Preparing for college evokes all sorts of emotions, from elation to anxiety. After all, it is a huge achievement and represents a big step forward in a person’s life. Attending college also means stepping into a new and unknown world. This is especially true for students who will be the first in their families to attend or graduate from a university. Unfortunately, findings from the Pew Research Center show that first-generation college graduates often owe more than other graduates. Sixty-five percent of first-generation college graduates have student loan debts of $25,000 or more. In contrast, only 57% of second-generation college […]

Writing a self-evaluation performance review can be hard. On one hand, you don’t want to be overly complimentary of your past year’s efforts, but you also don’t want to spend too much time highlighting the areas in which you fell short. Companies use self-evaluations to encourage workers to reflect upon and analyze their professional performance. They ask employees to rate their competencies, outline their goals, and provide thoughts and comments about their workplace contributions. Although the questions you’ll be asked have no right or wrong answers, you can take several steps to prepare yourself for them. What Is a Self-Evaluation? […]

For many high school seniors, going to college is the natural next step on their journey to higher education and a career. For first-generation college students, that roadmap isn’t so well defined. College and financial aid applications can be a maze of requirements and deadlines, and the college experience can be daunting. However, despite these barriers, first-generation college students do thrive in college. They have access to resources that can help them navigate this unfamiliar territory. Most importantly, they bring surprising resources with them. If asked what it means to be a first-generation college student, many of them may say that it […]

Celebrating milestones is important, and shouldn’t just be reserved for birthdays, weddings, and graduations. Milestones come in all shapes and sizes. They may include completing an important work project, doing well on a test, finishing a major household remodel, or any number of accomplishments. In today’s fast-paced world, people often get wrapped up in jumping right into the next task — but they forget to congratulate or reward themselves. Below are just a few of the benefits of celebrating your accomplishments. Benefits of Celebrating Milestones Celebrating milestones also helps reinforce positive behaviors and attitudes, both of which are important when […]

Some of the highest paying jobs can be pursued after earning a bachelor’s degree. Yet, there’s more to choosing a career path than simply enrolling at an institution like Maryville University and picking a degree associated with a high salary. While several majors are associated with the highest salary potential, there are other important factors to consider when deciding on a major in college. Ultimately, you should be able to find a path through college that prepares you for a career you find stimulating and rewarding, and that fits your interests and goals — financial as well as personal. That said, it’s […]

In the past 40 years, the U.S. Department of Education found the demand for master’s degrees across the United States has grown greatly, with a majority conferred in business and education. Graduate degrees have almost become a necessity to succeed in many of today’s jobs. For many students, it’s not a matter of if they will get a master’s degree. The question has become how. The proliferation of online education opportunities has made the matter of how to choose the best online master’s degree program much easier for working adults with outside responsibilities. A national survey found U.S. adults who […]

From prepping for family getaways to carving out time to attend children’s concerts and classroom parties, it can often feel like you have a million and one things to do during the holiday season. If you’re among the millions of Americans who struggle to stay focused at work, at school, or on your fitness regimen during the last weeks of the year, below are a few steps you can take to help keep yourself on track. Tips for Staying Motivated at Work Staying focused at work during the holidays can be hard. Clients and coworkers tend to take time off, […]

Personality tests are a fantastic way to learn more about yourself, and taking them can provide numerous benefits. Not only can personality tests give you a greater understanding of your preferences, what drives you, and where your strengths lie, they can also help identify the types of careers you’re likely to excel in. If you’re interested in learning more about your aptitudes, weaknesses, subjects you might want to study, and occupations you might like to pursue, consider taking a personality test. Types of Personality Tests There are two types of personality tests: projective tests and self-report inventories. Projective Tests In […]