Why These Students Chose USC (And Why You Should Too)

As the enrollment deadline approaches, high school seniors who were accepted to multiple schools are beginning to panic about where to commit. Many students have to consider the benefits of each program, financial aid, location, and ultimately, where they’ll be happiest. If the University of Southern California is on your list, maybe these USC students will help you make your choice: FernilionClass of 2020Not only is USC one of the top 10 architecture schools in the nation, but it is one of the only schools that has the complete campus feel while still being smack dab in the center of a large and vibrant city. The combination of being in the Los Angeles area and having the Trojan Alumni network area make me confident that Ill leave college with a job.JzeeClass of 2019 Money was huge factor. USC awarded me the Trustee Scholarship, giving me full-tuition for my undergraduate degree and therefore allowing me to graduate in 2019 without debt. Do not overlook the importance of your financial situation! Though debt right now may just seem like numbers, understand that after graduation, those numbers will become real-life, daily burdens that you will feel and experience. My program, the Iovine and Young Academy, also completely fit my interests. Through my application process, I looked for schools that could cater to my interdisciplinary needs. This program, through which I will earn a Bachelor of Science in the Arts, Technology, and Business of Innovation, encompasses all I looked for in a degree: flexibility between my passions in art and programming, smaller classes, and resources for success. JLee1126 Class of 2019 I chose USC because of the Trojan family. Particularly for Business Administration, having that network will be useful in finding jobs and internships in the future. And growing up in a rural area my entire life, Ive always been drawn to the city and Los Angeles is a phenomenal location regardless of my major. I have a huge interest in Tesla Motors and since they are based in California, I saw USC as a way to potentially seek a career there. While USC is nearly twice as expensive as my next choice school, I value the Trojan family and am willing to take on the loans and cost of attendance to access those connections. LA is also a hub for business and startups, unlike my second choice school (UIUC, business honors program). lamborghinibear Class of 2019 At the very end, I was completely torn between choosing USCs Marshall School of Business and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in hopes of eventually being accepted into its Kenan-Flagler Business School. Both schools are certainly highly prestigious, social, and career-driven universities. However, when it came right down to it, the fact that I would be restricted to a 2 year business program at a university geared towards getting students a job on the East Coast made UNC a difficult school to choose when I had exactly what I wanted close to home, in downtown Los Angeles. The Trojan Family created by USC is something very difficult to turn down, especially since it thrives right where I live and want to live for the rest of my life. The security of its campus, the diversity of student body, the dining options on and off campus, and pretty much every other factor made USC and UNC equal schools for what I wanted to. It really came down to the fact that USC is in Los Ange les, Marshall is a 4 year business program, and I was invited to participate in the Global Leadership Program that allows me to travel to China Freshman Year to study international business. Samishark17 Class of 2018 At the time of my decision, I narrowed down my options to my current school (USC), UCLA, and UC Berkeley. I had eliminated the other schools I was accepted into because of distance from home, cost, and opportunity/reputation. I decided on USC because 1) I received a merit based scholarship that covered half of my tuition and cut costs drastically, 2) It was close to home 3) It allowed me the flexibility I needed to explore, since Im still not 100% certain what I want to do as my career (UC schools are phenomenal, but impacted; I didnt want to risk going over 4 years) 4) It was a really good fit for me. The students were friendly, accommodating, and cooperative. There wasnt that air of stress or cut-throat competition you could feel (and hear about) at the other schools. Did that help you decide to commit to USC? Share your with us and help others who are interested in your school better understand the application process. Plus, you get to cash out your$10 signup bonusand earn extra money for college! What are you waiting for?

Battle of Kadesh - Ancient Egypt

Battle of Kadesh - Ancient Egypt Battle of Kadesh - Conflict Date: The Battle of Kadesh was fought in 1274, 1275, 1285, or 1300 BC during the conflicts between the Egyptians and Hittite Empire. Armies Commanders Egypt Ramses IIapprox. 20,000 men Hittite Empire Muwatalli IIapprox. 20,000-50,000 men Battle of Kadesh - Background: In response to waning Egyptian influence in Canaan and Syria, Pharaoh Ramses II prepared to campaign in the region during the fifth year of his reign. Though this area had been secured by his father, Seti I, it had slipped back under the influence of the Hittite Empire. Gathering an army at his capital, Pi-Ramesses, Ramses divided it into four divisions dubbed Amun, Ra, Set, and Ptah. To support this force, he also recruited a force of mercenaries which were dubbed the Nearin or Nearin. Marching north, the Egyptian divisions traveled together while the Nearin were assigned to secure the port of Sumur. Battle of Kadesh - Misinformation: Opposing Ramses was the army of Muwatalli II which was encamped near Kadesh. In an effort to deceive Ramses, he planted two nomads in the path of the Egyptian advance with false information regarding the armys location and shifted his camp behind the city to east. Taken by the Egyptians, the nomads informed Ramses that the Hittite army was far away in the land of Aleppo. Believing this information, Ramses sought to seize the opportunity to capture Kadesh before the Hittites could arrive. As a result, he raced ahead with the Amun and Ra divisions, dividing his forces. Battle of Kadesh - The Armies Clash: Arriving north of the city with his bodyguard, Ramses was soon joined by the Amun division which established a fortified camp to await the arrival of the Ra division which was marching in from the south. While here, his troops captured two Hittite spies who, after being tortured, revealed the true location of Muwatallis army. Angered that his scouts and officers had failed him, he issued orders summoning the remainder of the army. Seeing an opportunity, Muwatalli ordered the bulk of his chariot force to cross the Orontes River south of Kadesh, and attack the approaching Ra division. As they departed, he personally led a reserve chariot force and infantry north of the city to block possible escape routes in that direction. Caught in the open while in a marching formation, the troops of the Ra division were quickly routed by the attacking Hittites. As the first survivors reached the Amun camp, Ramses realized the severity of the situation and dispatched his vizier to hurry the Ptah division. Having routed the Ra and cut off the Egyptians line of retreat, the Hittite chariots swung north and assaulted the Amun camp. Crashing through the Egyptian shield wall, his men drove Ramses troops back. With no alternative available, Ramses personally led his bodyguard in a counterattack against the enemy. While the bulk of the Hittite attackers paused to loot the Egyptian camp, Ramses succeeded in driving off an enemy chariot force to the east. In the wake of this success, he was joined by the arriving Nearin which swarmed into the camp and succeeded in driving out the Hittites who retreated towards Kadesh. With the battle turning against him, Muwatalli elected push forward his chariot reserve but held back his infantry. As the Hittite chariots moved towards the river, Ramses advanced his forces east to meet them. Assuming a strong position on the west bank, the Egyptians were able to prevent the Hittite chariots from forming and advancing at attack speed. Despite this, Muwatalli ordered six charges against the Egyptian lines all of which were turned back. As evening approached, the lead elements of the Ptah division arrived on the field threatening the Hittite rear. Unable to break through Ramses lines, Muwatalli elected to fall back. Battle of Kadesh - Aftermath: While some sources suggest that the Hittite army entered Kadesh, it is likely that the bulk retreated towards Aleppo. Reforming his battered army and lacking supplies for a long siege, Ramses elected to withdraw towards Damascus. Casualties for the Battle of Kadesh are not known. Though a tactical victory for the Egyptians the battle proved a strategic defeat as Ramses had failed to capture Kadesh. Returning to their respective capitals, both leaders declared victory. The struggle between the two empires would continue to rage for over a decade until concluded by one of the worlds first international peace treaties. Selected Sources HistoryNet: Battle of KadeshTour Egypt: Battle of KadeshHistory of War: Battle of Kadesh

Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Essay Cancer is not just one disease but rather a group of diseases. All forms of cancer cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Most types of cancer cells form a lump or mass called a tumor. Cells from the tumor can break away and travel to other parts of the body. There they can continue to grow. This spreading process is called metastasis. When cancer spreads, it is still named after the part of the body where it started. For example, if Breast Cancer Essay spreads to the lungs, it is still breast cancer, not lung cancer. Another word for cancerous is malignant. So a cancerous tumor is called malignant. But not all tumors are cancer. A tumor that is not cancer is called benign. Benign tumors do not grow and spread the way cancer does. They are usually not a threat to life. A few cancers, such as blood cancers (leukemia), do not form a tumor. Most kinds of cancer are named after the part of the body where the cancer first starts. Breast cancer begins in the breast tissue. This article refers only to breast cancer in women. Men can also get breast cancer, although this is rare. Women.com, pp. 6 Inside the breasts are glands that produce and release milk after a woman has a baby. The glands that make the milk are called lobules and the tubes that connect them to the nipple are called ducts. The breast itself is made up of lobules; ducts; and fatty, connective, and lymphatic tissue. There are several types of breast tumors. Most are benign; that is, they are not cancer. These lumps are often caused by fibrocystic changes. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs, and fibrosis refers to connective tissue or scar tissue formation. Fibrocystic changes can cause breast swelling and pain. The breasts may feel lumpy and sometimes there is a clear or slightly cloudy nipple discharge. Benign breast tumors are abnormal growths, but they do not spread outside of the breast and they are not life-threatening. Lawrence, pp. 54 Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. Many great doctors predicts that there will be about 184,200 new cases of invasive breast cancer in the year 2000 among women in this country and about 41,200 deaths from the disease. Breast cancer also occurs among men, although much less often. Death rates from breast cancer declined significantly during 1992 to 1996, with the largest decrease in younger women both white and black. This decline is probably the result of better detection and improved treatment. We do not yet know exactly what causes breast cancer, but we do know that certain risk factors are linked to the disease. A risk factor is something that increases a persons chance of getting a disease. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a persons age or family history, cant be changed. Lee, pp. 124 While all women are at risk for breast cancer, the factors listed below can increase the chances of having the disease. Some studies suggest that long-term use (10 years or more) of estrogen replacement therapy, sometimes called hormone replacement therapy, for relief of menopause symptoms may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer. This risk applies only to current and recent users. A womans breast cancer risk returns to that of the general population within 5 years of stopping ERT. Replacement therapy also lowers the risk of heart attacks and bone fractures; therefore, women should talk to their doctors about the pros and cons of using ERT. At this time, there is no certain way to prevent breast cancer. For now, the best strategy is to reduce risk factors whenever possible and follow the guidelines for finding breast cancer early. A personal or family history of breast cancer may make genetic testing an option for some women. About 50%-60% of women with certain genetic changes (mutations) will develop breast cancer by the age of 70. a woman has these mutated genes, but it cannot predict whether a woman will get breast cancer. Genetic testing is expensive and is not covered by some health plans. People with positive results might not be able to get insurance, or coverage might only be available at a much higher cost. You need .

An analysis of the culture of an organization Essay

An analysis of the culture of an organization - Essay Example It also has an influence on group’s interactions. Ben and Jerry’s is an organization that has been in operation for over 30 years since its inception. It is an organization whose culture has been integral for its survival in a market where it faces so much competition from other heavy weight organizations such as McDonalds. It has innovative management strategies and they have brought much success for the organization. Its ice cream is said to be the richest in terms of flavors and calories (Andy, 2003; Liddle, 2011). In addition, the company sells its products at a price that is favorable to many customers (Heidrick & Struggles, 2000). A brief background to the organization and its environment Ben and Jerry’s is a company in the United States that manufactures and sells ice cream. The company also manufactures sorbet as well as frozen yogurt (Datamonitor, 2010). The company, founded in the year 1978 by two men, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield has its headquarters at Burlington, Vermont in the U. S. Its factory is in Waterbury, Vermont. The two guys had met in a gym class in the year 1966. Jerry wanted to be a medical doctor but after failing to succeed joining a medical school after a number of trials, he decided to take a course in ice cream making. They pursued the course with Ben who had lost several McJobs. This was in the year 1978. After the course they opened an ice cream shop in a gas station in Burlington, Vermont. They produced the finest ice cream and this made helped them become finest (Heidrick & Struggles, 2000). Ben did not have a sense of taste. As a result, he was relying on mouth feel. This resulted to the trademark they use to date which is big chunks of chocolate, nut and fruits. At times, they could disagree on the size of chunks. However, they both wanted to enjoy themselves and this kept them moving. The two were poor book keepers and therefore they were not able to account properly for their sales. As a result, they closed for some time claiming that they wanted to figure out if they were making money in their business. It was a period of learning and when they reopened in the year 1979, they started wholesaling ice cream. Since then, the company has grown to become one of the best ice cream selling companies in the United States of America. Ben and Jerry’s is part of the Unilever Group (Hays, 2000). It was acquired by Unilever in the year 2000 for a reported $326 (Glass, 2009). Introduction to the focus of the report Culture of an organization is an important issue in the business world since it has an influence on the organizational performance. Culture can be studied using a number of approaches. In the wake of globalization, it is important for business people as well as academicians to understand the culture of different countries. This is especially important for multinationals since they operate in different countries which have varying cultures. All the concerned parties have to see business as well as personal issues from a perspective other than one’s own cultural perspective. It is therefore imperative that studying culture from various frameworks will be highly helpful. This report focuses on the culture of analysis of an organization in the United States of America known as Ben and Jerry’s. The report will apply a theoretical framework to try and understand the cu

Career Explorations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Career Explorations - Assignment Example eason why there is certainty in the future of the careers in the field is because of the findings by the researches that improvement in the health sector in the next coming years will not be guaranteed by research in medicine but public measures to prevent them. The other reason to pursue career in public health is because in modern days, there is a shift in focus towards concentrating more resources in the prevention measures in order to cut health costs. This is through public education and other raft of measure to improve public health. The specific career in the field is senior development specialist. A post in Essentia located in greater London. It is in health-public, health industry and technology development. The term of employment is permanent. Its’ main work is the design and development of programs to improve the public health infrastructure. This is important because it enables smooth and organized running of the healthcare services. It greatly helps facilitate the offering of services and it is important as it saves the overall cost of running the health sector due to its ability to reduce the number of labor workforce. It is not just about design; it goes beyond that to implementation. It requires one with knowledge in both commercial and the health sector. It focuses on the implementation of proper solutions that improve service efficiency for both workers and patients. To enter the field one need to have experience in JavaScript application to be guaranteed position in the internal service, now development team. The preferred candidates should have Knowledge and experience in BMC, CA, remedy or other ITSM tools. To be more suited for the job or be highly recommended for the job, one ought to possesses good technical background knowledge specifically in Jelly scripting and also being conversant with software development that are helpful in JavaScript application. A candidate should possesses good knowledge in modern technology, but the candidate

Renewable Energy Essay Example for Free

Renewable Energy Essay Climate change is one of significant issues that have been considered in recent years. According to Anderson (2009), most climate researchers recognise it is essential to reduce 80 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 to prohibit effects of climate change. Furthermore, carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the most important causes to produce GHG which is combusted from heating, transportation and electricity generated by fossil fuels. However, one of the solutions for reducing CO2 emissions is using renewable energy to replace fossil fuel. In addition, renewable energy is generated by natural resources such as sunlight, wind and biomass which produce less or no pollution when generate energy. Furthermore, renewable energy will be demanded for approximately half of the worldwide electricity supplies to reduce CO2 emissions by 2050, which it is estimated by The International Energy Agency (Cited in Shi 2010). This essay will focus on two forms of renewable energies which are solar power and biofuels. Firstly, solar energy has been widely used to generate heat and electricity recently. Moreover, it will show the benefits and also point out some drawbacks of solar energy. After that, the discussion will describe the second form of widespread renewable energy in the transport sector which is biofuels. Finally, it will reveal advantages and a disadvantage of this energy. This essay argues that renewable energies, which are solar power and biofuels have been extensively utilised in recent years. Furthermore, they have more advantages than disadvantages. Solar Energy The sun is the largest source of energy, which is transformed to solar power for generating heat and electricity and has been widely used in recent years. According to European Union (2011), there are several applications to use solar energy for heating such as hot water at home, heating in factory and building and swimming pool. In addition, a cooling system also uses solar energy as heat absorption system to generate air conditioning and cooling system in refrigerator. Moreover, this kind of energy can be transformed to generate electricity by two ways. First of all, Prasad Bansal (2011) state that electricity is converted directly from light by Photovoltaic (PV) via semiconducting materials, whose basic composition is solar cells. Furthermore, Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is another way to generate electricity, in which parabolic solar tower focuses the light to be used for a single point heating, and then produces steam to impel a turbine (European Union 2011). However, PV and CSP can collect electricity in the different ways. PV plants store the energy by connects to batteries, or sent to the electricity grid. On the other hand, CSP system can store heat by itself. Therefore, this power can be generated during the absence of sunlight during the day and night time (European Union 2011). Although there are many reasons for using solar energy, there are some reasons against the use of this kind of energy such as limited condition and the high cost. Firstly, the most significant problem of solar power supply is this energy is not available during the absence of sunlight (especially at night). Furthermore, in winter that often has cloud cover, there are only a low amount of solar power is available (Lakatos, Hevessy Kovacs 2011). However, this issue can be overcome with the use of CHP as it can store the power by itself. Therefore, it can be used during the absence of sunlight. In addition, thin film photovoltaic (PV) power is another solution of the places that have cloud cover. According to Blakeslee (2012), there are three layers in thin film PV for covering a wider spectrum of light. Thus, the light is scattered in all directions by clouds more than usually block it. Secondly, another disadvantage of solar is the high cost is considered as another obstacle of solar energy. As he states that, â€Å"A recent NYU study found the following actual 2005 costs in cents/kWh: Geothermal 3.1-4.3 Biofuels Energy Another widespread renewable energy is biofuel which has been developed to use instead of fossil fuels in the transport sector. There are two principle forms of ‘biofuels’ which are biodiesel and bioethanol. First of all, most of biodiesel is created from oil which is produced by oleaginous plants such as sunflower, rapeseed and palm by reacting with methanol (European Union 2011). Moreover, the viscosity of these oils decreases when they are heated. In addition, Adelekan (2012) points out that these oils can be transformed directly to a diesel engine when they burn, or they can be generated to produce fuels as biodiesel by chemical process. Another form of biofuel is bioethanol or ethyl alcohol which is burned easily to produce a flame, which is generated by distilling products from the sugars and maize when they are fermented such as sugar beet, cereals, sugar cane or biomass (Ortiz et al. 2011). In many countries, there are an increasing number to use bioethanol as ga sohol or oxygenate in gasoline. In addition, bioethanol is elementary to process and manufacture (Adelekan 2012). As well as solar power, using biofuel also brings some disadvantages such as an impact on demand for food. According to Habibah (cited in Adelekan 2012), A huge demand for crops, sugar and oleaginous plants might be impacted from the demand for biofuels which will be result for an increasing cost of food price, increasing level of poverty and food insecurity problem. In addition, biofuels are enemy for agricultural land that would have been used for growing food crops despite being used for growing energy crops now (Adelekan 2012). Therefore, the number of lands for agriculture would be decreased that would have an effect on shortage of food. However, if the government launches the policy of regulation to use agriculture land for growing energy crops, this issue would be overcome. Conclusion In conclusion, there are several significant benefits in the use of renewable energies which are solar power and biofuels to be utilised for replacing fossil fuels. As can be seen in the discussion above, solar energy can be transformed to generate heat and electricity with Photovoltaic and Concentrating Solar Power. In addition, biofuels, another renewable energy can be used in transport sector to replace fossil fuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol. However, although there are some disadvantages of both kinds of energy, their effectiveness is greater. In addition, these obstacles could be overcome in the near future. Therefore, the use of these renewable energies could be the essential alternative way to reduce CO2 emissions for the solution of climate change.

Catherine II and Stalin :: European History

Catherine II and Stalin Catherine II (the Great) and Joseph Stalin were both leaders of Russia that demonstrated an awareness of the West. They tried to emulate some of the elements of the West while purposely neglecting others. For this reason they were partial westernizers. Catherine the Great was very in tune with the Enlightenment and she had vast knowledge over the culture of Western Europe. Due to this she decided that her country was backward and would need to change in order for it to remain being a world power. In 1767 she assembled a Legislative Commission to help her amend the laws and government of Russia. Before this body convened, Catherine published a set of Instructions based on many of the political works of the philosophes. Other examples of her westernization exist in her plans for economic growth. She tried to halt interior barriers in trade. Also, under her reign, the exports of grain, flax, fur, and naval stores increased and she encouraged the growth of the urban middle class, which is so essential for trade. On the other hand, although it seemed as if Catherine was taking steps toward a more western future, her proposition to reform law did not occur until fifty years later. Also, she strongly supported to rights of the nobility and granted them local power over the medieval custom of serfs. Catherine never had any intention from departing from absolutism and her close rapport with the philosophes was a strategic move. She wanted them to spread the word of a progressive and modern Russia. She wanted to resemble the West but she did not want to actually be like it. Joseph Stalin was much less modern in his thought than Catherine the Great. One of the few examples of westernization under his regime was the remarkably successful Five-Year Plans. This was his vehicle for industrialization by setting goals for economic production and meeting them. Also, Stalin made peace with the Russian Orthodox Church. Although, this was more likely an attempt to gain more support during World War II than because of the kindness of his heart. However, most of Stalin's actions reflected a cruel backward mentality. Stalin's collectivization proposal made the kulaks very wealthy and also was opposed by many farmers and peasants from all social classes. First, Stalin eliminated the kulaks as a class. Then he proceeded to assassinate al dissidents and this ended up in

Does the Internet have a democratising effect on society? Essay

Internet has revolutionized the way of doing work in today’s modern world. Businesses are increasingly becoming online because of the wide spread of internet facility available every where. Now it is just a matter of click and one gets his order delivered at his door step. Where ever there is computer, there is internet access also available. Today people feel incomplete without computer and internet because internet makes us connected with the world. It provides a social feeling of comfort and togetherness, anyone having internet access is not alone in the real sense. With ever falling computer prices and internet usage rates, now all classes of people are able to afford the computer and simultaneously use internet. (Cavalier , 2005) Any media to which the whole population can access and communicate on just about anything has an over all democratizing effect on that population. The word ‘democratize’ basically means making available to all. So when we talk about the democratization effect of internet, it means that the internet can be accessed by every one. Radios, television, newspapers all make people literate and let information flow to them but internet is not limited to this extent. The percentage of people involved in producing and consuming knowledge is far greater for internet as compared to any other media. Therefore, it is fair and just if we call internet a democratizing agent. (Browning , 2002) There is information available on any topic at all on the internet. People can access online dictionaries, encyclopedias, journal articles, and search on research engines just sitting at their home. This has widened the knowledge base of the people. This huge information available on the internet has rendered it to have a democratizing effect because anyone any where can have access to information available on widest possible range of subjects. People who are illiterate on a certain subject gain information through the internet and are able to give well prepared lectures on that topic. Even people are now able to access internet free of cost at public libraries, universities, colleges etc. This means that internet has actually led to the democratization of information. The world is witnessing high growth rates in the use of Internet at homes as well as organizations. People have 24/7 connectivity available thanks to the developments in LAN and WAN. Moreover, information is available in all major languages over the internet so even non-English speaking people do not face any kind of trouble in accessing information which they require. People are not bounded from expressing themselves and their presented information can circulate to different corners of the world. The democracy of internet has led to an increase in the public awareness on crucial issues and has granted them freedom to express their thoughts openly even against the government which cannot be done in person. With the increased connectivity, more and more people are becoming aware of their environment and what is going on around them. They can discuss political and national issues over the internet with others and share information. Data related to the government as well as one’s country is easily accessed by the people and they get to know their real economic situation. Internet has democratized the politics and media. News is being transmitted through the internet plus political campaigns are also being carried on the websites. An example would illustrate the democratizing effect of internet on political campaigns. Political candidates and parties are raising more and more money through internet in the form of funds and donations. People try to convince others over the internet to donate for political campaigns and internet has increased the number of donors (Shane , 2004). Previously, people were not willing to donate for political campaigns but with the increasing democratizing effect of the internet, politics is gaining popularity and people are getting involved in political discussions and campaigns.

Quantitative Research Paper Essay

Quantitative research includes classification of certain features, calculations and construction of statistical models that can describe these features. In contrast, qualitative research is more focused on description of features excluding statistical descriptions. In quantitative research, data are summarized in the form of verbal descriptions or graphical representations. On the contrary, in qualitative research they appear in statistical tables, graphs, or charts. The researcher is more likely to use qualitative research in the earlier phases of the research project when one is looking for ideas to be later explored in depth within a quantitative framework. The processing of data in quantitative research is more likely to include a subjective component than in the other type. As a result, the results of quantitative research can often mix the context of the study but provide enough material to evaluate a certain hypothesis. A literature review should be compiled in order to answer a specific question or gather data to evaluate a hypothesis. The researcher should define the type of literature one wants to use as well as the scope of information to be used in the research. The sources used should be appropriate for the topic. Depending on the type of research, the sources should be predominantly or only peer-reviewed academic publications relevant to the explored question or field of study. The publications used in literature review should be critically evaluated by the reviewer. It is also important to organize the literature review in a coherent manner so that it is divided into understandable units. An explanation of how this or that topic fits into the research framework should be provided. The synthesis of material should provide adequate background for the topic under research. Conceptualization and operationalization form two pillars of science as these two methods allow researchers to use concepts that are the foundation of human exploration of the universe. By grouping objects into categories called concepts and developing practical ways of measuring these concepts through operationalization, researchers can explore a variety of objects, phenomena and situations. Theories need to be formulated with the help of specific concepts. Here conceptualization plays a crucial role, permitting scholars to define classes that will be described by this or that concept.   Conceptualization creates a concept that can be defined in all complexity of relationships and serve as common ground for exploration of an object or phenomenon by different researchers. Operationalization allows practical application of concepts, permitting their measurement through concrete observations. Each science seeks to define its conceptual apparatus through specific observations. As a result of this quest, â€Å"to operationally define basic concepts has now become central to all sciences† (Wikipedia, 2006). The article â€Å"Money, money, money: an exploratory study on the financial literacy of Black college students† by Angela J. Murphy that appeared in the September 2005 issue of College Student Journal investigates â€Å"the influence of race, gender, age, major and parental educational level on the financial knowledge of undergraduate students attending a predominantly Black institution†. The researcher has identified a strikingly low level of financial literacy among such students. Age and major were found to have less influence, while parental education and major had more impact. One research question can be formulated as â€Å"Does age have an influence on financial literacy of Black college students?†. Another one is â€Å"Does major have an influence on financial literacy of Black college students?†. Independent variables included race, gender, parental education, and age. The dependent variable was the financial literacy in certain areas including â€Å"the topics of income taxes, credit consigning, short term savings, investing for retirement, social security, future college costs and home ownership† (Murphy, 2005). The research used surveys. The method is justified because it permitted researchers to have structured, generalizable results that could be analysed with statistical methods. The survey also allowed people to ask a broad range of students attending various institutions. Mail survey and personal interview are similar in the first place because they test personal attitudes of people toward a subject or phenomenon. Both involve respondents with their individual differences, cultural background, demographic situation that influence the research. The difference lies first of all in the procedure: personal interview involves face-to-face contact whereas a mail survey envisages written communication. Consequently, an interview is more personal, while a mail survey presupposes less personal interaction between the researcher and the respondent. In organizational behavior investigation, a personal interview is more subjective because the participant will be influenced by personal perception of the researcher, possible positive or negative associations, etc. A mail survey, on the contrary, will be free from these limitations. The downside, however, is the frequently low rate of response that is often accountable for bias in answers. A more personal interaction can create more opportunities for the researcher to probe the topic with open-ended questions and find out the opinion of the interviewee with more detail. In addition, if the interviewee finds certain questions ambiguous, he or she can clarify details with the scientist, while this opportunity is absent in the case of a mail survey. To investigate the question of trust, a personal interview is preferable. First, it is considered â€Å"the most reliable method of data collection, especially when attitudinal behavior is of concern† (Pennsylvania Department of Health, 2001). Especially when executives are targeted, the time consumed in filling out a mail survey may become a factor that will discourage most of the targeted public from answering. The choice can be constrained by the budget, as personal interviews are traditionally considered the most expensive research method. In an experiment, the researcher is trying to answer a question performing certain actions that will test the validity of a hypothesis. In a focus group, the researcher is typically trying to explore a broad range of issues. As such, a focus group is called upon to conduct a discussion using prepared question rather than answer a specific question. Besides, the results from a focus group will be less rigidly defined and will require more scholarly interpretation whereas the experiment should deliver a more specific answer to the question. The advantage of focus groups is the open-ended nature of the research that opens possibilities for participants to air their views on many important subjects and share opinions. Besides, it is more personal and allows for greater consideration of individual differences, as â€Å"interaction also enables participants to ask questions of each other, as well as to re-evaluate and reconsider their own understandings of their specific experiences† (Gibbs, 1997). However, a focus group can be practically difficult to organize, involves participants coming from different cultures that can contribute to bias. Besides, these groups offer less predictable results as â€Å"researcher, or moderator, for example, has less control over the data produced† than in other methods (Gibbs, 1997). An experiment, on the other hand, provides for a greater degree of control, especially in controlled experiments, which makes the data more adapted to generalization. However, there is a possibility that participants will behave in controlled environments differently than they would under typically circumstances. An example of research question that can be tested through a focus group is â€Å"What qualities of â€Å"Dove† soap brand make it appealing to consumers?† A focus group would allow participants to share views on the subject with a relatively large degree of freedom so that new, unexpected answers can come up. A question to be tested with an experiment can be â€Å"Do people buy Mercedes cars for quality or prestige?† This question can be answered in an experiment since here one can identify dependent and independent variables and develop a statistical apparatus to answer the question. References Gibbs, A. (1997, Winter). Focus Groups. Social Research Update. Retrieved July 2, 2006, from http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/sru/SRU19.html Murphy. A.J. (2005, September). Money, money, money: an exploratory study on the financial literacy of Black college students. College Student Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2006, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCR/is_3_39/ai_n15384395 Pennsylvania Department of Health. (2001). Health Statistics – Technical Assistance Tools of the Trade. Retrieved July 2, 2006, from http://www.health.state.pa.us/hpa/stats/techassist/surveytypes.htm Wikipedia. (2006). Operationalization. Retrieved July 2, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operationalization

Do Colleges Look at Middle School Grades

Do Colleges Look at Middle School Grades SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Should you be worried about a low grade you got in middle school hurting your future college applications? Do middle school grades count for college?With college admissions getting more competitive and students preparing for college earlier and earlier, many people wonder if colleges look at the middle school grades of applicants. Will that C you got in 6th grade math hold you back from getting into your dream school? In this guide, we explain if colleges look at middle school grades, which grades colleges are most interested in, and everything you can do as a middle school student to prepare for the college application process. Do Colleges Look at Middle School Grades? Your middle school grades will not be part of your college application.No college, even a highly-competitive one, is going to be looking at what grades you got in middle school. There are several reasons for this. The main one is that, when you apply to college, your middle school grades will have occurred too long ago to give colleges an accurate idea of the student you are now. If colleges see that you got a D in science when you were 12 years old, that really doesn’t give them any insight into the type of student you are at 17 or 18 when you’re applying to schools. You’ve had years to improve your study habits and master new material, so penalizing you for something that happened years ago would be unfair. Middle school grades simply happened too long ago to be very useful. Additionally, middle school grades are often more subjective than high school grades. One middle school may have a very different grading scale compared to a different school, while some middle school teachers may give everyone A’s while others are much more strict. Things like this can happen in high school too, but it’s more prevalent in middle school, which makes it harder for colleges to compare grades of students who went to different middle schools. Colleges also have plenty of better information to figure out what kind of student you are that they don't need your middle school grades. Colleges ask for a lot of materials when you apply, including your high school transcript, standardized test scores, the extracurriculars you were in, personal statements, and letters of recommendation.This is enough for them to get a good idea of who you are and what type of student you are. Middle school grades wouldn't add any useful information. Which Grades Do Colleges Look At? Which Year of School Is Most Important for College Applications? Colleges won't be looking at your middle school grades, but they will be very interested in all the grades you got in high school. When you apply to colleges, you’ll submit a transcript that includes the grades you got the first three years of high school, and many schools also require you to submit your senior grades once you get them. Colleges will look at every grade you got in high school, so ideally you want your entire high school transcript to be strong.However, there are some grades that are more important to colleges than other grades. Generally colleges care most about the grades you got junior year. These grades are the most important because, when you apply in the fall of your senior year, they’re the most recent grades the college has access to, so they give them the best idea of your current abilities. If you got a few low grades your freshman year but turned around and got high grades the rest of your high school career, colleges will see that maybe you struggled a bit in the beginning, but then you overcame those issues and were able to maintain a high GPA afterward. That gives them confidence you’re on track to be a successful college student. On the other hand, if you began high school with a strong GPA but have gradually gotten lower grades, especially in your junior year, colleges may be more concerned that you’re struggling as classes get more difficult, you’re losing motivation, or both.Having high grades your junior year will give colleges confidence that you can succeed as a student that their school. How important are your grades from other years of high school? Senior year grades are probably the next most important, although some colleges make admissions decisions before your senior grades are out. However, many colleges will ask for your senior grades even after they’ve accepted you, so don’t fall prey to senioritis and start coasting your final year of high school. Sophomore grades are most important after that, then freshman grades. What Can You Do in Middle School to Prepare for College? Even though colleges don’t look at your middle school grades, there's still plenty you can do in middle school to prepare for college. It’s not required to start thinking about college in middle school, but if you’re really motivated, there are several things you can do as a middle schooler to put you in the best spot when it comes time to apply to college. Here are three things to focus on. #1: Get the Best Grades You Can in Your Classes Even though colleges won’t be looking at your middle school grades, you still want to get the best grades you can during those years. Having strong middle school grades increases the chances of you being placed into advanced classes as a high school freshman, which colleges will see. Additionally, by working hard in middle school, you’ll acquire good study and testing habits that you can continue to use in high school, making it easier for you to get high grades in your high school classes.You don’t want to enter high school without knowing how to properly read a chapter in a textbook or study for a big test. Learn these things in middle school so you’ll be as prepared as possible for your high school classes and can start your freshman year off strong. #2: Think About Which Subjects You Enjoy Most You absolutely don’t need to know what you’re going to major in as a middle schooler (most high school students have no idea what they’re going to major in!), but it can definitely be helpful to start thinking about what your favorite subjects are and which of them you’d like to continue taking. If you know that you enjoy, say, math and science classes more than English and social studies classes, once you get to high school you can begin aiming to take more advanced classes in math and science to show colleges that you’re skilled in them. It’s totally fine to change your mind about which classes you plan on taking in high school, but by starting to think about it in middle school, you can be better prepared when it comes time to choose classes in high school. #3: Participate in Different Extracurricular Activities Your middle school grades may not be part of your college application, but extracurriculars you participate in during this time might be! If you’ve been taking piano lessons since you were in 2nd grade or been volunteering at a nursing home since you were 13, you can include that on your college applications as long as you continued those activities through at least part of high school. This means your middle school extracurriculars can show colleges your commitment to an activity, and participating in an extracurricular in middle school can help you get a leadership position in that activity as a high school student. If colleges see that you’ve stuck with an activity since middle school, it’ll show them you’re passionate about it and can really dedicate yourself to an activity.Similarly, obtaining a leadership position in an extracurricular also shows you’re passionate about it and that you have leadership skills (a big plus to colleges). As with tip #2, it’s completely fine to change extracurriculars between middle school and college, but if you’re looking for a way to strengthen your future college applications, sticking with at least one can help. Conclusion: Do Middle School Grades Count for College? Do colleges look at middle school grades? No, your middle school grades occurred too long ago to really give colleges an accurate idea of your current academic abilities. Colleges have many other pieces of information that are much more useful for figuring out which applicants to accept, so they don’t use middle school grades. Which grades do colleges look at? Your high school grades will be very important for your college application, particularly your junior year grades since these give colleges the best idea of what kind of student you are now. Even though your middle school grades won’t be used in the college application process, you can still begin preparing for college applications in middle school by getting high grades (to prepare you for the best high school classes), thinking about which classes you want to continue with in high school and beyond, and participating in extracurriculars you’re interested in and want to continue with in high school. What's Next? Trying to decide where to go to high school? Learn how to compare high schools using SAT or ACT scores. Thinking ahead to your high school grades?Learn the average high school GPA so you know what to aim for. Beginning your college search?Check out our guide on how to choose the best college for you. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Langston Hughes Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Langston Hughes - Research Proposal Example (Biography book, 1969, 43) It could be noted that through this, Langston Hughes was bale to become one of the most remarkable writers to note the possibility of reaching the American dream of being untied as one particular community that is able to live together peacefully amidst the daunting challenges brought about by living in a diverse community today. Most of the written works of Hughes deal with social inequality. From the birth of slavery to the development of social stratification procedures and the existence of social and racial discrimination in the human society today, Hughes was able to describe how it actually feels to be different. As someone who was able to experience the effects of such differences and social stratification systems, it could be observed that Hughes is one of the most reliable sources of explanation as to how discrimination and racial differences could actually affect a person's growth. Hence, through his writings, Hughes aims to create a considerable call to each individual being affected by the said situation as well as to each authority who could be expected to give a least some considerable solutions to the matter, to give attention to these primary situations in the human society today. ... A change on the treatment that the oppressed communities or individuals are receiving should be well considered for making a better human society. Understanding the Thoughts of Hughes Equality amidst differences. This is the primary thought that Hughes himself aims to portray in his written works like that of the poem entitled "Let America Be America Again". In this reading, he further notes that amidst diversity, America could still be recognized as one particular community of united people again as per taken into consideration based from the possible adjustments that the people of the said society could do to at least answer the need of living together as one within a community of their own. To the said author, differences need not hinder a certain community from becoming united in terms of dreams and aspirations towards the future. Hence, in this case, his poem further identifies the elemental factors that divide America and later on proposes a possible plausible change that could assist in refining the American society towards a more progressive community living in a united state. The Realities of Present Human Life and Hughes' Ideas (A) Langston Hughes and the Issues of Slavery According to the study of Baldwin and Toplin (2006), the written works of Hughes actually notes the existence of the author's desire for the idealism of survival. To the said author, life is a gift of hope wrapped around several ribbons of challenges that if one is able to unwrap it, then he realizes his own worth as a person. (Baldwin, et al, 2006, 17). The very idealistic and positive nature of a society that is desired and dreamed by many is that it is to be founded in accordance to the values of equality and liberty. (Baldwin, et al, 2006, 22) This is the utopian model of

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Case Study - Essay Example The company found itself left out in the cold financially when they were blocked from accessing needed investment resources. An additional significant internal influence in the demise of Burgmaster was a sense of complacency (which damaged the entire industry) that led to a drop in quality, and the neglect of the characteristic benefit that was formerly most associated with the company: innovation. External factors also played an important role in this organizational tragedy. Some would argue that the political environment at the time is what doomed Burgmaster, as it failed to adequately protect the company from international competition. The competing businesses may have been the most crucial issue. Japanese companies were quick to capitalize on all opportunities, including a swing in market demands toward the perceived (and real) benefits associated with Asian technology. Accordingly, the operational strategy that would have been the best hope for saving Burgmaster should have been focused on improving