Monday, December 4, 2017

4 Easy Steps to Setting Your Life Goals

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“What are your life goals?” is one of those questions that can put people in an uncomfortable position pretty quickly. Most answer this question by laughing it off and responding with something like “eating pizza with no pants on while watching Netflix - that’s what I really want.”

The thing is, nobody wants to take the time to write down their life goals. People live busy lives, and when they do have the time, they’d rather kick it in front of the TV or lay on the couch playing with their phones.

From personal experience - take the time, it makes a world of difference.

What exactly are life goals? Simply put, they’re the things you would like to accomplish in your life. Life goals are the big things to work for and accomplish such as getting married and having a family, starting your own business, becoming a big-time executive, or traveling the globe. Life goals are essentially everything you want to do in life before passing on. They’re the stuff people remember you by when you are no longer around.

Why are goals so important? Setting goals gives you purpose, and they help you to guide your life. Think of life goals as your North Star. They’ll guide you where you want to go, but it’s still on you to choose the path to get there.

Now that you’ve got a better understanding of what life goals are, let’s talk about how to set and start working towards them.

Setting life goals in 30 minutes or less

Most people already have a decent idea of what they truly want in life, they just haven’t taken the time to write it down. If that’s you, great. If you have no clue what you want, that’s okay too, I’ll walk you through it.

Even if you’ve already gone through a similar exercise as I’m about to describe, try not to brush off the following activity just yet. Maybe it’s been a while and some of your goals have changed. Maybe there’s a few more things you really want that eluded you before. It may be worth it to go through and rework your plan a bit.

Let’s dive in.

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Wednesday, October 18, 2017

8 Higher Education Tips For Achieving Your Goals.

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Higher education plays a huge role in defining one’s future professional aspirations. It is one of the most important phases in one’s life. A wrong decision regarding higher education might cost students financially, and halt their ambitions. Here are some integral higher education tips from renowned education consultant David Justin Urbas. These can help you get success through your higher education efforts.

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Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Higher Education and Early College: 6 tips to partnering for success.

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A high school and higher education partnership is essential for a successful early college high school. Here are 6 tips for getting starting on forming that relationship:

First and foremost, you need to believe, really believe, that first generation students – high school students – can be successful in the types of learning experiences your institution offers, given the right conditions and support.

Think local. When it comes to growing your own student body, look no further than your own backyard. How much do you invest traveling the nation or the globe seeking new students only to have them graduate and return home? Would your organization and your community actually see a greater benefit if you began to attract and retain local students? What can you do to expand your base of students by opening the doors to those young people in the neighborhood surrounding your campus whose families may not have higher education in their past experience?

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Tuesday, September 19, 2017

How To Get The Best Higher Education Experience.

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Higher education is one of the most important phases of one’s life and one that shapes their professional future. The need to set goals and excel at a higher level is primary among students. Higher education consultant Justin Urbas has some key tips that can be followed by students who are considering higher education options. Let’s have a look: 

Ways To Ensure Quality Higher Education 


Select a good institution - One of the prerequisites of quality higher education is a quality institution. It is important for students to shortlist a number of top educational institutions which can offer quality academic opportunities. Before you enroll into one, gaining information about its courses and curriculum is necessary. One can read reviews online to understand if a course is suitable. 

Choose your course - This is one of the most important decisions in your higher education ambitions. One should consider their interests and strengths to choose their courses. Studying what you love is the key to making your academic pursuits successful. If you choose something that you are not interested in, learning will not be a fun experience. 

Take preparations - Going for higher education at an institution is a process that requires a lot of mental and emotional preparation. The change of setting often proves to be too much for students who are renting accommodation away from home. Everything like food, amenities and proper spending of available finances needs to be taken care of. In addition, one needs to be open minded and embrace the obvious changes in lifestyle. 

Do your best - If you are going to do something right, it requires patience and dedication. In case of higher education, it is definitely so. Try not to miss any lectures or workshops, and give your all to get assignments done within stipulated timelines. However, it is not just about attending classes and being punctual. One must try to absorb as much knowledge as possible, to actually learn subjects with precision. 

Be proactive - Education at any level requires students to be proactive, in order to achieve the best learning experience. Be engaged in class and do not be apprehensive about asking difficult questions. Tutors also appreciate if students volunteer to express their observations and deductions about particular subject matters. 

Do everything else - All work and no play can definitely be detrimental, even to your learning progress. That is why higher education students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities like events, sports and recreation. Socializing is also important to share ideas, opinions and improve one’s environment. It is refreshing for the mind to do things other than studying all day long. You are also likely to learn better and faster with a fresh mind. 

Create a schedule and stick to it - Efficiency is the key when it comes to quality learning. Students must figure out how to spend their study time, and how to divide it among different subjects. Finding out the areas that need to be focused on is critical, as you will be able more stress on that. 

If you are interested in exploring higher education options, getting in touch with a higher education consultant can show you the best way forward. 
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Wednesday, September 13, 2017

5 tips to improve student retention in higher education.

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Educational Institutions are more focused on achieving enrollment goals and sometimes they forget that student retention is an essential driver to boost student success rate and retention. The success of an higher education institution is not about student retention alone.

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Monday, August 28, 2017

Tips for finding student accommodation.

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Make sure you're well prepared when finding your student accommodation with these helpful tips.
Once you know which university you will be going to, there will be lots of planning to do. When you’ve secured your place, one of the most important things you will need to organize is your student accommodation for the year.
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Monday, August 14, 2017

6 Essential Higher Education Tips For Better Outcomes.

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In order to build a successful career in today’s world it is important to go through the right channels of higher education. It is a necessary to gain the credentials that are required to bolster one’s qualifications. Higher education equips you with industry specific knowledge and skill sets. If you are a graduate who is seeking lucrative professional opportunities, enrolling in quality higher education course is the prerequisite. Identifying institutions and courses are vital steps that ensure the quality of education. 

Students who are unsure about which path to follow can get in touch with consultants. Experienced higher education consultant Justin Urbas works with students and their parents across the country. He has some important higher education tips that students can follow. 

Useful Tips for Higher Education Success


1. Choose the right college - The choice of college or university is one of the most important factors in your higher education aspirations. You do not want to be choosing a college that does not have a good track record of academics and placements. Consultants can help you identify the best institutions to ensure quality education. 

2. Selecting education courses - Students might aspire to pursue a certain education course, even if their talents and past records point in a different direction. Choosing the right higher education course is probably the most crucial step. Once again, discussing options with consultants can help you determine the most relevant course of study. 

3. Have a goal in mind - Ask yourself why you are willing to pursue a certain higher education course. The why is very important to find the answer to. Do not join a higher education course just for the sake of it. That would be just a waste of your valuable finances and most importantly, few years of your life. Know what skills and knowledge you intend to gain from a course, which can directly aid your professional ambitions. 

4. Consider online options - There are many colleges and career schools who offer higher education courses online. Many students today are choosing the online way of education, as they involve less hassle. Colleges are offering attractive rates for their online courses. It is definitely an option you can consider if you are currently working. 

5. Maintain attendance - Sufficient attendance in your classes, lectures, seminars etc., is vital. You do not want to miss out on important information, which can put you at a disadvantage. Be sincere in your efforts at higher education learning, as the outcomes depend directly upon them. Skipping classes and assignments can leave a bad impression of you as a student.

6. Avoid debt - It is true that college is getting costlier and debt from student loans has become normal so many students today. But it does not really have to be like that. There are reputed colleges and career schools that offer leading courses at affordable rates. Finishing college with loan debt should be avoided. 

There are some higher education tips you can follow in order to achieve your academic and professional goals. 
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Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Justin Urbas - Higher Education Gets Easier with the Aid of Professional Consultants

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After students finish their higher education the next big step in their academic pursuits is higher education. Depending on the stream one chooses, finding the right universities and colleges is an important task. Educational consulting services can help you find the right options to achieve your higher education objectives. They are experts who work with students as well as institutions to find the best ways of improving higher educational standards.

Top colleges and universities usually hire education consultant services in order to find solutions to the most common academic or organizational challenges. They can suggest the best ways to improve upon the teaching standards, and create innovative action plans for faculties to follow. Reputed consultants are qualified individuals that work with the administrations of top schools, colleges and universities to improve the curriculum according to modern standards.

For students, availing the services of an experienced higher education consultant is a sound decision for a number of reasons.

Why Students and Parents Can Gain from Hiring Qualified Higher Education Consultants?

1. One and one consultation with parents regarding the future of students
2. They can suggest the best path to follow in regards to higher education
3. They have extensive knowledge about the best options in each stream
4. They will suggest the best courses and institutions following assessment of a student
5. Education consultants ensure that students gain admission to their chosen universities/colleges.
6. They offer their help and expertise to make the admission process hassle-free and effortless.
7. Reputed education consultants can help you succeed academically and craft a better future. Justin Urbas is a leading consultant who works closely with students as well as institutions.
8. Leading consultants around the USA offer professional services at very reasonable rates.
9. They can act as a medium of communication for foreign and non-native students who are seeking admission to top universities.

Different Types of Higher Education Consulting Professionals

One must realize that educational consultants might be of three types. Here are the types according to their respective functional areas.

Consultant for students - These are individuals who work with students and parents to find the best higher educational options. Services provided by them include helping the student gain admission.

Consultant for schools and colleges - This category of educational consultants work closely with the admins and faculties of educational institutions. Their duties span areas including resolving and improving HR, curriculum, faculty matters and educational activities.

Education industry consultants - They work with education companies, to find the best solutions for improving both teaching and learning experiences. Their job is to maintain and enhance the quality of education.

Schools and colleges rely on educational consultants to find solutions to any kind of academic or curriculum related issues. They are expert communicators who work with institutions of all types, and sit with their administrations to assess key needs.

Accordingly, they determine the best solutions to simplify and enhance the entire educational process. Consultants work with school and university boards to determine the changes that need to be incorporated. Students, institutions and education companies across the USA keep benefiting from professional education consultant services.

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Thursday, May 4, 2017

Educational Consultant Cara Ray--What's Her Story?

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Reflections On A Long Academic Life

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Like Caesar’s Gaul, my academic life has been divided into three parts, each 15 to 20 years in length. The first period, 1965-81, was during higher education’s Golden Age. For many years, I received double digit annual salary increases, time off for research, et cetera. Because of soaring enrollments, faculty were scarce so their clout was pretty substantial. It was a great time to become a professor. Academically, I established myself as an economic historian, writing up to a dozen papers a year in the early 1970s, mainly on labor economics topics, like the positive contributions of internal and international migration and the economics of slavery. Federal involvement in higher education was growing, but from an extremely small base and the cost of college was falling relative to incomes.

The second part of my career was from 1981 to about 2000. This was my public policy phase, starting out with a stint with the Joint Economic Committee of Congress. It was the early stages of the supply side economics revolution, and I put my training in public finance to good advantage. In this period I turned out my most important academic work with my colleague Lowell Gallaway, Out of Work: Unemployment and Government in Twentieth-Century America, but also began writing a lot for the popular press, which continues to this day. Lowell and I annoyed the daylights out of Ohio’s Governor (as evidenced by him attacking us at a press conference), which made me feel good in a way: more than some obscure academics thought our work had consequences.

More at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ccap/2017/05/04/reflections-on-a-long-academic-life/#249f0c6845a1
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Monday, April 24, 2017

Justin Urbas - Higher Education Goals Can Be Achieved With Help from Professional Consultants

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Students who are looking forward to take the next step in their academic careers but not sure of which direction to go towards, can get help from experienced educational consultants. If you are a school graduate who is trying to choose a particular stream, you might face a dilemma about the right choice. Every year, many students, their parents and teachers find it difficult to recommend the right option for their career path. However, educational consultants can assess a student’s abilities and past academic results, to suggest the best options for them.

A higher education consultant also works with various colleges and universities locally, and around the world. They conduct comprehensive assessments of educational standards and consult with authorities to create strategies to improve educational systems. Consultants conduct extensive research and follow data driven approaches to help students and teachers alike.

Hiring the services of a licensed educational consultants can help students excel. Consultants carry several responsibilities including student counseling, assessments of current educational systems, and also working towards improving the interpersonal skills of students, who are aiming for higher education. They also make sure that educational institutions are adhering to the best practices, and also work with school and college boards to improve the curriculum. Reputed educational consultants like Justin Urbas provide their expertise in the educational field to aid students and educational institutions.

Here are some reasons why hiring higher education consultants can be of help -


  1. They suggest the best opportunities for students who are eager to pursue higher education. 
  2. Help students choose the ideal streams and educational courses according to their skills and abilities
  3. Find opportunities for extracurricular activities to enrich the learning experience of the students.
  4. Inform students and their parents about the latest changes in their educational field
  5. Conduct follow ups with students or teaching staff whenever necessary
  6. Provide dedicated efforts to help students maximize their academic talent 


Teachers can work with consultants to improve classroom curriculums, activities, regulate the use of technology and find newer ways to improve the skills of students. This can make a marked difference in the lives of students. Students can gain a better chance of getting admitted to reputed higher education institutions with the help of guidance from higher education consultants.
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Thursday, April 13, 2017

Justin Urbas - When And How To Hire An Independent Educational Consultant

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My recent travels, including to the annual conference of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), have led me again into conversations with members of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and Higher Educational Consultants Association (HECA).  An increasing number of families are looking for consultants to help their children through the college process.  You may, or may not, want to join the crowd.

First, do you really need a consultant?  When I started work in an independent school in Florida, I met with a local consultant who had clients in our school.  I told her that I respected such work, having done some after attending the IECA Summer Institute, been a member of the organization, and become a Certified Educational Planner.  I also told her that if we were doing our jobs in the fine school where I worked, no family in our community needed her services, other than perhaps for standardized test prep or academic tutoring.

More at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/christeare/2015/10/11/when-and-how-to-hire-an-independent-educational-consultant/#f6f702359d0c
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Sunday, March 19, 2017

H1B Premium Processing Suspended: USCIS Will Temporarily Suspend Premium Processing for All H-1B Petitions

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Just a couple of hours ago, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services agency, USICS, announced that starting with April 3, 2017, All the H1B Premium Processing Applications are now suspended.

This news has come as a panic to many F1-OPT Students and H1B applicants, as some of them are mistakenly considering it as a suspension of the H1B program itself. Contrary to this, USICS has clearly mentioned that this is a suspension on the “premium processing” of the program and not the actual applications itself.

H1B applications are generally done using the USICS designated form I-129. This is a petition form for the application for the H1-B visa, which as you know, is done through a lottery process in the recent years.

More at: http://higheredublog.com/h1b-premium-processing-suspended-uscis-will-temporarily-suspend-premium-processing-for-all-h-1b-petitions/
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Friday, March 3, 2017

HOW DOES GAMIFICATION AFFECT THE LEARNING PROCESS?

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Education is any practice that constructively modifies the way we behave, think, and feel. We as humans always have the desire to learn, regardless of age. We also learn in different ways, owing to intrinsic and extrinsic elements not only related to age but also to the level of development and maturity, personality, experience, as well as genetic and environmental factors. In order to allow students to use and explore their full potential, it is a prerequisite to optimize the educational methods.

How can we make education more enjoyable and more efficient? The answer lies in understanding how students learn. Basic knowledge in educational psychology is indeed what makes good instructors stand out and allows them to convey knowledge efficiently, as required per recipient.

More at: http://www.thetechedvocate.org/how-does-gamification-affect-the-learning-process/
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Monday, February 27, 2017

Justin Urbas - FIVE APPS THAT MAKE LEARNING TO CODE FUN

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One concept that has become really popular in the last 10 years is the idea that everyone should be able to code. Despite this, the need for programmers is growing much faster than the number of people learning to code. The majority of people either have tried and failed to learn or have just avoided learning code. There is this idea that coding is too complicated, that it is only for a person who thinks a certain way. The way that coding has been taught in the past does not help either; it is tough to learn when you can barely understand the jargon the teacher uses during class.

The truth is that coding is relatively easy once you learn the basics. However, finding the time and tools that will actually help you may make progress can be incredibly difficult. As the need for programmers continues to outpace the number of available programmers, now is a great time to start learning the basics. The following are five free apps that will teach you to code without making it feel like a complete bore.

More at: http://www.thetechedvocate.org/five-apps-that-make-learning-to-code-fun/
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Sunday, January 22, 2017

Tips from Justin Urbas for raising up a happier and healthier kid

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You may have heard of many things for making your kids happier and healthier, but here are some scientific ways to look after them. Know these from Justin Urbas so that raising up child becomes easier.

Pay special attention to kids in adolescence: The adolescence is one of the most critical stages of one’s development. Researches are indicating that maximum number of complexities arise during this phase. If these situations are not handled in right way, the process of growing up for kids can be affected significantly. At this phase, your kids may look like grown ups, but remember they are still at development phase and thus need your help. Also take extra care while communicating with them. You should try to create a friendly relationship with child so that you can stay aware of each and every problem they are encountering.

Support your kids if he or she has behavioral inhibition: The kids with behavioral inhibition are not very uncommon. However, such kids need to be raised up with little more care. Usually, the children with this specific problem suffer from anxiety disorder and sometimes they face problems to adjust with new situations. The researchers consider that kids with behavioral inhibition can get rid of it if they are brought out of the comfort zone. While doing this, make sure you are not forcing kids anyway. As this personality trait is really difficult to change, any wrong step in parenting can cause adverse result.

For effective parenting you do not need to spend 24 hours in a day with your kids. The psychologists say that spending few quality hours with them is enough. But, while doing this, most of the parents make themselves busy in checking the phone or doing tasks like payment of bills. Remember such behavior take toll on children. Thus, whenever you are with them, try to give 100% attention for making stronger bond.
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Thursday, January 12, 2017

HOW TO GAMIFY YOUR CLASSROOM

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It’s no secret that people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy video games. In fact, over 3 billion hours a week are dedicated to playing video games worldwide. This widespread popularity makes it an ideal choice for integrating into the classroom, a process called gamification. But, just because people know that gamifying education has benefits, figure out exactly how to do so isn’t always as easy. To help teachers figure out how to bring the motivating principles of video games into the traditional learning experience here is some guidance on how to gamify your classroom.

Infinite Play or Respawns

Failing to complete a video game task properly is rarely the end of the world. Most games include save points and respawning options to allow players to retry a task until they get it right. Surprisingly, this idea isn’t always in practice in the classroom.

More at: http://www.thetechedvocate.org/how-to-gamify-your-classroom/
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Sunday, January 8, 2017

Justin Urbas - Grit in the Classroom

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Grit has been celebrated and critiqued by many in academic circles and the academic press, but the conversation has remained largely focused on the work and opinions of researchers. Less attention has been given to the day-to-day experiences of educators who are working to strengthen students’ grit and incorporate grit into classroom curricula.

Many students, particularly those from some of the most challenging circumstances, already possess grit. What they overcome everyday is a matter of great resilience. The key is to help students connect that and other forms of grit to meaningful academic work and develop that grit further within an academic and college readiness context.

Grit Defined

Angela Duckworth, a professor of psychology at University of Pennsylvania, developed the concept of grit through research on the skills that help students succeed. In her TED Talk on the subject, she defined grit as “passion and perseverance for very long-term goals” and said, “Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” Paul Tough, the author of “How Children Succeed” and “Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why,” has also developed and popularized the concept.

More at: http://www.ednewsdaily.com/grit-in-the-classroom/
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Friday, January 6, 2017

Justin Urbas - Should I grade-skip my gifted child?

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The American school system puts students in grades based on age. However, for a large number of students, being with same-age peers in the classroom does not work.

A recent report from Johns Hopkins University shows that about two out of every seven children are ready for a higher-grade curriculum. These children are not learning something new each day, and are likely bored in class.

This has serious implications: Research has shown that greater intellectual stimulation is important for helping talented kids achieve their full potential.

More at: http://www.theedadvocate.org/grade-skip-gifted-child/
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Thursday, January 5, 2017

Developing growth mindsets at my school - Justin Urbas

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Children need to be prepared for an ever-changing world.  The teaching of mindsets builds resilience, a desire to learn, to challenge themselves and to encourage others – all of which are necessary for children’s future success.

The teaching of growth mindsets has had a huge impact in my school: it has raised standards, built resilience and created a culture of collaborative learning in both the classroom and the staffroom.With Shirley Clarke's encouragement and support, I have written Growth Mindset Lessons  to share this journey with you.

My experience at Ludworth School

My own mindset journey began over seven years ago. I’m particularly passionate about learning and not placing limits on children’s learning journeys and was eager to turn this abstract concept into something practical and engaging.

More at: https://www.risingstars-uk.com/Blog/November-2016-(1)/Developing-growth-mindsets-at-my-school
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Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Justin Urbas - 5 Reasons A Liberal Arts Education Rocks

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The payoff on a Liberal Arts education is once again under the spotlight with a recent WSJ article that states students who choose elite liberal arts colleges don’t earn as much money early in their careers as those who attend highly selective research universities.

The Journal analyzed salary figures for the top 50 liberal arts colleges and research universities, based on data released by the Education Department that for the first time computed median earnings figures for each school. They concluded that top research universities were winning the salary war hands down, at least in the first ten years after graduation.

Perhaps no surprise that investment bankers, software developers and engineers are pulling in the best salaries after college. But does the data, which is limited to students who received federal loans or grants, and removes those enrolled in graduate school at the time of the study, tell the full story? After all, beyond arguments about the intangible benefits of education, the high proportion of liberal arts students who go on to attend graduate school can expect a mid-career earnings boost, particularly if they started their career in the public service sector.

More at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/mattsymonds/2015/11/30/5-reasons-a-liberal-arts-education-rocks/#397dffcb1f02
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