Tips For Writing a University Petition Letter

In a university setting, writing a petition letter is a very common occurrence. This is because in the academic world there are many exemptions for students and professors, but in order to get this exemption, one has to write a letter of petition to the appropriate department or person.

That is not to say that every petition letter gains approval but it does go a long way towards getting your position known and heard. Before you write such a letter find out the name of the person to whom it should be addressed. Even if you send the letter to the correct department, it may not be forwarded to the proper person.

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For the most part all applications submitted to graduate schools in universities across the country must be accompanied by a petition letter. In this letter you provide a brief summary of the documentation you have included in your application and express your reasons for applying to this graduate program.

The usual requirement for admission to graduate school is a GPA of 3.0. Students will a lower grade point average can still gain admission if they address the issue in their letter explaining the reasons why they should be admitted and if there are any extenuating circumstances that could account for the lower than acceptable grades.

Even within a department, you may need to make a petition for different reasons. If you transfer from another university, for example, and you have already completed the work for a specific course under a different name at the former university, you may have to write a letter requesting that you be exempted from this course for your current program of studies.

In this letter you should make specific references to the topics studied and the types of assignments you completed along with documentation attesting to this from the previous university. This does not mean that gaining exemption will give you one less course to complete, but you should ask for recommendations of another course that could fulfill this requirement.

Both students and professors must adhere to deadlines in university because of the nature of the semester teaching schedule. There are times during the year when students are unable to meet deadlines for assignments or for being able to meet the testing schedule.

Sometimes waiving the deadline is a simple matter of discussing the situation with the professor, but other situations may require a petition letter to the Registrar's Office or the Dean of a department. This usually refers to not being able to meet application deadlines. Such petitions usually do not meet with approval unless the circumstances are really exceptional and warrant an extension of the deadline.

Students who do not agree with the grades they receive in a course can also petition the department to reread the exam. Other examples include asking for permission to withdraw from a course without academic prejudice or to obtain a refund of the tuition paid. Most universities require specific details to be included in the petition format, which include:

o student's full name and address

o student's university number

o student email address and telephone numbers

o a clear statement of the action requested in the petition

o a description of the conditions that warrant this action

o a statement of why university policy should not be followed in this case

Without inclusion of this information, the petition will not be recognized and therefore will not result in any action being taken.

Tips For Writing a University Petition Letter

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What is the Purpose of Dr. Deming's Theory of Management?

After World War II American industry returned to the peacetime production of consumer goods, for which there was unparalleled demand and no competition. Untouched by war, the industrial heartland produced cars, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, mixers, lawnmowers, refrigerators, furniture, carpet, and all the goods for the growing postwar suburbs inhabited by a generation of prosperous Americans.

The American corporation had fulfilled the promise of 'scientific management,' formulated by an influential industrial engineer named Frederick Winslow Taylor more than three decades earlier. Taylor had held that human performance could be defined and controlled through work standards and rules. He advocated the use of time and motion studies to break jobs down into simple, separate steps to be performed repeatedly without deviation by different workers. Minimizing complexity would maximize efficiency, although it was as bad to overperform as it was to underperform on a Taylor-style system.

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Scientific management evolved during a period of mass immigration, when the workplace was being flooded with unskilled, uneducated workers, and it was an efficient way to employ them in large numbers. This was also a period of labor strife, and Taylor believed that his system would reduce conflict and eliminate arbitrary uses of power because so little discretion would be left to either workers or supervisors. Hence the evolution of the rule-bound, top-heavy American corporate management structure.

Quality in these postwar years took a backseat to production. Quality control came to mean end-of-the-line inspection. If there were defects and rework, there would be profit enough to cover them. Although some quality control lingered for a time, particularly in defense industries, for the most part the techniques taught by Dr. Deming were regarded as time consuming and unnecessary, and they faded from use. By 1949, Dr. Deming says mournfully, "there was nothing not even smoke." This setback only served to strengthen Dr. Deming's conviction, as he considered what had gone awry.

Purpose of Dr. Deming's Theory of Management

As a statistician, Dr. Deming's lifelong mission had been to seek sources of improvement. World War II had quickened the pace of quality technology, but as World War II ended, progress in quality control began to wane. Many companies saw it as a wartime effort and felt that it was no longer needed in a booming market. Given the failure of statistical methods for quality control to endure, he figured out what might have caused the failure and how to avoid it in the future. He gradually concluded that what was needed was a bedrock philosophy of management, with which statistical methods were consistent. He was ready with new principles to teach when the Japanese called him in 1950 to aid in the reconstruction of their country.

The aim of Dr. Deming's theory of management also known as, 'System of Profound Knowledge,' challenges leaders to embrace a new paradigm based on the following three major points:

The purpose of the new paradigm transformation is to 'unleash the power of human resource contained in intrinsic motivation,' and to foster an environment of full cooperation between people, departments, companies, governments, and countries to achieve win-win scenarios through process improvement, team work, and innovation.

The system of profound knowledge is a fitting theory for leadership in any culture or business. In some circles people think incorrectly of Total Quality Management with industrial connotations. For example, in the health care arena the customer is the patient, and production could be equated to the quality of patient care. Indeed many of the concepts which are espoused by TQM relate to interpersonal interaction as much as they do to other more production oriented criteria.

Therefore the key dimensions of TQM can be identified as: team development, statistical quality control, process management, assessment of customer's needs, fact-based decision making, continuous quality improvement, and benchmarking. Applying this management theory requires a focus to the new kind of world of interdependence that we are in now. The prevailing paradigm in the Western world is not based on any holistic or comprehensive theory; it is just the cumulative result of assorted reactive experiences and methods:

Managers basing their leadership in the above listed paradigms will be lost in the new economic age. Such leaders need to open their minds and change to be able to learn the new paradigms of Total Quality Management (TQM).

Assumptions of Dr. Deming's Theory of Management

Dr. Deming's theory of management is based on four assumptions:

1. Management's function is to optimize the whole system, not just your components

E.g., Western-style management: Reward-punishment performance appraisal systems optimize components of the system.

E.g., Deming-style management: A better way is to evaluate an individual long-term virtue, to know if they are in the system or out of the system, and to understand the performance issues as special or common cause. According to statistical research by Deming, Ishikawa, and Juran over 80% of problems are related to common cause or system problems of the organization.

2. Cooperation works better that competition

E.g., Western-style management: Internal competition to recognize the top 10% sales people in an organization creates a system where 90% of the population is labeled substandard performers or worse yet losers for those on the bottom half.

E.g., Deming-style management: In any distribution curve, 50% of the population is going to be below average, and only 10% are going to be top performers. It does not make sense to grow an organization of malcontents because nobody wants to labeled a loser. If the system is stable and has good hiring policies in place, a better way to manage is to have a goal to shift the distribution curve to the right by continuous improvement and removing common causes of variation. All employees in the system should be recognized for the accomplishments of the enterprise, rather than just the top 10%.

3. Manage using both a process and results orientation, not only a results orientation

E.g., Western-style management: Asking to sell 30% more (by a MBO goal) without understanding the process that allows that goal to be attained, or providing a process for goal attainment, creates a fail syndrome (demanding unreasonable greater results has the opposite effect that contradict the Pygmalion effect).

E.g., Deming-style management: A better way is to analyze historical performance using statistics. Then basing sales growth goals within +/- 3 standard deviations from the mean, where 99% of the sample population is predicted to attain the goal, and shifting the curve to the right by improving the sales process. If a stable system is pushed beyond its limits, the system typically breaks down.

4. People are motivated by a mix of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

E.g., Western-style management: Recognizing people solely through extrinsic motivation by giving plaques, letters of commendation, bonuses, and pats in the back to motivate employees.
E.g., Deming-style management: A better way is for management to combine extrinsic and intrinsic motivation to increase quality and pride in the work. Intrinsic motivation is the enthusiasm and positive stimulation an individual experiences from the sheer joy of an endeavor. Management can release intrinsic motivation by creating a culture that encourages employee involvement in using process improvement tools such as the Deming wheel (SDSA and PDSA) to innovate and improve quality.

Each of these assumptions are directly associated with the interrelationships between people. They all revolve around a key concept, receptivity of the management style by those who are not only managing but those who are being managed. The implementation of management philosophies obviously revolves around employee motivation, and not all employees are either easily motivated or receptive to management styles that differ from those to which they have been accustomed.

What motivates an individual, therefore, is at the center of Total Quality Management philosophy. Motivational theory in itself has a long history of both direct and indirect applicability to many aspects of management in general and to Total Quality Management in particular. Indeed, the importance of teamwork in the organizational atmosphere cannot be underestimated. Before employees can effectively interact as a team, however, they must be able to function independently in an efficient and productive manner.

Such independence revolves around numerous factors, some of which were learned in childhood and some of which can be instilled in the professional environment. An important part of this independence is being able to relate to one's peers and to turn criticism and resistance, which exists from some peers, into a positive factor in influencing team performance.

Leaders applying the Deming-style management need to be experts at molding independent workers and teams. A high performing team is to some degree the product of the individual player's personalities, personalities that had roots as far back as childhood. Deming's teachings recognize that an individual's qualities or lack of them could be refined in the professional workplace. Lastly, Deming has influenced my thinking in a variety of ways. What stands out is the wisdom behind the value of teamwork, process improvement, individual versus systemic issues, and the pervasive power of continuous improvement.

What is the Purpose of Dr. Deming's Theory of Management?

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The Difference Between Being Smart, Educated, and Intelligent

I've always been intrigued by the subject of intelligence. As a child my mother would refer to me as "smart," but I quickly noticed that all parents refer to their children as smart. In time I would discover that all children are not smart, just as all babies are not cute. If that were the case, we'd have a world full of beautiful, smart people - which we don't.

Some of us are smart; but not as smart as we think, and others are smarter than they seem, which makes me wonder, how do we define smart? What makes one person smarter than another? When do "street smarts" matter more than "book smarts"? Can you be both smart and stupid? Is being smart more of a direct influence of genetics, or one's environment?

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Then there are the issues of education, intelligence and wisdom.

What does it mean to be highly educated? What's the difference between being highly educated and highly intelligent? Does being highly educated automatically make you highly intelligent? Can one be highly intelligent without being highly educated? Do IQs really mean anything? What makes a person wise? Why is wisdom typically associated with old age?

My desire to seek answers to these questions inspired many hours of intense research which included the reading of 6 books, hundreds of research documents, and countless hours on the Internet; which pales in comparison to the lifetime of studies and research that pioneers in the fields of intelligence and education like Howard Gardner, Richard Sternberg, Linda S. Gottfredson, Thomas Sowell, Alfie Kohn, and Diane F. Halpern whose work is cited in this article.

My goal was simple: Amass, synthesize, and present data on what it means to be smart, educated and intelligent so that it can be understood and used by anyone for their benefit.

PRENATAL CARE

With this in mind, there was not a better (or more appropriate) place to start than at the very beginning of our existence: as a fetus in the womb.

There is mounting evidence that the consumption of food that's high in iron both before and during pregnancy is critical to building the prenatal brain. Researchers have found a strong association between low iron levels during pregnancy and diminished IQ. Foods rich in iron include lima beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, spinach, asparagus, broccoli, seafoods, nuts, dried fruits, oatmeal, and fortified cereals.

Children with low iron status in utero (in the uterus) scored lower on every test and had significantly lower language ability, fine-motor skills, and tractability than children with higher prenatal iron levels. In essence, proper prenatal care is critical to the development of cognitive skills.

COGNITIVE SKILLS

Cognitive skills are the basic mental abilities we use to think, study, and learn. They include a wide variety of mental processes used to analyze sounds and images, recall information from memory, make associations between different pieces of information, and maintain concentration on particular tasks. They can be individually identified and measured. Cognitive skill strength and efficiency correlates directly with students' ease of learning.

DRINKING, PREGNANCY, AND ITS INTELLECTUAL IMPACT

Drinking while pregnant is not smart. In fact, it's downright stupid.

A study in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research has found that even light to moderate drinking - especially during the second trimester - is associated with lower IQs in offspring at 10 years of age. This result was especially pronounced among African-American rather than Caucasian offspring.

"IQ is a measure of the child's ability to learn and to survive in his or her environment. It predicts the potential for success in school and in everyday life. Although a small but significant percentage of children are diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) each year, many more children are exposed to alcohol during pregnancy who do not meet criteria for FAS yet experience deficits in growth and cognitive function," said Jennifer A. Willford, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Paul D. Connor, clinical director of the Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit and assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington has this to say about the subject:

"There are a number of domains of cognitive functioning that can be impaired even in the face of a relatively normal IQ, including academic achievement (especially arithmetic), adaptive functioning, and executive functions (the ability to problem solve and learn from experiences). Deficits in intellectual, achievement, adaptive, and executive functioning could make it difficult to appropriately manage finances, function independently without assistance, and understand the consequences of - or react appropriately to - mistakes."

This is a key finding which speaks directly to the (psychological) definition of intelligence which is addressed later in this article.

ULTRA SOUNDS

Studies have shown that the frequent exposure of the human fetus to ultrasound waves is associated with a decrease in newborn body weight, an increase in the frequency of left-handedness, and delayed speech.

Because ultrasound energy is a high-frequency mechanical vibration, researchers hypothesized that it might influence the migration of neurons in a developing fetus. Neurons in mammals multiply early in fetal development and then migrate to their final destinations. Any interference or disruption in the process could result in abnormal brain function.

Commercial companies (which do ultrasounds for "keepsake" purposes) are now creating more powerful ultrasound machines capable of providing popular 3D and 4D images. The procedure, however, lasts longer as they try to make 30-minute videos of the fetus in the uterus.

The main stream magazine New Scientist reported the following: Ultrasound scans can stop cells from dividing and make them commit suicide. Routine scans, which have let doctors peek at fetuses and internal organs for the past 40 years, affect the normal cell cycle.

On the FDA website this information is posted about ultrasounds:

While ultrasound has been around for many years, expectant women and their families need to know that the long-term effects of repeated ultrasound exposures on the fetus are not fully known. In light of all that remains unknown, having a prenatal ultrasound for non-medical reasons is not a good idea.

NATURE VERSUS NURTURE...THE DEBATE CONTINUES

Now that you are aware of some of the known factors which determine, improve, and impact the intellectual development of a fetus, it's time for conception. Once that baby is born, which will be more crucial in the development of its intellect: nature (genetics) or nurture (the environment)?

Apparently for centuries, scientists and psychologists have gone back and forth on this. I read many comprehensive studies and reports on this subject during the research phase of this article, and I believe that it's time to put this debate to rest. Both nature and nurture are equally as important and must be fully observed in the intellectual development of all children. This shouldn't be an either/or proposition.

A recent study shows that early intervention in the home and in the classroom can make a big difference for a child born into extreme poverty, according to Eric Turkheimer, a psychologist at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The study concludes that while genetic makeup explains most of the differences in IQ for children in wealthier families, environment - and not genes - makes a bigger difference for minority children in low-income homes.

Specifically, what researchers call "heritability"- the degree to which genes influence IQ - was significantly lower for poor families. "Once you're put into an adequate environment, your genes start to take over," Mr. Turkheimer said, "but in poor environments genes don't have that ability."

But there are reports that contradict these findings...sort of.

Linda S. Gottfredson, a professor of educational studies at the University of Delaware, wrote in her article, The General Intelligence Factor that environments shared by siblings have little to do with IQ. Many people still mistakenly believe that social, psychological and economic differences among families create lasting and marked differences in IQ.

She found that behavioral geneticists refer to such environmental effects as "shared" because they are common to siblings who grow up together. Her reports states that the heritability of IQ rises with age; that is to say, the extent to which genetics accounts for differences in IQ among individuals increases as people get older.

In her article she also refers to studies comparing identical and fraternal twins, published in the past decade by a group led by Thomas J. Bouchard, Jr., of the University of Minnesota and other scholars, show that about 40 percent of IQ differences among preschoolers stems from genetic differences, but that heritability rises to 60 percent by adolescence and to 80 percent by late adulthood.

And this is perhaps the most interesting bit of information, and relevant to this section of my article:

With age, differences among individuals in their developed intelligence come to mirror more closely their genetic differences. It appears that the effects of environment on intelligence fade rather than grow with time.

Bouchard concludes that young children have the circumstances of their lives imposed on them by parents, schools and other agents of society, but as people get older they become more independent and tend to seek out the life niches that are most congenial to their genetic proclivities.

BREAST-FEEDING INCREASES INTELLIGENCE

Researchers from Christchurch School of Medicine in New Zealand studied over 1,000 children born between April and August 1977. During the period from birth to one year, they gathered information on how these children were fed.

The infants were then followed to age 18. Over the years, the researchers collected a range of cognitive and academic information on the children, including IQ, teacher ratings of school performance in reading and math, and results of standardized tests of reading comprehension, mathematics, and scholastic ability. The researchers also looked at the number of passing grades achieved in national School Certificate examinations taken at the end of the third year of high school.

The results indicated that the longer children had been breast-fed, the higher they scored on such tests.

TALKING TO YOUR CHILDREN MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Thomas Sowell, author of Race, IQ, Black Crime, and facts Liberals Ignore uncovered some fascinating information that every parent should take note of. He writes:

There is a strong case that black Americans suffer from a series of disadvantageous environments. Studies show time and again that before they go to school, black children are on average exposed to a smaller vocabulary than white children, in part due to socioeconomic factors.

While children from professional households typically exposed to a total of 2,150 different words each day, children from working class households are exposed to 1,250, and children from households on welfare a mere 620.

Yes, smart sounding children tend to come from educated, professional, two-parent environments where they pick-up valuable language skills and vocabulary from its smart sounding inhabitants.

Mr. Sowell continues: Black children are obviously not to blame for their poor socioeconomic status, but something beyond economic status is at work in black homes. Black people have not signed up for the "great mission" of the white middle class - the constant quest to stimulate intellectual growth and get their child into Harvard or Oxbridge.

Elsie Moore of Arizona State University, Phoenix, studied black children adopted by either black or white parents, all of whom were middle-class professionals. By the age of 7.5 years, those in black homes were 13 IQ points behind those being raised in the white homes.

ACCUMULATED ADVANTAGES

At this juncture in my research it dawned on me, and should be fairly obvious to you, that many children are predisposed to being smart, educated, and intelligent, simply by their exposure to the influential factors which determine them long before they start school.

An informed mother, proper prenatal care, educated, communicative parents, and a nurturing environment in which to live, all add up to accumulated advantages that formulate intellectual abilities. As you can see, some children have unfair advantages from the very beginning.

Malcolm Gladwell, author of top-selling book Outliers, wrote that "accumulated advantages" are made possible by arbitrary rules...and such unfair advantages are everywhere. "It is those who are successful who are most likely to be given the kinds of social opportunities that lead to further success," he writes. "It's the rich who get the biggest tax breaks. It's the best students who get the best teaching and most attention."

With that in mind, we turn our attention to education and intelligence.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE WELL EDUCATED?

Alfie Kohn, author of the book What Does It Mean To Be Well Educated? poses the question, does the phrase well educated refer to a quality of schooling you received, or something about you? Does it denote what you were taught? Or what you remember?

I contend that to be well educated is all in the application; the application and use of information. Information has to be used in order to become knowledge, and as we all have heard, knowledge is power.

Most people are aware of the floundering state of education in this country on some level. We tell our children that nothing is more important than getting a "good" education, and every year, due to government budget shortfalls, teachers are laid off, classes are condensed, schools are closed, and many educational programs - especially those which help the underprivileged - are cut.

The reality is, we don't really value education. We value it as a business, an industry, political ammunition, and as an accepted form of discrimination, but not for what it was intended: a means of enriching one's character and life through learning.

What we value as a society, are athletes and the entertainment they offer. The fact that a professional athlete makes more money in one season, than most teachers in any region will make in their careers, is abominable. There's always money to build new sports stadiums, but not enough to give teachers a decent (and well-deserved) raise.

Ironically, the best teachers don't go into the profession for money. They teach because it's a calling. Most of them were influenced by a really good teacher as a student. With the mass exodus of teachers, many students are not able to cultivate the mentoring relationships that they once were able to because so many are leaving the profession - voluntarily and involuntarily - within an average of three years.

At the high school level, where I got my start, the emphasis is not on how to educate the students to prepare them for life, or even college (all high schools should be college-prep schools, right?), it was about preparing them to excel on their standardized tests. Then the controversial "exit" exams were implemented and literally, many high schools were transformed into testing centers. Learning has almost become secondary.

This mentality carries over into college, which of course there's a test one must take in order to enroll (the SAT or ACT). This explains why so many college students are more concerned with completing a course, than learning from it. They are focused on getting "A's" and degrees, instead of becoming degreed thinkers. The latter of which are in greater demand by employers and comprise the bulk of the self-employed. The "get-the-good-grade" mindset is directly attributable to the relentless and often unnecessary testing that our students are subjected to in schools.

Alfie Kohn advocates the "exhibition" of learning, in which students reveal their understanding by means of in-depth projects, portfolios of assignments, and other demonstrations.

He cites a model pioneered by Ted Sizer and Deborah Meier. Meier has emphasized the importance of students having five "habits of mind," which are: the value of raising questions about evidence ("How do we know what we know?"), point of view, ("Whose perspective does this represent?"), connections ("How is this related to that?"), supposition ("How might things have been otherwise?"), and relevance ("Why is this important?").

Kohn writes: It's only the ability to raise and answer those questions that matters, though, but also the disposition to do so. For that matter, any set of intellectual objectives, any description of what it means to think deeply and critically, should be accompanied by a reference to one's interest or intrinsic motivation to do such thinking...to be well-educated then, is to have the desire as well as the means to make sure that learning never ends...

HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF IQ

We've always wanted to measure intelligence. Ironically, when you look at some the first methods used to evaluate it in the 1800s, they were not, well, very intelligent. Tactics such as subjecting people to various forms of torture to see what their threshold for pain was (the longer you could withstand wincing, the more intelligent you were believed to be), or testing your ability to detect a high pitch sound that others could not hear.

Things have changed...or have they?

No discussion of intelligence or IQ can be complete without mention of Alfred Binet, a French psychologist who was responsible for laying the groundwork for IQ testing in 1904. His original intention was to devise a test that would diagnose learning disabilities of students in France. The test results were then used to prepare special programs to help students overcome their educational difficulties.

It was never intended to be used as an absolute measure of one's intellectual capabilities.

According to Binet, intelligence could not be described as a single score. He said that the use of the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) as a definite statement of a child's intellectual capability would be a serious mistake. In addition, Binet feared that IQ measurement would be used to condemn a child to a permanent "condition" of stupidity, thereby negatively affecting his or her education and livelihood.

The original interest was in the assessment of 'mental age' -- the average level of intelligence for a person of a given age. His creation, the Binet-Simon test (originally called a "scale"), formed the archetype for future tests of intelligence.

H. H. Goddard, director of research at Vineland Training School in New Jersey, translated Binet's work into English and advocated a more general application of the Simon-Binet test. Unlike Binet, Goddard considered intelligence a solitary, fixed and inborn entity that could be measured. With help of Lewis Terman of Stanford University, his final product, published in 1916 as the Stanford Revision of the Binet-Simon Scale of Intelligence (also known as the Stanford-Binet), became the standard intelligence test in the United States.

It's important to note that the fallacy about IQ is that it is fixed and can not be changed. The fact is that IQ scores are known to fluctuate - both up and down during the course of one's lifetime. It does not mean that you become more, or less intelligent, it merely means that you tested better on one day than another.

One more thing to know about IQ tests: They have been used for racist purposes since their importation into the U.S. Many of those who were involved in the importation and refinement of these tests believed that IQ was hereditary and are responsible for feeding the fallacy that it is a "fixed" trait.

Many immigrants were tested in the 1920s and failed these IQ tests miserably. As a result, many of them were denied entry into the U.S., or were forced to undergo sterilization for fear of populating America with "dumb" and "inferior" babies. If you recall, the tests were designed for white, middle class Americans. Who do you think would have the most difficulty passing them?

Lewis Terman developed the original notion of IQ and proposed this scale for classifying IQ scores:

000 - 070: Definite feeble-mindedness
070 - 079: Borderline deficiency
080 - 089: Dullness
090 - 109: Normal or average intelligence
110 - 119: Superior intelligence
115 - 124: Above average (e.g., university students)
125 - 134: Gifted (e.g., post-graduate students)
135 - 144: Highly gifted (e.g., intellectuals)
145 - 154: Genius (e.g., professors)
155 - 164: Genius (e.g., Nobel Prize winners)
165 - 179: High genius
180 - 200: Highest genius
200 - higher ?: Immeasurable genius

*Genius IQ is generally considered to begin around 140 to 145, representing only 25% of the population (1 in 400).
*Einstein was considered to "only" have an IQ of about 160.

DEFINING INTELLIGENCE

Diane F. Halpern, a psychologist and past-president of the American Psychological Association (APA), wrote in her essay contribution to Why Smart People Can Be So Stupid that in general, we recognize people as intelligent if they have some combination of these achievements (1) good grades in school; (2) a high level of education; (3) a responsible, complex job; (4) some other recognition of being intelligent, such as winning prestigious awards or earning a large salary; (5) the ability to read complex text with good comprehension; (6) solve difficult and novel problems.

Throughout my research and in the early phases of this article, I came across many definitions of the word intelligence. Some were long, some were short. Some I couldn't even understand. The definition that is most prevalent is the one created by the APA which is: the ability to adapt to one's environment, and learn from one's mistakes.

How about that? There's the word environment again. We just can't seem to escape it. This adds deeper meaning to the saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." It means recognizing what's going on in your environment, and having the intelligence adapt to it - and the people who occupy it - in order to survive and succeed within it.

There are also many different forms of intelligence. Most notably those created by Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University.

Dr. Gardner believes (and I agree) that our schools and culture focus most of their attention on linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligence. We esteem the highly articulate or logical people of our culture. However, Dr. Gardner says that we should also place equal attention on individuals who show gifts in the other intelligences: the artists, architects, musicians, naturalists, designers, dancers, therapists, entrepreneurs, and others who enrich the world in which we live.

He felt that the traditional notion of intelligence, based on IQ testing, was far too limited and created the Theories Of Multiple Intelligences in 1983 to account for a broader range of human potential in children and adults.

These intelligences are:

Linguistic intelligence ("word smart")
Logical-mathematical intelligence ("number/reasoning smart")
Spatial intelligence ("picture smart")
Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence ("body smart")
Musical intelligence ("music smart")
Interpersonal intelligence ("people smart")
Intrapersonal intelligence ("self smart")
Naturalist intelligence ("nature smart")

Not associated with Dr. Gardner, but equally respected are:

FLUID & CRYSTALLIZED INTELLIGENCE

According to About.com, Psychologist Raymond Cattell first proposed the concepts of fluid and crystallized intelligence and further developed the theory with John Horn. The Cattell-Horn theory of fluid and crystallized intelligence suggests that intelligence is composed of a number of different abilities that interact and work together to produce overall individual intelligence.

Cattell defined fluid intelligence as "...the ability to perceive relationships independent of previous specific practice or instruction concerning those relationships." Fluid intelligence is the ability to think and reason abstractly and solve problems. This ability is considered independent of learning, experience, and education. Examples of the use of fluid intelligence include solving puzzles and coming up with problem solving strategies.

Crystallized intelligence is learning from past experiences and learning. Situations that require crystallized intelligence include reading comprehension and vocabulary exams. This type of intelligence is based upon facts and rooted in experiences. This type of intelligence becomes stronger as we age and accumulate new knowledge and understanding.

Both types of intelligence increase throughout childhood and adolescence. Fluid intelligence peaks in adolescence and begins to decline progressively beginning around age 30 or 40. Crystallized intelligence continues to grow throughout adulthood.

SUCCESSFUL INTELLIGENCE

Then there's Successful Intelligence, which is authored by intelligence psychologist and Yale professor, Robert J. Sternberg, who believes that the whole concept of relating IQ to life achievement is misguided, because he believes that IQ is a pretty miserable predictor of life achievement.

His Successful Intelligence theory focuses on 3 types of intelligence which are combined to contribute to one's overall success: Analytical Intelligence; mental steps or components used to solve problems; Creative Intelligence: the use of experience in ways that foster insight (creativity/divergent thinking); and Practical Intelligence: the ability to read and adapt to the contexts of everyday life.

With regard to environment, Mr. Sternberg writes in his book Successful Intelligence: Successfully intelligent people realize that the environment in which they find themselves may or may not be able to make the most of their talents. They actively seek an environment where they can not only do successful work, but make a difference. They create opportunities rather than let opportunities be limited by circumstances in which they happen to find themselves.

As an educator, I subscribe to Mr. Sternberg's Successful Intelligence approach to teaching. It has proven to be a highly effective tool and mindset for my college students. Using Successful Intelligence as the backbone of my context-driven curriculum really inspires students to see how education makes their life goals more attainable, and motivates them to further develop their expertise. Mr. Sternberg believes that the major factor in achieving expertise is purposeful engagement.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

In his best-selling 1995 book, Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman reported that research shows that conventional measures of intelligence - IQ - only account for 20% of a person's success in life. For example, research on IQ and education shows that high IQ predicts 10 to 25% of grades in college. The percentage will vary depending on how we define success. Nonetheless, Goleman's assertion begs the question: What accounts for the other 80%?

You guessed it...Emotional Intelligence. What exactly is emotional intelligence? Emotional intelligence (also called EQ or EI) refers to the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions. Many corporations now have mandatory EQ training for their managers in an effort to improve employee
relations and increase productivity.

TACIT KNOWLEDGE aka "STREET SMARTS"

You've heard the phrase, "Experience is the greatest teacher..."

In psychology circles knowledge gained from everyday experience is called tacit knowledge. The colloquial term is "street smarts," which implies that formal, classroom instruction (aka "book smarts") has nothing to do with it. The individual is not directly instructed as to what he or she should learn, but rather must extract the important lesson from the experience even when learning is not the primary objective.

Tacit knowledge is closely related to common sense, which is sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts. As you know, common sense is not all that common.

Tacit knowledge, or the lessons obtained from it, seems to "stick" both faster and better when the lessons have direct relevance to the individual's goals. Knowledge that is based on one's own practical experience will likely be more instrumental to achieving one's goals than will be knowledge that is based on someone else's experience, or that is overly generic and abstract.

BEING BOTH SMART AND STUPID

Yes, it's possible to be both smart and stupid. I'm sure someone you know comes to mind at this precise moment. But the goal here is not to ridicule, but to understand how some seemingly highly intelligent, or highly educated individuals can be so smart in one way, and incredibly stupid in others.

The woman who is a respected, well paid, dynamic executive who consistently chooses men who don't appear to be worthy of her, or the man who appears to be a pillar of the community, with a loving wife and happy kids, ends up being arrested on rape charges.

It happens, but why? I found the answer in Why Smart People Can Be So Stupid. Essentially, intellect is domain specific. In other words, being smart (knowledgeable) in one area of your life, and stupid (ignorant) in another is natural. Turning off one's brain is quite common especially when it comes to what we desire. A shared characteristic among those who are smart and stupid, is the difficulty in delaying gratification.

Olem Ayduk & Walter Mischel who wrote the chapter summarized: Sometimes stupid behavior in smart people may arise from faulty expectations, erroneous beliefs, or merely a lack of motivation to enact control strategies even when one has them. But sometimes it is an inability to regulate one's affective states and the behavioral tendencies associated with them that leads to stupid and self-defeating behavior.

The central character in this book who many of these lessons regarding being smart and stupid revolve around is Bill Clinton and his affair with Monica Lewinksky.

WISDOM & CONCLUSION

My great grandmother, Leola Cecil, maybe had an 8th grade education at the most. By no stretch of the imagination was she highly educated, but she had what seemed like infinite wisdom. She was very observant and could "read" people with startling accuracy. Till the very end of her life she shared her "crystallized intelligence" with whomever was receptive to it.

She died at the age of 94. I often use many of her sayings as a public speaker, but most importantly, I use her philosophies to make sure that I'm being guided spiritually and not just intellectually. Many of us who are lucky enough to have a great grandparent can testify that there is something special about their knowledge. They seem to have life figured out, and a knack for helping those of us who are smart, educated and intelligent see things more clearly when we are too busy thinking.

What they have is what we should all aspire to end up with if we are lucky: wisdom.

Wisdom is the ability to look through a person, when others can only look at them. Wisdom slows down the thinking process and makes it more organic; synchronizing it with intuition. Wisdom helps you make better judgments regarding decisions, and makes you less judgmental. Wisdom is understanding without knowing, and accepting without understanding. Wisdom is recognizing what's important to other people, and knowing that other people are of the utmost importance to you. Wisdom is both a starting point, and a final conclusion.

The Difference Between Being Smart, Educated, and Intelligent

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How Much Does an Amber Cost?

The price of amber is determined by the different life forms which are found in the stone. Intact insects, plants, flowers etc will increase the value of amber and these stones will be highly priced. Typically, an amber necklace with say, a trapped dragonfly, will have a high price and will enjoy a heavy demand in the market.

The prices of these gems can vary depending upon the clarity, color, polish and size of the piece. The prices mentioned in this article are in general for gems of fairly good color and good clarity. Opaque pieces of amber can usually be bought quite cheap - for as much as

Good wholesale quality beads can also be purchased for as low as . Shapeless and uneven pieces without any fossil inclusions ranging from 1 to 1.5 inches in size and weighing around 10 to 12 carats would cost anywhere between to . Polished beads without any inclusions of about 1 centimeter usually cost from to per carat.

.10 to for a carat or less. For pieces around an inch in size and with insect inclusions, the prices can range from to . An average stone of a good size and with inclusions would cost around 5.

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Many a times, this gem is heated to give it an old or aged look. These pieces usually cost less compared to a similar piece having the original color.

Amber pieces with unusual flora and fauna are a collector's item. Fossils in this gem always increase its value and beauty. A pendant with inclusions is guaranteed to get a good price in the market. A carved ring is also very highly priced in the market.

A significant difference in the price of the amber is made depending on the period from which the amber originates from. The older the gemstone, the higher is its price. However, it is not easy to identify the age of the stone. Most gemological laboratories also do not often certify amber gemstones. The process of finding out the age of the amber stone involves identifying the inclusions present in the stone and estimating the period in which it existed.

There is an interesting piece of news about a piece of Dominican amber with inclusions. Recently, such a piece with a large lizard trapped inside it was sold for $ 75000. This figure cannot really give us a hint of how high a price this gemstone can fetch.

In fact, the amount of history associated with amber jewelry would only serve to increase its market value. Similarly, antique jewelry or a pendant with insect is very highly valued in the market.

There are frequent attempts made in the market to sell amber 'simulants' as genuine amber. Simulants of this gem include ambroid, copal resin, kauri gum, dammar, celluloid and plastic. These simulants would normally cost a fraction of what a real stone costs.

Thus, we can see that the price of this gemstone mostly depends upon factors such as age, inclusions, quality and size.

How Much Does an Amber Cost?

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Online MBA Degree Program - Does It Require GMAT?

Before getting to a MBA degree program, you are required to sit for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). This has created confusion among us when some of the accredited business schools accept students without GMAT. Do you actually need to take GMAT in the first place? Generally, you should know the real objective of GMAT which is widely used as a measuring aptitude test for candidates and it is also the main criteria for admission into an accredited business study program.

Basically, there are certain reasons why some accredited business schools does not offer GMAT for MBA applicants. Instead, candidates are required to take some entry examinations administered by the these business schools. These entry examination are perfectly customized based on the needs of every distinctive business majors. For example, Swiss Business School (SBS) does not require a GMAT score due to the fact that they offer an internal entrance test similar to the GMAT. This also applies to some of accredited online business schools.

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Due to some circumstances, GMAT is not required if your undergraduate degree is from a university which the school is familiar with (especially when these schools are in the same country). If you are applying for an online business course program from internationally accredited universities such as Durham Business School (UK), TiasNimbas Business School (Netherlands-Germany), Carlos III University of Madrid (Spain) and other well-known accredited business schools; they will review your application and transfer possible credits from your previous undergraduate degree program into your new MBA degree program.

In fact, there are also cases where GMAT is not necessary and there is no alternative entry exam if you have few years of related working experiences. The accredited business schools assess your application based on your employment history, undergraduate records and last but not least - letters of recommendation. In this case, you may apply for a GMAT exemption at the Syracuse University from New York, which has an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited MBA program.

Online MBA Degree Program - Does It Require GMAT?

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The Paramount Business and Law Degree Online - William Howard Taft University

Many young professionals looking to advance in their career often find themselves asking the same question - is it worth it to get a business or law degree? This article will discuss a way to get your business or law degree quickly and easily - by getting a business and law degree online.

William Howard Taft University has offered students business and law degrees online for more than 20 years now. Students who choose to take up business or law have the advantage of selecting from a variety of tracks to help them expand their knowledge even further.

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In William Howard Taft University, you can mix and match your education to how you see fit. For example, some students may choose to get a Juris Doctor degree while taking the Attorney track or Executive track. Alternately, students who want to be come accountants with an exposure to law may opt to take a Master of Laws in Taxation.

However, the most sought after degree in William Howard Taft is its business and law degree online. People who are considering getting an MBA usually choose to take this course. There are three types of MBA offered. You may choose to focus on entrepreneurship and small business, health care administration, or professional practice management.

Sometimes, students choose not to even go for an MBA. There are many business related degrees offered under the MS category. For example, students who want to delve into more technical course work can choose to take an MS in Taxation.

Furthermore, students who take online courses are offered opportunities to earn some extra pocket money. Many students serve as tax preparers during their free time and get paid for it. Other students, however, spend their time preparing themselves to become more marketable in the job market.

Getting a business and law degree online at Howard Taft can open doors to some new opportunities. For instance, privacy law is a popular and emerging field today. Many students who enroll for business or law degrees discover this new field.

A final advantage with getting a business and law degree online at Howard Taft is that many students are given the chance to gain some experience and recognition while they are working towards their degree. The National Moot Court Competition is an event in which students may compete against each other and test their academic abilities. Participation and success in these competitions can earn you valuable recognition in your future academic fields.

The Paramount Business and Law Degree Online - William Howard Taft University

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Bangalore University MBA Colleges - How to Seek Admission?

Are you planning to seek admission in Bangalore university for MBA? This article may prove helpful in providing you with all information. Regular programs, full time, part time and evening programs are some of the categories where Bangalore University offers admission. Various courses offered are certificate, undergraduate degree, postgraduate diploma, post graduate degree, correspondence MBA. If one wants to seek admission in MBA degree programme, entrance exam is held. Once the good marks are scored in MBA programme, candidate is allowed to go for second round that is group discussion and interview. When one has passed all the stages successfully, university issues ticket after receiving the application form.

Bangalore MBA colleges offers a lot to its MBA students by providing high quality education, good infrastructure and excellent campus facilities. Institutes offering MBA degrees should be affiliated to AICTE. Selection of students for colleges is taken on the basis of Management Aptitude Test score. Rankings for MBA plays an important role as the student is allowed to take admission on the basis of good ranks, otherwise he has to compromise with mediocre colleges. Keeping in mind the increased number of students, many part time courses have been opened to facilitate the students with studies. There are many colleges in Bangalore University that have the provision of MBA but to take admission into the best college requires preparation. One should have the look upon various top colleges of MBA to achieve them.

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Next Step: Find the details of best MBA colleges in Bangalore.

Bangalore University MBA Colleges - How to Seek Admission?

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Studying A Bachelor Degree In The UK

Why should you pursue a bachelor degree education? The answer is that you may have access to a wider variety of employment in an increasingly competitive job market.

There is strong demand for bachelor degree qualifications and statistics indicate that recruiters prefer bachelor degree holders as they possess required skills like good communication, analytical and research as well as report-writing skills. Moreover, they are self-motivators who work well under pressure.

Mba Degrees

The most compelling reason for you to pursue an undergraduate degree is career advancement due to increased marketability. Many graduates also find themselves stuck in their careers and by taking up new skills and areas of expertise, they are able to move up the career ladder with relative ease.

Most employers do understand how difficult it is to obtain an undergraduate qualification and tend to look upon these graduates as people who have overcome significant barriers. They also view them as dynamic self-starters who will be an asset to any organization.

So, if you want to obtain an undergraduate qualification, what exactly do you do? The most important thing to do is think carefully about what you want to get out of it. This will depend on your interests, experiences and long-term ambitions. Get as much advices and assistance as possible.

The UK is a preferred destination for a bachelor degree studies due to the quality and reputation of its institutions of higher education, which are assessed and monitored by external agencies like the Quality Assurance Agency and the Research Assessment Exercise.

The main attraction of UK undergraduate studies is cost effectiveness, as most degrees can be completed within 3-4 years, unlike the 5 years required in other countries. This means cost savings in terms of tuition fees and living expenses as well as faster re-entry into the job market.

An added advantage is the fact that international students in the UK can work up to 20 hours a week during the academic period and full time during the holidays. All international students studying in the UK on a full time basis for six months or more automatically qualify for free healthcare through the National Health Service.

Close links with industry also mean that students in the UK have access to the latest cutting-edge research that shapes the world as you know it today. Be it in the field of science or finance, the UK is in the forefront of many industry developments and students in the UK have an edge over their peers as they are often taught by industry movers and shakers.

That's not all, in addition to attaining a world-renowned and highly sought-after qualification, you also gain personal enrichment and development as the country is an amalgam of experiences waiting to be discovered.

Last but not least, The National Union of Students has negotiated many discounts on behalf of their members, which means that students can obtain great discounts for books, theatre tickets, travel, food, clothes and much more. Combined with the fact that the UK is incredibly diverse and cosmopolitan, students will be enriched by their experience while in the UK.

Studying A Bachelor Degree In The UK

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High Paying Jobs With MBA Degrees - The Right Business Education

Gone are the days when entrepreneurs used to learn business on the job. This was the most prevalent way of getting business education, though informal. There are numerous successful entrepreneurs who succeeded in business field without any formal business education.

One can learn business on the job as has been demonstrated by a large number of businessmen. That route takes longer and is fraught with uncertainties.

Mba Degrees

With the complexities of modern business, business education has now been formalized. In order to do business, it is necessary that one should be conversant with so many business practices. Any business is now interdependent on other national and international factors. Formal business learning is now necessary in order to understand business environment as a whole.

Without a business degree from a renowned business school, it is difficult to undertake a business career.

Basis of business education are business and economic practices and theories. These comprise of courses in fields like business accounting and bookkeeping, business strategy, business intelligence, business law, business writing, business consulting, financial management, organizational behavior, business marketing, business planning, international business, micro and macro economics etc.

Business education leads to important degrees like bachelors and masters (MBA). These two are the most important business degrees and are in high demand amongst companies and business establishments.

A university level business qualification leading to an MBA degree is the crown of a business course. MBA programs have been in high demand because of their clout in the market. While business concepts get clear at bachelor's level, master's education is a more specialized form of business education.

Generally an MBA program is spread over a two year period after bachelors. Most renowned MBA universities are in North America, UK and Australia. There are certain institutions like Indian Institutes of Management (IITs) in India which are equally reputed.

Some universities also have executive MBA programs which can be completed in one to two years. Executive MBAs are specific to working executives and managers who have been practicing in business field or at jobs for a number of years.

Executive MBA candidates have mostly bachelor level degrees and experience of a number of years. Essential qualifications for an executive MBA program are a combination of education and business experience. Executive MBA programs are generally employer supported and have a shorter duration than regular MBAs.
It is estimated that MBA salaries are generally higher by about 35 per cent than regular graduates. They hold prestigious jobs. They position their businesses strategically and help in the growth of companies and economies.

MBA degrees can be obtained at a university campus, through distance learning MBA, MBA online and part time MBA. With the spread of internet, it has become easier to pursue an MBA degree. It is no longer necessary now to be a full time student at a campus, although this is most desirable.

Almost 43 per cent of MBA universities also have online MBA degree programs. About two thirds of MBA degrees get awarded through distance MBA programs and part time MBA education.

Though expensive, one can study an MBA course on part time basis or through distance learning MBA while on the job. An MBA course enables a person not only to have a successful MBA career, but also helps one to establish own business consulting or any other independent business.

High Paying Jobs With MBA Degrees - The Right Business Education

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Don't Ever Think of Getting a Certified Online MBA If You're Lazy

You work full-time and you would like to enroll to a program that does not interfere with your progression up the corporate ladder. You have been looking at universities and business schools that offer online MBA programs. Then, you have looked at the prerequisites and think you are a shoo-in. You were a straight-A student in school, easy peasy right?

The answer is definitely - Wrong! It is not easy as it seems to be.

Mba Degrees

The question is not whether the subjects are hard or whether you will have trouble following the online lectures. Our attitude plays the main role in completing an e-learning course. It means that we have to get rid of bad habit as much as possible.

The main reason why most people fail to complete their online education is because of their laziness.

Are you prepared to dedicate your time and energy getting an online degree?

Unlike conventional business post-graduate programs where you are required to attend lectures and take exams, an online MBA course offers flexibility for you to work from home. For some people, this can be a bad thing.

Set your own schedule and personal working space

The most important thing that a business student should have is discipline. You need to set boundaries, allocate time for yourself, a quiet space to study and read. It might take some time for you to adjust, especially if you are working full-time, juggling career, a house and a family.

Have a proper time management

Organize your time so that you are at your peak when you hit the books. It may be tempting to push your studying until late night, but by then won't you already be wiped out? You must have an efficient time management in order to increase productivity of work and study.

Procrastination leads to 'self-poverty'

Prioritize your degree so that it does not get pushed to the back burner. You are paying good money for this investment, so ensure your returns are profitable. Time is something you will never have enough of, so use it well. The convenience and flexibility of an online MBA course may trick you into slacking off.

No such thing like complete time flexibility

Do not fall for the trap of thinking flexible really means any time you want. Build a support system of people who understand that this is important to you. Make them understand your current situation. You might need a study partner to help you to stay focus on completing this particular course. It is easy to look for study partner via Craigslist classifieds.

Getting your certified MBA lessons via internet without the need to rush out straight after work to attend lectures or find a parking space. Use the pockets of time you save to your advantage. Make sure you understand that time is precious.

Online time for your MBA, whether doing work or research, should be prioritized. Although it is tempting to go on Facebook, watch a YouTube video or chat with your friends, allocate "fun time" for that.

Don't Ever Think of Getting a Certified Online MBA If You're Lazy

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THE MBA Vs the CFA, What Are They, Are They Worth It, and How Can They Boost Your Career?

Having recently graduated with my BS in Business Management I just got my first job in finance working for a large investment firm in my area. They offered, as part of my job package, tuition re-imbursement, which would pay for about half of the cost of an MBA program. Having done my research on schools and degree programs I have been reading more and more about the CFA, or Chartered Financial Analyst. I became curious to learn just what the CFA was about and what it might mean, in dollars and cents, to my career.

It all brakes down to a few basic questions: What is needed to become a CFA, how much does it cost, how much study does it take and whether or not I am cut out to do the work?
Information available from the CFA Institute tells the story in numbers (I hope you like numbers, if you're going to be a CFA, or an MBA, you'll find yourself working with numbers a lot!). 11% of CFA's surveyed were serving either on the board, or as "C" level executives (CEO, CFO, CIO, etc...), in corporations around the globe (Source: 2005 Investment Management Compensation Survey conducted by Russell Reynolds Associates.)And 88% said (in the same survey) that earning the CFA charter improved their career opportunities and odds for promotion.

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Ann Logue, in her article "Should You Get the CFA?", which was authored for the Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine, writes that "According to AIMR (Association for Investment Management and Research), students study on average 250 hours to prepare for each six-hour exam. In 2006, 44 percent passed the Level I exams, 54 percent passed the Level II exams, and 59 percent passed the Level III exams. Remember, you have three years to take the first exam after you register. You then have seven years to complete the testing process and get the experience you need to become a CFA."

The short version is: there are three tests that you have to pass to acquire the CFA designation. These tests are tough, pass rates hover between 40 and 60 percent, but, of course, you don't have to face them alone. There are several companies that make a business out of preparing suitable candidates for the tests.

Schweser, one of the two CFA test prep providers that I chose to survey, charges 1 for each study level, their test prep program includes online practice exams, CD study resources, flash cards and faculty advising. There are three tests, and a course for each level, so 3 X 881= 43, for the test prep alone, plus the cost of testing. Stalla, another test prep provider is slightly more expensive at 90 for each level (3 X 1490= 70). The service qualities of the two seem similar based on the documentation available on the two websites. But neither company would provide me reliable test passing statistics so it is impossible to tell if the money spent on these study programs is worth it or not.

One upside to studying for the CFA vs. getting an MBA is that there is little opportunity cost. You can continue to work at your present job (which, hopefully, is in the finance industry) while you study for the tests. Just passing the first test would give you enough of a credential to get an investment job regardless of your background (Take Away: if you have a BS degree in basket weaving this could be your ticket into a financial sector job). The costs are minimal compared to the MBA when you add the cost of two year's tuition, and foregoing two year's pay while you attain the degree.

Improved Compensation Potential

CFA Institute's previously cited survey of more than 16,000 charter holders showed that worldwide the total pay gap between those with a charter and those without it is substantial regardless of experience.

Charter holders in the United States earn 54 percent more than those without the designation.

They out-earn those with an MBA alone by 18 percent.

Median 2005 U.S. compensation was 0,000. For those with 10+ years of experience, it shot up to 0,000.

Charter holders with 5+ years of experience reported median total U.S. compensation of 0,000.

By contrast median income levels for MBA's in Finance with 5 years in the industry are around K (Source: Payscale.com). It should be noted that 46% of CFA's are also MBA's (presumably with concentrations in finance).

The Canadian median compensation in 2005 was roughly 0,762 (in U.S. Dollars) and almost 0,000 for those with 10+ years of experience.

An MBA grad is open to broad career opportunities, far broader than a CFA charter holder. But, the MBA is a more expensive course of study than the CFA; taking the prep classes for the CFA Exams does not guarantee a passing grade on the 3 tests (levels I, II and III) of the CFA Certification. While it's possible to bomb out in an MBA program, the pass rates on the CFA tests are a little scary, the 2006 pass rate for the Level I test was only 44% for example. So if you don't have a history of graduating towards the top of your class...then the CFA probably isn't in the cards for you without a serious study habits makeover!

The candidate should remember that while MBA acceptance rates, (for top twenty B schools) may be low, the time spent filling out applications and sending in a small application fee is all that you're out. On the side of the MBA, it is the job of the business school admissions board to select MBA candidates that are likely to make it though the program. There is no such filter (save the ability and the willingness to pay) in the test prep market. Studying for the CFA tests, whether independently or with a test prep company, doesn't guarantee you will ever pass the tests.

"You learn as much or more in the CFA program as in an MBA program because the exams are focused on the kinds of things you need to know to be a stock investor," says C. Beth Cotner, chief investment officer for the Large-Cap Growth Equities division at Putnam Investments in Boston. Conrad Herrmann, a senior vice president and portfolio manager for Franklin Global Advisers agrees with Cotner on the value of the CFA program. "It's one of the metrics we look at," he said. "It's not required, but we strongly encourage it. It's a way of making sure that all of our analysts are on the same page and that they can discuss things in a common language."

I have heard experts compare the two credentials with the metaphor: "The MBA is a hole in the ground a foot deep and a mile wide, the CFA is a hole in the ground a foot wide and a mile deep." If the CFA is a scalpel then the MBA is a hammer. The MBA will have a broader range of business know how: "the MBA Tool Box". If you would rather be a specialist with a rare skill set that is in high demand in one very narrow industry, then go for the CFA. But beware of the fact that many people are taking the tests. There is a genuine fear of the certification becoming "diluted" with many charter holders lessening the economic value of the credential in the near future.

The MBA has similar problems, but the MBA addresses a wider set of skills, and is overall the more flexible and versatile of the two business credentials. MBA's work in business, all types of business require those skill sets. If an MBA went on to become a CFA, the CFA would be another tool in the MBA toolbox. If you want to manage people and have a well developed knowledge of business in a more general sense (as well as being employable in industries other than finance) then the MBA is the way to go.

By comparison the CFA is designed to increase a holder's marketability as an investment manager; a much smaller job pool which is very sensitive to economic variables and market corrections that often have a negative effect on the number of managers being hired or retained in the industry. As far as small business is concerned, the CFA is unusable (some would say useless), while the MBA has value in every size and level of business management.

To those who suggest the CFA is replacing the MBA, Dave Wilson, president and CEO of the Graduate Management Admission Council commented: "Not a chance." The CFA charter produces "first-class analysts," but an MBA covers the fundamentals of business relevant to every type of organization, from entrepreneurial start-ups, to multinational corporations, not-for-profits, and government agencies. "An MBA prepares someone to work within an organization as it relates to margins, strategy, mission, marketing and human resource issues," he says. "That will always make the MBA a relevant degree." (SOURCE: Emma Johnson, eFinancial Careers, CFA or MBA: Which is right for you? Apr 18 2007)

Contained within the calculus of deciding whether or not to get an MBA is the added financial burden of leaving work for one to two years and foregoing your salary for that amount of time. When you add the opportunity cost to the tuition cost (for the degree), the time in your future job (at the projected pay scale) to reach "break-even" shifts considerably to the right. The practical economics of such a decision are as variable as the circumstances of each individual candidate. Analyzing the variables is what being a business analyst is about.

I hope I've shared enough information to lead you towards doing your own research to come to your own decision. It's all about making choices, here's to you making the one that's right for you and your future.

THE MBA Vs the CFA, What Are They, Are They Worth It, and How Can They Boost Your Career?

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Why MBA Is Important To You

Current worldly state stresses the importance of higher education though we had achieved certain success in career wise. One of the most recognized degree is MBA, which stands for Master of Business Administration, has been one of the most extensively pursued master's degree across the globe. Usually, it has been now labeled as a 'preferred' qualification or as a requirement now in work resume.

The successful MBA foundation is phenomenal as its curriculum consists of finance, marketing, statistic and others that make a successful candidate to be included in preferred category. It is because they have ability to think broadly about business decisions and switch forth and freely to adapt to different needs and environments.

Mba Degrees

Through MBA filtering process, the best students with the best reputation can be selected from a pool of candidates. Of course, that means candidates with a highly record of excellence and achievement is highly favored and most likely to be recruited. With the degree, we can too, conclude about the drive of the person that holds it. Sometimes, they are the full time working professional who willing to spend their time to pursue the higher education. It's such an accomplishment to manage both career and education swiftly.

MBA also teaches us issues about how we can build up a successful portfolio of business knowledge and skills and network of colleagues and MBA alumni. Identification of business problems can be addressed and analyzed more consistently. Communication skills in individual and teamwork aspects can be strengthening in a long run. People management skills can be mastered as usually the person who deals with the customers mostly influences the business deal. First impression is important, and a second impression doesn't count.

It is said that the degree is a must as it guarantees professional qualification, which is a demand from industry. If you are a successful holder, it does give the eligibility and also means that you have obtained the theoretical base for building the practical achievements. It also could be the way to change your career path and set up your own business. Research has shown that the failure rate for small businesses started by an MBA is about 50 percent less than the standard failure rate.

No matter what the importance is, approach the studies with an open mindset and correct attitude and it can develop oneself into full capacity.

Why MBA Is Important To You

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Advantages and Disadvantage of Getting an MBA

Getting an MBA may sound like a fantastic qualification to acquire, but is it really all that worth? There are actually several advantages and disadvantages to getting an MBA, which will allow you to answer the question for yourself.

There are many advantages to getting an MBA. First of all, you will be recognized to have one of the higher level qualifications. Plus, this qualification appears as a good background wherever you go, whether local or international. These two points can actually give you a boost in your self-esteem and satisfaction for your ability to get that far. To add on, you will be equipped with the skills and maturity to become an effective manager. As a result, you will have plenty of job opportunities and will receive much higher pay as compared to one who has a lower education than that. There are even some MBA jobs available only for MBA holders. You will also have a much larger professional network as you would have met though your faculty during your time during the program, or through MBA jobs as you may have the opportunity to mingle with other MBA holders as well.

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There are always two sides to a coin, and so do MBAs have disadvantages, too. For one, because MBA holders usually will receive a significantly higher pay, some companies may not consider hiring you because you would be considered a little too expensive to hire based on the company's budget. Looking at the psychological aspects of the employer, the person who employed you might also feel that you can threaten their position in the company because of your qualifications, especially if they do not hold an MBA themselves. On the other hand, there may be some employers or colleagues who would have many years of experience, so you may end up feeling like you can never measure up to the experience they had despite your high qualifications. And if your career goals later on have no emphasis on an MBA, you may feel as though you have wasted your studying years when you could have gained experience.

So is getting an MBA all worth it? It is for you to decide.

Advantages and Disadvantage of Getting an MBA

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The Importance of an MBA Degree

Day by day the importance of an MBA degree is increasing. All the multinational companies and other organizations ask for an MBA degree when it comes to a promotion. Employees who do not possess this degree lag behind and their colleagues who possess this degree grow in their career. Therefore, many working professionals who are desirous of a good growth in their career enroll themselves in a distance learning MBA. Such programs are Corresponding MBA degrees offered by many Universities in an online medium. Such e learning has made life much easier as anyone can access the program, attend the virtual classes and complete the course within the flexibility of time and place.

There are many working professionals who do not get time to go to traditional MBA College and attend classes regularly. There are also many others like business men or housewives who want to earn an MBA degree but as they are pre occupied with other assignments they do not get time to join in an MBA college. This is when correspondence MBA degree is the only way that one can think of. This medium of education does not put an effect on the continuity of your job or any other business. However, the fact remains that if you are a student you have to be dedicated enough to attend the classes, complete the assignments, prepare for exams and complete the course successfully.

Mba Degrees

In distance learning MBA, everything is provided online. Students can access the course on an easy internet based interface which they can do by logging in with a user name and a password provided by the institutions that offer such online corresponding MBA. All the subjects are designed in such a way that the student can easily understand and gain knowledge. Professors of the concerned subjects are brought in for live classes. Students can even ask questions during the class in an online chat.

As the demand for an MBA degree is increasing, more and more Universities are offering different distance learning MBA programs. These programs are as useful as of a traditional degree college. Though a student may not get the class room teaching, it is usually compensated with virtual classes where in video conferencing or recorded lectures are provided to the students. These lectures can be easily accessed as the students are intimated about the live classes beforehand. The timings are kept flexible so that distance learning MBA can be easily completed by the working professionals and others who do not have time to attend regular business school.

The mode of such distance learning MBA has been quite a long time from now. However, the face of it has changed as everything has been based on e learning. With a basic knowledge of computers anybody can easily earn the degree. Students have to take care and find out if the program is accredited and once they choose a right university that offers correspondence MBA, they can enroll in it and get the benefits of this degree.

The Importance of an MBA Degree

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How To Complete Your MBA Degree With Ease

If you are a full-time employee who is opting for a part-time MBA degree course, you will encounter all sorts of distraction that would affect your study and revision process. The heaps of work load influence your study performance and this is the main reason why people failed to get a MBA degree. A MBA degree qualification can change your life if you are looking for a career advancement.

Choosing the right MBA major

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For your information, there are more than 5 MBA majors offered by various business schools. Make sure your choose the right MBA major according to your job preferences or your job prospects. If you're main interest is in accounting, then it is quite risky to choose other majors. Follow your own instinct and your main interest. Normally, this problem is common for people with science bachelors degree, who opt for a business administration qualification.

Get rid of distraction.

There are various sorts of distraction. If you live with your family, especially you have kids at home, you will find difficulties to concentrate in your studies. Since online MBA degree program has been introduced, it has increase numbers of post-graduates due to blooming of internet technology in education industry. Online education offers flexible schedule that suits your hectic lifestyle. Plan your schedule well and make sure you allocate enough time to complete your assessments and revisions.

Getting the right resources

You need to find for right references for your study assignments. If you do not have one, please refer to the course counselor for complete list of reference books. You have to do surveys on prices and course information and credits from several universities which essential for completing the course. Consult your course related problems via MBA forums on the internet.

Getting prepared

Motivation is needed for course completion. As a matter of fact, time-management and self-study tips are available in self-help books. Books from these categories can be purchased via online bookstores.

How To Complete Your MBA Degree With Ease

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Career Options After Completing MBA Business Administration

MBA business administration degree programs are in huge demand all over the globe" and once you complete your degree, you have a wide variety of options ahead of you. These programs prepare the students for today's business requirements and thus, these graduates easily get placed in top companies. The employment opportunities get all the more brighter for those who have done work in their field of interest. They can easily land upon great jobs in their preferred industries.

Banking comes as one of the most preferred field of entry for MBA graduates. One can start his/her career as a high level analyst or bank manager as they come equipped with a very good understanding of how businesses work and their financial needs. After banking, it is the financial sector that attracts many. Stock brokerage firms and financial planning companies hire these MBA graduates to let their businesses soar to new heights. And due to their intensive knowledge of Accounting and financial investment options, they are also preferred for financial planning positions.

Mba Degrees

There are others as well, who opt to work for government agencies. Many also opt to open their own businesses and mark their own way in the industry. However, this is not all. Once you complete your MBA business administration program, you have many more options to go for. But, it is really important that you do your MBA program from a well-known MBA graduate school. Thanks to globalization, India now has numerous management institutions offering world class infrastructural facilities and teaching methodology.

MBA graduates are in demand like never before. With a professional management degree on your side, you can easily land upon your dream job. A little online research about the leading institutions in India is more than enough to help you in selecting a particular MBA graduate school.

Career Options After Completing MBA Business Administration

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Top Five MBA Colleges in India

There are plenty of MBA Colleges in India but few of them are counted as best. These Colleges are world known for churning talented and highly skilled MBA professionals.

This article identifies Top Colleges in India offering MBA courses to help those students who are keen in knowing Top B-Schools in India.

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1- Indian Institute of Management (IIM) - The Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) are one of the most reputed business schools not only in India but in the whole world. IIM is ranked amongst top most management college in India. There are total of 6 IIMs situated in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore, Kozhikode and Lucknow. In order to get admission in IIM one has to get high Score in Common Admission Test (CAT). Not only that, you also have to perform excellent in personal interview and group discussion conducted by college.

2- Indian School of Business (Hyderabad) - ISB Hyderabad is one of top ranked business school in India. The university was established on December 2, 1999 by a group of fortune 500 entrepreneurs in joint venture with Andhra Pradesh state government. In annual MBA 2009 rankings done By Financial Times, ISB is listed as #15 amongst top 100 global business schools. The have faculty coming down from best institutes of the world which includes London business school, Wharton, Stanford and other good schools. For more information about college you can visit their official website.

3- Jamanlal Bajaj institute of Management Studies (Mumbai) - JBMS was founded in 1965 by the University of Mumbai. It is third oldest Management College in India. The major objective of JBMS is to pioneer and further the Management Education in India. It is included amongst Top 25 Business Schools in Asia-Pacific region. Throughout its existence, the college has shown remarkable and dynamic growth.

4- Xavier Labour Research Institute (Jamshedpur) - XLRI which is widely known as Xavier Labour Research Institute is located in the city of Jamshedpur. The institute was founded in year 1949. Today, it is one of the leading Management Colleges in country providing best quality education to students aiming at a successful career in business management. The institute offers wide range of courses along with Master in Business Management degree.

5- SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (Mumbai) - SP Jain Institute of Management & Research is one of the most popular MBA Colleges in Mumbai. The college was established in year 1981. It is continuously rated amongst Top 10 B-Schools in India. The college provides full circle of courses related to industrial and business needs.

Top Five MBA Colleges in India

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MBA Correspondence Course - Get Your Distance Learning MBA Degree in India

If you are looking for an MBA correspondence course in India, there are various options. Online MBA courses have gained popularity given the bridging of distance and making it easier but student who cannot afford a full time university MBA. Technology has enabled learning from any part of the world to take place virtually and empower people. Some of the top universities offering distance learning mba programs are:

1. XLRI Jamshedpur - Xaviers Labour Relations Institute offers a one year lucrative distance learning mba programs and is ranking among the top 10 mba institutes.

Mba Degrees

2. SCDL - Symbiosis Centre of Distance Learning a number of post graduation correspondence course for mba. Post Graduation Diploma in Information Technology, Post Graduation diploma in both Business administration and International business. It also offers a long distance MBA for PGDHRM i.e. Post Graduation diploma in Human Resource Management.

3. IGNOU - Indira Gandhi National Open University needs a student to apply for the management aptitude test called OPENMAT which is held for students wanting admissions to mba programs.

4. NMIMS - Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies is one of the top mba institutes in the city of Mumbai. All the online MBA courses and otherwise mba courses are approved by the DEC i.e. Delhi Education Council.

5. Pondicherry University - Directorate of Distance Education - The University offers online MBA courses in many fields like Marketing, Human Resources, Finance etc and a student with graduation degree is any field can apply.

6. ICFAI University - It is one of the most renowned universities and offers executive distance learning programs and full time mba programs over the internet for a period of two years.

7. Tamil Nadu Open University - If you are looking for specific mba courses other than the usual MBA courses, Tamil Nadu Open University open MBA distance courses in shipping and logistics management.

MBA Correspondence Course - Get Your Distance Learning MBA Degree in India

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Online Degree Discipline

Disciplining yourself when working on an online college degree is vital to you finishing that degree. Here are a couple tips to help you when considering whether or not you can complete an entirely online virtual degree from home:

1. Make sure you are self-motivated. Only those individuals that are self-disciplined can survive an online class. You will not have someone looking over you shoulder asking you to come to class or to turn in an assignment. You may be lucky enough to get an online instructor who might email you, but don't expect personal phone calls to make sure you are on track. You have to maintain all the responsibility. Some people just do not have that personality trait. Know whether you do or not.

Mba Degrees

2. Write down all assignments, chats, discussion postings, readings due and more on a calendar. Then break those items into smaller chunks and add the chunks to the calendar. By placing large items into doable units, you are less likely to become overwhelmed at one time by the amount of work to be completed. Usually (though not always), online degrees tend to be weighted on the heavier side of the workload compared to in-ground classes. Since you are typically not spending a specific weekly class time, they have to justify that time by giving enough work to compensate.

3. Set up a place at your home to work on "school." Use this space for your studying and research. The least amount of distractions the better. Make sure your family or significant others know that when you are working on school, you should not be disturbed. Sometimes this is the hardest lesson to enforce to others who might think you are still easily accessible. Leave the house or work when everyone is sleeping, if necessary. Just make sure to get it done.

If you can set aside the time and continue to work on your own, your well-deserved degree (and the knowledge that goes along with it), will be at your fingertips before you know it!

Online Degree Discipline

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GMAT Practice Strategy - Your Best GMAT Strategy For Getting Into a Top MBA Program

So you want to get into a top MBA program. And you're working like mad to do well on your GMAT exam. Good for you! Read on for a few tips on what that test really means and for the best GMAT strategy to help you into a top MBA program.

You may think that the GMAT is a big hassle and you hate to have to jump through that hoop. But think about it a bit differently...

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The GMAT is actually a big equalizer.

Years ago, they used to think that it was like an IQ test and you had little control over how well you did. Turns out, a certain Mr. Kaplan put an end to that particular myth.

He showed how the right kind of preparation can make anyone do a whole lot better on those standardized tests, and the GMAT is no exception.

So this means that even if your grades in college weren't that impressive, you can make up for that later by really studying up and having the right GMAT strategy. And even if your IQ isn't through the roof, you can still do very well -- by studying up and getting good at exam taking strategies.

That doesn't mean that the admission programs won't pay attention to your GMAT results. They will. It's just that your GMAT scores are not the only deciding factor.

The admission officers believe, and with a certain degree of justification, that your GMAT scores will predict how well you'll do during your first year in Business School or your MBA program. After all, if a lot of GMAT practice makes the master, your good scores also mean that your study skills will help you with the MBA. So it's in your best interest to do well.

In fact, you will want to score above 700 if at all possible. Not that this is a guarantee that your first year is going to be a walk in the park, but it will increase your chances to make it to that MBA interview and actually get that first year in an MBA program.

Of course, lots of GMAT practice and doing well will on that test as a result will still only be one factor that the admission officers take into consideration. They'll also look at your grades, your essay, your resume, and especially your letters of recommendation.

If those check out well, your GMAT score will help if it's good, yet it won't do you in if it's not that great.

Nonetheless... do as well as you can. How?

You should study for it, of course. There are a variety of programs that will help you prepare. Also, think about taking a GMAT practice run. There's no need to fix what's not broken. Who knows. You may score above 700 right out of the gate.

On the other hand, if you don't score well right away, don't give up. There are some terrific resources out there that will help teach you the right GMAT strategy to help you ace that important exam.

GMAT Practice Strategy - Your Best GMAT Strategy For Getting Into a Top MBA Program

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