Leona G. Smith
Leona G. Smith

Do you realize that participation in community work can influence your mental health and the development of your personality or strong character? The ability to find joy in helping others helps us to relax and de-stress. Knowing that you can participate in a group or teamwork builds your confidence and helps you develop poise in social interactions. You learn to get along with others and know and understand yourself and them better. While directly assisting and improving an organization and the lives of the people you are serving are among the advantages of community service for students, it will also improve your professional prospects.

 

Community Services Are Important 

College students who volunteer in their local communities and on campus benefit from the experience, as well as the knowledge and skills gained from helping those in need. Young people can become active citizens of their communities through community service and volunteering as college students, positively impacting society. You learn from examples by observing and acknowledging each one’s talent. One might have the more extraordinary physical ability, while another might have more mental capability. You learn to help those with less skill or strength and respect each one for their accomplishments.

 

Some Advantages of Community Service

Community work takes tremendous sacrifice while adding a deeper meaning to life. To be a good team member, you learn to control your actions for the team’s good.  You learn to respect the feelings and rights of others. You learn to create a peaceful interaction and do what’s best for others. Other than these, community service is advantageous to college students; here are a few listed:

 

  1. Cognitive Advantages 

By expanding their knowledge, learning from new experiences, and honing their interpersonal communication skills, college volunteers support students’ cognitive development. Through community service, you will develop new skills relevant to the workplace and a stronger sense of social responsibility, all while having a beneficial impact on your neighborhood.

 

  1. Psychological Advantages 

Helping others is a great way to relieve your own anxiety and stress. One of the major contributors to the onset of depression is being isolated from other people. Through helping others and maintaining relationships, college volunteering improves your self-esteem and overall sense of fulfillment in life. Volunteering with animals and pets has also been proven to improve mood and reduce stress.

 

  1. Social Advantages 

Students who volunteer have a unique connection with the people or organizations being helped since they are involved directly with the community. Students’ social awareness and responsibility are also increased through community service. Your social, professional, and support network will undoubtedly expand due to meeting so many new individuals who share your interests.

 

  1. Physical Advantages

Volunteering also has physical advantages. It keeps you physically fit, reduces the signs or chances of chronic pain, depression, and other conditions, and improves your heart health.

 

  1. Inspire Confidence 

Do you find it tough to meet new people because you’re shy? Thankfully, volunteering allows people—outgoing or not—the chance to practice and build their social skills by getting to know others with similar interests and aspirations. Over time, you will grow closer to your fellow volunteers through college volunteering, which will also help you feel more confident.

 

  1. Refresh & Rejuvenate

Engaging in college volunteering can make it simpler to get away from your regular obligations or worries. Volunteering for community work can be a meaningful way to relax, rejuvenate, and become energetic since it allows you to pursue your interests while helping others. We all require time away from our jobs and commitments, and by pausing to stop caring about yourself, you may create room to support your own development.

 

  1. Improve Your Resume 

Strengthening your resume and increasing career possibilities is a further benefit of community engagement for students. Community work increases one’s chances of finding employment, and most businesses favor hiring applicants with volunteer experience. Volunteering in college or at any age will enhance your resume and make you more marketable for the job. 

 

  1. Take Your Career Forward

Volunteering during college is a great way to build your resume and make and forge connections with industry leaders. You will practice skills gained and applied in business through cooperation, problem-solving, planning and managing projects, exercising communication and organizational skills, etc. 

 

Wrap Up

One’s ego and pride in being ahead of the “game” or being academically successful often play second fiddle to what satisfaction you get in touching people’s lives. You accomplish more by volunteering for community work. It will improve your endurance and be helpful at college and at home. Through this endurance, you will discover how strong you are – one who never gives up quickly, no matter what obstacles are thrown your way.  

 

Lastly, you learn to appreciate what you have, to give to others more than you receive, and to care about your family members, college mates, teachers, and colleagues at work. You become more tolerant towards caste, race, language, and religion, making you a well-rounded human.   

 

So, get out there and become part of any community work that can satisfy you. 

 

Like this article? There’s more from where this came! Check out our other interesting topics and what experts have to say on critical issues every student or working professional must understand. You can also look up our resources and guides on GRE, GMAT, Scholarships, Accreditation, and more for essential information. If you are interested in social work, you will find our guides to social work programs invaluable.

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Universities around the United States have faced significant funding cuts because of the COVID-19 outbreak. In California, for example, higher education services have been slashed by $1.7 billion in order to address a $54.3 billion budget deficit. It is no secret that colleges and universities across the country are facing budget cuts. What is a secret, however, is the full extent of the fallout these budget cuts will have on our country’s education system. In this blog post, we will look at the effects of budget cuts on colleges and universities. We will see how these budget cuts affect students, staff, and faculty members around the country.

Students are the biggest victims of budget cuts. Many students are being forced to take on more debt to pay for their education. In addition, students are being forced to take fewer classes and graduate later. This has a negative impact on their education and their future career prospects. Not only does the time to graduate take longer, but the cost of education also goes up as well.

Staff members are also feeling the effects of budget cuts. Many staff members have lost their jobs, and those who remain are being forced to do more with less. This affects the quality of an educational institution and how efficiently it can be run.

Faculty members are also feeling the effects of budget cuts. Many faculty members are being forced to take on more work, and many are leaving the profession altogether. This is hurting the quality of education that students are receiving.

In short, budget cuts always harm colleges and universities around the country. Students are being forced to take on more debt, staff members are losing their jobs, and faculty members are leaving the profession. Unfortunately, there is no solid workaround to budget cuts. The bitter reality is that only added expenditure and budget outlay can improve the entire education system and sector. Let us hope that the U.S. Federal Government will do more to sustain and grow the country’s educational body.

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Check out the list below and see which work-study job is right for you:

  1. Tutor other students in your field of study
  2. Work in the campus library
  3. Serve as a research assistant for professors
  4. Manage the social media accounts for the school
  5. Staff the campus bookstore
  6. Serve as a Resident Assistant (RA) or Desk Assistant (DA) in a dormitory
  7. Work in food service or the dining hall
  8. Serve as a lab assistant in your field of study
  9. Work in the campus IT department or help desk
  10. Create and manage a blog or website for the school
  11. Serve as a student ambassador
  12. Work in the career center
  13. Staff the campus reception desk
  14. Serve as a teaching assistant for professors in your field of study
  15. Serve as a mentor to other students
  16. Work in the campus health center
  17. Serve as a mentor to new students
  18. Work in the student activities office
  19. Work in the campus radio or TV station
  20. Serve as a tour guide for prospective students and their families
  21. Work in the campus security office
  22. Serve as a student worker in the admissions office
  23. Work as a student worker in the registrar’s office
  24. Serve as a student worker in the financial aid office
  25. Work as a student worker in the campus marketing office

We hope you have found the perfect work-study job for you on this list! Remember to explore all your options and ask around. Campus jobs are a great way to gain experience and make some money, so be sure to check them out. Good luck!

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If you’re thinking of returning to college as an adult, the first thing you should know is that it is never too late. Indeed, with today’s workforce, education requirements, technology-driven work environments, and a tendency toward later retirement, going to college as an adult is relatively common. According to Education Data, over 1 out of 10 (11.4%) of Americans aged 25 to 34 years are enrolled in college, and 2.3% are 35 years and older.

While there are numerous compelling reasons to attend college at any age, being a nontraditional student is not always straightforward. As a working adult, going to college presents its own set of challenges.

We are here to help you prepare for success if you are committed to improving your personal, professional, and financial outlook for yourself or your family. Read on for some ways of navigating the hurdles of attending college as an adult and succeeding as a nontraditional college student.

Don’t Be Your Own Barrier

Uncertainty is one of the most difficult obstacles for many adults who want to attend college. Many adult college applicants ask themselves questions such as:

  1. Will I be able to attend college?
  2. Will I feel alienated if I’m surrounded by pupils not my age?
  3. Do I have the necessary tools to succeed in today’s college setting?
  4. Is it truly the best time for me to return to school?

Returning to college is a major step, but do not let yourself stand in the way of your ambition. Apply to institutions or universities that examine your entire experience and education when making admission decisions to remove the fear aspect. Typically, the college application process can be intimidating for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you are not a natural test taker, and entrance tests are your greatest worry? Perhaps your past GPA in high school or college was not stellar? But never assume you won’t be accepted to college, regardless of your reservations. There are high-quality, accredited universities that lower the entry barriers to help motivated individuals from all walks of life obtain a college degree.

Make a Sound Financial Decision

The expense of a college degree is a big concern for individuals returning to school. There are several options for preparing for the financial realities of education, including:

Budgeting – Making a budget and setting aside funds for your college education.

Reimbursement – Inquiring about tuition reimbursement from your company for college courses.

FAFSA Filling out the FAFSA ensures that you are eligible for grants and federal student loans.

Investigation – Investigating the whole cost of your college education, which includes tuition, supplementary fees, and textbook or software prices.

Consider the long-term benefits of a college education while making a financial decision. Unlike taking out a car loan for a car that will depreciate over time, ‘investing’ in education will potentially increase your income over time. Of course, taking out a loan, even for education, should not be your first choice.

Always consider the long term while evaluating your funding alternatives, and consider how an education will help you achieve your professional and salary goals.

In reality, for many adults without a college diploma, returning to school is becoming a long-term financial need. For example, the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that individuals with a bachelor’s degree in securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents earn a median annual wage of $90,000; their master’s degree counterparts earn $170,000. Of course, bachelor’s degree holders would make more than non-degree holders.

Choose the Right College

For most people, it does not make sense to give up their jobs, further their education, and then look out for another job. It makes sense to find an affordable online college that allows you to work while pursuing your education. Choosing an online institution that will enable you to keep your current job and salary is one approach to lowering the opportunity cost of a college degree. Returning to school full-time inevitably costs more because you lose out on salary earnings while also adding tuition fees to your budget.

Balance & Manage Your Time & Workload

When it comes to attending college as a working adult, time management is crucial. If you are going to get your degree online, you will want to make sure that your flexible schedule does not hinder your progress. To avoid procrastination or falling behind, you must arrange your routine ahead of time. You should also maintain a healthy balance between your academic, career, and personal endeavors.

Here are some pointers to keep you organized and on track:

  • Create a separate, quiet office where you can concentrate on your studies.
  • Use suitable apps to manage your workload.
  • Set aside time each week on your calendar to focus on your studies.
  • Check your course website frequently to keep track of your assignment progress.
  • To spread out the completion of larger projects, divide work, and create personal deadlines.

Look for Resources & Support

Adults returning to college may require different forms of assistance than conventional college students.

Here are some quick ways to make yourself comfortable in the college setting:

  • Connect with other students and join study groups to help you complete your homework, assignments, and projects.
  • Ask questions about the course and clear your doubts with a professor.
  • Look for networking possibilities through your college and degree program.
  • When you need more support, go to the library, a tutor, or a writing center.
  • Select a program that offers specific support services for working adults.

Strike a Good Work-Life-Study Balance

Returning to college might be challenging at times, but it can also be quite gratifying. Take the opportunity to talk to your teachers and classmates about what you are learning. Also, remember to strike a healthy balance in your life.

Make a list of your most important personal and professional duties and schedule your schoolwork around them. Set your priorities early and stick to them, whether going on a work outing or tucking your kids in at night. You will stay grounded and motivated to reap the rewards of a college education if you schedule social activities and family time.

Choose a College that Caters to Working Adults

While online universities offer the most flexibility, not all of them are structured to fulfill the demands of working adults. Therefore, choose a college that provides you with the resources, techniques, and procedures you need to succeed as a working adult attending college. Don’t forget – it is crucial that the college you enroll in is accredited, which means that it satisfies the highest academic requirements while offering education in a convenient online format.

At Online Masters Colleges (OMC), we actively encourage the culture of a strong study-life balance. Students can use our comprehensive guides to help them thrive in college. Apart from providing numerous resources, we assist students by providing them with detailed information on topics such as scholarships, accreditation, FAFSA, MA vs MS, and more.

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As a graduate student, you will have to become very efficient with your time. This means that you need a good productivity suite to help you get the most out of your studies. Microsoft, Google, and Apple all offer great options for productivity suites, but which one is the best for you? In this blog post, we will compare the three most popular options and help you decide which one is right for you.

 

What is a Productivity Suite? A Quick Background

A quick rundown is in order for those unfamiliar with productivity suites. The three most common applications of a productivity suite (another term for a collection of productivity apps) are a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a presenter. A word processor is primarily used to handle all your text-based needs, from writing poems to reports, stories, etc. The spreadsheet allows you to do some number-crunching and calculations, create charts and diagrams, and work with numbers in general. The presenter is used to create slideshows of anything you wish to present to an audience and can contain text, numbers, graphics, images, audio, video, and even animations. While this is a general and very basic description of what productivity apps are all about, do note that these simple-sounding tools are really very powerful with advanced features that sometimes require a course or courses to master!

 

Microsoft

Microsoft offers the most traditional productivity suite with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, part of their Office productivity suite. These are all essential tools for any student, and they are very easy to use. MS Office is known for its powerful and modern features and works well for advanced uses. However, Microsoft Office can be pretty expensive, especially if you need to purchase it for multiple devices.

 

Google

Google offers a more affordable option with their Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, part of Google Workspace. These are all great options for students who want to save money on their productivity suite. Google productivity apps integrate well with other Google services and are the best for those who are deeply rooted in their ecosystem. However, some reviewers think that Google’s productivity apps can be a bit more difficult to use than Microsoft Office.

 

Apple

Apple offers the most user-friendly option with its Pages, Numbers, and Keynote (formerly combined and known as iWork). These are all great options for students who want an easy-to-use productivity suite, especially those who do not require complex and advanced features and for whom cross-compatibility with other suites is not essential. Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are a breeze because they are simple and work well for those within the Apple ecosystem. These apps come free with an Apple desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone. However, Apple products can be pretty expensive to purchase.

 

 

How to Pick a Productivity Suite

There is no sure-shot method of zeroing in on the best productivity suite. In many cases, people are known to switch between them for different tasks or needs. For example, a person may use Microsoft Word for their textual needs but use Google Sheets for numerical needs and Apple Keynote for presentations. But in general, there are a few ways to identify what works well for you:

 

  1. Consider the ecosystem you are in or wish to get into – all three companies have invested heavily in their ecosystems, where everything works seamlessly and flawlessly within its periphery. So, for example, if you rely heavily on Google and its services, opting for Docs, Sheets, and Slides could very well be the best option.

 

  1. Consider the costs involved – monthly subscriptions, annual subscriptions, family-sharing, etc. While Microsoft requires some form of subscription or purchase, Google offers its Workspace to those who have a paid Gmail account (domain-based) or free, in some cases, with limited features. Apple’s suite comes free with any hardware purchase – desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone.

 

  1. Consider your general requirements – if simplicity is your key requirement, Apple is the way to go, but it compromises on at least some advanced features. Power users may prefer Microsoft, while Google is a good choice for those who prefer a blend of affordability, features, and usability.

 

  1. Consider the main features you require – While all three options have a similar basic feature set, it is best to check if there are any specific features you are looking for that may or may not be a deal-breaker for you.

 

  1. Consider Compatibility and Interoperability – if you are sharing files with your friends and peers often, check to see which app provides the best compatibility across other suites. Interoperability is also essential; multiple devices should be able to read and write your files without losing any information or formatting.

 

 

Which is the Best Productivity Suite?

So, which productivity suite is the most suitable for a graduate student? It really depends on your needs and budget. If you need a traditional productivity suite that is widely used, Microsoft Office with its Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are the industry standard and great options. If you are looking for a more affordable option, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are excellent. If you want a user-friendly productivity suite, Apple Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are simple and easy to use.

 

One of the best ways to zero in on what your preferred choice should be is to try and use these applications on your friends’ devices or download trial versions (if available) and play around with them to see what features they offer (that suit you) and how easy they are for you to use them. This experiment or trial will go a long way in making the right choice – easy!

 

 

Make sure you read our other articles that can help you as an online student – The 2021 MacBook — A Students Perspective, What is Cyber Security? – Follow these 10 Simple Steps to Protect Yourself, Do students prefer Mac or Windows, and more. At Online Masters Colleges (OMC), we also have several handy resources that will provide you with in-depth information on topics such as GMAT vs GRE, How to Double Major, Scholarship Scams, and a whole lot more!

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