How to Write a College Application Letter of Recommendation

By Carol Eiseman

Over the years, I have written letters for business associates. However, my favorites to write are for young students who are applying for colleges, scholarships or their first job. These are personal reference letters and I love getting the chance to sit with these young adults and talk about their futures and aspirations. These conversations help me in writing letters that are relevant, meaningful and honest. As a result I have become the first stop for many of my four children's friends who are in need of a letter of recommendation.

A letter of recommendation should be one of the easiest pieces of correspondence to compose. You are usually asked to author this by someone that you know well either from your business or personal circles. Having direct knowledge about the subject of your letter should make it easy to expound on their character strengths, personal attributes and accomplishments. In spite of this, it may still be an overwhelming prospect for many.

So, how to start... As I just mentioned, get additional information from the person. You may know them personally as they hang out at your house, but find out what their other outside interests and accomplishments have been. Make sure you know the specifics of what is being asked for in the letter. Get a copy of the requisite for the letter. This information is usually on the college or scholarship application instructions. If it is their first job, find out why THEY think they are qualified. Review their resume together for further insights.

The letter itself... The recipient, their title and the address must be on the letter. Also for college admission letters, reference the candidate's name and social security or admission ID number. If you have a job with official stationary, use it. It adds a more professional touch. In the opening paragraph, confirm why you are writing the letter. For example, you could begin with a sentence like this. I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for "full name" who is applying for acceptance to your university. You want to make sure the recipient knows immediately what this letter is referencing.

The body of the letter.. You should identify how long and in what capacity you have know this person. It can be as simple as a "family friend for 20 years". Don't be afraid to point out background information about a strong family foundation. Personalizing the letter makes for a more interesting read. Next outline the accomplishments, attributes and interests of the person and relate them back to why these factors make your candidate an outstanding choice. Be specific and give examples. A generalized, vague letter will not help your student.

The conclusion of the letter should be a strong one line reiteration of the candidate's qualifications. You should also include your personal email and/or phone for any follow up that may be required. While the recipient may never reach out to you, this offer of further contact underscores your commitment to the person's qualifications.

In the final analysis, the candidate's resume will have to speak for itself. However, a well written, honest, and "real" letter of recommendation can be that little extra asset that will differentiate your candidate from the pack. So step up and offer to help the students in your life. Celebrate these kids by offering to help them. If you would like to see some sample letters of recommendation I have written over the years, please visit Celebration Ideas Online Sample Letters of Recommendation.

Carol is a married mom of 4 who works full-time as an account executive. She has been active with the kids and all their activities over the years. She served as a PTA President as well as President of numerous school booster clubs. Her favorite hobby now that the kids are all on their own or off to college is her web site: Celebration Ideas Online It was started as an album of family celebrations and has since developed into a resource center for anyone looking for celebration ideas and "how to" information.

25 Red Flags - Common Weaknesses in MBA Applicants

By Avi Gordon

When you apply to a competitive business school, it stands to reason that your essays, interview, and recommendations should highlight your strengths and mitigate weaknesses. Everyone will tell you that. But it's not always obvious to applicants what these weaknesses actually are - what factors cause admissions committees to raise their eyebrows and ultimately to waitlist or outright ding candidates.

Obviously there are many reasons applicants get sidelined, and often they will be specific to the candidate. However there are identifiable common weaknesses or red flags that push an applicant into ding territory.

Here are 25 common weaknesses to be aware of. You are in "red flag" zone if:

1. You intend changing your career direction or your primary industry

2. You have no hard evidence of leadership experience

3. You are under 24 or older than 30 at the time of application (for a full-time MBA);or under 30 or over 45 (for an executive MBA)

4. You are currently or have been previously self-employed; or there have been breaks in your career

5. Your background is very common: e.g. banking, consulting

6. Your background is unusual, and/or low in business experience

7. You have no volunteer or community service experience

8. You are applying to a foreign country

9. You come from a high applicant country - US, India, China, etc.

10. You are or have been unemployed in the last three years

11. You have been with your present company for under a year, or you have been employed by 3 or more companies

12. Your undergraduate academic record, GPA or equivalent, is sketchy

13. You have not been promoted in your job (or your previous job)

14. You do not have recommenders who will praise you unconditionally

15. Your GMAT is below 680 (for a top-20 program)

16. You are underpaid considering your level of seniority and responsibility.

17. You are not sure what you want to do with your MBA

18. You have no clear team experience, or don't know your team player profile

19. You have an arts or social studies background (hello, you're a "poet")

20. You were dinged last year from any business school

21. You have another Masters degree, or a PhD

22. You don't have some math or stats in your background

23. You are short of international or intercultural contact experience

24. You don't think you have any weaknesses (wake up and get one fast!)

25. You are short of active writing experience and the last time you wrote an essay was in college

If any of these apply to you, it's not the end of the world. In fact all candidates have stronger and weaker areas. The point is to be aware of the weakness and to directly deal with it. How to do this varies from situation to situation. Sometimes it's better to say nothing and not draw attention to a problem area. But more often the best policy is to create countering information. If you are underpaid for your level, explain how your compensation comes in other forms; if you don't get team experience at work, explain how much you got at college, and so on.

A.V. Gordon, MBA, is Director of the MBA Admissions Studio (http://www.mbastudio.net), a specialist admissions coaching and essay editing practice for MBA and executive MBA applicants. He is the author of MBA Admissions Strategy: From Profile Building to Essay Writing published by McGraw Hill/ Open University Press. He has been the resident expert on MBA admissions essay with The World MBA Tour. He writes and consults in various aspects of business coaching and communication strategy.

Athletic Recruiting - Myths and Lies That Will Keep You From Getting Scholarships For Sports

By Lynn West

Do you Dream of getting a College Athletic Scholarship? Do you know anything about athletic recruiting? Do you know how to go about getting an athletic scholarship? Have you heard that it is tough to land that prized college athletic scholarship?

Well, the truth is it isn't easy, but it is doable. In fact, tens of thousands do it every year. Is it worth the time, effort, and energy it takes to get one? ABSOLUTELY!

Myth #1... You are not an Elite Athlete, so you can't get a college athletic scholarship This is pure bunk!

Sure, there are some blue chip athletes that do get hounded by the college coaches; the coaches visit, the letters come, the scholarship offers are made, and there is a big time TV signing event.

This all happens without the athlete doing anything but playing his/her sport. This is very RARE!

But, what if you are not a 'blue chip' elite athlete? Should you throw in the towel and consider your sports career over? Absolutely not! The vast majority of college athletes are NOT 'blue chip' athletes.

Myth #2...You live in a small town where there isn't much athletic recruiting, so you can't get a scholarship. Don't believe this garbage either!

If you live in a rural area or a small town, it is more difficult to get the attention of the college coaches. However, you will still have many opportunities to get noticed in the arena of athletic recruiting.

Participate in camps at colleges where you would eventually like to play. Perform well in tournaments, games against larger schools, and championship games.

Myth #3 ...I'm not as good as the college athletes I see on TV, so I can't compete at the college level. Just more pure rubbish! YES, you can and here's why.

The majority of the college athletes you see on television are NCAA Division I athletes; this is the most competitive level of college athletics.

There are plenty of athletic scholarships to be had in the NCAA Division II, III, NAIA, and Junior College schools.

Myth #4... I don't know anything about Athletic Recruiting or Scholarships For Sports, so I can't get one of those sought after College School Athletic Scholarships.

The truth is, the worst thing you can do in any situation is to do NOTHING. Educate yourself about athletic recruiting and find out what you can do to help yourself get recruited.

Myth #5 ... It costs a ton of money to get myself recruited, and I just don't have the bucks. It's true, there are several athletic recruiting companies that charge several thousand dollars to help athletes get a scholarship.

However, most families do not have this kind of money to pay a company that will hopefully help their son or daughter get recruited.

Thankfully, there is a website that is giving away a FREE e-Book, "How To Get A College Athletic Scholarship". It details everything a college bound student athlete MUST do in order to be recruited.

It was written by an NCAA Division I Full-Ride Scholarship recipient who also received numerous other athletic scholarship offers in three additional sports.

If your brain is a buzz with Sports Recruiting, Scholarships For Sports, or High School Athletic Scholarships, take a few moments to download this FREE e-Book. With this information, you'll be light years ahead of your competition and well on your way to the College Athletic Scholarship of your dreams.

To download your copy Visit College Athletic Recruiting and get your FREE Ebook with step by step instructions of How to Get A College Athletic Scholarship.

The Clep Exam - What is it and How Do I Prepare

By Wayne Hemrick

Clep is an acronym for College Level Examination Program. If you are an individual who is pursuing a college degree, this program will likely be of interest to you. It allows you to save both time and money on your college education by sitting for a two hour clep exam, and if you achieve a certain score your college or university will award you college credit for having taken the test. Students can save money, because typically the clep exam costs much less than the credits would cost if the class was taken. It also will save you time, because you can receive credit for classes that normally take anywhere from one quarter to up to a year of time. These are a couple of the major reasons why the clep exam is so popular, and if your college offers credit for the clep testing you wish to take, the next question is how to prepare successfully for clep testing.

You will want to avail your self of several clep study guide aids, including online clep study. Many of the clep prep aids will provide you with study tips, so you can study wisely for the particular clep exam you wish to take.

Clep study can include time spent working on sample questions, sample tests that are timed, and focused reading in the test subject area. Many students find that a combination of all three of these clep study methods provides them with the information coverage that will be required in order to pass the exam successfully.

Most of the exams are in a multiple-choice question format, although some of the tests also require a written essay. The tests are timed, so this is another consideration as you prepare. A good clep study guide will often give advice for the best strategies for success on your exam.

Another bit of preparation can actually occur on test day itself. The exams are set up with a brief tutorial at the beginning, so you can get used to the test format before you actually begin taking the exam. The tutorial is not timed.

The College Board, who prepares these exams, offers individual descriptions of each of the thirty four clep tests that they offer. They also offer a listing of the knowledge and skills that the exam requires, as well as study resources that you will want to look at and use in clep prep for your exam. Online clep study aids are also available.

Wayne Hemrick is dedicated to higher education. In this article he writes about clep test

Nottingham University Business School - World Top Ranking Performance

By Loke Yuen Wong

Founded in 1798, The University of Nottingham is a world class university with international reputation for excellent research and teaching performance. Today the university has more than 33000 students studying across its four major campuses in the UK and two international campuses in Malaysia and China.

Nottingham University Business School (NUBS) offers one of the world class leading MBA programs which are fully accredited by the Association of MBA (AMBA). The school is a world renowned centre of excellence in research, actively involved in major research areas such as Marketing, Industrial Economics, Human Resource Management, Accounting and Finance. Different types of MBA programs are offered such as the Financial MBA, General MBA, Executive MBA and International MBA.

University Ranking Information:

NUBS is one of the largest business school in Europe. It is ranked 6th by the 2008 Times Good University Guide (UK).

The school has outstanding record in teaching and research. It received a Grade 5 rating in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2001. Its teaching was rated 'excellent' by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

Ranked as one of the world top 100 MBA programs by the Financial Times global top 100 MBA 2008 and the Economist Intelligence Unit 2007.

The university is ranked 19th in the Guardian University Ranking 2009 and 13th in the Sunday Times University Guide 2008.

It was named the 'UK University of the Year' by the Times Higher Education in 2006.

It is ranked in the World top 100 universities by the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2007 and THES-QS World University Rankings 2007.

Please visit the relevant guides for Best MBA Programs and Business School Ranking. The author, Loke Yuen Wong, holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University (UK) and a BCom degree from The University of Adelaide (Australia).

When to Pursue an MBA Degree, Now Or Later?

By Julie Harvard

Most common question rises by those who are interested to pursue an MBA degree is when is the right time to pursue the degree. Does it make sense to continue on immediately after college and earn an MBA? Or, they should decide to go back to school after gaining some work experience.

In fact, there is no right or wrong answer to this question, it depends on the person and the circumstances, so first consider the pros and cons of pursuing an MBA immediately after the college versus after gaining some work experience before deciding the path that you would like to follow in earning your MBA degree.

Pursue an MBA Degree Now

There are several arguments that support on directly going for MBA immediately after completing an undergraduate degree:

1. Don't wait because the MBA degree will open up new career opportunities for you. The earlier you earn the degree the more career opportunities you can grab along your career path.

2. Things may change with time, so don't risk having your MBA plan derailed. You may plan to pursue an MBA after 2 years of working, but there are too many things that can get in within these 2 years such as family, health problem that causes you to have financial burden, lost of job & etc. that may force you to put aside your MBA plan. You just can't really count on things that yet to happen in the future. Hence, if you have intention to pursue an MBA degree, take the action now.

Pursue an MBA Degree Later

There is no right or wrong argument, but the counter-points for pursuing an MBA later are worth to be considered as well:

1. MBA itself has many concentrations for students to specialize in. Gaining some working experience first will help you to determine the type of MBA concentration that can help the most in your career. For example, if your employment experience triggers a desire to become a CEO in banking industry, you may want to enroll in MBA program that offers concentration in Banking Finance.

2. You do not know whether you really need an MBA until you have entered the workplace. Your working experience will tell you whether you need an MBA degree to boost your career to the highest level or you can achieve it with your current degree.

Gaining Working Experience & Pursuing an MBA - Do It Concurrently

With the available of online education, many MBA programs have been offered online, you have the 3rd choice of pursue an MBA degree while concurrently gaining your working experience. However, working and studying at the same time can be a heavy burden, but you might find that working and study can complement one another, as you work experiences add dimension to what you are learning, and you could also apply what you have learned at school on your job.

Find Your Path to an MBA

The benefits of an MBA degree can be realized regardless of whether you earn the degree before, after, or concurrent with gaining working experience, it depends on the person and the circumstances. So, choose your own path that best suits your needs.

Jullie Harvard would like to invite you to explore more information on online MBA programs at http://www.studykiosk.com which will help in making your education decision that best fit your career goal.

Creative Ways College Students Can Save Money

By Tom Tessin

College Students often have a very hard time saving money due to all their bills. With the costs of tuition, books, high gas prices, and their average monthly bills, how can they save money? Although it does seem impossible, it isn't. There are many ways college students can save money. Need some ideas? Check out these ideas and start putting your money in the bank.

Buying Textbooks - One of the most expensive things that college students dread paying for is college textbooks. So how can you help cut the costs on them? Easy, you can get them for almost half the price by getting them online and sharing. If you're going to school with one of your friends, try sharing the book! Have one person pay half and you pay half. Need another idea? Get them online! Websites online like amazon.com, half.com, e-bay and many other websites sell books for very cheap. Now is the time to check them out and start saving money.

Grocery Shopping - When you go grocery shopping try to get a small grocery cart instead of a regular sized one. This will cut down on your unnecessary foods. You will only have so much room so it will eliminate the things you really don't need. Also never buy anything that isn't on sale. Why? Because if you are patient, it will go on sale eventually. These two easy trips can cut down on your shopping bill more than you know.

Save money on gas - Every student should get a gas credit card. If you get a gas credit card, you can save up to 10% on your purchases at the pump. Everyone allows looks down on credit cards, but they can only help you if you use them wisely. Obviously you don't want to max out your card or put more money on it than you can afford. Also you want to make sure you pay the balance in full to avoid interest fees. But if you look at it this way, spend $50 save $5, do this for the year and you'll be saving a ton of money!

Money for fun - Every time you get paid you should only allow yourself so much money to spend on leisure. This amount should be the same every week. If you do this you will feel guilty if you go over, and proud of yourself if you go under. It's just a little mind game that you should play with your head. Try to only spend about 20% or less of your check on fun.

Putting money in the bank - You should also have a certain amount of money that you put in the bank every time you get paid. Once again doing this will make you feel guilty if you don't put as much in as you're supposed to and proud of yourself if you put in more than usual.

Although it seems impossible to save money as a college student, it isn't. It is a lot easier than you can imagine. Just be smart with your money. Every time you buy an item ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" If you stick the ideas above, you will start to see yourself saving money instantly.

Tom Tessin is an author for FINDcollegecards.com that is geared toward students looking for a first credit card

Earn Your Associate's Degree in Information Systems and Technology

By Abby Reid

Students who are interested in computers and information systems should pursue a college education in information systems and technology. This training degree program usually consists of specialized computer courses and information classes. By pursuing this education training program, students are well prepared for a career in a corporate environment.

The computer and Internet have undoubtedly changed the world and how its inhabitants communicate with one another. People are able to broadcast their personal lives, look up information, play video games with users on another continent, e-mail their friends and relatives, send photos, network with business associates and publish blogs at a rapid rate. With the Internet changing at such a quick pace, new technology, computer processes and software is continually required to maintain the safety, efficiency and proper usage of computer technology and the Internet.

If you love working with computers, the World Wide Web, new technology and enjoy troubleshooting, then a college Associate's Degree in Information Systems and Technology may be the right career choice for you. This college education program provides the basic career training foundation that gives students career flexibility in selecting a technology or computer-related occupation. After graduation, students can go on to pursue a Bachelor's Degree or delve immediately into the working world.

Information technology students should be able to quickly identify problems that may interfere with a computer's basic operations, love to troubleshoot, problem solve, enjoy working with other team members and possess a thorough understanding of the basic operations of technology. Acquiring an Associate's Degree will only take a student two years. During this time, students will learn by engaging in many hands-on training courses and computer classes.

The curriculum educates students in the fields of data storage, programming practices, development cycle, technology applications in business strategy and ethical and legal technology issues. Students will be able to locate information resources and evaluate them for relevance and credibility. An Associate's Degree in information technology will give students a thorough comprehension of all cyber-related

processes.

Information systems management courses are designed to help students develop the ability to manage and organize the vast information resources of an organization. These classes give students a thorough and in-depth understanding of management standards and the fundamentals of information and technology systems. With this diverse education, students are able to become an integral part of many different corporate environments. Students who wish to pursue an Associate's Degree in Information Systems can expect to:

• Learn the basics and fundamentals of computers and the Internet


• Become familiar with potential threats, viruses, malware and other hazardous elements that may cause damage to a computer


• Work firsthand with experts in the information advancement and computer technology industries, participate in classroom discussion that allow you to ask questions and test your own theories


• Experiment with new technology and software programs that are currently available on the market


• Learn about information and data storage, retrieval, manipulation and other data processes


• Learn about business settings and how technology relates to the corporate world and its everyday operations, experience how technology benefits a business environment in many different contexts

Choosing a career isn't easy. But if you love computers, the Internet and technology, you may benefit from an Associate's Degree in Information Technology Systems Contact Potomac College today. A successful position in information systems is waiting for you.

Going Back to School - SMART Tips For Single Moms

By Robert Sissenah

This article is written to introduce you a sequential process for setting your goals to achieve your personal objective such as continuing your education, or to upgrade your skills. In your mind, setting goals should not be much of a problem, if you know which direction you're shooting for, just as long as they are SMART ones. I will begin by defining a goal and identifying reasons for setting goals. A goal can be defined as a statement of a desired future a person wishes to achieve.

There could be a lot of reasons for setting goals. Identifying your own reasons for setting goals is just as important as the goal itself. Perhaps you have a course in mind that you would like to enroll in, or you are in a middle of your course and you want to improve your grades because your graduation depends on it. Whatever your reasons are is your course of action.

Remember to set your own specific standard so that you can easily achieve and evaluate your goals, by not setting them too high or too low, but somewhere in the middle. I will then describe a process based on the acronym SMART how you might want to develop and implement your goal using this framework. S.M.A.R.T. means Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Limited.

Are your goals specific? Set specific goals. Your educational goal needs to be specific to achieve the desired results you want. Don't be vague about your goals. You see, if your goals are not well defined, it will only produce incomplete results and you will not be happy. Developing your specific goal will help you organize the things that you have to do in a logical manner and to stay on track. Goals will also help you develop a better understanding of your own learning experience, purpose and expectations. It will also help to use your time and energy more efficiently.

Are they Measurable? Set your goals that are measurable with specific actions. Your goal should be such that you know when you are advancing and by how much and see more tangible results. For example, your goal of being a better basketball player is not measurable, but after five minutes of warm-up at the school gym, you will correctly dribble a basketball with one hand for 20 seconds would be measurable. You should be able to see exactly how you are measuring up in your learning journey using your goals.

Are they Attainable? Set attainable goals. Is it possible to achieve your learning in the time frame available for your learning given the knowledge and expertise that you bring to the classroom? It should be possible for you to achieve this objective in the session. Here's another example, it may be possible for a group of mechanics to disassemble and correctly reassemble a water pump following 30 minutes of instruction; however, it may require more time for third year nursing students to achieve the same competence.

Are they Realistic? Set realistic goals. Is it realistic to achieve this objective? Realistic can also mean Attainable. For example, if a nurse is teaching a group of adults about diabetes, it may not be realistic to expect them to to explain the pathophysiology of diabetic ketoacidosis, but it would be realistic to expect that third year nursing students could achieve the objective. Whereas, it would be realistic for the adults that they can describe the signs and symptoms of high blood sugar levels.

Are they Time-Limited? Set your time-limit.This period defines the time it should take for your learning to take place with a starting and ending point. You could also set your benchmarks at which progress can be assessed. For goals that have outcome goals, establishing a clear deadline for them adds an element of urgency and motivation toward its achievement so you don't procrastinate with your class projects and assignments. The time-limit you select should be realistic. Losing twenty pounds in twenty weeks is realistic, whereas losing those pounds in five weeks is not only unrealistic but there could be health complications in future. Using SMART goals will provide you a framework to improve your educational goal setting. SMART can be used as a way of evaluating your educational goal. I wish you good learning.

Robert Sissenah is the new owner of the Adult Basic Education (ABE) - About Learn-Eh! Visit his website at http://www.cybersenior.ca

Education in India - New IITs

By Sanjeev Pandey

When prominent alumni of the existing seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) were drawing up a blueprint to set up a new IIT, the government itself had announced plans for new IITs in the coming years to bridge existing gaps in technical education. Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh in August this year unveiled a plan to set up eight IITs for a revolution in the field of present education system. The IIT mission would therefore be in line with that long-term objective of central government.

Higher education in India got a big boost with eight new IITs to be set up at a total cost of Rs.60.80 billion ($1.5 billion). New IITs had been approved in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Among them, six IITs have already started their academic sessions this year, while the other two - approved in Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh - are expected to start operations from the 2009-10 academic years. To ensure that the IITs function properly, the government has sanctioned 30 faculty posts per year for each new IIT. It has also specifically approved the post of a Director in each of these IITs in the grade of Rs. 26,000 (fixed) and a post of Registrar in the grade of Rs.16,400 -22,400 for each new IIT. The Cabinet has also decided to raise the grade of all existing seven IIT Directors from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 26,000 (fixed).

Three existing IITs - Guwahati, Madras and Delhi - have been made mentor institutions for the education institutes at Patna, Medak and Rajasthan respectively. Technical faculty from the Guwahati and Madras IITs are deployed to teach at makeshift campuses at Patna and Medak. IIT Rajasthan doesn't even have a makeshift campus, and has started functioning from its mentor's campus at IIT Delhi.

With 6 new IITs functioning this year, overseas expansion of IITs is put on hold. The HRD ministry has said that Syria's vision of an IIT in its capital will have to wait for some time. There are mixed responses from experts on these new IITs. Prime Minister's initiative to establish eight new IITs has drawn flak from his scientific adviser CNR Rao, who said that the opening of so many IITs is going to be a disaster. Even prominent alumni of IITs are concerned about IIT brand value. They raise questions about operations of new IITs. The one problem which bothers all new IIT directors is that of finding quality teaching staff.

As per the government, the creation of new IITs will enable provision of high quality Indian education for more students. It would also address state and region specific technology related problems of states and UTs situated in the IITs' Zones. Prominent IIT Prof. Joshi said the new IITs have created opportunities. Recently in a meeting at Patna he said, a number of brilliant students who might have not made it due to limited number of seats will now be able to join in IITs. Putting aside initial problems and operational difficulties, these institutes are expected to address high quality manpower requirements of Indian industry.

Indian Education: Computer education, yellow pages India, school education, college education are some of KRAs of Sanjeev Pandey who is associated with Bizedia.