Articles by Ben Welch

1) School is Addictive! The Thrill of Learning and Discovery
Just a month ago, I was griping to my wife about how I hated school. I was tired of homework, grades, exams, blah blah blah blah blah. I swore I would never go back to school. I had said the same things to her probably hundreds of times over the past 17 months I'd been in the MBA program. (She just rolled her eyes and told me to suck it up.) Then, just a few days ago, as our classes began to wind down... » read more

2) Top 5 Reasons Why Employees Hate Their Bosses (And What Bosses Can Do About It)
Every boss can't be loved by every employee. But that doesn't mean that every boss needs to be Michael Scott from NBC's The Office. Thus, in order to minimize resentment, a good boss should understand some of more common reasons why employers hate their bosses so they can respond swiftly and effectively. 1. Employees need respect. One of greatest complaints that nearly every employee has about their... » read more

3) What Do Scholarship Committees Look For?
One of the best ways to subsidize your college education is by obtaining a scholarship. As such, you should keep in mind the criteria that selection committees use in awarding scholarships. There are two types of scholarships available - need-based and merit-based. Need-based scholarships are awarded based on financial need. Merit-based scholarships, by contrast, are awarded to students who have... » read more

4) Is Wikipedia a Viable Source for College Papers?
As a college writing instructor, I can vouch that there are certain questions that come up again and again during the course of every writing class. Questions include: When do I use "then" and when do I use "than"? How do I write a good thesis statement? Where do I put the page numbers? Then there are more general questions, such as: Do you always have to start class on time and end class on... » read more

5) Graduation, A Peculiar Ceremony
Graduation is supposed to be a celebration of learning. But how do we celebrate? Answer: through an esoteric ceremony of symbolic processions, recessions, and costumes that seem more reminiscent of Halloween than higher education. By this I don't mean to demean the accomplishments of graduates; rather I only wish to point out the irony of celebration that is supposed to commemorate higher learning but... » read more

6) What's in a Name? Do Employers Really Care Where You Went to School?
Many job applicants worry that employers will judge them solely on where they went to college. The truth is that while the prestige of a college or university does matter, employers know that the name on the certificate doesn't tell the whole story. For instance, while some employers will choose applicants who attended a more prestigious college over those who attended a local community college, this is... » read more

7) Choosing Where to Attend College? What You Should Know About Accreditation
Trying to decide where to go to school? If so, make sure you consider whether or not the school is properly accredited. Accreditation helps to ensure that schools are of high quality and that their degrees will be accepted by potential employers. Listed below are some frequently asked questions pertaining to accreditation and accreditation agencies. What is accreditation? Accreditation is a process... » read more

8) How To Build a Dynamite Resume
Resumes are to getting jobs what good looks are to getting dates. Admittedly, this analogy is bit reductive, but the fact is that hiring decisions are often made on first impressions. As such, you want to make sure your resume not only explains who you are and what you have to offer, but also does so in a way that is attractive to potential employers. The purpose of this article is outline how you can... » read more

9) The 5 Worst Home-Based Business Scams
In a forum devoted to education and careers, a blog devoted to this topic was inevitable - home-based business scams. Anyone who has an email account has gotten an email - if not a thousand - like this: Earn an Extra $5K+ per month! Make your financial dreams happen! Free information and training package! Usually, the email includes a testimonial or two from people "just like you." Before I... » read more

10) The 10 Strangest College Mascots
Sure, you have bulldogs, panthers, knights, and hawks. But not every school chooses a conventional mascot. In fact, some schools select rather unconventional ones and often for rather strange and unorthodox reasons. Here are ten of the strangest, in no particular order - except for the last one. Boll Weevils. At six millimeters longs, not many schools boast a mascot smaller than that of the University... » read more

11) Top 10 Excuses For Getting Out of Work
We've all been there: it's a beautiful day and you can't bear the thought of going into work. So you call in with the lame-old excuse about feeling ill even though you know your boss doesn't buy it. Besides, "feeling ill" is at best only a short-term solution that won't win you any fans at the office. That's why if you're going to play hooky, you need an excuse that will help you save face as well as your... » read more

12) The Best Money-Saving Tips for College Students
With the cost of tuition on the rise, college students are seeking new ways to save a buck while going to school. "Scholarships Around the US" has compiled a number of such ways - 118 to be precise - that can help offset the cost of higher education. While the entire list ought to be required reading for any co-ed, I've excerpted the ten that I thought were most effective and most striking, and then I... » read more

13) Top 5 Reasons Why Employees Hate Their Bosses (And What Bosses Can Do About It)
Every boss can't be loved by every employee. But that doesn't mean that every boss needs to be Michael Scott from NBC's The Office. Thus, in order to minimize resentment, a good boss should understand some of more common reasons why employers hate their bosses so they can respond swiftly and effectively. 1. Employees need respect. One of greatest complaints that nearly every employee has about their... » read more

14) How To Choose the Right Degree For You
The number and nature of college degrees are as diverse as the people who get them. They come in different sizes - associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral - and in scores of different subjects. So how do you choose the right degree for you? Here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself. Which degree best suits me? One of the most effective ways to select a degree is to find one that fits... » read more

15) Online or Traditional Education: Which Is Right For You?
For most people, the decision to get a college education is, if you'll pardon the expression, a "no-brainer." A not-so-obvious decision is to whether to get your education in a traditional, on-campus setting or - as is becoming more common - to get it online. The purpose of this article is to examine the differences between traditional and online education in terms of cost, class schedule, classroom... » read more

16) 7 Benefits of Online Education
For centuries, a college education meant "going away to school". It meant ivy-encrusted campuses, dorms and fraternities, and all-nighters at the library cramming for a chemistry test. But recently, prospective students are facing a new kind of college experience - online education. The purpose of this article is to inform students about some of the potential benefits of this new kind of college education... » read more

17) Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates: What's The Difference?
One of the first and most important decisions in getting an education is choosing the right program. There are a variety of options available, including degree, diploma, and certificate programs. The purpose of this article is to identify the basic differences among these programs and to examine their respective strengths and weaknesses. A degree is the traditional measure of a college education. A... » read more