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Academic scholarships are highly competitive, and are usually awarded either by the admissions office, or individual academic departments. Loan programs generally issue loans based on the credit history of the applicant and any applicable cosigner. This is in contrast to federal loan programs that deal primarily with need-based criteria, as defined by the FAFSA form. Federal Direct Student Loans, also known as Direct Loans, are funded by the US Treasury. Some scholarships have a bond requirement. Recipients may be required to work for a specified period of time or to work in rural or remote areas.

Find information about Southern Methodist University, registering in a technical degree program, and taking free practice tests online. Which college degrees give you the best chances of finding employment after graduation? Some students select a major because it may be valuable in the workplace. Other students choose their major simply because they enjoy the subject. As the Southern Methodist University admission's office has to analyze many applications, your goal is to stand out in a good way. Keep your admission's application brief, and stick to the point when answering questions. Admissions officers seek to learn how a given applicant thinks, and what kind of person they are.

Online Courses - MOOCs

Graduates with bachelors degrees typically earn 60% more than employees with only a high school diploma, adding up to an $800,000 difference in earnings over a lifetime. If you remain true to your career interests, not just going after salary, your overall job earnings will increase as you gain experience. However, if your focus is more on salary alone, there's a higher risk that you'll suffer early signs of burnout, and be forced to change careers later on.

Technical training programs are a low-cost alternative to attending a regular four-year college, and still you may earn good money as a highly-skilled, technical specialist. By taking some of your required degree courses online, you may be able to graduate earlier, thus saving money on tuition. If you're currently employed, you can take online courses in your spare time to advance your career. Massive Open Online Courses are known as MOOCs, utilizing cloud-based software, interactive platforms such as Blackboard, and mobile apps.

An online degree may be just as marketable as a college degree that was earned on campus. Udemy online learning is a new startup with backing from the founders of Groupon. Similarly, Khan Academy now offers over 4,000 micro-lectures served through YouTube. Coursera, a competing software platform, has millions of enrolled students from around the world. Recently, MIT announced that it's open courseware platform will be available to students and instructors at no cost.