USCI’s New Online Community Page

Attending college through distance learning can be a wonderful experience. Having an opportunity to connect with professors, instructors and fellow students gives a person a chance to learn, share ideas and gain new experiences. This is what U.S. Career Institute is all about – having distance learning students connect in a growing online community. U.S. Career Institute launched a new Community Page for students which will bridge the gap for communication and student interactions.

U.S. Career Institute’s online community has many unique features ranging from career tips to success stories. The following are the features that are available in the student Community Page:

•  Blogs

• Career Tips

• Success Stories

• Student Directories

• Pen pals

• Videos

• Spotlight

The first feature is the student blog. Each week the student blog is updated with stories, inspiration, and how to tips from fellow students who are currently attending U.S. Career Institute. The student blog is also posted in the U. S. Career Institute’s social networks, like Facebook.

Other features found on the Community Page are career tips and success stories. The career tips gives helpful advice on what students can do to improve their chances of getting a job and more. And, the success stories have biographies on students who have graduated and are doing well in their chosen career path.

Another feature that is available in the community is the student directory. The student directory is only available to current students. You can set up your personal profile which includes a photo, your program, a list of interests, and a brief biography. Students can choose whether or not they want their profile to be public or private.

Once a student sets up their community profile, they can then go into the directory and view other student profiles. If the student finds another student they want to connect with, they can send a request for them to become pen pals. Once the other student accepts the request, then they are pen pals and are able to communicate and network with each other.

The video modules also offer how-to videos. These videos include guides on how to use electronic lesson books on the Kindle Fire, Kindle, and iPad. And an added bonus feature under the video modules is the student testimonials. The video module also highlights U.S. Career Institute’s commercial. The last feature that is included in the community is the spotlight. The spotlight showcases USCI’s faculty and staff.

The Community Page is an intricate network that connects students to more resources, information, and best of all, with each other. Students now have the chance to network with fellow students. This concept of communication is so often missing in many distance learning institutions. But U.S. Career Institute has bridged the gap in creating a one of a kind online community in which students can come together, learn from one another, and grow. This unique way of opening up communication between distance learners is just one thing that sets U.S. Career Institute apart from all the rest.

Let me know what your favorite Community Page features are in the comments! I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Challenges You Face In Your Studies

We’re all human. We have some times when we are going through our studies or really any time in life where we face challenges. Everyone, of course, handles these obstacles differently. This last week for me has probably been the toughest since I started the Paralegal program. My program is winding down to the end of the course before I begin taking classes to earn my Legal Transcriptionist certificate… So I’m at my last few lessons and they are tough! But it’s necessary for me to properly comprehend all the information in the lessons because they are vital for working as a Paralegal. They’re tools that I need to know on a daily basis for my new career. And of course, on top of these tough lessons in my studies, I’m coping with the crazy day-to-day chaos of having a family.

So I want to know, what do you do when you come upon these challenges in your studies? For me, personally, I have a few things I do:

1.    Take a breath and walk away for a little while. In one of my lessons from last week (Lesson 26 for those in the Paralegal program) there was a lot of writing, typing, reading, and then re-reading involved.  I probably worked on that particular assignment to submit the quiz for about 3 days, at the very least. Which, for someone like me, can be frustrating and stressful. I like sitting down for my homework and being able to submit the quiz in a timely manner.

2.    Find a Distraction.  There’s a few things I do to find a distraction, such as playing a game on my phone (we are addicted to Subway Surf and Candy Crush in this house), watch a movie or TV episode, go to the park with the kids or walk around a shopping center. It helps just to take your mind off of things. I’m the worst at over-thinking when I’m trying to concentrate on something that’s not working out.

3.    Take a vacation. No, not like a REAL vacation. What I mean is a vacation from your studies. Concentrate on something else completely for a day or two. Now this one is only good for people who are still motivated to get their studies over with. “Vacations” tend to make us lose that motivation so be careful with this one.

So what are some things you do when you face challenges in your studies? I want to hear from you! I hope everyone has a very good week and continues to do well!

My Future Career Plans

In order to reach your goals in life, it is important to plan. Sometimes life circumstances can throw you a curveball and knock you off course. But sometimes these changes can open up an alternate route to pursuing your passion. Even though you may have to face life obstacles, you can use your career plans as a guide or road map to reaching your goals.

A fellow student from this blog asked me what I am planning to do with my future. I wanted to share in this article what my career plans are and what steps I’m taking to try to get there. Currently I am enrolled in two colleges. I am studying at U.S. Career Institute in Health Information Technology and at another university I’m pursuing my PhD in psychology. My career aspiration is to become a professor, health scientist, biostatistician, health psychologist, or a combination of all four. How am I charting the my future career path? The answer is quite simple.

The following is a list of things you can do to formulate your future career plans:

· Research your chosen career field
· Narrow down your career choices to the top five
· Study possible career paths
· Select your #1 career choice
· Chart your own course

I am taking an unorthodox approach to my education. Since sitting in a classroom is not an option for me due to family responsibilities, I have to think outside the box. I decided that distance and online learning would be the best route for me in pursing my education. I even began talking to different people who are already in the medical field and got some feedback on the pros and cons of different career choices. I researched my field, which is health, and decided that Health Information Technology was the best career choice for me.

Once I figured out what I wanted to major in, I began to narrow down my career choices to my top five picks. The process I used in narrowing down my choices was weighing all the pros and cons, the future outlook of the careers, and which one connects more with my purpose.

After I selected my top five career paths, I began to study each career. I spoke to people who have jobs within the health field. I would also read articles and as many resources on health psychology and focused in on the things I needed to do to pursue my education and getting experience. I’m connecting with my professors and working on getting an internship.

Once you have researched your career, you should pick your number one career choice. The way to do this is to start envisioning your future. For example, my top career choice is Health Scientist, so I looked up a job description that caught my eye and that I felt is something that I would like to do when I graduate. Even though I currently do not have all the degrees nor experience right now to get that job, I printed it out for me to see and to envision myself doing in the near future. These are the simple steps that I am taking to chart my career path. What is your future career plan? Have you charted a career path?

Study Tips!

This is perfect for the New Year, maybe you could discover some new ideas for your studying with this new post! I’m one of those people that I have to have everything for my studies organized or I feel very overwhelmed and confused.  (Please tell me I’m not the only one who feels this way!) In this week’s blog I will share with you a few ways I personally stay on top of my studies and some other ways that may work for you if you’re ever in a slump with your school work and need some help. These ideas are perfect for a variety of things related to your studies, from prepping for an exam or quiz to simple help with terminology. Please comment to share any ideas I have missed that work for you!

Here is the list of different study tips I use for my Paralegal course that have helped so much because with Paralegal (and I’m sure with other courses) we have a lot of terminology to stay on top of:

• Flash cards! This one is a classic to helping with vocabulary or phrases that are important for your courses. I’ve been using this one since back in elementary school!
• Sticky tabs- This is just what I call them. They are sold in the post it note section and they are little stickies you can put on books to mark certain things from that page. I love these things! I know having a lot of books for your studies can be overwhelming, and sometimes it’s nice to have a tab just sticking right out of the page if you need to reference back rather quickly.
• Notebooks- Of course these are good for note taking however what I do is I have a separate notebook for different topics so to speak. I have one for “Legal Terms” and I have another for “Civil & Criminal Law” and another notebook for “Family and Financial Law.” That covers my notebooks so far. This just helps again to be able to reference back and they all be sorted by their own topics.
• Highlighters- Another lifesaver for me! I’m sure everyone understands the purpose of these goodies – “Highlight the important stuff” as my 8 year old says.
• Write don’t type- For me, although don’t get me wrong I love my iPad and computer and there are a ton of different apps for helping you keep track of notes electronically, but I absorb so much more information when I use the good old pen and paper.

Here are some other things I have also heard work for others that you could try out to see if they will work for you as well:

• Using binders or labeled folders
• Group study or referring to a mentor to assist you
• Having a quiet study spot in your home or even at the library
• Refer to extra resources. For many studies there’s other books you can reference for extra knowledge of what you’re reviewing.
• Don’t hesitate to re-read even if you feel as though you are wasting time or back tracking
• Use a calendar and each week have a goal which assignments, quizzes or sections you want to complete and be sure it’s visible all the time!

Please comment with your study tips! And thanks so much for reading my blog!

How I Juggle School And Being a Single Mom

Being a single parent comes with many trials and tribulations.  I am a single mom with three children.  I have two boys and one girl. And as a student, going down this road can be a difficult journey. But with willpower and perseverance, you can make your dreams come true. I am currently pursing my both my two year degree in health information technology at U.S. Career Institute and also pursuing my PhD in psychology at another university.  Here are some things that I do that I hope are helpful for you in making life simpler:

• Manage your time
• Delegate your responsibilities
• Avoid negative people/situations
• Take some time outfor yourself

The first tip is to manage your time.  I feel that in order to be an effective student with added responsibilities, you must be a good manager of your time.  Oftentimes it can be so easy to get off course and to go into a tangent.  I find that managing my time more wisely helps to avoid getting off task.  When I first start my day, I try to write a to do list on my calendar of things I have to do.   It is also a good idea to write a schedule and start a daily routine for yourself.

Another tip is to delegate your responsibilities.  Being the sole provider can come at a price and that is having everyone depending on you for support.  But the question is, where is your support?  This is when you have to learn how to manage your household to the point where is run efficiently.  For instance, I may assign some of the house chores for my older children, such as washing dishes and folding cloths, so I can have some time to work on my studies.

The third tip is to avoid negative people.  Negative people create nothing but drama and hardship into your life.  It is hard enough having to raise children alone but having extra burdens such an abusive partner, freeloaders, and leeches on your back that can bring you down.  Negative people can be friends, partners, and even other family members.   If these negative individuals are not supportive of you, then you may need to see if they are worth being a part of your inner circle.  That is why it is important to surround yourself with positive people.

Next is to take time out for yourself.  When was the last time you took a mental break or did some self-pampering? You can pamper yourself with simple things like taking a long warm bubble bath or getting your hair and nails done.  Every now and then it is good to just take some time out to clear your mind, especially when you are feeling a lot of stress.  Sometimes I meditate to clear my head for a few minutes and this alone makes a world of difference.

These are some of the things that I do to help stay focused and motivated. Being a single parent and going to school is not easy, but it’s not impossible. Envisioning my bright future is what inspires me to keep on pursuing my dreams. Just like I am doing it, so can you!

Why Did You Choose to Go Back to School?

Of course everyone has their own answer to this question and I thought it would be a great discussion topic for my blog this week. I want to hear from you! 🙂

I’ll give you my details, then it’s your turn! With my mini-story, I have to go way far back to when I graduated high school. I immediately made the decision to be an RN, so I did the schooling to become a Certified Nursing Assistant first, before I jumped in and got myself into nursing school. I’m so glad I did this, because I wasn’t a happy camper. I had some close friends who loved it, however, it just wasn’t for me. Since then I have been a stay-at-home mom. I love it and no training or schooling in the world can prepare you for staying at home full-time with little munchkins! It’s the hardest job on the planet, I have to say.

Anyway, I’m currently staying at home so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to really make the most of my time at home and jump start my career. I knew it had to be something that I really have a passion for and am eager to do. Going on to a campus for schooling would’ve been impossible for our schedule! My husband is also a full-time student at our local state college and is about to start medical school, and on top of that he also works full-time at a pharmacy! I don’t know how he does it all.

As you can see, our schedules are insane, so online schooling was perfect for me. Plus, when I saw that I could earn my Paralegal Certificate, I was sold! I do love studying at home, but I have to say that going through my experience now doing online schooling, it’s something I have so much passion for and I’m excited to get to work in my new career. I also want my little ones to be proud of me and I want to be their inspiration. I want to show them that you can do anything if you put your mind to it!

Now it’s your turn. Go down memory lane a little bit – I want to know why you chose to go back to school! If anything, this post is a good reminder of why you’re working so hard to reach your goals 🙂

How to Prepare for Your Career While Attending School

Often times while attending college, you tend to focus more on your grades and graduating. It is great to think about getting good grades and earning a degree, but what happens after you graduate? What can you do while attending school to improve your chances of getting a job?

While attending school, you should start taking steps toward preparing for your career. When brainstorming about your future, start thinking of creative ways of getting some experience under your belt prior to graduating. The following are some things that students can do to prepare for the job market:

• Join a professional organization
• Network
• Intern
• Volunteer
• Gain entry level employment

The first thing a student can do is join a professional organization that is within their field of study. A professional organization can help guide a person into their chosen career path. There is usually a fee to become a member of these organizations, but they often offer discounts for students.

Another way a student can prepare for their career is by networking. The more you get out and meet people, the better. This can be done in a number of ways. Maybe you can start with your family members and friends to see if you know anyone personally who has a career within your field of study. You can also attend conferences or social groups that are related to your interests. Another way is through social networks, such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

Seeking internships is a great way to get some experience under your belt, too. Some internships are paid, while others are not. Talking to instructors is one way to get information, insight or recommendations for internships. Another way is to do some digging and research on the internet and in the library for internships that are available in your area.

The fourth way to prepare is to volunteer. Sometimes organizations are looking for volunteers, especially non-profits, to help with their workload. For instance, if you are studying to become a social worker and have no experience in social services, you can volunteer at a local homeless shelter.

The last thing a student can do is to get an entry-level position. For example, Mark wants to become a manager at a grocery store but doesn’t have any experience. He’s currently getting his degree in Business Administration. A stock clerk position became available and Mark was hired on the spot. He accepted the job to get his foot in the door. One year later, a management position became available and Mark got the position because of his experience and his newly earned degree.

These five tips are a few ways to gain more experience in the job market. Sometimes you just have to think outside the box and pave the way for your career success!

Support Systems

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Was everyone able to keep up with their studies? Were you able to submit any assignments? I hope so! I’m not going to lie, I was hoping to get more accomplished – but I was able to get quite a bit of reading and highlighting done! For example, I practiced legal terms with my flashcards and such.

Since a big part of the holidays is about family and friends getting together and catching up, I decided to write this blog about having a good support system. For me, it all sort of meshed together. During this last week, I can’t even tell you how many times I was asked how my studies are going or when I’m going to be finished! People were giving me different ideas of what I could do after I finish my schooling, where I could work – the list goes on and on. I love my family and friends and I’m so thankful and blessed that they all support me in my schooling adventure with U.S. Career Institute!

My hope is that everyone has that same support system, that everyone has close ones they can lean on for advice and support. It’s amazing how big of a difference it can make when you have people there to help you study, or watch your kids for you – whatever it is.

Do you have one main supporter in your studies? Maybe you have several? How do they help you? What would you like to say to your support system? Let me know in the comments!

Starting Your New Year With A Bang!

People oftentimes start their year with a New Year’s resolution. Starting a new year is a great time for reflecting and re-evaluating your life decisions. This is a chance to see what decisions made a great impact in your life (success) and which ones were not (failures).

A person’s New Year’s resolution can include many aspects of their life. A study was done on New Year’s resolution statistics and published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. In this article, they list the top ten New Year’s resolutions for 2014. The top two were weight loss and getting organized (Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2013). A New Year’s resolution is when you set new goals for yourself and chart a new path toward achieving them. These life changing goals can range from improving your health to furthering one’s education.

There are five steps you can follow in pursuing your goals:

• Reflect
• Evaluate
• Envision
• Set goals
• Take action

The first step is to reflect. With this step, you think about your past and look at what has been done. You see if your last year’s goals have been met. And, you get a chance to see how much you have grown or lost from where you have started.

Next is to re-evaluate your life and take a good look at all your options. You should put all of your cards on the table and see what has worked and what has not. For example, let’s say you were laid off from work because you were in a field that is no longer viable in the job market. You may have to go back to school to improve your skills within your field, or you may have to take a completely new career path. This is your time to think about what you have done for the last year and see what you can do to make improvements.

Another step is to envision your future. You begin to think about where you want to be. THis is the time when you get a chance to brainstorm and expand your horizon. Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

The fourth step is to set goals. Unfortunately, some people do not follow through on their New Year’s resolution and bring their goals into action. Why does this occur? The answer may be that sometimes goals are set too high. Goals may be too difficult to obtain in a short period of time and may take longer or need more steps. It is very important to set realistic and smaller goals that may ultimately lead to your bigger goals of higher pursuits.

The last step is to take action. Once you have figured out your goals and charted your path, then you are ready to start turning these goals into realities. Having the willpower and being able to overcome life’s obstacles is the key to succeeding and making your dreams come true.

Reference: Journal of Clinical Psychology. (2013). New Year’s Resolution Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/