1210212.us16.myftpupload.com Managed WordPress Site

Tag: money

  • Scholarships and Bursaries for Ontario University Applicants

    Scholarships and Bursaries for Ontario University Applicants

    When deciding whether or not to attend university, for many people financial questions are at the top of the list to get answered. Luckily, there are many scholarships and bursaries available for those who have achieved academic excellence or demonstrated outstanding achievement in other areas. There are also scholarships that are awarded based on financial aid, so don’t despair – there is likely something to fit your situation.

    Major scholarships are awards distributed based on academic excellence and community involvement. In Ontario, the chancellor’s scholarship requires an application and is valued at $10,000/year (renewable) and is awarded to students whose average surpasses 90%, have considerable community involvement and who demonstrate leadership. The president’s scholarship also requires an application and is valued at $7,500/year (renewable) and is awarded to students whose average surpasses 90%, have considerable community involvement and who demonstrate leadership. The dean’s scholarship is valued at $5,000/year (renewable) and is awarded to students whose average surpasses 90%, have considerable community involvement and who demonstrate leadership. It’s important to note that, for those students who do receive a major scholarship, they are no longer eligible to receive an academic excellence award, community service bursary or leadership award. This is in line with a university’s policy to restrict the amount of funds given to any one student. The scholarships are also subject to change based on the amount of funds available in any given year.

    There are also many other scholarships that are valued at lesser amounts, but still worth trying to get. The academic pathways scholarship does not require an application, is valued at $1000 and is for those with over an 80% average and at least 30 transfer credits from college or university. The student-athlete award does not require an application, is valued at 3,500/year (renewable) and is for those with over an 80% average and are a member of a varsity level sports team. The northern and central Ontario awards do not require an application and are valued at $1000 with the criteria being that the student has maintained over an 80% average and high school was attended in the select region (northern or central). The Aboriginal and Francophone excellence awards do require an application and are valued at $1,500 and $1,250/ year, respectively. They require over an 80% average and having completed a native studies course or have taken at least 4 courses in French. Community service bursaries require an application and and are valued at $1000/year (renewable). The criteria is, again, over an 80% average with demonstrated leadership and community service experience as well as financial need.

    There are a lot of other scholarships for you to peruse to determine your eligibility on your university’s website or right here on JobsPeopleDo.com. Remember, if you apply for something you think you might be eligible for, you are ahead of the people that don’t even bother to apply. Take a chance and good luck!

  • The Salary Question

    The Salary Question

    When pondering career options in a world where career insecurity and market fluctuations dominate, it is important to look at salaries for the professions that you are interested in pursuing to ensure you are building yourself a career that will allow you to enjoy a good quality of life. Just like selecting a university major, selecting a career path can leave you feeling satisfied or it can leave you feeling disappointed, based on your success in your major and your career of choice. Salary comes into play when you are planning your career because it will determine what kind of life you lead. If you neglect to look at salary with romantic ideals that money is meaningless and just pieces of paper, you may be left in the dust, struggling to pay for your overlooked comforts and even necessities.

    Looking at salaries can be more complicated than it sounds. With a lot of websites out there claiming to give the most accurate information, it is important to remember that not every site on the internet offers sounds advice. When looking at salary information, be sure to select a website that slims down your search results to at least time period and place. When you know how recent the information is, you are able to examine the claims much more critically. Similarly, when you know where the results are showing from, you can determine whether the results are applicable to you or not. For example, looking at results for teachers salaries from the year 2000 in California is not going to be of much value to you. Try to select a website that will allow you to narrow your results to time and place, and if possible, select a website with actual job postings as opposed to estimated salary ranges for the particular jobs. When you can look at what actual job placements are offered in your selected career you will be able to get an idea of what will be available five years from now when you are navigating the job market and looking for a suitable job.

    Determining what kind of salary range will be appropriate for you can be discovered by taking a look at your existing budget and where your priorities lie. Also, having a look at the housing market in areas where you are considering living in the future is a good idea. This information is readily available on your favorite news websites. Often comparing what kind of lifestyle a certain salary can afford you compared to another salary can help you to choose the right career for you. Good luck!

  • Financial Benefits of Going to Trade School

    Financial Benefits of Going to Trade School

    These days, student debt is big news. Television programs and newspaper reports often feature the stories of university graduates, tens of thousands of dollars in debt, being forced to take low-paying jobs because there is no work in their fields. If you are close to graduating from high school, you might be worried about how you can ever manage the pressures of such a difficult situation. Have you ever considered trade school as an option? Going to a trade school rather than university or college can be a good decision for both personal and financial reasons.

    Making the decision to attend trade school depends very much on your interests and career goals. If you want to become an engineer, lawyer, or doctor, university is your only option. If you want to work in many other fields, such as technical writing, a community college is a good place to become qualified. However, earning official qualifications at a trade school might be best if you want to become an electrician, pipefitter, or hairstylist. Certification through a trade program will give you the practical skills you need to become qualified for the job you want.

    Going to trade school is a good way of getting into a stable, high-paying career quickly. Graduates of colleges or trade schools are more likely than university graduates to find work in their chosen field soon after graduation. Trade programs are generally only a few months long, and then the graduates can usually find work almost immediately. People who graduate from a trade school are likely to become successful in their chosen careers quite quickly.

    One of the main benefits of trade school is its practical focus. In a university engineering program, for example, students might learn about the theory behind why pulleys make it easier to lift heavy objects. In trade school, students would learn how to build and use pulleys. The background information on why things work is important for people in the planning and theoretical branches of the job. For day-to-day work, however, practical knowledge is often more useful. Graduates from universities and colleges often have little practical experience when they graduate, but trade school graduates come out ready to work.

    Going to trade school also has an advantage over going straight from school into a job. In trade school, people learn the job in a logical, step-by-step manner while also having the chance to apply what they have learned on the job. In many countries in Europe and elsewhere, graduates of trade schools receive higher wages than people who have no particular qualifications. The financial benefits can be worth the initial expense.

    Are you interested in getting into a high-paying, stable job after you finish high school? Consider trade school as an option for your future.

  • The Benefits of Living at Home

    The Benefits of Living at Home

    If you have the opportunity to live at home during school, I strongly suggest that you take up the offer. Even though Hollywood portrays moving away to attend post-secondary as glamourous, the reality is far too often ignored; and those that once held this romanticized view are shocked when they discover how tough it is to live on your own. The benefits of living at home greatly outweigh the cons.

    The big factor for students is finances. Living away from home during school comes with a cost, and unfortunately it is a rather large one. Tuition already costs a bundle, so why add the extra burden of finding the money to pay for living on your own, when you don’t have to? Of course there are certain things that you would still need to pay for (i.e. transportation, food… etc), but in comparison to paying for rent and utilities amongst other things the cost of living at home is miniscule. In the end, more money would go towards school, and you would have less chance of going into debt.

    Many students that live on campus are there for the social aspect. A former student, that had lived on campus, advises “Whether you are into partying or not, studying in your dorm is a challenge.” Although I live at home, I have observed students come to class tired or constantly late, or skip/drop-out of classes, because of the “freedom” living away from home grants them. Is this really freedom? Falling behind in school due to partying is being disrespectful to yourself, and those who support your decision to go to school. Time and money are both wasted when this breach of freedom takes place. Living at home allows you the privacy to properly study, and get a good night’s rest, so you can do well in school. You can still hang out with friends, and have fun, but a healthy balance must be obtained and living at home gives you this opportunity.

    Support from your family is another huge benefit of living at home. They are there to encourage you when you are down, advise you when troubled or confused, and rejoice with you in your times of joy. Even though you may get annoyed by being nagged to study, your parents only want the best for you and want you to succeed; if they didn’t care then they would not be “nagging” you.

    As you can tell, there are many benefits of living at home. I have only outlined a few, but as you continue your journey through post-secondary you will uncover other little things along the way, such as home cooked meals that are hard to come by when living on campus.

  • September Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    September Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    Preparing to enter college or university next year? Applying for scholarships now ensures you are ahead of the curve! Many scholarships and bursaries take applications well in advance, so students will be able to budget their scholarship prize money into their school finances. There is a scholarship for everyone, so don’t hesitate to apply. After all, every little bit helps when it comes to paying for your college education!

    1. Tronia Systems Scholarship – for students entering their first year of university who demonstrate an involvement in their community. Amount: $1000. Deadline: October 4, 2013.

    2. Larry Campbell Milton Memorial Scholarship – for current 4-H members planning to attend a Canadian University in a Food Science, Meat Science or Animal Science discipline. Amount: $2500. Deadline: October 23, 2013.

    3. AgriVenture 4-H Adventure Opportunity 2014 Scholarship – for 4-H members from every province that will be traveling with AgriVenture within one year of award. Amount: $3000. Deadline: November 1, 2013.

    4. Study and Go Abroad Fair Scholarships – open to students from across Canada in any field of study. Amount: $1000. Deadline: September 28, 2013.

    5. Canada’s Luckiest Student 2 – open to Canadian high school students and post-secondary students who are 16+. Amount: $30,000. Deadline: January 23, 2014.

    6. The National and Arbor Scholarship Program – by nomination from your secondary school, based on overall grades. Amount: $35,000 – $50,000, based on tuition needs. Deadline: November 8, 2013.

    7. Communications Nova Scotia Diversity Bursary – for Nova Scotian students from designated groups (Aboriginal Peoples, persons with disabilities, African Nova Scotians, racially visible people) enrolled in a post-secondary education program. Amount: $1000. Deadline: October 31, 2013.

    8. UBC Entrance Award – for students entering their first year of studies at UBC in 2014. Amount: up to $40,000. Deadline: January 31, 2014.

    9. Peter Corley Memorial Scholarship – candidates must be a member of SAC, have made at least one solo glider flight in the 12 month period preceding the application, and be attending a university or community college full-time or be accepted and scheduled to attend within six months of the date of the application. Amount: $2300. Deadline: October 1, 2013.

    10. Jump Canada Bursary – for students who are active members of the Equine Canada community. Amount: $2000. Deadline: September 30, 2013.

  • Tips on Student Finances

    Tips on Student Finances

    1. Start planning your finances early. Figure out how much money you’ll need as soon as possible (tuition, ancillary fees, books and supplies, living expenses) so you’ll know how much financial support you’ll need. Include a realistic monthly budget for transportation, laundry, groceries, toiletries, entertainment, rent, etc.

    2. Use free money first if you have access to it (money from parents, money saved for your education including RESPs, scholarships and bursaries, etc.). If you need to borrow money, use low interest or no-interest options first, with OSAP being the best example. If you need to borrow money on top of that, try and get a cheap student loan. Stay away from credit cards if you can.

    3. Check out the OSAP Access Window at http://osap.gov.on.ca. The OSAP Access Window was developed by the Ontario government to help students make informed decisions when planning for their post-secondary education. It provides approximate costs by post-secondary institution, OSAP funding estimators, repayment tools and lots of other useful information.

    4. Explore early the scholarships, awards and bursaries offered by the university. There may be some program-specific or special interest awards that you may be eligible for. Many scholarships, awards and bursaries have deadlines and require applications.

    5. Don’t miss an application deadline. Include deadlines for financial support applications in your calendar and make sure you apply in time to be considered.

    6. Investigate getting a job as a source of income. If you need to work, work as much as possible in the summer period, rather than during the school year. If you need to work during the school year, try to avoid working a great deal in your first semester or in any semester that you expect to be particularly challenging. If you expect to be pressed for cash, consider postponing your studies for a year and saving some money, or consider reducing your course load from five or six courses to three or four courses per semester.

    7. Look into various means of saving money:
    • Brown bag it. Packing your own lunch is cheaper and healthier.
    • Buy new to you. Whether it’s used books, secondhand clothing or garage sale furniture, you can find what you need at a fraction of the cost.
    • Shop online to browse, create budgets, compare prices and take advantage of online savings.
    • Take advantage of student discounts. Be sure to flash your student ID at entertainment venues, on public transportation and anywhere else that will take it. Check out special deals through your student union.
    • Pick up the free weeklies to see what entertainment is going on in the city for free. Also check out free events hosted by the university.
    •Maximize public and active transportation (walking, cycling) to keep commuting costs down.
    • Avoid the latte effect and buy a coffeemaker or a kettle to make your own.

    8. Resist the temptation to sign up for a student credit card. If you end up falling into the “this-is-my-only-credit-card” crowd, make sure you get one with a low interest rate and ask them to fix the credit level at $500. Then be sure to use it only for emergencies. When credit cards are the only accepted methods of payment, as in online transactions, save the money you will need before you make the purchase. Then pay off your credit card immediately after charging it.

    9. A line of credit typically has a much lower interest rate than credit cards. A line of credit can be a cost-effective, convenient way to borrow money for a short period of time. Most financial institutions have a student line of credit that offers a lower interest rate, no annual fee and fairly lenient terms and conditions.

    10. Monitor your expenses. Keep all your receipts and track your expenses. This will force you to write down how much you’re spending, prompting you to think about whether you really need to spend that money or not. This will also definitely let you know if you need to change your spending habits and/or increase your income before it’s too late.

    11. If you find you’re running into financial difficulties, immediately speak to a student financial assistance advisor on campus or at your bank. They will look at your budget and give you some good advice before you get in over your head.

  • Is it Smart to Work for No Money?

    Is it Smart to Work for No Money?

    Working for no money is a very common thing. It might seem strange that people would work without being paid. However, people do it every day when they cook meals for their families, clean their houses, or help their friends with construction projects or other jobs. When people talk about working for free, however, they usually mean something a bit different from the small, ordinary jobs like these. Usually, working for no money falls into one of two categories: volunteering or unpaid internships. They can both be good if treated with care.

    The most common form of unpaid work is volunteering. In 2010, over thirteen million people in Canada volunteered at least a small amount of time in many different places, such as hospitals, libraries, schools, and special events like festivals. Some people volunteered for only an hour or two, while other people spent hundreds or even thousands of hours helping others. They fed the hungry, planted trees, counted migrating birds, helped build houses for the poor, and did many other things in their own communities, in another part of Canada, or even in different countries.

    People volunteer for many different reasons. Sometimes they volunteer to meet people with similar interests and to work with organizations where they are already receiving some benefit, such as when mothers volunteer as helpers in their own children’s classrooms. Others volunteer as a way of learning skills like teamwork and communication or to meet people who work in their chosen careers.

    In some fields, unpaid internships are another form of working for no money. While volunteers usually work no more than a few hours per week, interns work full-time at a job with the expectation that they are learning something about a career. The idea of internships started in medicine, where people who had graduated from their basic studies would spend time working in hospitals and learning to apply what they had learned. These days, almost anyone can work as an intern.

    Internships like these can be good, but they can frequently lead to problems. One of the keys of an internship is that the interns are supposed to learn from the experience. If employers make the interns do the work of a paid employee or fail to teach them any new skills, they have broken the rules. Some of the internships currently being done in Canada are illegal because of these kinds of problems.

    So should you work for no money if the benefits are so uncertain? It really depends on the situation. Volunteering is usually a good idea since it shows that you are trying to be a responsible citizen who cares about the community. Unpaid internships are more problematic, but they can still be good. With the proper guidelines and supervision, they can help launch you into your chosen career. When everything comes together, the benefits of working for no money can last a lifetime.

  • Scholarships for Aboriginal Canadians

    Scholarships for Aboriginal Canadians

    Bursaries and Scholarships
    The Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada is dedicated to helping Aboriginals reach the highest standard of excellence in finance and management. AFOA’s initiatives in the development of Awards and Scholarships are examples of that commitment.

    See link below for scholarships and bursaries.
    http://www.metisnation.org/programs/education–training/education/bursaries–scholarships

  • Making the Case for Trades

    Making the Case for Trades

    Times have changed in the world of jobs. You might have heard from your parents or teachers that the best way to get a high-paid, reliable job is through a university education. Sometimes that still holds true. These days, however, a better choice for both men and women might be a skilled trade, where there are many opportunities for a rewarding career.

    What comes to your mind when you hear the term “trade”? Do you think of low-paid labourers, barely making enough money to pay their bills and never sure how much longer their jobs will last? Many unskilled labourers work under these conditions, but the situation is different for skilled tradespeople. They are often well-educated, with diplomas or certificates in their fields.

    Tradespeople might have as much education as university graduates. Unlike many university programs, however, training in the trades is geared specifically to learning the practical skills needed on the job. Tradespeople might be trained as carpenters, auto mechanics, electricians or any of the other trades. Through practical work and classroom studies, they learn everything they need to know to work in their trades. Another important part of the training process in the trades is an apprenticeship, in which students work together with an experienced person to learn practical skills for the job. For some trades they might also need to get an official license or certificate.

    Becoming qualified in a trade can take from one to three years of classroom education, between two and four years of apprenticeship, and two or three years of on-the-job training. Many university programs are just as long or even longer and more expensive. Graduates can also have trouble finding work in their field. In contrast, tradespeople can usually find work soon after they finish their studies and can easily pay off any loans they received for their school tuition.

    Almost anyone can become qualified to work in a trade. Most tradespeople, about 97 % in 2007, are men. However, more women are joining the trades and becoming qualified to work in carpentry, welding and other skilled trades. Possibly up to 320,000 people in Canada currently working in construction alone will be retiring in the next few years and that could open up good opportunities for both men and women. Becoming a journeyperson (someone with official qualifications in a skilled trade) could be a wise career move.

    How do you know if you could be successful in skilled trade? Natural ability and interest are important places to start. If you love to take things apart to see how they work, you might want to choose to be a mechanic or electrician. If you have a fear of heights, on the other hand, you might not want to choose the construction industry. The best way to decide whether or not a trade would suit you is to research it and to talk with people about it. Then, if you decide to pursue a trade, you’ll have a good basis for a stable and rewarding lifelong career.

  • August Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    August Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    Just because it’s August doesn’t mean you should not be applying for scholarships and bursaries. There is always something out there – so go get that free money!

    1. SecureReset Fall 2013 Scholarship – Open to all students. Amount: $300. Deadline: November 1, 2013.

    2. CrossLites Essay Scholarship – Open to all students. Amount: $2000. Deadline: December 15, 2013.

    3. Ipsos i-Say Survey – Open to all students. NOTE: This is a contest. Amount: $5000. Deadline: None listed.

    4. Equals6 Top-Talent Scholarship – July-September 2013 – Open to all students. Amount: $250. Deadline: September 30, 2013.

    5. Bill Kehler Memorial Awards– For students pursuing Broadcasting or Agriculture. Amount: Four awards worth $2500. Deadline: August 30, 2013.

    6. Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms Essay Contest – Open to students commencing studies in September 2013. Amount: 1st Prize $1,000, 2nd prize $500, 3rd prize $250. Deadline: September 1, 2013.

    7. Tronia Systems Scholarship – Open to students enrolled in an Agribusiness program (or related field). Amount: Two worth $1000. Deadline: October 7, 2013.

    8. CBC Literary Prizes – Open to Canadian citizens who submit original, unpublished writing. Amount: $6000, secondary prizes worth $1000. Deadline: Open for submissions on September 1, 2013.

    9. Terry Fox Humanitarian Award – Open to all students across Canada pursuing their first undergraduate degree. Amount: 20 awards worth $7000. Deadline: February 1, 2014.

    10. Jeremy Dias Scholarship – Open to all students. Amount: Varies depending on need. Deadline: August 15, 2013.