Applying for Federal Loans for Online College Students

Applying for Federal Loans for Online College Students Federal student loans offer distance learners the opportunity to pay for their online class tuition without draining their bank accounts or seeking additional employment. By filling out a single online application, you might qualify for federal student loans with reasonable interest rates and terms. Federal Student Loan Benefits Many banks offer private student loans. However, federal student loans are almost always the best choice for students who qualify. Federal student loans generally offer the lowest interest rates available. Federal loan borrowers are also given generous terms and might be able to defer loan payments if they return to college or are facing hardship. Types of Federal Student Loans The federal government offers several financial aid opportunities for students. Some of the most common federal student loans include: Federal Perkins Loans: These loans offer a very low interest rate and are available to students who demonstrate â€Å"exceptional financial need.† The government pays the interest on Federal Perkins Loans while the student is enrolled in school and for a nine-month grace period following graduation. Students begin making payments after the grace period.Federal Direct Subsidized Loans: Federal direct loans feature a low interest rate. The government pays the interest on subsidized loans while the student is enrolled in school and during a six-month grace period after graduation. Students begin making payments after the grace period.Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Unsubsidized loans also feature a low interest rate. However, these loans begin accumulating interest as soon as the loan money is dispersed. After graduation students have a six-month grace period before their first payment is due.Federal Direct PLUS Loans: The Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students is available fo r parents who intend to pay for their child’s education. Parents must pass a credit check or have a qualified cosigner. The first payment is due after the loan is disbursed. Federal Direct PLUS Loans for Graduate and Professional Degree Students: Adult students may also take out PLUS loans after exhausting the limits for other federal loan options. Students must pass a credit check or have a cosigner. Interest begins accumulating after the loan is disbursed. However, students may ask for a payment deferment while they are in school. In the case of a deferment, the first payment is due 45 days after the end of the deferment period. Online School Student Loan Laws Before 2006, many online students were unable to receive federal aid. In 1992, Congress enacted the 50 Percent Rule, mandating that schools qualify as financial aid distributors by offering more than 50 percent of courses in traditional classrooms. In 2006, the law was overturned. Today a growing number of online schools offer federal student aid. To offer aid, schools must still meet requirements, but the percentage of online courses no longer applies. Online Schools Offering Federal Student Loans Keep in mind that not all online schools offer federal student loans. To find out if your school is able to distribute student loans, call the school’s financial aid office. You might also search for the college’s federal school code on the federal financial aid website. Qualifying for Federal Student Loans To be eligible for federal student loans you must be a U.S citizen with a social security number. You must have a high school diploma, a GED certificate or have passed an alternative exam. You must be enrolled as a regular student working toward a certificate or degree at a school that is eligible to offer federal aid. Additionally, you must not have certain drug convictions on your record (convictions that happened prior to your eighteenth birthday don’t count, unless you were tried as an adult). You cannot currently be in default for any student loans you already have, or owe the government refund money from grants you were awarded. If you are a male, you must register for Selective Services. If you don’t meet these qualifications, it’s still a good idea to discuss your situation with a financial aid counselor. There is some flexibility with the rules. For example, some non-citizens are eligible to apply for federal aid, and students with recent drug convictions may be able to receive aid if they attend drug rehabilitation. How Much Aid Will You Receive? The type and amount of federal aid you receive is determined by your online school. Aid amount is based on several factors including your financial need, your year in school and the cost of attendance. If you are a dependent, the government will determine an expected family contribution (how much your family should be expected to contribute, based on your parent’s income). For many students, the entire cost of college attendance can be covered by federal student loans and grants. Applying for Federal Student Loans Before applying for federal student loans, set up an in-person or phone appointment with your online school’s financial aid counselor. He or she will be able to offer advice for applying and suggestions for alternative sources of aid (such as scholarships and school-based grants). Once you’ve collected the needed documents such as social security numbers and tax returns, it’s easy to apply. You will need to fill out a form called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be filled out online or on paper. Using Student Loans Wisely When you receive your federal aid award, the bulk of the money will be applied to your tuition. Any remaining money will be given to you for other school-related expenses (textbooks, school supplies, etc.) Often, you will be eligible to receive more money than is necessary. Try to use as little money as possible and return any money you do not need. Remember, student loans must be repaid. Once you finish your online education, you will begin student loan repayment. At this point, consider refinancing your student loans so you have one monthly payment at a lower interest rate. Meet with a financial counselor to discuss your options.

Animal Euthanasia in Zoos

Animal Euthanasia in Zoos While zoos in the United States favor contraception as a means of keeping their resident populations under control, other zoos around the world take a different approach: euthanasia. Dave Morgan, chairman of the Population Management Committee at the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums explained to the New York Times that international guidelines on the ethics of breeding zoo animals are sketchy. Apparently, since ethics and philosophies are so diverse among countries of the world, its tough to make blanket regulations. For instance, both the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria and the African Association of Zoos and Aquaria generally consider routine euthanasia a viable management and breeding strategy, while the Central Zoo Authority of India has recommended that euthanasia of zoo animals may be carried out only in the specific circumstances when any animal is in such an agony or pain that it is cruel to keep him alive. How Euthanasia Is Used for Population Control Zoos that favor euthanasia over contraception generally allow animals to mate naturally and permit mothers to raise their young until an age at which the family groups would instinctively separate in the wild. At that point, zoo officials employ lethal injection to kill young animals that exceed the zoos carrying capacity, dont fit into breeding plans, and are unwanted by other zoos. In the spring of 2012, the Copenhagen Zoo euthanized a pair of leopard cubs who were approaching two years of age as part of their breeding management plan. Each year, the zoo puts approximately 25 healthy animals to death, including chimpanzees, whose similarities to humans make opponents of euthanasia particularly squeamish. Arguments in Favor of Euthanasia Contraception (pills, implants, injections) can pose health risks to animals.Euthanasia allows animals the natural experience of bearing young and parenting.Terry Maple, the former director of Zoo Atlanta and co-editor of Ethics on the Ark, knows of no definitive research that assesses the importance of raising young to animals health, but he has said that observation indicates that most zoo animals are motivated and protective parents that play frequently with offspring.Euthanasia imitates animals survival in the wild, where high percentages of young die early in life as a result of predation, starvation or injury.According to longtime zookeeper and curator Peter Dickinson, There is nothing wrong in killing an animal if it is done quickly and with forethought and kindness. When animals are euthanized for the correct reasons, then it is morally right and justified. The uninformed will often level accusations of being heartless and not caring when precisely the opposite is true. Good zoos with managed populations can see the bigger picture †¦ it is the species which is being managed and not individuals. Arguments Against Euthanasia Opponents of euthanasia suspect that the killing of adolescent animals is a convenient way for zoos to maintain a continual supply of their cutest inhabitants (babies), which draw crowds and generate more money.Contraception is a more humane way to limit populations while allowing animal family groups to coexist naturally.Cheryl Asa, director of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Wildlife Contraception Center at the St. Louis Zoo, does not believe that euthanasia is a feasible option for zoos in the United States. On an emotional level, I cant imagine doing it, and I cant imagine our culture accepting it, she said.Worldwide breeding networks and genetic planning can be used to avoid a surplus of offspring while still ensuring that many animals breed and raise offspring, claims Terry Maple, former director of Zoo Atlanta and co-editor of Ethics on the Ark. I am not saying management euthanasia is wrong. It is just not the best solution.Killing animals in zoos because they dont figu re into breeding plans is not euthanasia, its zoothanasia, and is a most disturbing and inhumane practice. Using the word euthanasia seems to sanitize the killing at least for some people and makes it more acceptable. While one might argue that many, if not all, animals in zoos suffer, killing animals who arent needed isnt mercy killing; its really a form of premeditated killing, argues Marc Bekoff, Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Combining Content, Argument, and StructureThe Workshop Research Paper

Combining Content, Argument, and StructureThe Workshop - Research Paper Example As such, she or he is unable to perform optimally in the workplace. Similarly, the anti-harassment policy will ensure that all workers operate on a level-playing ground where they all enjoy their rights as they work. Infringing a worker’s rights hampers their output. For example, the workers will not feel at ease while visiting some of the offices in the workplace. This is equally important to the CEO in ensuring the performance of workers improves (Strauss, 2011). For example, when workers are treated fairly and equally, it hugely boosts their morale thereby leading to higher output per worker. Where there is harassment, unfairness and inequalities it is difficult to instill teamwork resulting in overall organizational failure. It is critical to instill sexual harassment policies in a working environment owing to a number of reasons. First, people have rights which should be upheld and duly protected. Sexual harassment interferes with a person’s rights (Baker, 2007). Secondly, sexual harassment goes a long way in negatively affecting people’s lives both the perpetrator’s and the victim’s. Without respect for individual workers an organization will experience high staff turnover as workers seek better working environments. Communicating about sexual harassment or other forms of disrespect should not be a problem. The CEO should first sensitize the workers on the need for a firm anti-sexual harassment policy. Above all, this is a criminal offense that is punishable by law. After sensitization, the CEO should give a memo listing and elaborating the need for the anti-sexual harassment policy. The CEO could also indulge occasional emails and letters to update the workers on how the p olicy is changing the

4.How convincing is Porters model of national competitive advantage in Essay - 1

4.How convincing is Porters model of national competitive advantage in explaining the characteristics and performance of the business systems of major economies - Essay Example This paper will shed some light on how the nations achieve competitive advantage by using Porter’s Diamond model. This model highlights the influencing factors of national competitive advantage. The paper will discuss about the issues and loop holes of the Porter’s diamond Model and how they fail to answer certain circumstantial problems. Porter (1990) explained the competitiveness of a nation based on the four different parameters, which are factor conditions, demand conditions, supporting or related industries and firms’ strategy, structure and rivalry. Factor Conditions: The factor conditions include the production factors of a nation, like human resources and human capital, physical resources, knowledge base, financial strength. The quantity and quality of the available human resources determine the national production capabilities. Physical resources like availability of raw materials, power supply, etc increase the competitive advantage by reducing the operating cost of production. Moreover, the skills and overall knowledge base of the country helps it to involve in innovative product development. Demand Conditions: The demand conditions explain the level of demands of products in the home country. The higher level of demand influences the pace of product innovation and improves service quality. Porter (1990) described that the home demand level is based on three major factors: needs of the customers, growth rate of the customers’ needs and transferring domestic preference in the foreign market. A nation can thus achieve competitive advantage if the domestic demand trend can be predicted by the domestic suppliers faster than the foreign ones. This as a result will allow them to cater to the needs of the domestic customers thereby improving the national economic structure of the country. Firms’ Strategy structure

Aristotle and Piety Essay Example for Free

Aristotle and Piety Essay The Euthyphro is a much studied text of Plato’s, which unfortunately has left many people with some very serious questions. Primarily, why does the Euthyphro end in failure? Socrates was the wisest man alive, and for some reason his quest for understanding falls short. Yet somehow, I doubt that this has anything to do with a fault in the argument, but rather, the reason for the failure lies with Socrates main line of questioning. The problem is introduced with the idea of an â€Å"essence. † As Euthyphro comes to understand, it is a nigh indefinable idea. At the end of hours of looping questions, the only thing anyone has accomplished is a kind of hazy confusion about things you once thought you, understood. To be frank and realistic, I question whether anyone can define an â€Å"essence. † I personally tried to define the essence of something simple, anything would do. Unfortunately, now I’m no longer quite sure what a biscuit is. To try and define the â€Å"essence† of anything, especially something as complex as piety confuses the issue. Socrates is presented with Euthyphro’s idea of piety. That, in and of itself would not be enough, in my mind to define piety. Yet I’ll assume that Socrates, being the curious individual that he was, asked others about piety, and that should be enough to find a definition. Ethical relativism, an idea that Socrates uses to make several arguments, is in a sense, the â€Å"essence† of piety. Piety is different from person to person, so much so that there cannot be a standard to measure it by. The only universal standard of piety is that it is relative to each individual. Yet Socrates refuses to accept this conclusion, no matter which argument is presented to him, or no matter how clearly the answer is laid before him. Take for example, the argument that piety is defined as ‘that, which is dear to the gods’. Euthyphro believed he had identified the â€Å"essence† of piety by bringing up the fact that the actions and things loved by the gods. Socrates refuted this argument quite skillfully by saying that the gods disagree, thus leaving one with a dilemna. Yet people picked which gods to worship above the others (for example, Socrates worshiped Apollo above all other gods), and thus people also picked what was pious. For Euthyphro, to a degree, that was in fact piety, as defined by his religious convictions. Yet as was proved in other arguments by Euthyphro, it was not all that comprised his ideals. Another prime example of the varied ways which piety can be defined by an individual, is when Socrates and Euthyphro discuss the trial of Euthyphro’s father. To Euthyphro, phillial piety is not an issue. In this example, loyalty to law and order is a direct reflection of Euthyprho’s ideals of piety. It is again relative, and Socrates can illustrate quite artfully, how it doesn’t reflect the â€Å"essence† of piety. However, I can see no better example of piety, or at least of ethical relativism. For in this instance Euthyphro is following his own personal ideal of piety, with no regard for anything beside that. The basis of Socrates questioning is why the whole argument falls apart. If you persist in a line of questioning that cannot have an answer, you’ll never reach a conclusion. Even more to the point, if you constantly dispute the answer which recurs in every angle of your arguments, you’ll be hard pressed to find an answer which makes sense. What Socrates did in the Euthyphro would be like a mathematician refusing to accept pi as a number, while still using it in calculations. There is however a chance that Socrates understood all of this, ultimately wanted people to figure it out for themselves.

Dog Dreams :: essays research papers

Dog Dreams For the past five years my dream has been to own a male Saint Bernard pup out of my old Saint Bernards, Samson and Delilah. Patty, the woman that owns my old companions called and informed me that Delilah was pregnant and was expected to deliver within the next week. I knew that my dream was coming true and I would get my pup. That whole week I was on cloud nine all I could think about was this dog. I went ahead and made plans to pick out my new bundle of joy the following Monday after they were born. Everything was going great, until I received the most disturbing telephone call I had ever received. This call informed me that Delilah had given birth to six beautiful puppies, but a disease in the mother’s milk called milk fever had instantly killed three of the pups and the other three were in critical condition. I asked if I could come and see the three living pups, but she said to wait and see if they survived. Patty told me to call her Saturday night and check on the pups. A s Saturday approached I worked up the nerve and called her. I soon learned that two more had passed away and only one pup was still holding on. Patty told me that the one pup that was still holding on was a male, and he looked just like his father, Samson. This information rekindled my dreams and I began to have some hope. She told me that if anything happened she would give me a call. Sunday went by along with Monday and most of Tuesday. Then around 9:30 while I was at work, one of the servers informed me I had a telephone call. My heart began to race, as I answered the telephone. As I expected it was Patty, she wanted to tell me that the pup had passed away. It felt like a hundred pounds of bricks hit me in the chest. We talked a bit, I thanked her for everything she had done, and I hung up the telephone. All I could think about was that my pup was dead. After so many years of waiting and wanting this pup in the matter of days, it was gone.

The Temple of Heaven

Autqem Neter Sh. Nu Au Mu Samga History May 20, 2012 The Temple of Heaven The Temple of Heaven is located in the southern area of Beijing. Occupying an area of 273 hectares, it is three times the area of the Forbidden City. It was built in 1420 A. D. , for emperors to worship Heaven. The main buildings include the Altar or Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Imperial Vault of Heaven and Circular Mound Altar. In 1998, the Temple of Heaven was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Beginning in 2005, the Temple of Heaven underwent a 47 million Yuan (6 million USD) renovation that was completed on May 1st, 2006.The Altar or Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, 38 meters tall and 30 meters in diameter, stands on a round foundation built with three tiers of marble stone. This large hall is under a three-story, cone-shaped glaze-tile roof in blue color crowned with a gilded knob. A circular wall of polished bricks known as the Echo Wall encloses the Imperial Vault of Heaven. The Circular Mount Altar, south to the Imperial Vault of Heaven, is where the emperor prayed to heaven. At the center lies a round stone called the Center of Heaven Stone that echoes when a visitor speaks loudly when standing on the stone.The Temple of Heaven is enclosed with a long wall. The northern part within the wall is semicircular symbolizing the heavens and the southern part is square symbolizing the earth. The northern part is higher than the southern part. This design shows that the heaven is high and the earth is low and the design reflected an ancient Chinese thought of ‘The heaven is round and the earth is square. The Temple is divided by two enclosed walls into inner part and outer part. The main buildings of the Temple lie at the south and north ends of the middle axis line of the inner part.The most magnificent buildings are The Circular Mound Altar (Yuanqiutan), Imperial Vault of Heaven (Huangqiongyu) and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest (Qiniandian) from south to north. Also, t here are some additional buildings like Three Echo Stones and Echo Wall. Almost all of the buildings are connected by a wide bridge called Vermilion Steps Bridge (Danbiqiao) or called Sacred Way. The Circular Altar has three terraces layered with white marble. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 A. D. – 1911 A. D. ), the emperors would offer sacrifice to Heaven on the day of the Winter Solstice every year.This ceremony was to thank Heaven and hope everything would be good in the future. The picture below is of The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, a big palace with a round roof in three layers. Inside the Hall are 28 huge posts. Four posts along the inner circle represent four seasons-spring, summer, autumn and winter, 12 posts along the middle circle represent the 12 months; and 12 posts along the outer circle represent 12 Shichen (Shichen is a means of counting time in ancient China). The roof is covered with black, yellow and green colored glaze representing the heaven s, the earth and everything on earth.The Hall has a base named Altar for Grain Prayers which is made of three layers of white marble and has a height of six meters. The numbers 3 and 9, in particular, recur in the layout and design; these are important or ‘lucky' numbers in Chinese numerology. The number 9, being the highest value digit is associated with the emperor. Its square root, 3, has a natural occurrence in terms of beginning, middle and end. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests was constructed relying only on carpentry, with no nails employed. This building was commissioned by Qing dynasty emperor Qian Long (reign: 1736-1795) in 1775.