security device cost test takers? Nothing–the cost of the test will not be raised as a result of the palm scans.
What are your thoughts? Good security measure or blatant invasion of privacy?
Privacy rights advocates are concerned that the scans will be used for other reasons besides just identifying the test taker and matching them to the scan at the test site. Some also feel that the scans should be discarded of within a certain period of time. But the GMAC stated that these would not be discarded and would be made part of the students’ permanent record.
The living dead seem to be taking over some college campuses, with students participating in games like Humans Vs Zombies (HvZ) and even Zombie Walks that raise money for good causes.
Sure, you may not need to know how to survive a zombie attack, like the folks in “The Walking Dead,” but we found ways that zombies can actually teach you about college. It may even help your education come alive!
1. Have a one-track mind.
All zombies want are brains. They’ll do anything to get yours. If you have the same mentality, but focused on your degree, you’ll get through school without distractions and with your brain intact.
2. Pick up those feet.
If you find yourself shuffling, unmotivated to get to class, realize you may be falling into the zombie mode.
3. Take care of your body.
Even while in college, don’t ignore your health. One unsettling thing about zombies is the fact that they’re bloody, with scars and wounds that never heal. Their skin is rotting, and hair and nails are falling out. A shower every now and again, and some clean clothes can take away your inner zombie.
Even though your lack of sleep may have you feeling like a zombie, a little money may help you feel more alive. Enter to win $2,500 by sharing your story of how education can help you come alive!
~Lori Johnston
(Image courtesy of Chris Harvey/Shutterstock.com)
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