You’ve applied and gotten in to the school you most want to go to. Congratulations! You are in for an incredibly exciting adventure. Now how are you going to pay for it? You’ve undoubtedly spent some time searching through the scholarships and grants that are available through local avenues. You’ve probably even already applied to everything for which you are eligible. But what if you still need funding? Where does a young go-getter go?

Spend some time searching for third party scholarships. These are scholarships offered by individuals and businesses, like the 21st Century Scholarship for students who have shown initiative in community service (you can find out more here). There are a few different resources on the web that you can use to find this funding. Fastweb is one. A quick Google search will turn up plenty of others—it might even turn up the scholarships themselves!

Don’t limit yourself to scholarships. Spend some time searching out grants. Grants work basically the same way that scholarships do but the application process is more involved. There are lots of different foundations out there that give out grants to promising students who want to go to school. Sometimes this will involve agreeing to spend a certain amount of time working for the foundation or within a certain field after you graduate.

Approach specific companies about tuition assistance. This is a particularly good plan if you’ve been hoping to get a job with a specific company after you graduate. You can approach the company before you start school, ask for funding and then agree

to work for the company in whatever capacity they deem worthy for a year (or maybe more) after you graduate. You can apply this same technique with government officials. Senators and Representatives at both the federal and state level will often sponsor a student’s education in exchange for a commitment to non-profit or government work after the degree is obtained.

There are lots of places to find outside and third party funding for your education. Before you take any of them for granted, however, you need to make sure you are prepared for the application, interview and presentation process.

1. Do you have all of your resume, letters of recommendation and application materials ready to go?
2. Have you perfected your personal essay or mission statement?
3. Have you polished up on your interview skills? Ask a teacher to work with you on ensuring that you make a fantastic impression.
4. Do you have your elevator speech down pat? This is the first thing that people are going to want to know about you. You need to be able to rattle it off in any situation. Make sure it’s great!
5. Do you know how to properly and professionally follow up on an application or meeting? Ask a teacher to help you work on your approach to this as well.

The simple truth is that if you are determined, creative and willing to work hard, you shouldn’t have much trouble finding the funding you need for school—without having to take out a lifetime’s worth of debt in student loans! Good luck!

Starting your own business is a daunting task. What with the lack of steady income, health benefits and a boss to blame when business is bad. Still, more and more people seem to prefer that to getting stuck in a company where there’s tens and thousands of people, no space for growth and a life lived for weekends alone.

A decade or so ago, being an entrepreneur would also have implied a lack of connectedness with others that have a similar job title. But in today’s world, being connected is everything, even (and especially) in the entrepreneurial world. Focusing on social media alone, there are endless platforms on which modern day entrepreneurs are connecting with one another.

If utilized correctly, being ultra-connected in the entrepreneurial sphere holds many opportunities. But it also has its challenges. So let’s take a look at these opportunities and challenges focusing specifically on the social media.

Social media is a great tool to connect with other entrepreneurs. It means that you’re not alone in the world anymore and that you can rest assured that there are many others like you out there. It even gives you a chance to talk about the trails and tribulations of starting a business and perhaps share tips, strategies and plans for starting up a successful business.

Most importantly, however, social media creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to forge new connections. These connections could become business associates or lead to like-minded individuals working together in the future. Making a special list on Twitter, for example, of other entrepreneurs and interacting with them about relevant topics is one way of connecting and many business owners will confess to keeping an eye out for potential business partners on Twitter.

Another great opportunity that connecting on a social media levels holds for entrepreneurs is to show the world the person behind the brand. In today’s world, the consumer doesn’t only shop for a brand anymore; they shop for a reason why the brand exists and a form of personal touch connected with the brand. Social media gives entrepreneurs the chance to include a few personalized moments into their public lives to show the world that they’re passionate about their goals and that they live the values of their brand.
Social media can also help entrepreneurs to do affordable research. People love raising their opinions on social networks; all you have to do is ask them. In turn, it gives the entrepreneur a chance to deliver personalized customer service.

A great challenge that social media connectedness does, however, pose to entrepreneurs is that everyone thinks they can do it. But just because someone has a profile on Facebook, doesn’t meant that they can communicate a brand’s identity successfully on social media too. It’s just as easy to damage your brand on social media than it is to empower it.

The same goes for the entrepreneur’s personal connections. In many ways, they can still benefit from doing communication skills training that will teach them how to communicate professionally in their new entrepreneurial circles. Social media is so incredibly digitally orientated, that it’s easy to forget how to communicate well with others in a face-to-face situation. And it’s very important that, if entrepreneurs choose to stay connected, they must be able to present themselves well in person.

Social media has been an important way for people to stay connected. Today’s younger generation has been able to maintain friendships, plan social events, and keep up-to-date with acquaintances through one of several social media sites.

However, in recent years, employers and colleges have begun to use social media outlets to reach out to potential employees and future college students. In addition, several employment sites have had log-in links with social media outlets, such as Facebook. This allows colleges and employers to reach a younger, technology-savvy generation in an environment where they regularly access, and likely feel comfortable.

Pretty much all schools already have their own Facebook page, allowing the college to advertise important social and academic functions online. Students are able to post pictures of events, enticing future students to the college. In addition, students are able to post important comments on the academic achievements completed by the students. If you want a good example of a socially active school page then Like Hampden-Sydney College on Facebook. When students feel comfortable enough using social media outlets during college, that this may translate to them being able to look for employment using the same sources. It is important to feel comfortable using all avenues to search for a job in this age of competition for positions. Being able to successfully use social media sites to one’s advantage could be a major asset..

However, now that using social media in both the employment and college-seeking process is becoming common-place, it is important to keep several tips in mind when posting to a group social site. First of all, the adage that you should not post anything on social media that you would not want on the front page of a newspaper is important advice. However, it does not stop there. While it is important to limit information on the sites that an employer or college might view negatively, it is also to post positive information as well. For example, recent volunteer work, academic achievements, or other accomplishments can be displayed on the social media sites, increasing the chances of landing a job or finding a great college.

Social media sites can be a great source for potential employers or admission agents to look for the next addition to their company or school. However, it is critically important for users to keep a clean profile, free of negative or unflattering information. In addition, adding achievements, awards, or other accomplishments can increase the chances of success outside of the virtual world.

When it comes to education, many people believe that it’s next to impossible to advance in today’s world without a 4-year degree. It may seem as if this this the case, but it’s important to realize that there are plenty of paths that can be taken which don’t require you to get an intense degree at all.

Certifications can not only be obtained more easily than other types of degrees, but they can very often lead to high-paying jobs if the right paths are taken. 20-somethings who are looking for a way around the traditional

education system can get a lot out of simply obtaining a certification, which can save both time and money.

Here are just a few great jobs for 20-somethings that only require a certification:

Tax Preparer

Everyone has to deal with taxes at the beginning of the year; it’s a necessary evil if there ever was one. As a result, becoming a tax preparer can land you a lot more money than you might think. It can be a tiring job, but the right amount of work ethic is all it takes to become great in this position. You might wish to pursue The College Network when looking for certifications to get you this role, as this is one of the better resources on the Internet. Regardless of how you go about the process, you can expect a rather lucrative career when training to become a tax preparer.

Cerfitied Bank Teller

While many people look at being a bank teller as being one of the lessor jobs that a person can take on, it can actually be quite high-paying. Becoming a certified bank teller is a great way to take your career to the next level, and can result in a much higher-paying position overall. Fortunately, this type of position doesn’t require one to have a 4-year degree, which is a big perk for many people. Becoming a certified bank teller will help you to move towards becoming a notary public as well, which is very important in the modern business world. It requires a great deal of effort on your part, but it’s far from impossible.

Pharmacy Technician

The medical industry is more popular than many people realize; it’s a safe haven for those who are talented and looking to make a fair amount of money. As a result, becoming a pharmacy technician is one of the better ideas that you can have if you’re looking for a job that only requires a certification. This is a position that you can make a great deal of money working at, and is perfect for those who have a strong interest in the medical industry. While it does of course take time to become a pharmacy technician, it’s not nearly as difficult as many people make it out to be.

20-somethings often think they have to obtain a 4-year degree, but this isn’t always the truth. You can make a fair amount of money by working a job that is obtainable with a regular technical degree, which will also help you to save money.

Marketing is always a challenge, but even more so for a Start-up. Marketing for a Start-up is unique due to establishing the brand as well as promoting the company.

Debut

You are the “new kid on the block.” No one knows who you are, what you do, or if you have anything to offer. Your opening marketing efforts set the tone for your brand identity.

Before you speak or write your first public words, there are critical facts which must be clear. Rudyard Kipling expressed it as his six honest serving men: what, who, why, where, when and how.

1. What is the key benefit you offer?

2. Who has a problem which that key benefit will solve?

3. Which precise message will appeal to your specific target client and why?

4. Where do you reach them?

5. How will you reach them?

6. When will they be most receptive to receiving your message and benefit?

7. Is there a large enough market segment willing to pay for your benefit?

Each of these topics could be an entire chapter in your Start-up book. For the sake of time and space, we will work on the premise that you have already narrowed down these details to a fine point before launching your marketing. Until you know who, what and why, you are not ready to craft a marketing message.

Launch Time Requires a Detailed Plan

Marketing can be Good, Fast or Cheap. At

best, you will achieve two out of three.

Good marketing

If your target client is a CEO, he will respond well to information which he can scan quickly. Information must load quickly in a mobile format without much need for pinching or scrolling.

Make it easy for him to pick out the key points which address the problem he needs solved. He will not want to waste time on excess verbiage. Use a media mix to catch his attention. Even though he is totally focused on modern technology, he is aware that his customers may prefer the combination of printed brochures, websites and mobile apps.

Give him a fast and easy method to purchase.

If your target client is an engineer, he will seek extensive detail which he can analyze, make calculations and revisit over a period of time. Comprehensive data must load quickly and be easily massaged. He will want QR codes which take him directly to the various research sites he requires. Give him a direct telephone number, he will have questions.

A salesman is more people focused, but as speed oriented as the CEO. Catch the attention with a curiosity-arousing postcard or a poster in your place of business. Make any waiting time productive by including a QR code which takes them to a special site which gives a special bonus, free product or added incentive to act immediately. Add a QR code or text number to business cards which reveal the latest and greatest fun information, bonuses or audio he or she can listen while driving. Be certain the business card is such high quality that it is scan-worthy on the Smart-phone without losing any fine detail of the QR code.

Spontaneous buying decisions are probable; make it easy to order from the Smart phone.

Business is multigenerational; coordinate high quality print marketing media with online options.

Fast marketing

Young entrepreneurs are accustomed to speed. Websites which load slowly or are not mobile friendly will be non-existent in their world.

Develop an app for your business.

One of the biggest challenges for young techies is encompassing the marketplace. Not every customer will prefer to receive all information on the latest and greatest mobile device. Business cards, printed annual reports, or online newsletters will continue to be important to distribute information in a cost effective manner.

Cheap marketing

Dashing off a quick Twitter or Facebook message is certainly economical but it can require an extensive number of days and posts before generating any business. Social media is first and foremost about creating relationships before business is transacted.

Personal contact marketing is also lower cost as far as cash outlay, though not as low as you might think. Personal contact marketing is even more time intensive than social media. Personal meetings will also require an extensive supply of high quality business cards.

No matter how mobile we are, business is still about people and connections. The popularity of social media is increased connections, but the best connection is still human interaction.

Cheap and Fast or Cheap and Good

Online newsletters, mobile friendly websites and well-designed broadcast texts can either be inexpensive and good or inexpensive and fast but they will not be both good and fast.

Personal contact marketing appears to be inexpensive until you consider the value of your time and vehicle expense to drive to and from the event, hand out business cards and provide access to other marketing media and perhaps purchase food or beverages at the event. It can be extremely effective though when the group is your target market.

A well designed website can be good, fast or cheap but not more than one of the three. Websites must be mobile friendly: load quickly, read easily without pinching or scrolling, and provide succinct displays.

Good and Frequent

In order to reach the maximum effectiveness in a multigenerational marketplace, maintain frequent touches with the target client from a variety of sources. Mail a monthly postcard campaign with a link to a special bonus which they can access immediately online. Use a variety of social media posts to keep your brand fresh and frequent in the customer’s mind. Include a QR code on your scan-worthy business card which takes them to a frequently changing mystery gift. Provide posters with your social media links; visitors to your place of business who post their location immediately receive a prize.

Your marketing message must reach your target audience frequently. Reach them with the highest quality presentation possible. Your marketing materials symbolize your company image.

Elaine Love writes for PrintPlace.com, Small Business Examiner and Elaine4Success.com.. Her expertise is in small business, marketing, mindset for business and speaking coaching. Her credentials include Masters Degrees in Communication, 35 years of entrepreneurial awards including “International Innovator of the Year,” World Class Speaking Coach, and author of 3 books. Contact Elaine on Google+ at +Elaine.

So many students believe that the best thing they can do, once they have obtained their undergraduate degree, is to go straight into graduate school, the thought seems to be to carry the momentum gained from graduating with a bachelor’s degree and use it to stay motivated through grad school. Really, though, for lots of people, it’s best to wait. Here’s why:

Real World Experience
So many people choose to go to grad school for the same subject they studied as an undergrad. If this is your plan, it really is in your best interest to take a few years off of school and work within the field you’ve studied. This will show you, at least as an entry level employee, what it is really like to work within the field you’ve chosen. Real world experience is what will help you figure out whether you really want to devote a few more years of your life to studying that subject. That way you don’t have to worry that, after all of that extra study and expense, you’ll find out that you hate that field and want to do something else.

Learning Style
If you go to grad school right after you get your bachelor’s degree, the school you attend will most likely be the same one from which you just graduated, whether or not it is conducive to your learning style. As a graduate student, you need to find a learning environment that caters to your particular learning style. That might be a large, state funded, university. It might be a small Christian graduate school with smaller class sizes. Taking time off after undergrad gives you time to find the school that is best suited to helping you succeed in your graduate studies.

Money, Money, Money
Graduate school is expensive. Taking a few years off after getting your bachelor’s degree to work and save up will reduce the amount of money you will need to take out in student loans to continue to fund your education. It also gives you time to pay down your undergrad loans so that you don’t have to worry about the interest piling up while you go back to school.

Appreciation for the Education
Taking time off from the academic environment will build your appreciation for it when you are ready to go back. Going back to school because you want to, instead of because you feel

like you have to increases

your appreciation for the education you have chosen to pursue. This appreciation will increase your dedication to your studies which will improve your chances for success—not just in terms of your grades, but in terms of your ability to parlay your master’s education into employment after you graduate.

These are just four of the reasons that you should wait to go to grad school. No matter what your peers or your professors tell you, taking time off doesn’t automatically mean that you will lose your momentum. It means that you are making sure that you are doing exactly what you should and need to do to set yourself up for future success.

For those who are looking to take their career to the next level, there are a variety of things that need to be taken into consideration. Hard work is of course of the utmost importance, but you can’t rely solely on hard work to launch your c

areer to another level. Indeed, a lot of finding success comes from surrounding yourself with the right people. It can be intimidating to hang around with individuals who are “further ahead” of you career-wise, although there’s no reason to think that this will hurt your career in any way. The following are just a few reasons why you should surround yourself with those who are ahead of you in terms of career and experience, each of which can be beneficial to you.

Surrounding Yourself With Successful People is Great Motivation

There’s nothing more important than motivation when it comes to launching one’s career. Even if you’re full of talents and ideas, they’ll be useless if you don’t have the motivation to succeed. Hanging around successful businessmen and women like Ehsan Bayat President and CEO, hardworking entrepreneurs, and networking socialites will likely instill a sense of drive in you that you simply can’t get out of hanging around with those who aren’t doing anything with their lives. It may be intimidating at first, but the end result will be a more driven you, which is an essential element of finding success in one’s career.

Successful People Are Great For Networking

Sometimes finding success in business is all about building up a strong network. Networking doesn’t come easy to everyone, but it’s not nearly as difficult as many people make it out to be. One of the best ways to network successfully is to surround yourself with those who already have a great deal of

connections in business. If you’re a copywriter, for example, you might find that one of your successful colleagues or acquaintances has a friend that is in need of copy services; an instant connection. Connections such

as this can only continue to build your career, and are worth seeking out.

Successful People Can Help to Identify Your Mistakes

Jumping blindly into business can be dangerous; especially if you have a lot on the line. In order to avoid this common issue, you might wish to surround yourself with those who have the experience it takes to identify your mistakes before they become a problem.  

Surrounding yourself with the right people will not only help you to grow, but will make you better at doing your job – whatever it may be.