Well I’m back in school and I’m loving it (no this is not a McDonald’s commercial)! I just love learning and I love it when my learning increases my earning potential. This photo is of the books I am using for my Java Programming course. I will be a certified Java Programmer after I finish the class and take the exam.
Are you wondering why I’m taking Java programming of all things? Welp, it’s for a couple of reasons. First because it’s the foundation class for the mobile application development course I’m going to be taking. Second, because it’s FREE!!! Yep, I said free. I’ll get to how that’s possible a little later. But first let me answer why I’m taking this class after I’ve published a book which should increase my earning potential.
I’m an IT Geek So I Say It Loud and Proud!
I love ideas, I love graphic design, and I love technology. I’m an IT (information technology) professional in real life so this is a perfect fit for me. I will be designing mobile applications (the kind you have on your smart phone) once I complete the course. Developing mobile apps will make me giddy with happiness because it combines all the things I love. Plus, I get to earn a pretty penny (or lots of pennies) on top of that.
The Earning Potential is Phenomenal
How much? Well let me put it this way; it is rumored that ESPN paid $100k to get their Fantasy Football app created. That is not chump change. The average app cost anywhere from $5,000-$10,000 to be developed. This is for a custom app. So for me, the earning potential runs in the six-figures if I develop apps for medium to large companies. If create my own apps the earning potential is greater because I get all the profits. Some app developers are earning millions…you remember Angry Birds don’t you?
How I Get to Go to School for Free
I am confident my education will pay off in huge dividends. The best part is I get to go to school for free. I bet you were waiting for that part. Well a few months ago I wrote about losing my job. I was out of work for a year and collecting unemployment. Each week I had to submit my report so I could get the check. One day I was on the DOL (department of labor) website and decided to look into training.
I called the office and got information about the WIA (Workforce Initiative Act) training programs. I was told I may be eligible for the program and to show up at the designated place at the designated time for an information session. I went and had to complete paperwork as well as turn in other information.
That was in June or July of this year. I was told it would be a while before I knew if I was accepted because funding had to come in from the State. Getting accepted into the program meant I could choose a school and the State would pay all expenses including books and certification exams. The point is to get people on unemployment back to work by upgrading their skills.
Back in School for a Short Time to Earn More Money for a Lifetime
Long story short….I got accepted into the program. I chose the school I wanted to attend and started more paperwork. The school I chose encourages their students to start their own business so they have a session to teach and provide entrepreneurial skills. So here I am, back in school for about a 4-6 weeks to learn Java programming and mobile app development. I will get my certification and begin a new career path that will net me more money as I continue to journey toward financial freedom.
The moral of the story? Never stop learning!
Are you back in school? Do you have a technical certificate or degree?
How do you plan to increase your earning potential in 2013 and beyond?
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Credit by exam: the missing piece in the college puzzle helps students reduce expenses
If you are a 21st century student, you may be facing concerns over the rising cost of a college degree and the prospect of future college debt. You may be wondering, can I achieve my education goals and still find a way to contain costs? Meanwhile, President Obama is calling for increased degree completion as an element of workforce development.
For many college students, one solution may be a sleeping giant: credit by examination, a valid and cost-effective means of earning credit for college-level knowledge. For many years, the military has promoted credit-by-examination programs among service members pursuing higher education. For bright high school students taking advanced courses, related exams can help them get a head start on college credit. But college-level exams are widely available for any aspiring college student – not just for advanced high schoolers and military members.
Consider this: Based on a typical full-time academic year, the College Board’s data indicates that the cost for a three-credit, semester-long course at a four-year institution can range between $752 per credit at a public college and $2,730 per credit at private, nonprofit colleges. However, the cost of an examination covering the same subject area as a three-credit classroom course can cost as little as $95.
So what is credit by exam, and how do you earn it? Credit by exam measures your subject area knowledge gained through traditional classroom study, through independent study or on the job as part of your career and professional training. You can also use a variety of online academic resources to study for exams including high quality, university-level educational materials called open courseware. These subject matter tests are available through such programs as Excelsior College Examinations (ECEs), UExcel, CLEP and DSST and, typically, each program offers corresponding study guides. The tests are administered at thousands of secure, proctored testing centers in the U.S. and around the world.
As a student consumer, it’s important to make sure the exam program you choose has been reviewed by the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT), which provides course equivalency information to facilitate college credit award decisions. ACE CREDIT is an important stamp of approval for exams and coursework taken outside of traditional degree programs. In addition, you may also want to become familiar with the differences among test programs: ECEs, for instance, are the only exams developed and administered by an accredited college, and ECE results are reported as a letter grade on a college transcript.
“Higher education costs are front and center in our national education discussions, and independent study leading to credit-by-exam is a lesser-known way of helping to address this issue,” says Dr. Patrick Jones, vice provost at Excelsior College. “Students who meet the exam challenge can also advance more quickly through their chosen degree program.”
A student who decides to tackle four examinations – over several months, several years or during summers – can trim a semester or more from his or her college career. For long-term planning purposes, that’s the equivalent of thousands of dollars neither spent nor borrowed. It’s also evidence of your personal discipline and academic independence.
Credit-by-exam programs can benefit colleges and universities as well. Traditional institutions facing overcrowding or faculty shortages can use credit by examination as a tool to retain students and assist them in degree completion. Ultimately, such out-of-the-box solutions can benefit you, the student, and the institutions committed to your success. Now more than ever, credit-by-exam programs are increasingly important alongside traditional and online coursework as a valid means of demonstrating your college-level knowledge. (ARA)
Supplemental Guide to Going Back to School for Adults
Going back to college is a big step if you have been out for a few years. But you know that upgrading your skills is the key to bigger and better opportunities. If you or someone you know is thinking about going back to school, here is a guide to help you through the decision-making process.
Click the link below to get the Single Mom College Survival Guide now.
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Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Having a college degree is imperative in today’s competitive job market. Online universities are the most popular way that many people choose to further their education today. Programs offered by online universities are similar to those offered by traditional universities, and job opportunities increase for those with college degrees.
Convenience Is A Reason For Popularity Of Online Universities
One reason cited that moms today choose online universities over traditional school settings is the convenience offered by completing coursework online. When children are small, Mom’s find it difficult to complete college level coursework. Studying online allows moms the flexibility to complete their work when it’s convenient.
When children are napping or otherwise occupied, moms can do as much course work as they’re able to do. Course work can be started and picked up again later if necessary depending on interruptions that occur in a busy household. The structure is much more relaxed when moms are able to take advantage of the programs offered by online universities.
Mom’s Can Earn A First Degree Or Post-Graduate Degree Online
Online universities are tremendously popular for moms that wish to earn their degree, or continue education that was already started before they became moms. Attending a traditional school is practically out of the question for many moms because of issues like finding childcare, transportation, and other concerns. Earning a college degree at home in ones own time and at ones own pace is increasingly how moms are choosing to approach their education.
Sanford Brown is a popular online university offering many attractive career options for busy moms. Moms find that they can earn their degree from home more easily than in a traditional school. When moms choose to go back to work, they’re better prepared to successfully enter or re-enter the workforce if they’ve been able to earn an online degree.
Online Degrees Lead To A Brighter Employment Outlook
The programs offered by online universities are very popular and many programs lead to degrees with bright employment outlooks and futures. Moms can study for careers in lucrative Medical, Business, Criminal Justice or many other challenging fields making this another big attraction of earning a degree through online universities.
Possessing a college degree gives prospective job applicants a definite advantage when searching for careers in today’s competitive job market. Earning that degree online is convenient for Mom’s and offers flexibility not available in traditional college settings.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
The other day I got an acceptance letter in the mail for an MBA program. It was a surprise because I applied in the summer but decided against going because I just don’t want to add to my student loans. I am also not ready to commit to the time required to complete the program.
I love learning and being in school is always a pleasure for me. I know, I’m weird like that but the learning process and discovering new things just does it for me.
So I’m torn now. Should I start the program or not? How much time is it going to take away from my family? Will my kids feel neglected? A thousand questions to consider.
On the flip side, by getting my MBA I will have more business insight, more earning power and probably less hard work as a manager or director of some company.
Fortunately I have done a lot of preliminary thinking about what I would concentrate on. Who knew an MBA program had so many options? Fortunately I don’t have to worry about choosing a major or a college like I did in undergrad. The choices are endless.
The program I’ve been accepted into begins January 2, less than a month from now. What an interesting way to start the holiday season. I suppose I’m blessed to be in this position right?
I’m leaning heavily toward going but I have to look at my schedule and consider how I will juggle parenting, my clients, and class work.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
I had an amazing weekend! I went to visit my parents and see the young people in their church get in front of a large group of people to give a speech. These young men are only twelve years old, but they were courageous enough to stand in front of an audience and share a message of hope and the power the youth have to change the world.
Later I got to hang out with some really great people at a costume party and watch the kids have fun playing games. We had a bonfire (sorry no marshmallows this time), lots of laughs and good food.
I returned home early to attend the Annual Challenge to Change Brunch benefiting Chayil (pronounced Ky-ill). Chayil is an Atlanta Women’s Transformation Program that helps women who have experienced domestic violence and are now moving out of a shelter into the real world on their own.
Chayil bridges the gap through providing 24-hour counseling, financial education, and self-esteem coaching. Women who leave an abusive relationship often do not have a place to turn, no resources, and no one to really understand what they are going through.
The brunch was a celebration of the work Chayil does and recognition for community leaders who support the organization and makes a difference in other ways.
Among the recipients of the Challenge to Change award was Jasmine Guy. Yes, the Jasmine Guy, she played the socialite southern belle Whitney Gilbert and kept us in stitches laughing at her antics and southern drawl on A Different World.
For those of you who have never seen that show, it was a spinoff from The Cosby Show.
Ms. Guy has gone on to many other projects in music, dance, and theater productions.
She is an Atlanta native and advocate for change. She was gracious and spoke on the need for a change of mind.
Without a mindset change, a woman that lives in a world of abuse and violence can never hope to really be set free. How often do we hear about women who go back to their abusers? It’s mostly because they do not believe they can make it on their own or their abuser has wounded their mind so much they believe he (or she) actually loves her.
A mental shift cannot happen in a toxic environment. Programs like Chayil makes a way for women to permanently change not just their location, but their minds as well. This powerful shift gives them hope.
Ms. Guy is so right about a need to change your mindset. Even if we are not in an violently abusive situation, it’s important to recognize when we are mentally bound by other types of abuse. It could be verbal, mental, sexual, or financial abuse. They are no better, and no less harmful than physical abuse.
Another thing to remember is abusive relationships are not just from a significant other. It can be from friends (you know, those frenemies you have), family members (that aunt who is always badgering you or just out right mean), a manager, and even a church leader.
The face of abuse comes in many shapes and sizes so we have to recognize when it’s happening to us.
Three sure signs you are being abused are:
Put downs meant to demean you
Name Calling
Using manipulation, guilt, and shame to get you to do something you don’t want to do
If this is happening to you, it’s up to you to stop it. It may seem scary at first, but it is necessary to stay safe both physically and emotionally. No one has a right to abuse you. We teach our kids safety so it’s time we learned how to keep ourselves safe too. This is called learning boundaries.
Here are a few books I read to break the cycle of abuse in my own life:
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Hi! Welcome to RichSingleMomma.com. I started this website almost a decade ago because I couldn't find any blogs back then that helped single moms with money. I was having some success in that area so I decided to share what I knew about side hustles, making extra money, and managing money. Read more...
Supplemental Guide to Going Back to School for Adults
