Study Tips for the New College Student in New Hampshire

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:09:22 +0000

In the state of New Hampshire there is a very strong educational system. There are seven community colleges and more than five universities that offer both traditional campus learning and distance or online degree programs too.

This means that students are forced to discover the best ways for studying according to their chosen method of learning. Some people also combine their approaches and do “hybrid” learning that incorporates all kinds of lessons and study tactics.

So, what are some tips for the new college student or the returning student who has not studied for many years? Well, the very first thing to do is to make plans. Begin by reviewing all of the materials you are expected to cover in the coming days and weeks. You should always have deadlines for reading any materials, making comments online, or tackling the assignments.

Why is the scheduling so essential? It is so easy to forget an assignment and to fail to budget time properly, and this can put unnecessary pressure on a student to hurry through an essential lesson or chapter.

Setting Goals

In addition to plotting out the work ahead of you, it is a very wise idea to establish individual goals as well. Yes, the teacher has the syllabus and makes it clear that you must master this issue or that subject, but what about what YOU want from the lessons? Make goals and be sure that you are meeting them before you move on to the next topic.

Simply understanding where you should be in terms of your knowledge is a good way to ensure you are actually mastering materials.

Don’t Go It Alone

Another top tip for those new to the world of college studying is towork with a study group. These are never substitutes for personal study sessions, but when you can discuss the more difficult or complex subjects with fellow students, it can make for a lot more clarity and comprehension.

One thing to know, however, is that study groups for basic or general subjects are never as beneficial as study groups for complex topics. For example, if you are a paralegal student it would be good to develop plans for studying with other paralegal students too as you will be able to help one another more than say a science major might help a drama major with their course work.

Master Notes

In addition to organizing yourself and working with others to ensure comprehension, why not be sure that your note taking is all it should be. This is not a skill that people master easily, if at all.

For example, jotting down all that the teacher says is not likely to help you do well in the course. Instead, it is when you make a point of using your advanced planning and goal setting to identify when something a teacher says is important that matters. Consider that by the time you sit in a class or sit down to read the materials for an online course, you will understand what you need to look for and what you want to take from the lesson – now jot down the things that are missing or significant.

Useful Resources for Moving to New Hampshire

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:03:43 +0000

Whether you are moving up to the Connecticut Lakes Region at the very top of the state, or to an area near the largest cities in New Hampshire (a race between Nashua and Manchester), there are a few useful things to know. For one thing, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the general areas of the state, the different taxation and motor vehicle laws, and the educational and employment data. All of this can be quickly found at the state’s official website.

Of course, there is a lot to know apart from the “official” news and information.

The Seasons

There is an old New England saying that goes like this: “If you don’t like the weather, wait twenty minutes because it will change”. While that is a bit of an exaggeration, it really is only a slight one. One day in New Hampshire might bring you warm weather and then the next you may be scouting around for a hat and sweater. This means that one of the best tips you can receive for a move to New Hampshire is to understand the seasons, and plan accordingly.

For instance, the late spring months of April and May (yes, there may still be ice on the lakes in April!) will often be called “mud season” instead of spring. If you can avoid moving during this time of year…well, do so! There is nothing worse than dragging mud and debris into a new home, and having to start life in a new town with a thorough scrubbing of the living space!

The Regions

Though most people envision the “Live Free or Die State” as one of snowy mountains and wintery conditions, it is actually a place with a bit of seashore, a bit of lowland or flat land, and the many different mountainous areas too. There are seven distinct regions in the state, including the Seacoast, Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee, Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, Monadnock Region, White Mountains and the Great North Woods.

They are all very different and contain a mixture of villages and cities of different sizes. The major cities include Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Merrimack, Hanover and Dover. The last three actually make the list ofbest places to live on a regular basis.

Hanover gets kudos because it is home to one of New Hampshire’s most famous schools – Dartmouth College. It is also a place with a very unique economy thanks to the college. The unemployment in the town has held at only 3 percent or lower, even as the national average hit ten to twelve percent!

The town of Merrimack is a good choice for those who want convenience to city living (it is less than ten miles from Manchester and just north of Nashua) but with country charm all around. It is a place with a good job market, excellent schools, and lots of business.

The city of Dover is popular because it is so close to Boston and yet has the University of New Hampshire close by as well. This illustrates the fact that schools and colleges are a major facet of life in the state, and makes for great employment and even online college options.

Resources for Top Online Bachelor Degree Programs in New Hampshire

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:59:22 +0000

There are two common reasons that people go to college – to improve their chances at a lucrative career or to get the fundamental education necessary for an entry level position in a preferred field. What is interesting is the fact that residents of New Hampshire can go to almost any of the state’s accredited schools and accomplish both goals.

What do we mean? Well, if you look at a list of the state’s top employers, you would see that they include healthcare, insurance, finance and educational agencies. If you looked at the different offerings from the campus based and online schools in New Hampshire, you would see that they also offer many degree options in these areas too. Thus, you could easily begin or improve your career through the offerings of the many online colleges in New Hampshire.

“Yes,” you might say, “but I want an actual degree and not an online certificate.” The great thing is that most of the online degrees in New Hampshire begin at the associate’s level and can go all of the way up to online masters degree programs or higher. This means that online bachelors degree programs are relatively common and quite easy to find.

The Need for Accreditation

We do need to emphasize, however, that you must be sure to select online degree programs offered through schools that have already received all of the proper accreditation. For example, any college or university (whether brick and mortar or online) must have been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The programs too may need special approval as well.

Consider that any of the online nursing schools in New Hampshire will have to be approved by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing. The same might be said about things like online criminal justice programs, accounting programs, and many more.

Choosing the Right Schools

Before just signing on for any program, we suggest you do a bit of research to see which schools have the strongest programs for your intended field of study. For instance, let’s say you join one of the online associates degree programs relating to business management. Does that same school have campus based and online MBA programs? This sort of opportunity and diversity will ensure that the school has plenty to offer.

Remember too that the state of New Hampshire is HUGE on education. It has a large Community College System and University System that all provide access to distance learning.

Currently, there almost a dozen schools with full bachelor’s programs online. They include:

Antioch University – private four year university;
Daniel Webster College – private with two and four year programs as well as master’s degree options;
Franklin Pierce University – private with two and four year programs as well as master’s degree options;
Granite State College - public university with many associate’s, bachelor’s and even post baccalaureate options online;
Keene State College - public university with many associate’s, bachelor’s, post baccalaureate, and master’s degree options online;
New England College- private with two and four year programs as well as master’s degree options;
Plymouth State University- public university with many associate’s, bachelor’s, post baccalaureate, and master’s degree options online;
Rivier College – private with two and four year programs as well as master’s degree and doctoral options;
Southern New Hampshire University- private with two and four year programs as well as master’s degree and doctoral options; and
University of New Hampshire- public university with many associate’s, bachelor’s, post baccalaureate, master’s degree, and doctoral degree options online.

Discovering the Top Colleges and Universities in New Hampshire

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:50:32 +0000

If you learn about the accreditation process and the schools and colleges of New Hampshire, you recognize something right away – the state is a huge advocate of education. From the seven Community Colleges that are among the best online schools in New Hampshire to the handful of private and public universities and colleges, there is a tremendous emphasis on the benefit of a solid education.

The statistics back up this idea because New Hampshire high school students consistently rank among the highest in terms of their SAT and/or ACT scores. This is why there are so many resources for campus based and online colleges in New Hampshire.

Which are the best? Naturally, that is a matter of perspective and really has to do with what you are looking for in terms of offerings and quality. For instance, there are more than a dozen highly respected schools offering online degrees in New Hampshire, but then there are also the campus based schools that extend opportunities for a limited number of online degree programs as well.

The Issue of Accrediting

A bit earlier we mentioned the idea of accreditation, and we do need to cover it in more detail. For instance, the official body that accredits all schools is the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, but this is not where the story ends. If you are also studying some sort of specialized or professional field, the school may also have to work with another accrediting group to get the individual programs approved as well. This is why there are online nursing schools in New Hampshire, online MBA programs, online criminal justice programs and more.

Keep in mind that any accreditation for online bachelors degree programs, online associates degree programs, or online masters degree programs may be only for the program and not all of the degree work. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that any school is properly certified.

The Best Schools

In terms of the best or top schools in New Hampshire, the following list includes the best public, private, profit and non-profit groups:

Dartmouth - not only does this school rank highly in general, but even the town in which it is located (Hanover) appears on the CNN list of the top one hundred towns in the nation too.
University of New Hampshire – as a classic four year university, this also offers everything from certificate programs online to doctoral degree programs;
Plymouth State University – a public four year school, this also has online master’s degree programs and more;
Southern New Hampshire University - though it is a private four year school, it ranks highly for its many associate’s and certificate programs available for online learners;
Saint Anselm College – a private college with an emphasis on liberal arts, it is close to one of the largest cities in the state and makes it a good choice for distance and traditional students;
Keene State College - a public four year college with a complete range of online and campus offerings;
Daniel Webster College - another private four year college, this one is in Nashua which is the second largest city in the state. It offers certificates through master’s degrees online;
Antioch University New England – a private four year college that has an emphasis on research and scholarship. This is why it offers upper level degrees and certificates as well as the classic bachelor’s degrees.
All of the Community Colleges – we already mentioned that the state has a massive commitment to education and this can be seen through all of the seven different community colleges in the state.

10 Free Online Classes For the Lifelong Learner in New Hampshire

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:39:57 +0000

If you have lived long in the state of New Hampshire you might already know that there is a tremendous emphasis placed on education. There are all kinds of online degree programs, a well supported community college system with distance learning options, and even public universities that make certificate and no credit courses readily available. Naturally, not everyone has the budget to attend these institutions, but if you have an internet connection and some free time you can begin delving into the world of “free” online classes.

Now, most of them are geared for the truly curious, or what we like to call the “lifelong learner”. This is a person who is ready to delve into any subject that catches their eye and to spend time doing more than just skimming the surface. That means that you want to also have a resource for quality materials too.

Below is a list of the best online classes and tools that we have found for those who truly meet the full definition of a lifelong learner. Before diving headlong into the classes, however, remember that they are self-guided and that you will benefit from organizing your studies. For instance, create some learning goals and then make plans to meet them using the materials you discover.

The Options Available

In no particular order are the tools, sites and resources we have found for people who are truly dedicated to the joy of learning.

Public libraries – most libraries have streaming media available, and this means that “books on tape” and a host of educational materials are available directly from library websites
Wiki sites – Wikitravel has places of the “week” and details that regular commercial sites never provide, and most of the other “wiki” sites of the world are excellent sources for self-guided research and study too;
Streaming Video – use “Google” to ask a “how to” question and up pops a Vimeo or YouTube video in the results. These sites give concise and targeted answers necessary to complete an online education!
EBooks – Don’t have time to get to the library? The Gutenburg Project website has created a free library of more than 30k books all online. Some are even formatted for Kindle, iPads and other devices;
Online College Classes website – this directory site provides links to excellent courses and online classes. They are all free and organized by “themes”.

Consider the “Film” category that has links and explains where each takes you – i.e. Westerns, etc. There are also links for Art, Classics, Economics, English, Geography, History, and more;

Research Channel - a directory-style site that brings the visitor to specific subject areas and allows them choose freely. Here, you can “sit in” on a lecture from an MIT or Stanford professor or develop a research project and learn a tremendous amount about it from the materials provided;
Stanford Continuing Studies - Stanford University in California provides online videos and materials relating to the classes and lectures from their leading minds;
Open Culture – a site for the hungriest and most inquiring minds. Though the subjects may seem random, they will inspire many different paths;
MITOPENCOURSEWARE site - this is an MIT site that provides only free lectures, courses, and even notes on the subjects; and
Academic Earth - a fun site that puts an emphasis on master courses from leading lecturers. This too is organized by subject, but also by universities, lecturers, and more.

This is a good dose of the free stuff online, but also make a point to scout around for new sites that tend to pop up from time to time as well.

Choosing Online Associates Degree Programs in New Hampshire

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:22:06 +0000

One of the most frustrating things that experienced professionals face is the limitations that can be placed on their career from the lack of a college degree. This is why so many people investigate ways of heading back to school to get a degree that can benefit their career. One of the easiest ways for the full-time professional to do this is through the use of online degree programs.

People using this method and who also live in the state of New Hampshire are at a very large advantage because the state has a strong commitment to education. In fact, according to a website that lists the accredited online colleges in New Hampshire: Education is a strong field in the state, as well: In 2008, New Hampshire tied with Massachusetts to have the best SAT and ACT scores among its high school students.”

It is little surprise that there are so many online schools in New Hampshire and that students can easily choose from a diversity of online associates degree programs and higher. The important thing to remember is that any program will need accreditation.

Understanding Accreditation and the Online Colleges in New Hampshire

When pursuing any online degrees in New Hampshire it is going to behoove you to ensure that the institution has received the official “nod of approval” from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (as well as any additional and mandatory accreditation from industry related groups) before enrolling.

Why is that? Let’s use the online nursing schools in New Hampshire as an example. Unless the academic institution has the accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the degree is invalid. Additionally, if the programming is not certified by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing, the degree work may be a waste of time as well.

Understanding What is Available

Once you have confirmed that the college or university has proper accreditation, you can then choose your course of study. If you are already living and working in the state, it will benefit you to know that biggest industries in the state are finance, insurance and healthcare. There is also tourism, education and agriculture too. This means that any of the online MBA programs will be of benefit, as well as the online bachelors degree programs and online masters degree programs too.

The online associate’s degree programs are going to remain tremendously valuable to people in all professions too. For instance, let’s say that you are someone working as a paralegal, but without the formal degree. You could use the online criminal justice programs to begin building your academic credentials and boosting your professional opportunities.

The great thing about New Hampshire is that it has a large Community College System that offers all of their of the associate’s degree programs online. All of the colleges are public and do not require extensive efforts to enter. They include:

Ways of Getting an Online Accounting Degree from an Online School in New Hampshire

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:22:36 +0000

Here’s some great news for anyone considering relocating to or switching careers in New Hampshire – not only does the state have one of the lowest levels of unemployment (less than five percent compared to the national average of around 8 to 10 percent) but the top jobs are in finance, insurance, healthcare and general business. This is wonderful for someone currently enrolled in one of the online schools in New Hampshire because it indicates that they might add some relevant courses to their program.

It is also great for those who are just now considering how to use the offerings from the many online colleges in New Hampshire to help improve their professional life as well. For instance, you could easily add some accounting, financial or legal course to your online bachelors degree programs or online associates degree programs in order to enjoy the benefits of the experience, you may even want to begin studying in order to take advantage of the fact that these industries need so many workers.

The Use of Online Degrees in New Hampshire

Before you worry that online degree programs and accounting careers are not compatible, you should know that there are actually a handful of fully accredited schools offering online learning in this area. Just like the other formal career training options, however, the schools offering accounting degrees have to be completely certified or accredited.

For instance, you wouldn’t sign on for one of the online nursing schools in New Hampshire if the New Hampshire Board of Nursing hadn’t signed off on the curriculum. The same might be said of online criminal justice programs, healthcare programs and more. So, be sure that any online MBA programs or accounting programs meet the standards set by the industry.

Currently, most CPAs will have to obtain a master’s degree and pass the appropriate tests. This means that you will want to see if the schools you use have options for online masters degree programs in addition to the preliminary training.

The Schools to Investigate in New Hampshire

There are many colleges and universities in New Hampshire because the state does place a high value on education. Their public high school students consistently rank highly in SAT and ACT scores, and the state supports a major Community College and University system. Each of the schools supported by the state also has a strong distance or online learning network as well.

The best schools for someone considering a career in accounting in the state of New Hampshire include:

Franklin Pierce University – this school goes the “whole way” with a certificate, associate’s and bachelor’s degree program in accounting;
Great Bay Community College – this school is a public, two year college that offers an associate’s degree as an accounting technician;
Hesser College – this is a private four year college with an associate’s and a bachelor’s degree program for accounting;
Lakes Region Community College – this two year college has the associate’s in accounting and a certificate program as well;
Lebanon College – though very small, this private college offers the associate’s degree in accounting and a certification program too;
Manchester Community College – a two year program, this college has several different options for associate’s degrees with an accounting focus, plus there is a CRT in accounting too;
Nashua Community College – this public two year college has an associate’s degree in accounting and the certification training too; and
University of New Hampshire – this is the choice for someone interested in getting their full training as an accountant because it offers associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in accounting.

Details about Getting your Online Nursing Degree from an Online School in New Hampshire

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:16:05 +0000

Almost everyone knows by now that a career in healthcare is a ticket to consistent and lucrative employment. This does not mean, however, that you have to be a fully trained doctor or nurse in order to work in the industry. There are nursing and healthcare programs that can give you a “foot in the door” in terms of a medical career and which can be mostly administrative or managerial.

In the state of New Hampshire it is well known that the healthcare field is one of the top employers and that many of the campus based and online schools in New Hampshire put an emphasis on preparing workers for the industry.

If you are already working or just considering a new career path, you can instantly put the many online colleges in New Hampshire to work for you. They make many distance and online degrees in New Hampshire available, and the trick is to find the right school for your particular goals.

Tips for Choosing Schools

One of the first things that you do need to know about the online degree programs in the state of New Hampshire is that they must have proper accreditation. Now, that is actually a two-part issue because accreditation goes first to the college and then to the specific programming.

For instance, the online nursing schools in New Hampshire must have their initial accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Then, the individual programs that apply to nursing must be certified by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing too.

Another thing to remember is that there is already a heavy demand for nurses of all kinds. This is why you might find that some schools have “fast track” programs that feature online associates degree programs that get someone to the level of LPN or nursing aide right away.

Deciding What’s Right for You

It is up to the student to understand the right path to follow, however, and this could mean that you elect to do one of the online MBA programs that apply to healthcare instead of a direct nursing degree program.

There are also online bachelors degree programs and online masters degree programs that will steer you towards the ideal career in the healthcare industry as well. Below is a list of the most frequently recommended of the online colleges in New Hampshire. Some have full-fledged nursing programs, but some also have related degree programs that can strengthen a career in healthcare as well (be sure to check that any program you choose is CCNE or NLNAC accredited as this guarantees you will be able to take the degree anywhere to begin working as a nurse or nursing professional):

Colby-Sawyer College;
Great Bay Community College;
Manchester Community College;
Nashua Community College;
New Hampshire Community Technical College;
New Hampshire Technical Institute;
River Valley Community College;
Rivier College;
Saint Anselm College;
St. Joseph Hospital; and
University of New Hampshire

Reasons for Getting your Online Psychology Degree from an Online School in New Hampshire

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:10:57 +0000

Although the largest industries in the state of New Hampshire are finance, insurance and general healthcare, there will always be a demand for people with training in psychology. This is not because mental health care is a huge field but because psychology applies so broadly to so many different areas of specialization.

For instance, let’s say you attended one of the online schools in New Hampshire offering a degree of some sort in psychology. It means that you might be working out of your own office and providing counseling, but it can also mean that you could be a social worker, someone who works in an industrial setting ensuring that laborers are getting what they need, in a school setting, or a handful of other places.

Exploring the Online Colleges in New Hampshire

There are a few things to know before you begin the hunt for appropriate online degrees in New Hampshire. Firstly, it is always up to the student to be sure that the school is properly accredited and that the programming has been certified if necessary. For instance, just like the many online nursing schools in New Hampshire have to have their programs approved and advocated by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing, there may be specific industry related certifications necessary for the online degree programs you choose in the area of psychology.
We also suggest that you meet with a career counselor or professional to understand which programs will benefit you the very most. Consider that some of the state’s best schools offer online associates degree programs that can get someone a good start in their psychology career, but there are also advanced options that include online bachelors degree programs and online masters degree programs focusing on specific areas of psychology as well.

The Best Programs Currently Available

Below is a list (in alphabetical order) of some of the best of the psychology programs available to distance and campus based learners:

Antioch University – this school offers everything from certificates in working with patients with autism to master’s of education in applied psychology. This is a good option for someone intending to make a major career out of psychology or who wants to research the field;
Daniel Webster College – a private four year school, it offers a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a similar degree in social science;
Dartmouth College – one of the most famous schools in the world, this college has bachelor’s degrees and doctoral degrees in the field of psychology;
Franklin Pierce University – another private, four year college, this one has certificates and bachelor’s degrees in the field of psychology;
Hesser College – this is a very popular career school and it offers both the associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in psychology;
Keene State College – this is part of the state’s university system and it has the bachelor’s of arts, the certificate, and the master’s of education in psychology and applied psychological studies;
New England College – this is a good choice for the serious scholar as it has a long list of bachelor’s degrees in applied psychology;
Plymouth State University – they are unique in offering both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology entirely online. They also make applied psychological studies available on a broad basis too;
Rivier College – this school has a very extensive menu of psychology degrees that range from the certificate to the master’s degrees;
Southern New Hampshire University – like Plymouth, this school also makes several degrees available entirely online as well. They have applied psychology at the bachelor’s levels plus options for master’s degrees; and
University of New Hampshire – this too is a school with a very long menu of degree options that range from certificates to the doctoral programs.

Attending an Online College in New Hampshire

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:04:58 +0000

Online College or Traditional College

Getting an online college degree in New Hampshire makes learning fun and convenient for students of all ages and skill levels. Students who take classes online save money and time because they do not have to drive to the university every day and save money on gas and other vehicle expenses. The average commute for work or school in New Hampshire is 50 minutes which equates to nearly $200 in gas each month! This can be a heavy burden for an unemployed college student. By working toward a degree online rather than at a campus, students can:
        –  Complete assignments in the comfort of their own homes
        –  Keep a full time job because there’s no need to work around a campus schedule
        –  Study and read assignments at times when it is convenient for them
        –  Travel and spend time with family while accessing assignments

Getting a college degree from an online university is a great way to complete your educational goals if you live in New Hampshire. Students make the choice to attend online colleges and universities because they are affordable, convenient, and necessary for workplace advancement. Getting an online education has opened many doors for students who would not otherwise have the time or money to attend college.

Living in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is a lovely and quaint place to live. There are many great colleges and businesses located in New Hampshire. Executives, managers, accountants, businessmen, and teachers are all popular in this small New England state. Online teaching degrees in New Hampshire are always popular choices and so are online business programs in New Hampshire. The median household income in New Hampshire is $63,235 which means the cost of living is high and housing in most areas is higher than in other parts of the country. Nearly 30% of the population has at least a Bachelor’s Degree which makes for a competitive job environment as many people are very qualified.

What Makes New Hampshire so Great?

New Hampshire is a beautiful and cozy North Eastern state. With a great climate, lots of wooded mountains, and many tourist towns, New Hampshire offers both seclusion and small town charm. Agriculture and environmental science are big industries in this rural state. If you enjoy farming, fishing, hiking, and laid-back life styles; New Hampshire will be perfect for you!