Notes on Horses of the Night Free Essays

Chris the boy in the ML short story–faced adversity, the no money for school -depression years that Just got worse†¦ This combined with the love of learning and ambition to be an engineer†¦ Drove him to study and work†¦ First when he was away at HAS. †¦ Then when somehow he couldn’t afford? To go to Univac In Winnipeg†¦ It drove him to rebel against going home to the farm(north of Waken)†¦ He cashed in his ticket and ran away to Winnipeg. James Eriksson: He tried to work to make money to go to College to succeed In his dream. We will write a custom essay sample on Notes on Horses of the Night or any similar topic only for you Order Now He got sales Jobs†¦ So he wasn’t paid money he worked on commission†¦ Only If he got someone to buy what he was selling did he make money†¦ Let was the depression and the depression got worse. You studied this Is Social†¦. Keynes people even If they did have money did not buy things†¦. The psychology of uncertainty kept them from spending money because they needed what little they had Just In case things got worse and some emergency came up†¦ The war came†¦ Soldiers got paid a salary†¦ Chris enlisted (joined the army). He could afford to go to school to be an engineer if he saved the money from being a soldier. Sometime in the horror of war Chris gave up ‘hope’ of ever succeeding in being an engineer. As a result of ‘losing hope’ Chris lost his ‘mental health’.. To put it another way†¦ As long as Chris had something to ‘live for'(dream to be an engineer†¦ Unrealistic or not) he could cope and deal with any adversity that came his way. Once he lost hope he became mentally paralyses: â€Å"He is so passive†. IMO as long as Chris had hope†¦ He had something to work for†¦ He had meaning in life. Without hope he had no meaning†¦ Nothing to live for†¦ Without anything to live for Chris had a nervous breakdown and ended up spending the lest of his life in the mental hospital. How to cite Notes on Horses of the Night, Papers

Strategic Management Hondas Motor Case

Executive Summary Honda Motor is one of the most successful companies in the world. It has attracted massive interest due to its unique corporate strategy. Its sheer ability to recognize the forces, as outline by Michael porter 5 forces analysis, in its operating environment has contributed heavily to its success.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Strategic Management: Honda’s Motor Case specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Like wise, it has been able to utilize the value chain and hence attain a competitive advantage. For a long time it has been recognized as leader in technology. Similarly in its operation activities it has been able to reconcile dichotomies existing between human dignity and efficiency by adopting an effective free flow production process. However, its success has not come free of challenges. A good example is the fact that it has failed to reconcile the dichotomies existing between its inte rnal resources and positioning. While it positions itself as an innovative and a leader in developing technically advanced cars. Plus, it also possesses resources and capabilities to do so. The market reaction have not supported this fact, instead consumers have opted to buy simpler model. Balancing the global integration and pressure from local responsiveness is also another major challenge. Already, Honda has been accused of being ‘un-Japanese’ favouring the Global market more than the local one. This allegation holds true since most of its operation a located outside its home country. However, it handles the cultural dimension in foreign countries by paying close attention to Whittington’s suggestion of systemic approach to strategic management. It has done this by successful partnering with companies operating in potential markets therefore gaining from their knowledge and skills. However, in any market Honda can benefit greatly by reconciling dichotomies exi sting between the classical and prossesual approach to strategy. Introduction Developing a strategic plan is an important component to any business. This is because it outlines the long term plan and explains how competitive advantage is going to be achieved. Various influential people have voiced their opinions on how a business should go about developing, planning and implementing their strategy. As result, key dichotomies have emerged. However there some key organizations, like Honda, which have managed to reconciled some if not all dichotomies. As result they have achieved attention grabbing success. Therefore assessing how they incorporated the various opinions of strategic experts is a worthwhile endeavour.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Porters Analysis Michael Porter 5 Forces Analysis Michael Porter, a strategic management genius, has various key concepts under his name. The five forces analysis is an example of his influential concepts that has been highly adopted by scholars and businesses. Porter suggested that a business should conduct an analysis of firms offering similar services or product. By doing so, the strategic managers are able to determine the level of rivalry in the industry and hence take necessary measures. Also analysing the threat posed by substitutes will establish what product and service can be developed to replace the current firm’s produce. In addition, if an industry poses the potential of providing high profit margin, it will motivate new firms to participate in it. Therefore an organization is likely to enjoy reasonable profits if its industry contains are number of barriers limiting entry of new firms (Morgan 2008). Porter also considers supply power as important component of attaining competitive advantage since a powerful supplier can influence the organization cost of production and even the final price of the product. The finally Buyers bargaining power, describes the amount of influence consumer have on the firm. It is mostly strong when all or either of the below situation occur. That is when; the buyers concentration is higher than that of the firm, the buyer purchases a significant volume of produce, the buyer is well informed about the state of firms industry, and finally if there is a high existence of substitute goods, just to mention a few. (Morgan 2008) Value Chain analysis Value chain analysis, is another model generated by Michael Porter. It outlines the various activities a firm gets involves in while creating value to its customers. Porter categorized this activities into two; the primary and supportive activities. The primary activities are; inbound logistics, this are the activities involved in receiving the inputs from the suppliers and storing them in the warehouse till they are needed. The second group of activities is the operation, which involve manufacturing o r transforming the goods to finished products. After the inputs are transformed to outputs, outbound logistic activities are employed. This involves distributing the goods through the necessary supply chain. To inform the customer about the products and hence generate sales revenue marketing and sale activities are taken on. The latter stage involved guaranteeing the customer that the product would meet their needs. Therefore, essential services, such as customers support should be included. Porter went ahead and listed procurement process, human resource management, technology development and effective management of the firm’s infrastructure as the activities that support this primary activities (Morgan 2008).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Strategic Management: Honda’s Motor Case specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Case of Honda Honda Motor is the one of the world’s most successful auto mobile company. Off late it has joined the ranks of IBM, General electric and other companies which have attracted sufficient interest of scholars and researches due to the success of their strategies (Wallnau Feinberg 2008). Part of the success of this company can be credited to the understanding of Michael porter’s suggestion and applying them in the organization either by design or default. For example, Honda has been able to curb threat from rivalry by adopting are unique strategy. This strategy involves reconciling the dichotomy existing between the management style of western firm and that of the Japanese firms. Japanese model of management and that of western countries have been cited to be on different ends. Most managers prefer to choose one and therefore lose out on advantages offered by the other. However, Honda’s approach is never to accept any trade off’s and hence it has avoided the negative aspect of Japanese management style and incorporated som e aspect of western culture. As result, it has increased its competitive edge globally avoiding rivalry especially in the home market. It is the reconciliation of management style that enables partner effectively with foreign firms and hence diversify it market. A good example is the fact that it was the first Japanese firm to set operation in North America by successfully partnering with the now well known rover group (De Wit Meyer 2004). According to Porters, substitutes are products from other industries that can replace firm’s products (Morgan 2008). Arguably, there are few substitutes to automobile industry, which include train, air and sea/water mode of transport (Wallnau Feinberg 2008). Luckily, this organization has sufficiently diversified its products to produce high power racing cars, motorcycles, small boats engines, power products, among others (De Wit Meyer 2004). Similarly, suppliers pose very little power since this industry is highly fragmented and therefo re one supplier depends to a large extend on one or two automobile firms. This in turn gives the automobile an upper hand. The bargain power of the buyers is relatively low since averagely very few consumers buy in large volume. However, the increasing buyer information have forced this company to advanced technological, coming up with products that do not destroy the environment, are fuel efficient, and still do not compromise on engine power. This approach of advancing and incorporating technology mirror the utilization of value chain analysis by strategic planner in the firm (De Wit Meyer 2004; Wallnau Feinberg 2008).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Advancement technology has enabled the company eliminate the tradeoffs associated environmental conservation and engine quality. Therefore, it has been heavily featured in Honda’s sales and marketing strategy. Also, Honda uses technology in its model replacement strategy. This operation activity involves replacing the product feature seen by the customers first, then followed some years later with changes of those feature the customer cannot see. As a result the value of the products is increased while reducing the lead time of producing the car. This has in turn giving the firm a competitive advantage since competitors are unable to replicate it. In addition, Honda recognizes the importance of managing its human resource with dignity. Therefore it reconciled the dichotomy existing between efficiency and dignity during the operation process. This it did by incorporating the free flow principle that reduce amount of work and give customers more control during the production pr ocess (De Wit Meyer 2004). Positioning versus Developing Internal Resources Reconciling the dichotomies existing between developing the internal sources and effectively positioning is a mystifying task. This is because the two factors are found on different sides of the spectrum. For example, positioning involve creating a positive perception about the company and its products to an external viewer or environment. However the fact that it is subject to the person viewing the organization has provide inconsistent results. Despite this, a proper analysis of the external environment can improve its chance of success (Morgan 2008). Honda, strategic planners have over the decade strived to position it as manufacturer of classy and technically innovative sporty cars (De Wit Meyer 2004). On other hand, developing internal sources involve incorporating company’s internal inputs to achieve the strategic objectives. A firm which utilizes its core competencies is likely to achieve a c ompetitive advantage. According to Swinton (2006) core competence are unique abilities that a firm develops over a period of time as a result of continuous learning and accumulation of necessary skills. They act as useful resources since they provide an organization with the power to exemplary add value to the customers needs. Adopting the internal resource-based approach involve paying enough attention to the value chain activities that increases the company’s competitive edge (Swinton 2006). For example, Honda motor advancement in technology and unique engine design provides the company with core competence (De Wit Meyer 2004). Honda has been successful in reconciling the dichotomies that are embodied in the value chain activities. To be specific, the dichotomies are mostly found in areas such as the supplier-buyer relations, efficiency versus employee’s dignity, and sequential production versus a simultaneous one, among others. However, when it comes to reconciling dichotomies associated with positioning versus developing internal resources, the organization seems to face hurdles. For example the ability of Honda to use technology to produce high quality superior engines, and it effort to position itself as designer of sporty and innovative cars, has not been reflected in the consumers’ response. This is because most of its global sales are not derived from models that reflect these values, but it is from the simple less innovative and marketed brand (De Wit Meyer 2004). Pressure from Global Integration and Local Responsiveness Despite how much an automobile industry might strive to confine itself to the local market, various influences makes globalization inevitable. Specifically this pressure can either be due to factors associated with the automobile market or those that surrounds the production process. Global competitors and consumers are examples of factors affecting the automobile markets. They therefore force an automobile com pany to join the global arena. By doing so, the company is able to utilize its value chain in more effective way (Wallnau Feinberg 2008; Swinton 2006). Honda has been able to successful integrate globally. In fact, it has been so successful that it is considered a very small player in its home turf, but globally a multinational giant (De Wit Meyer 2004). According to De Wit Meyer (2004), only a third of its turnover comes from its home country. The need to recoup the initial and operation massive investment is another factor that pushes such a company to integrate globally. Similarly, as local consumer enjoyed an increase range of option from global competitors, their bargaining power increases. Therefore, automobile companies are forced to such for consumers in other countries (Wallnau Feinberg 2008). However, sometimes different economies utilize their value chain different. In addition, the various factors in the competitive environment, as summarized in porter 5 forces analy sis, result in a local responsiveness pressures (Swinton 2006). For example, a certain foreign economy might be dominated by either a variety of domestic firms or a single powerful firm. Similarly, some foreign markets are largely occupied by substitutes. A case in point is venturing into an environmental conscience nation whereby most of its citizen either use public transport, such as buses and trains, or prefer motor cycles. Host Government regulation is another form of pressure, whereby automobiles have to adhere to certain regulations and specifications (Swinton 2006; Wallnau Feinberg 2008). Honda has faced various challenges and pressures in the local environment due to its management style. The fact that it has incorporated some western culture aspects, has led it to being considered ‘un-Japanese’. This is because some analyst considers it to have enjoyed a global integration to a point whereby its need for the local market has been minimized. This factor can be supported by the fact that are huge chunk of its revenue figure is not from Japan. However, proponents of its management structure argue that by incorporating the good values of western management style and that of the Japanese, it has balance both global integration and local responsiveness need efficiently (De Wit Meyer 2004). Schools of Strategy Approach The influential Whittington went a head to distinguish the various approach of strategy management. Classical and Processual are among the approaches he described. The classical approach implies that strategic managers are rational and therefore deliberately plan and organize various factors that will help in profit maximization. One major assumption under this approach is that in a free economy an efficient market is bound to occur. Therefore, provided the organization has effective leaders who can objectively make sound and critical strategic choices, it is likely to succeed. The market environment will automatically present an opportunity and therefore implementing the chosen strategy will involve utilizing the corporate structure, process and policy to maximize on the presented opportunity (Swinton 2006). Processual school of thought, on the other hand acknowledges the business environment is dogged by a number of factors. Therefore, the strategy that was initially developed might be altered by various factors during the implementation process. Hence, instead of developing full strategic plan in the initial stages, manager should consciously develop a strategy based on utilization of internal competencies and analysing the external environment. Top managers therefore have a duty of constant improving their knowledge and experiences. Also to guarantee success, it is mandatory for them to enhance the internal process by improving the core competencies and capability (Swinton 2006). Since the classical school of thought assumes top managers are rational, Honda encouraged few top executives to be in charg e of key decision making. It enabled this by creating a facility layout whereby top executives shared an open office. Senior executives saw this as a way of encouraging horizontal sharing of information. However, after Kawamoto took over he initiated a processual approach. This is illuminated by the fact that he changed the organization decision making process to be inline with the changing business environment. Although it could be easily assumed that the organization had abandoned its horizontal decision making process (across managers only), this was not case. Honda had now reconciled the dichotomy existing between the vertical and horizontal decision making process. Whether to make the decision vertical or horizontally, depended on the market situation. The now interchanging approach acknowledges the market is not efficient as it is affected by emerging factors (Swinton 2006; De Wit Meyer 2004). Applying Both the School of Thought The reputation of Honda in reconciling manageme nt dichotomies might compel it to apply both the schools of thought. If it does so, it will avoid the limitation of either approach. At the same time, it will also eliminate the trade offs associated with choosing an approach over the other. A good combination might be taking on classical fundamentals of profit maximization through rationally and intentionally planning. Simultaneously, adopting the Processual approach emphasizes for manager to develop core competence that will enable them simplify complex matters. Here the manager should not only develop competence of only tackling the market environment but also, should improve the capability of managing the human resource. This is particular important since not every individual is driven by the desire to maximize the profit of the organization. Understanding and addressing the unique needs of each staff will result in an increase in competitive advantage (Swinton 2006;De Wit Meyer 2004). However, if Honda chooses to adopt only on e approach, then it should go with the processual approach. This is because the approach does not merely assume the market environment is efficient, or either separates the process of strategy planning and implementing. It acknowledges that during the planning process there are number of factors that the strategist can miss out on. The automobile industry especially faces various challenges that can alter the environment therefore distorting the strategy at hand. For example, Honda has effectively used this strategy and hence has been able to adapt to new demands easily (Wallnau Feinberg 2008). A good case in point is adopting new technologies that ensure fuel efficiency therefore avoiding environmental concerns. The fact that Honda has been able to reposition itself to the current market situation indicates that it has used its strategy plan not at as final document, but as guideline to help it achieve competitive edge (Wallnau Feinberg 2008). Systemic School of Strategy Approach Hofstede threw a spanner to the management theories that implied management practices can universally be applied. Through his cultural dimensions theory, he challenged the notion that deep inside human being are the same. Therefore, he concluded that people from a specific region will react differently from those hailing from other region. Whittington understood this when he was outlining the systematic school of strategy. According to this school of thought business should adopt strategies based on the environment they are operating in. the strategies adopted should be heavily influence by the culture and values of that environment. Therefore strategic managers should not strive to rational apply what they think is effective based on the knowledge of their origin. What they have acquired from their home country might not hold true in this new environment. In addition, it is not only the customer who might be different, but also a cultural diverse workforce. The workforce does not have any less effect on the company’s competitive advantage. For that reason factors affecting their performance, such as cultural dimension, should be carefully considered (Swinton 2006). As mentioned earlier, most of Honda’s revenue stream from different parts of the world. Therefore, its strategic planners should consider some, if not all aspects of the above approach. To shield itself from the implications of diverse cultural dimension, Honda adopted a philosophy of manufacturing vehicles in their target market (Wallnau Feinberg 2008). As a result, most of its manufacturing plants are being operated outside its home country Japan (De Wit Meyer 2004). On the other hand, this factor presents the challenge of managing a diverse workforce. Even at its home country, the company has grappled with whether to incorporate certain ‘negative’ cultural aspects. The founder Honda however decided to risk it all and adopt a system that awards individual contributio n and hence motivate the younger employees to take more positive action. The Japanese culture on the contrary is not very conducive for the younger generation. For example, awarding is based on status quo, seniority and collective decision making (De Wit Meyer 2004). To effectively penetrated in different cultured countries, Honda will have to acquire skill that can enable it interact effectively with the customers there. A good way to do this will be either to partner with organization operating in the environment it is considering venturing. Wallnau Feinberg (2008), cite that it adopted this strategy, by buying small percentage of established motor cycle firms, to venture into the US market. Similarly it used the Rover partnership to enter the North American market an area which it had previous faced difficulties in understanding the consumers (De Wit Meyer 2004; Wallnau Feinberg 2008). Conclusion No doubt the corporate strategy determines to a great extent the level of succes s a company is going to enjoy. However, if a company is to enjoy sufficient triumph as that of Honda, it must adopt anew thinking. The traditional method of strategic management whereby an organization subscribes to one school of thought or management style is limiting. Honda has set the example of ascribing to a no trade-off policy. This approach involves reconciling various management dichotomies. When presented with more than one options but forced to adopt just one, take the best of either side while neglecting the worst of each. Without a doubt this will pose some challenges but by persistence will ensure organization enjoy the fruits of its labour. Reference List De Wit, B, Meyer, R., 2004. Strategy Process, Content, and Context: An International Perspective, 3rd Edition. Thomson Learning: London. Morgan, K., 2008. Globalization and Strategic Management Issues. London: Palgrave. Swinton, N., 2OO6. Strategic Management in Globalization Environment. Norderstedt: B.O.D. Wallnau , L., Feinberg L., 2008. Understanding the Basic Ingredients of an Effective Corporate Strategy: Honda Motors Case Study. Leadership Management Journal, 32 (8), pp. 120-270. This report on Strategic Management: Honda’s Motor Case was written and submitted by user Alexandra Bray to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

SAT Test Results How to Get and Interpret Your Results

SAT Test Results How to Get and Interpret Your Results SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips So you just took the SAT, and you’re eager (or terrified) to see your scores. Especially if this is your first time taking the test, the score report can be confusing. But reading it correctly will help you to identify weak spots and do better on the test next time and get real SAT results. I’ll go over how to get your SAT score report and read it so you’re getting the most out of the information the College Board gives you. How Do I Get My SAT Score Report? Your scores will be available to you online about three weeks after you take the SAT.To see your scores,log into your College Board account.If the scores for your test date are available, they should show up right away on the dashboard, like this: Just click "View Details" and you'll be able to see your full score report. You can easily download a PDF of the report by clicking "Download Report" in the top right corner of the screen. If your scores haven't come out yet, there is no way to speed up the scoring process. You can, however, get your scores sent to colleges faster than normal after they are released. This is called rush reporting, and it will get your scores sent to schools within two business days. Rush reporting comes with a fee of $31 for the first report and $11.25 for each additional report. What Will Be on My Score Report? Your score report will give you a lot of information about the types of questions you answered correctly and incorrectly and their difficulty levels.You’ll notice that the score report has four tabs: Report Details, Essay Details (if you took the test with the essay), Skills Insight, and Score Sends.Here’s some information about what’s included in each section and how to interpret it. Report Details This tab listsall of your scores in one place. First, it includesthe score you got for each section along with a score range of around 40-60 points. This is shows you the range of scores you might end up with for that section if you took the test again assuming the same level of preparation. You'll also see where you fall in the national percentile range: The Report Details tab also shows you your subscores for Reading, Writing, and Math, each out of 40 points. These are accompanied by statistics on thetotal number of questions for each section and the number that you got correct, incorrect, or omitted. These are followed by your two cross-test scores, which are also out of forty points: Finally, you'll see your seven subscores, each out of fifteen points. These help to identify more specific areas of strength and weakness: If you took the essay, your essay scores will also be at the bottom of this page: Notice that there are little "i" icons in the corner of the boxes for each of these scores. If you click on them, you'll get an explanation of which skills are incorporated into that score. At the top right of all the score boxes (except for the essay scores) you'll also be able to click "show details" to see your national percentile ranking for each subscore. Essay Details In the next tab, Essay Details, you'll see the prompt you answered on the test reproduced along with a scanned copy of your essay. You can print your essay using the button in the top right corner of the box with the prompt. The Skills Insight tab will give you more information on what you essay scores actually mean. Skills Insight The Skills Insight tab includes pages for each of the three main testing categories (reading, writing and language, and math) plus the essay if you took it. This part of your report is intended to help you see which academic skills you need to work on and which you've mastered already. You can also link your report to Khan Academy from within this tab - more on that option later. Score Sends This last tab provides information on how to send your scores to colleges. If you chose to send any of the four free score reports when you registered for the test, the information for the schools or scholarship programs you indicated should be listed in this tab. If you haven't sent any scores yet, you won't see any schools listed. Just click on the "Send Additional Score Reports" button to send score reports to more colleges and scholarship programs for a fee. What Do I Do With All This Information? You may feel like just ignoring the details in your score report and obsessing over the final numbers, but if you do that you’re abandoning an opportunity to see where your weaknesses lie and how you can prepare better for the next test date.Take a look at each section individually and find out where you had the most trouble so you can decide where to focus your studying efforts. The easiest way to use these scores to study for your next test is to link your report to the Khan Academy site, which will then give you individually tailored practice materials. You'll see an option to do this at the top of the Skills Insight tab. Khan Academy is not a cure-all, however, and you may need to strike out on your own to address some deeper issues. Here are some examples how you could respond to different scenarios: Your Weaknesses Were Command of Evidence and Expression of Ideas Practice your passage reading skills, and find out what works for you. Usually, on the Reading section, it saves time to skim the passage and then go through the questions before you do any closer reading. If you omitted lots of Reading and Writing questions, you might be running out of time, which is probably because you are spending too much time reading closely before you get to the questions.Practice timing yourself with real SAT passages and questions. You should also make sure you’re not making assumptions about the passages and confusing yourself.Sometimes students make the mistake of inferring too much information from SAT passages. Stick to answering questions based on the specific evidence given in the passage. You Struggled with Advanced Math Topics You don’t have trouble with dumb mistakes on easy questions, so that’s good news.Your problem is most likely content-based, which is more fixable.Look for any patterns in the categories of questions that might point to specific gaps in knowledge.Study up on the formulas you’ll need for the SAT, and make sure you know how to use them. This could also be an issue related totime management. If you notice that you omitted a lot of questions, this might apply to you.Remember that you shouldn't linger for more than a minute on each question in the math sections. Move on when you find yourself stumped so that you don’t waste too much time on any one question. You can also employ some of the general strategies outlined in our articles on raising low math SAT scores and getting an 800 on the math section. You Did Well on the Multiple Choice Writing Questions, but You Got a Low Essay Score If you did well on the multiple choice writing questions, then your problem is probably not grammar and sentence structure. You might just need to work on the holistic organization of your essay and use of examples from the passage. Take a look at these tips for improving your score and this step-by-step guide to writing a great essay.Remember to make your essay long enough so that your ideas are fully developed. Include at least two or three body paragraphs that address specific examples of how the author develops his or her argument. A Final Word on Score Reports The information on your score report gives you an opportunity to be honest with yourself about the areas where you struggle on the SAT.After reviewing your score report, you can infer the reasons for your mistakes and tailor your study strategy to those areas so you won’t have the same problems in the future! You can also consider ordering one of the services the SAT offers for you to review your scores in more detail, the Question and Answer Service or Student Answer Service (read more about these services here). You can order them up to five months after your original test date. What's Next? Are you looking to take the SAT again now that you've reviewed your scores? Take a look at this guide to choosing the right date for you and this list of upcoming test dates. If you're trying to formulate a study plan for the next time you take the test, take a look at these plans for Sophomore and Junior year and the summer before Senior year, as well as our Complete Plan for the SAT. Frustrated with your score? Learn from our perfect SAT scorer. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also feature thousands of practice questions, 10 official SAT practice tests, and personal feedback on your essays from an expert instructor. Check out our 5-day free trial:

How to Save Money When Applying to College

How to Save Money When Applying to College We all know that college is expensive. Unfortunately, simply applying to college can cost over $1,000. Those application fees, standardized test expenses, and travel costs can add up quickly. Fortunately, there are ways to make the application process far more affordable. Many Colleges Can Waive Their Application Fees Most colleges charge an application fee of $30 to $80. By itself that may not seem like a lot, but it can certainly add up when you are applying to ten or twelve schools. Colleges charge this fee for two reasons: to help defray the expenses of recruiting students, and to discourage students who arent really interested in the school from applying. This latter issue is really the most significant one for colleges. The Common Application makes it extremely easy to apply to multiple colleges with little effort. Without an application fee, schools could end up with tens of thousands of applications from students who are applying on a whim. This would pose a real challenge for a college both as it struggles to process the sheer number of applications, and as it tries to predict the yield from the applicant pool.   Because paying the fee helps assure that an applicant is at least partly serious about attending the college (even if the school isnt the students first choice), colleges will often waive the fee if students demonstrate their sincere interest some other way. Here are some of the possibilities for getting an application fee waived: Visit the campus. Colleges want students to be making an informed decision when they apply, and a campus visit is one of the best ways for you to get a feel for a school. For this reason, many colleges will waive your application fee if you visit campus for an interview, open house, and/or campus tour.Apply early. Colleges love getting Early Decision applicants (and to a lesser extent Early Action applicants), because these tend to be their most interested applicants who are sure to attend if admitted. For this reason, youll find that some colleges offer application fee waivers for students who apply before a certain date.Demonstrate financial need. If the application fees represent a true financial hardship for you, nearly all colleges are willing to waive the fees. Some schools may want proof of your family income for a fee waiver, while at other colleges receiving a waiver may be as simple as asking.Apply late. This wont be an option for highly selective schools and it seems count er to the bullet point above about applying early, but some colleges find themselves falling short of their application goals late in the admissions cycle, so they create incentives to get more students to apply. Thus, it is not unusual for colleges in this situation to offer application fee waivers in an effort to increase the applicant pool. Keep in mind that application fee waivers are handled differently at every college, and some or all of the above options wont be available at every school. That said, if you read a schools application information carefully or talk to an admissions counselor, you may find that you dont actually need to pay that application fee. Dont Apply to Colleges You Wouldnt Actually Attend I see many students who apply to several safety schools when the reality is that they would never consider attending these schools. Yes, you want to make sure you will receive at least one acceptance letter from the schools to which you apply, but you should still be selective and apply only to those colleges and universities that excite you and align with your personal and academic goals. If you consider an average application fee of $50, youre looking at $300 if you apply to six colleges and $600 if you apply to a dozen. You will clearly reduce both your costs and your effort if you do your research and cross off your list those schools that youre not eager to attend. Ive also seen a lot of ambitious applicants who apply to every single Ivy League School along with Stanford, MIT, and one or two other elite universities. The thinking here tends to be that these schools are so selective, that youre most likely to win the admissions lottery if you have lots of applications out there. In general, however, this isnt a great idea. For one, its expensive (these top schools tend to have application fees around $70 or $80 dollars). Also, its time-consuming- each of the Ivies has multiple supplemental essays, and youll be wasting your time applying if you dont craft those essays thoughtfully and carefully. Finally, if youd be happy in the rural town of Hanover, New Hampshire (home of Dartmouth), would you really be happy in the middle of New York City (home of Columbia)? In short, being thoughtful and selective about the schools to which you apply will save you both time and money. Have a Good Strategy for the SAT and ACT Ive seen plenty of college applicants who take both the SAT and the ACT three or four times in a desperate-seeming effort to get a good score. The reality, however, is that taking the exam multiple times rarely has a significant impact on the score unless youve actually put in significant effort to increase your knowledge and improve your test-taking skills. I typically recommend applicants take an exam just twiceonce junior year, and once early in senior year. The senior year test may not even be necessary if you are happy with your junior year scores. For more information, see my articles on when to take the SAT and when to take the ACT. Also, there is nothing wrong with taking both the SAT and the ACT, but colleges require scores from just one of the exams. You can save yourself money by figuring out which exam is best suited to your skill set, and then focusing on that exam. Free online SAT and ACT resources or a $15 book could save you hundreds of dollars in exam registration fees and score reporting fees. Finally, as with application fees, SAT and ACT fee waivers are available for students with demonstrated financial need. See these articles on the cost of the SAT and cost of the ACT for more additional information. Be Strategic When Visiting Campuses Depending on which schools youre applying to, travel can be a major expense during the application process. One option, of course, is to not visit colleges until after youve been admitted. This way youre not spending money visiting a school only to find that youve been rejected. Through virtual tours and online research, you can learn quite a bit about a college without ever setting foot on campus. That said, I dont recommend this approach for most students. Demonstrated interest plays a role in the admissions process, and visiting campus is a good way to demonstrate your interest and potentially even improve your chances of being admitted. Also, a campus visit is going to give you a much better feel for a school than a flashy online tour that can easily hide a schools warts. Also, as I mentioned above, when you visit campus you might get an application fee waiver, or you might save money by discovering that you dont actually want to apply to the school. So when it comes to travel during the college selection process, my best advice is to do it, but be strategic: Find schools that are within striking distance of each other and visit them during the same trip.Go with a classmate interested in similar types of schools and share driving and lodging costs.Dont visit schools until youve done some meaningful research and are sure the school is a good match for you.For schools that require air travel, you may indeed want to put off a campus visit until after youve been admitted (there are ways to demonstrate interest other than campus visits). A Final Word about Application Costs Chances are, the college application process is going to cost several hundred dollars even when approached thoughtfully and frugally. That said, it doesnt need to cost thousands of dollars, and there are lots of ways to bring down the cost. If you are from a family facing financial hardship, be sure to look into fee waivers for both application fees and standardized tests- the cost of applying to college doesnt need to be a barrier to your college dreams.

Should college athletes be paid to play Research Paper

Should college athletes be paid to play - Research Paper Example Yet again, not all students are interested in playing sports as a side activity. Consequently, apart from their initially decided terms of a sports scholarship, they often get little part in the revenue these sports generate for their school. Critics and coaches are, therefore, now arguing in favor of these players saying that they deserve a share of the revenue, as they for the most part contribute towards generating. The debate is a highly heated one with each side feeling just as strongly of their opinion. The number of college athletes in a particular college can be very significant and all these athletes have a choice of which sport they want to take part at the college level. Some sports may have a high popularity level while others low. Deciding upon paying athletes for playing may compel the college to pay all the athletes for all the different kinds of sports in the college. This may result in heavy payments at the end of the day and it may also reduce the profits earned by the colleges at a massive level. Those who argue in favor of paying athletes generally say that colleges make millions of dollars off these athletes abilities and, therefore, for them to get no money from it is unfair, and, in a sense, exploitation to them (Haden 673). Without these players there would be no generated money, and without this money, many colleges would be unable to function. Colleges gain popularity at the sports arena due to the talented athletes that represent the college in the sports. Earning by the talent of the athletes and not paying those athletes sounds an unfair practice. Accordingly, it seems fair to pay to these players, just as any national sports association would pay its players. But, of course, the counter-argument to this claim is that students should be kept away from the business side of a college, regardless of the link between both elements (Parent 226). College level is the stage where the students explore their talents and

America's Post-Civil War Growing Pains Assignment

America's Post-Civil War Growing Pains - Assignment Example The end of reconstruction where Hayes withdrew the last union troops from the south also took place during this time. The civil war and the reconstruction periods were the major turning points in the history of America (Robert 2008). The civil war was a tragic conflict that made people to turn against each other brother against brother where the generic slaves were acting only as a historical backdrop. The civil war separated people and still united them as a nation. It was fought over the secession of the union. Some of the causes of the civil war were: slavery, nationalism and honor, the election of Abraham Lincoln, territorial crisis and the constitution among others. The reconstruction period followed the civil war and it disastrous as it was caused by early granting of political and civil rights to the African Americans. The reconstruction period brought about various questions like what would be the place of the freed African Americans in the south? And did the abolition mean t hat the blacks could have equal opportunities like the whites? Though the civil war was over reconstruction was also a kind of war. The civil war and reconstruction had an impact on the nationalist collectivism of the Americans as they encouraged the collectivist to promote their visions of reform and devalued the individualism of the American society. Individuality became more of a liability than an asset. Industrial expansion after the civil war made way for changes in urbanization of America. America became more urbanized, there was the growth of cities in size and population and extensive new systems of transportation. They also led to immigration of new foreign people who posed a threat to the political systems and increased the unemployment rate as they were more than willing to work for lower wages that the native-born Americans refused. The civil war and reconstruction led to problems which affect the integrity of the government, the way industrial workers are treated, the n eeds of the western farmers and the treatment of the immigrants (Perman 2008). The civil war and reconstruction had an impact on the America’s economy as it imposed substantial costs. Both civil war and reconstruction had a negative impact on the private investments through the process of range substitution. These wars led to the destruction of economic infrastructure and human lives. They undermined the state legitimacy thus posing a threat to the rule of law and property rights security. These wars created economic uncertainty on America’s economy putting both public and private investments at risk. The civil war and reconstruction had a negative impact on the economic production as it reduced the growth and level of the capital stock and damaging the government’s fiscal balance. This made the government to move its expenditure from production enhancing services to the conduct of the wars. The destruction of slavery had a negative impact on the cotton producti on. The civil war and reconstruction era impacted politics in various ways. This era led to a greater political division especially among the southerners and northerners and refused to unite. By allowing the blacks to participate in politics this led to corruption, and poor running of the government (Richard 2008). The reconstruction led to the development of the south and positive progress for the former slaves and the end of the whites’

Scarlet Letter :: essays research papers

Love, affair, disowning! One may think that this is a soap opera, but one is fairly mistaken. In the novel, The Scarlet Letter written by, Nathaniel Hawthorne, love, lies, mistrust are a few of the many situations that confront his characters. In Boston Hester Prynne commits a sin of adultery landing her the punishment of wearing the scarlet letter â€Å"A† for the rest of her life. The man whom with she has an affair with is Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Roger Chillingworth is Hester’s husband, and he will do anything in his power to make Dimmesdale repay for what he has done. The physical and metal guiltiness that Dimmesdale undergoes for not confessing the truth of being Pearls father leads him to death. The theme of the novel is sin, isolation, and reunion. Through out the novel Nathaniel Hawthorne uses setting, plot, and the characters to develop these themes. Hawthorne uses the setting to develop the theme of sin, isolation and reunion. In the market place one of the guards opens the jail cell and announces to all the spectators and to Hester shouting, â€Å"Open a passage; and I promise ye Mistress Prynne shall be set where man, woman, and child may have a fair sight of her†¦ Come along! Madam Hester and show your scarlet letter in the marker place† (Hawthorne 52). Hester is being displayed on the scaffold, which Hawthorne uses to show sin. While Hester is walking out of the jail a woman murmurs to one of the other women, â€Å" This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die!† (Hawthorne 49) This scene clearly shows isolation between Hester and the community. The setting of the scaffold scene also illustrates the reunion between Dimmesdale, Hester and Pearl. When Dimmesdale admits on being the father of Pearl to all the townspeople, this scene reunites Pearl with herself by making her normal. The forest is as well as a major setting that instigates sin. Isolation in the forest occurs when Hester meets Dimmesdale to achieve some reunion, but instead drives them selves further into isolation. The use of the settings greatly structures how the theme of sin, isolation and reunion came about. The plot is utilized to support the three themes. There are five basic parts to the plot: conflict, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. On top of the scaffold Dimmesdale interrogates Hester’s in revealing the identity of Pearl’s father.