Wednesday, February 29, 2012

MBA or Masters In Management?


How can tomorrow's business leader choose the right graduate program today? In many cases, there may not be a choice. These days, it's common for five or six years of work experience to be a non-negotiable requirement for signing up for an MBA. In contrast, many MSc in Management, or MIM, programs not only welcome undergrads who've yet to draw a steady corporate pay cheque, but actually limit enrolment to those with 2 years or less of work experience.
The two programs also diverge significantly in terms of curriculum. An MBA would offer courses that have a very general approach to management so you learn at least a little bit about everything, and towards the end of the program there would be some specialising whereas with an MSC there's a focus on specialisation right from the beginning. A key differentiator is what a student's post-degree goal is - an MSc in Management is usually followed up with a doctorate or for those who enter the industry it is usually within a research capacity. An MSc will give a candidate a very specialised set of research skills and little training in management and these are the candidates that will usually find a home in large consumer organizations doing consumer research. Meanwhile, students in finance or economics often go into consulting companies or organizations, including the Bank of Canada, where they carry out research.
Many graduates want to start focusing early. They may say that maths is your strong suit, and that they are not interested in marketing or HR, for example. The business world needs very strong accountants or HR or operations or people with other specializations, so a Masters in Finance, Accountancy, HR and so on are the best option for many. Of course this also allows the graduate to get straight into education again without necessarily having to go into a management position for a few years in preparation for an MBA. MiM programs are designed for people in the early stages of their career - right after their undergraduate degree or after about a year on the job. As a result, MiM students are typically younger than MBA students: 23 years on average compared to the 27-32 average age for MBA programs.
At the moment the MiM is almost purely a European phenomenon, with around 86-87 percent of these programs offered in Europe. This definitely has to do with the Bologna reforms in Europe since 1999 by which most European countries agreed on unitizing the European university system by following the Anglo-Saxon undergraduate-graduate-study system, and splitting up formerly established 5-year diploma studies.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Best Physical Therapy Schools Overview


Physical therapy is what allows us to quickly recover from trauma or surgery. Sometimes proper therapy is more important and effective than a surgery! Path to becoming a physical therapist is not an easy one. Practitioners in this field must get profound knowledge and undergo an extensive training. How to do it in the best possible way?
Here are the physical therapy schools that are considered to be the best by the US News & World Report, 2011. According to the website, rankings are based on the results of peer assessments of faculty staff and administrators. The quality of programs should have been rated on a scale from 1 to 5. 201 physical therapy schools were surveyed.
University of Southern California
According to the official website, the University of Southern California is one of the best research institutions in the country. Choosing therapy school of this university you will be able to pursue one of the following degrees:
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy
  • Ph.D. in Biokinesiology
  • M.S. In Biokinesiology
This school includes a number of laboratories and research centers. It means that in addition to theory, you will also acquire a valuable practical knowledge of physical therapist work. You will be able to master your skills in the school's hospital. Choosing this school you will surely get you one of the best quality learning experiences in the country!
University of Pittsburgh
Physical therapy school of this university is ranked second by the US News & World Report. If you already possess a Bachelor's degree, don't hesitate applying to this school. The Department of Physical Therapy offers a 3-year program leading to DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy). Your curriculum will include the following therapy courses:
  • musculoskeletal
  • neuromuscular
  • integumentary
  • cardiopulmonary
  • geriatric
  • pediatric
What specialty to pursue? Have you determined what interests you the most? Well, the experienced faculty of this school will help you to make the right choice. You can be also sure of getting a valuable practical experience during your studying. According to the university's website, clinical education program is integrated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and its partner, the Centers for Rehab Services.
Washington University - St. Louis
WU School of Medicine has two teaching hospitals. Here you can work towards the following degrees:
  • DPT - the professional clinical doctorate degree
  • PP-DPT - the post-professional clinical doctorate degree
  • PhD - the doctor of philosophy in movement science
Why should you consider entering this educational institution? Well, since the establishment of WU School of Medicine 16 Nobel laureates have been associated with it! Weighty argument, isn't it?
These are the best US physical therapy schools according to the US News & World Report ranking. All of them offer excellent education to those who dream of a career in this field. However, always remember that it is the individual, not the school that makes difference. No matter what school you choose, it's up to you!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

History and Getting to the Fulbright Scholarship Application


The Fulbright Program offers scholarships (grants) for exceptional people through an international exchange program founded on providing a competitive opportunity for the best students, scholars, teachers, and professionals to conduct study, teach, work, conduct research, and otherwise collaborate in both their home countries and abroad.
The program was founded in 1946 as the Fulbright Program under James William Fulbright, United States Senator serving Arkansas from 1945 until 1975. The program bearing his name provides over 6,000 grants annually and more than 300,000 people have participated since its inception. Of the Fulbright alumni, 10 have become members of the US Congress, 18 have been head of state or government, one was secretary general of the United Nations, 43 have received a Nobel Prize, and 78 have received the Pulitzer Prize.
For a United States college-aged citizen to become a scholarship awardee, they must either go through the U.S. Student Program or the U.S. Scholar Program to travel to a foreign country. Only the highest level of academic achievers are considered, with regular award winners being the top of their graduating classes of high school who have also demonstrated a desire to lead the community and willingness to craft a unique proposal for their academic year abroad. Student grants are for all areas of collegiate student including fine arts, social sciences, biology and other natural sciences, and computer sciences.
The Institute of International Education manages the Fulbright Program along with the United States Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. The application process is managed through the Embark Fulbright Online Application with applications due far in advance. The 2012-2013 competition closed for applications in October 2011. An extensive collection of materials, called the "Application Package Checklist" is required for all applicants. These materials include the online application (five pages), a signed statement of grant purpose, a personal statement, letters of affiliation for research/study applicants, the language self-evaluation, critical language enhancement award supplementary form, and the foreign language evaluation (submitted by the evaluator). In addition to this material, letters of reference, transcripts from all schools, and any supplementary forms for creative and performing arts applicants should be included.
You may only apply once per year for a single program; however, some world region projects allow multiple applications on those specific projects. Once the application is submitted, it may not be modified. The Fulbright Scholarship application is one of the most complicated processes for higher learning programs, but it is also one of the most rewarding.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

More Engineers and Doctors Seek Business and Management Studies


Education has upheld a constant place of essentiality in today's world. Technology, media and time are all moving at the speed of light with the growing advent of education. Without education there is no progress. In fact, as time speaks, graduating with a degree is not enough. Be it in engineering or medicine for that matter. Wielding a post graduation degree too is as important. And as the trend of education follows, one notices the advancement of Management and Business courses.
The Need for Business Education
Today, the world has become a humongous market of commerce, where everything is traded. Eventually, it is business that makes the world go round and therefore, this scenario has given way to the need of systematic study in the field management and business irrespective of your professional background.
1. These courses not only aim to disseminate information about the technicalities and prerequisites, making people aware of the business world today, but they also aim to equip future professionals with the finesse and sense required to handle jobs as well as business ventures irrespective of the discipline in question.
2. Whether you are an engineer or a doctor, you would eventually be directly or indirectly responsible to ensure sustainability of the company you work for or own. Business and Management Studies are certified courses which enable students to understand the nitty-gritty's of management, service delivery from the perspective of financial soundness, strategy, effective operational management as well as people management.
Doctors and Engineers need to understand Business too
With more and more students opting to take up more challenging professions as engineers and doctors, the focus of one's academic priorities has shifted from developing soft and managerial skills, to technical skills. At the same time, most recruiters today are looking for dynamic professionals who are able to fulfill the technical demands of the jobs by making effective use of holistic management capabilities. Studying to be an engineer or a doctor is more meaningful if one has acumen for business as well. They are expected to understand statistics, strategies, techniques and accountability. Business and management programs at a post graduate level help fill this learning gap by equipping students with knowledge and skill sets that help them grow to become competitive professionals in the dynamic marketplace.
With the emergence of business and management courses, the need for doctors and engineers to covet these certified degrees has somehow become necessary. It is not a prerequisite, essentially. But, with such courses their credibility would rather increase. A graduation in engineering backed by a Masters in Management and Business Studies makes an impeccable blend for an incredible career. An additional degree would never be a waste. In this world of business and commerce, one can only leverage his business acumen and get his way through.
Along with Business and Management courses, one also has the option to choose from a specialized program in the form of Finance, Marketing, Banking, Human Resources, operational management and many more. The growth of business in this day and age has given rise to all these courses all across the globe.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The Benefits of Student Storage


Save Space at the Parents' House
Many families simply do not have the storage space available in their homes or garages to accommodate an entire extra home's worth of belongings. Locating and leasing a college storage unit during the summer months allows you to hang on to your possessions without having to worry about making space for them in what may already be a crowded house. Your summer storage unit will be safe and secure, protecting your goods from theft, loss or damage from the elements.
Save Money by Reusing Last Year's Items
It may be tempting to simply host an everything-must-go yard sale at the end of the year and begin fresh in the fall. In reality, though, student storage is so affordable that you stand to save significant amounts of money by leasing a unit and reusing your existing goods next year. Even if you typically purchase furniture and household items used or at yard sales yourself, you could find yourself surprised by just how much cheaper it is to store and save your goods than to keep buying more every year.
Save Time by Packing and Storing Efficiently
Once you have placed your goods in summer storage, you need not worry about them again until you have already situated yourself in your next living situation. Rather than worrying about returning an expensive rental truck on time or making multiple car trips to and from your parents' house, you can go collect goods from your student storage unit any time that is convenient for you. Many student storage facilities even offer extended access hours so that you can stop by your unit before or after class to collect whatever goods you need.
By packing your goods properly and labeling boxes appropriately, you can ensure you will always be able to find exactly what you need every time you enter your college storage unit. You will also have the freedom to come and go as you need to, when you can, rather than working on a strict timetable. While you may still need to enlist the help of a friend or rent a truck to move larger, heavier or bulkier items, for the most part, you should be able to move your belongings into and out of storage easily and in small trips whenever you have a moment to spare.
Student Storage Is More Affordable than You Think
Facilities vary in pricing, hours of availability, and unit sizes. Some offer short-term, month-to-month leasing without a contract while others may require a minimum number of months to secure a better deal. You will be best served by taking the time to research and ask questions to ensure you get the space you need at the price you want for the amount of time that works best for you.