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  • The Truth About Buying Textbooks

    The Truth About Buying Textbooks

    Can you really put a price on knowledge? College and universities seem to think so.

    Textbook prices in post-secondary institution are climbing everyday. Ironically students learn to think outside of the box and fight injustices such as unnecessarily high textbook costs. While there are viable reasons for Canadian textbook prices to continue to soar, they conflict with current ethic and socio-cultural teachings that encourage students to take a stand against price inflation.

    A Canadian entering post-secondary education can expect to spend between $100 and $1000 on textbooks per year. Typically, math and science students will garner the highest costs, while arts students are paying the least. Regardless of your program, textbook costs are far too high for the quality and quantity of material being provided.

    While students would be better to purchase books online, courses often have required materials that demand textbooks unavailable by any source outside of the school’s bookstore. By disabling students from purchasing online, colleges and universities are holding a monopoly on textbook orders, guaranteeing themselves revenue.

    Maclean’s magazine recently ran an exposé on the Canadian textbook distribution system that reveals why they are so expensive. Unbeknownst to most, a relatively obscure set of provisions to the Copyright Act (1999) known as “book import regulations” is responsible for raising the cost of textbooks by as much as 15 per cent. Maclean’s explains that it gives exclusive rights to Canadian publishers to monopolize textbook sales to Canadian schools, calling it “a form of cultural protection.”

    The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) placed the estimated cost of protecting these publishers through the Copyright Act at approximately $30 million a year. $30 million of Canadian students’ money!

    Maclean’s notes that this “private tariff” on books involves no accountability for how publishers use the extra funds. “This money is going to, generally speaking, foreign-owned distributors. They’re collecting it, the author doesn’t get it, the Canadian taxpayer doesn’t get it, and it’s coming out of the pockets of our students.” So there’s the dilemma.

    Is it right to support the Copyright Act in its efforts to preserve and protect Canadian writers and publishers? Is it better to purchase our own books from distributors outside of Canada and be more financially stable? Do we even have a choice?

    CASA is lobbying federal government for a change to the provisions, and until those happen there are a few things you can do to lessen the financial strain of buying textbooks.

    Always look for used books first from a bookstore that’s not officially affiliated with your school, that’s where the best deals can be found. Ask around campus for anyone selling old textbooks and advertise when you’d like to sell yours. If you can read assigned literature right off your computer, do it. Don’t purchase something you can access online option. Be vocal about your textbook price opinions, because awareness on the issues surrounding CASA’s efforts and the Copyright Act may cause the way books are distributed to make as much sense as the priceless material found inside them.

  • Student Loans: The OSAP Process

    Student Loans: The OSAP Process

    It is a question that student advisors are intimately familiar with and search engines encounter all the time. What is OSAP? If you are financially unable to attend post-secondary schooling, OSAP can help you with that. OSAP is run by the Ontario Ministry of Training and is funded by the province. Their services entail an individualized program specific to your needs. Potential applicants must prove their financial need to attain registered status.

    The criteria is particularly focused on demographics, income and loan history, according to campusaccess.com.

    “You must have either resided in Ontario all of your life or Ontario is the last province where you resided for 12 consecutive months without attending a post-secondary institution,” the site advises.

    There are two ways to apply for OSAP: The online application and the written application. Living in a digital age, online applications seem to be the more popular medium. The majority of applicants choose this because it is quicker, requires no fees, and the system provides online estimates of the funding you may receive. With this option, there is no waiting around and you are able to track the status of your application online.

    University graduate Sabrina Sagl is attending college and still using OSAP to fund her education.

    “I first got OSAP five years ago and was incredibly grateful , because of OSAP, I was able to afford to go to university,” said Sagl. Despite her ability to attend her school of choice, she was met with harrowing realizations about the negative sides of the service. “You get a certain amount of money per year, in two large lump sums, and it is incredibly easy to spend the money negligently.”

    The harsh realities are instilled after a few years of accumulated debt. Once students have completed their educational studies, they are given a six-month grace period to repay their student loans interest free. Some students are forced into trying to maintain a balancing act.

    “It was very difficult having to work, especially shift-work during the school year,” said Sagl. “I had to decrease my course load and take summer courses in order to obtain my degree.”
    If you are applying for OSAP, you need submit your application as early as you can. While OSAP provides a helping hand to students struggling with educational fees, it is far from a one-stop solution. The service often leaves students in a difficult spot financially. Students are advised to focus on their own fiscal prudence in addition to relying on the program for support.

  • The Cost of Education

    The Cost of Education

    Don’t let college and university be a costly mistake.

    Avoid the lure of a big paycheck for a diploma or degree that you really don’t love.

    It’s hard to make a decision at the tender ages of 16 and 17 regarding the career you’ll have for the next 30 years. Yet this is what parents, teachers and guidance counselors are hoping you would do when it’s time to apply for post-secondary. A Gallup and Sallie Mae survey titled How America Pays for College, found that more than half of high school seniors spent more time planning for the prom than thinking about university.

    CBC reports that the average cost for tuition in Ontario rose 207% from 1990 to 2007. It would now cost Ontario students $5,160 a year. It’s cheapest in Newfoundland and Labrador at only $2,606 and the most expensive tuition fee goes to Nova Scotia, where students fork over $6,571.

    With tuition fees on a meteoric rise, pressure is placed on the students often for the wrong reasons. Parents who are weathering the recession and stock market crisis will warn their son or daughter of choosing professions that offers stability and a large paycheck. Accountant? Programmer? Nurse? Sure, they all sound interesting…why not give it a try?

    Valentina (not her real name) started off going to university to pursue a Bachelor in Public Administration. It became evident that this really wasn’t for her. She then tried switching into Pharmaceutical Studies, only to finally graduate in Sociology. A year after receiving that degree she enrolled in college for Event Management. Still unhappy, she is now halfway through an Optician program. She feels confident that she has found her true career and even landed a student optician position during her studies.

    College and university can be very expensive, if you’re still unsure of what you would like to do. Not everyone can afford to switch around majors like Valentina did. Worse still if you stay in a program that you know you’re not suited for. Erica Cervini’s recent article for The Age found that, “If students don’t feel they belong to their university, the odds are high that they will drop out”. The greatest price to pay for education is an incomplete one.

    It’s okay to take your time and not rush into university or college when you’re not sure of what you would like to do. Volunteer during high school, talk to other adults, explore sites like Jobspeopledo.com or even consider taking a gap year to think about what would you be happy to do. Treat your future career like finding your soul mate. If you meet a big shot executive who makes loads of cash, would you be with him/her if your heart just isn’t into it?

  • Two Jobs Are Better Than None!

    Two Jobs Are Better Than None!

    My first year of university officially ended on the 21st of April and the time arrived for me to finally think about getting a summer job. As I am an international student with a ears almost as big as my fiscal expenses, I would need to work at least 65 hours per week in order to cover my tuition for the coming school year. That is the equivalent of working one full-time and one part-time job. Now, who would have thought that going to school was the fun part of the year?!

    Luckily, I had already landed one job at a certain casual Canadian restaurant; the second job came soon after at a local convenience store thanks to the efforts of a well-built network of friends. The first thing I was grateful for is that both the jobs I landed required the same base skill set. I worked as a cashier at both the restaurant and the convenience store and my job required me to do the following tasks on a day-to-day basis:
    1) Take customer orders
    2) Manage any and all numerical transactions
    3) Talk to customers and solve their problems
    4) Clean the restaurant/store from time to time
    5) Do not spill anything on the boss’s pants( one of my co-workers had the unfortunate pleasure of doing so)

    Much to my surprise, I had mastered the base skill set in under a week without much difficulty. My first job had me working mostly overnight shifts and, as bad as it may sound, it was actually the ideal situation for me to work. This is because I would work from 11 pm to 7 am every night (or day; honestly working overnight really messes up your perspective of time), go home, have breakfast by 8, take a 2 hour nap and go to my second job (which would start at 11 in the morning and would go on until 3 pm).

    So the days passed and I continued with my daily exploits. I will not lie to you – it was hard. But the work itself was not bad and I enjoyed most of it. I made some great friends and went through some very hilarious experiences.

    So here is my final pieces of advice for anyone who wants to make the most out of working two jobs:
    1) Find two jobs that essentially are similar in nature and require the same basic skill set. Doing so will allow you to improve on those required skills and perfect them.
    2) Find jobs that are close to your house. Doing so will save you a long commute to work and will also save you time that you can utilize to do other things – like sleep!
    3) Make the most out of every situation. As clichéd as this may sound, it does work. Try and make new friends at work. Broadening your horizons will also widen your network of contacts that may help you later in life.
    3) You do not want to physically and mentally over-exert yourself. If you cannot handle two jobs then it is better to just have one. You will avoid making mistakes and potentially being let go from both your jobs this way. Instead, focus your energy on looking for scholarships/bursaries/loans to help pay for school. Also, ask your employer for help as many companies have educational benefit plans for student workers.

    Working two jobs is a strenuous task but it is possible. So if you find yourself in a situation like this sometime in the future then hopefully you shall remember my advice for you!

  • March Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    March Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    Welcome to the March list of scholarships on JobsPeopleDo.com! As you are well aware, spring is shortly popping up on the calendar – as are deadlines for many scholarship and bursary applications! No matter what your university or college of choice is, there is a scholarship out there for you. The sooner you can get your post-secondary financial situation sorted out, the less stress you will feel. So what are you waiting for? Go out there and get that free money!

    1. Maytree Scholarship Program for Protected Persons and Permanent Residents who were Protected Persons – for students entering first year university or college in Toronto. Amount: $16,000. Deadline: March 22, 2013

    2. Anthem Essay Contest – for students in Grades 8, 9 or 10 across Canada. First prize: $2000 (many secondary prizes to be awarded – check website for more information). Deadline: March 20, 2013.

    3. 35 Lions Club of Regina Scholarship – for students entering first year studies at the University of Regina. Amount: $1000. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    4. Alexander College Entrance Scholarship – for students entering first year studies at Alexander College in British Columbia. Amount: $7980. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    5. Barbara Roberts Memorial Award – open to current undergraduate students at Athabasca University in Alberta. Amount: $250. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    6. The Bissett Scholarship – for students entering first year undergraduate studies at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. Amount: $6000. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    7. Canadian Cancer Society Gertrude and LeRoy Rellinger Youth Volunteer Scholarship – for youth volunteers at the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division. Amount: $5000. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    8. Community Entrance Awards – for students entering first year undergraduate studies at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. Amount: $2000. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    9. The Elaine Laurin Award – for students across Canada entering a Nursing program at any college/university. Amount: $1000. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    10. Frank Ney Memorial Entrance Award – for students entering first year undergraduate studies at Vancouver Island University in British Columbia. Amount: $500. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

  • February Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    February Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    Welcome to our list of ten new scholarships for February! Remember – it’s never too early to plan your finances for post-secondary education. The sooner you start, the greater your chances of success! Take a look at all of the scholarships below and apply for as many as you can! Go out and get that free money!

    1. The Colonel Douglas H. Gunter Award – Open to all students across Canada. Amount: 5 @ $1000. Deadline: April 13, 2013

    2. Douglas McRorie Memorial Scholarship – For students majoring in agricultural business, economics, finance or trade. Amount: $3000-$5000. Deadline: February 22, 2013

    3. Aborginal Traditional Arts Project Grant – For Aboriginal students stuyding Arts in Alberta. Amount: $15,000. Deadline: February 15, 2013.

    4. 2013 Toyota Earth Day Scholarship – Open to all students entering post-secondary education in 2013/2014. Amount: $5000. Deadline: February 15, 2013.

    5. Anne Latimer Memorial Bursary – Open to female students enrolled in Women’s Studies at Langara College, Vancouver. Amount: Dependent on need. Deadline: February 14, 2013. **Many more Langara College bursaries at the link – check them out!**

    6. Canadian Institute for Nordic Studies Undergraduate Summer Bursaries – for Canadian students planning to study abroad at a Nordic university. Amount: $1500. Deadline: February 15, 2013.

    7. Saskatchewan Chancellor’s Scholarship – For all students entering post-secondary education at the University of Saskatchewan. Amount: $5000. Deadline: February 15, 2013.

    8. Don Moore Scholarship Award – For all students entering post-secondary education in Alberta. Amount: $1500. Deadline: February 15, 2013.

    9. John Brooks Foundation Scholarship – For all students entering post-secondary education at Queens University in Kingston, ON. Amount: $1300. Deadline: February 15, 2013.

    10. University of Ontario Institute of Technology Chancellor’s Scholarship – For students entering their first year of studies at UOIT. Amount: $28,000. Deadline: February 22, 2013.

  • Can Anyone Get a Scholarship?

    Can Anyone Get a Scholarship?

    Sometimes when we are thinking about who does and doesn’t get a scholarship, we begin to hypothesize that it is only “brainiacs” who get them. We start thinking that you have to be a genius and exceptional in some way in order to get your hands on one of these monetary gifts. This is entirely false! You don’t actually have to be exceptional in any capacity to get a scholarship. In fact, the most important things are to be dedicated, persistent and organized. If you set goals at the beginning of the year, and put in consistent effort to achieve these goals, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to land yourself a scholarship. In this situation, we must refer ourselves to the SMART goals formula. We want to set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed goals. By setting goals before the time starts to perform, we are able to really get down to work without getting distracted or forgetting what it is that we are doing.

    An example of a SMART goal related to getting yourself a scholarship is to fulfill all the requirements by the end of the year. This is a smart goal because it specifies exactly how many of the requirements you want to fulfill – all of them. It is measurable because you are specifying how many requirements you want to fulfill – you can count them. It is achievable and realistic because you have read through the requirements and know that you are able to do what is asked. Finally, it is timed because you want to fulfill all of the requirements by the end of the year. When we set goals in advance, we are better able to tackle the requirements ahead of us. We know what we want and we can work steadily towards attaining that end.

    An important thing to keep in mind with goals and getting scholarships is that there will always be setbacks whenever we are attempting to achieve anything. If you think that it will be easy and a piece of cake, you are probably kidding yourself. There will be times when you will want to give up, and it is at these times that you need to remember to persist and, if necessary, make some changes. There will also be setbacks which can come in the form of failures and/or losses. This is a natural part of the process and the important thing is to keep on going, stay committed to your goals and try for the best outcome.

    Getting a scholarship is like playing soccer. Think of yourself as the lead forward; You are trying to score as many points as is possible. You may set a goal to get 8 goals, and you will try as hard as you possibly can to get 8, but if you end up with 6 or 7 you will still have done a great job. The important thing to remember is that setting goals before we begin a task will help enormously to secure a positive outcome. Good luck!

  • Money Management

    Money Management

    Times are rough and life will throw you costly curve balls. You need to know how to manage your money and maximize your saving skills so you are ready for any financial emergencies you may have to face.

    If you’re receiving any kind of financial help, you may be thinking, “I don’t really need to worry, I have help if something were to happen”. The truth is these options may not always be there. Learning how to fend for yourself will make costly times a lot easier to handle and give you a rewarding sense of independence. So let’s get to it by prioritizing where your money goes:

    Housing and Rent
    Food
    Transportation
    Credit and Banking
    Utilities and Telephone
    Health Care
    Pets
    Recreation

    Housing and rent. If you’re working, a good way to budget yourself would be to split your paycheques up to make sure you’ll have your rent ready for the end of the month. If you get paid bi-weekly, every two weeks split your rent into two and save that amount from each pay. So if your rent is $500, save $250 per pay. This is a safe way of ensuring you are saving for rent and can also budget for other things during the month.

    Transportation. Take advantage of bus tickets and bus passes depending on the amount of traveling you do and try to be productive in your travels. If you drive, that applies to you too. Make a plan before you leave and go from point A to point B strategically to save gas. If you’re one of those good people who are always giving lifts to your friends, it’s okay to ask your friends to pitch in a bit of gas money from time to time. Give them the opportunity to be a good friend, too.

    Credit and banking. Bank fees aren’t too bad these days (especially if you are a student) – it’s your credit card you have to be frugal with. Having a credit card at such a young age is one of my biggest regrets. Ince you have got yourself into credit card debt, its really hard to get out. We are living in a material world and it is very tempting to go shopping and buy things we really don’t need and could very well live without. Try your best to be smart in these times. Credit cards are for emergencies only – you don’t want to have to use them unless you really need to.

    Health care. In Canada we are lucky that most things are covered by our government health plan. But some things may not be, such as dental appointments. Many post-secondary institutions offer health plans with your tuition to help cover these types of costs. If you are under a certain age, you may still be covered by the health plan your mom or dad has through their employer. Be sure to check into both of these options.

    Utilities and telephone. Be energy smart: if you don’t need a light on, turn it off. If you don’t need the water coming from the tap, turn it off. I admit I used to leave the water running while I brushed my teeth for three minutes. Once I stopped doing it, I saw a huge difference in my utility bill just from not running my water senselessly for six minutes a day. As for your cell phone, there are plenty of good plans out there – but also plenty of rubbish ones. Make sure whatever plan you’re choosing is really working for you and that you’re not paying any more than the amount you agreed to. If you are, it is time to change your plan or service provider.

    Pets. Dogs and cats are adorable, I know. We all see them and instantly want them. But if you’re in school and working, you usually don’t have time for them. They are costly and require their own food, medical attention, and grooming. Make sure you’re making the right decision for you AND your furry loved ones.

    I hope this has given you a bit of an eye-opening incentive to be smart with your spending so you can live a less stressful life and be ready for any sudden expenses that might come your way. Happy saving!

  • Cash Advance Loans and Students – A Dangerous Mix

    Cash Advance Loans and Students – A Dangerous Mix

    Are you a college student wondering how online cash advance/payday loans fit into your finances? If you are a smart college student, then you will know online payday loans are only for emergencies. The payoff comes in just a few short weeks, so steady income is a must in order to pay it off without putting more damage into your finances.

    Here are five tips for college students who are looking to get their finances off on the right foot.

    1. Take your time getting new credit. For every creditor you apply with, there will be a mark left on your credit score. Hard inquiries to your credit done by potential creditors looking up your history will take a few points off your score for a year or two at a time. When your finances are just starting, this could bring you low really fast. Low credit scores will be denied. Too many creditors applying at once is also a warning sign for potential creditors that the applicant is desperate for cash. New creditors may take a different approach and offer incentives for the new debtor to spend more. A college student is an easy target for many marketing campaigns. Newcomers to finances are often attractive to reward programs which can trap the debtor into spending more than intended.

    2. Don’t spend your credit on frivolous things then leave yourself no room for emergency costs. Emergency costs do not need to be funded by online cash advance loans when you have room on your credit card to lighten the load. When you use and manage your credit account wisely, they are a great source of third party money to help you get by and build your credit at the same time. Make your payments on time and keep the balance below 30% whenever possible.

    3. If you are having trouble finding a creditor to approve you, you can fall back on being an authorized user on one of their accounts or have them be a co-signer to start you out on your own. The issue here is that your parents, or whomever you choose as your co-signer, will be responsible for any debt you accrue. They will also be privy to what you charge, when you charge it and where. This may not matter to some people but if you are one who may not be the best manager of money, it could be a sticky point in the relationship. If you are going to take this route, make it work for you so your credit will build into something helpful when you graduate.

    4. Are you coming out of college and are finding your student loan debt to be financially draining? Don’t default on these loans. The federal government is not a creditor you want to have after your money. Before you miss a payment, look into finding a way to defer the starting date if you still have not gotten full-time work. Ask about reduced payments or changing your payment dates to better fit your pay cycle. If you have multiple loans, try to consolidate them for a lower monthly payment. Managing your money by making on time payments may best be done with automatic payments. Some people are not organized enough to make on time payments even when they have the cash in the bank.

    5. Look into your options, which include deferring payments for a short amount of time, making reduced payments, or re-configuring your current payment schedule. Also consider consolidating multiple loans into one new loan. This often results in a lower monthly payment. Have the loan amount directly withdrawn from your bank account so you never pay late.

    Cash advance loan lenders offer emergency cash for those times when there is no other place to turn. College students often do not have the income needed to support an approval. A responsible lender will not want loan to someone without a certain income. College students have it tough in the beginning but will have great financial success when managed correctly.

  • Earning An Academic Scholarship

    Earning An Academic Scholarship

    With rising costs of education, the competition for academic scholarships is increasing, too. Paying for your education through a scholarship you earn is an impressive way to study. You don’t need to be a “genius” in order to secure a scholarship for your education. All you need to do is search for sources and apply at the right times to the right places. There are numerous organizations that work to ensure that the people who actually deserve a chance, get it. However, if you’ve never applied for a scholarship before there’s a chance that you do not know where to begin. This article is meant to give you some tips that should make your basics clearer.

    •There are college scholarships and grants that could be anywhere between a few hundred dollars per semester to those that cover all your education expenses. If you manage to get a complete scholarship it would cover your boarding and tuition fees and even cover the costs of your books.

    •There are a few scholarships that are only available to selected schools. Before you take up admission in an educational institution, make sure that you check out the various kinds of scholarships as well as the different kinds of expenses they cover.

    •So as to increase the probability of being selected for a scholarship in the educational institution of your choice, and in the course you prefer, apply at all the places possible.

    •Use all sources of information. It is really important to find the right information at the right time. Use all search engines available to you!

    •Make sure you read the fine print before you sign up for anything. There are various kinds of assistance, including loans:
    1.Some student scholarships are merit based and may be totally free.
    2.Some scholarships need to be repaid without any interest accumulating on the principle amount.
    3.Some companies dole out merit based scholarships which are actually contractual in nature – these imply that you will work for these companies once you have finished your education. There may be a bond period specified, after which you are free to join other companies.

    College scholarships, grants, and fellowships are available from federal, provincial and private organizations for students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs and vocational and technical schools. There are also scholarships for high school seniors available for those just entering post-secondary education. There are even scholarships and grants available to students for primary and secondary education.

    Whatever reasons you may have to apply for a scholarship, whether it is to re-enter educational studies, to advance your career, to change careers, or to re-enter the work force, you have the right to apply for a scholarship. Some funding organizations may require you or your family to have moderate to low income or for you to have achieved a certain GPA. However, not all agencies require these standards to be met. Look into all of your options and find the perfect scholarship for you!