Deciphering Degree Levels: The Different Types And What They Mean

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There are two sides of the fence when it comes to people’s thoughts on higher education. Some are pro-university, and some prefer to start in a junior position and work their way up the career ladder. There are obviously many careers that require complex and long degrees. These include law, medicine, architecture and veterinarians. But there are other degrees such as English Literature, Business, Media and Geography which aren’t necessarily needed for certain jobs. But a degree in these subjects will stand you in good stead and still make an impact on your CV. No matter what side of the fence you are on, it’s still worth considering higher education. Let's take a look at the different types of degree levels out there, so you can decide if higher education is for you.

Associate Degree

These are two-year programs in the US and some parts of Canada, Hong Kong and Australia. They are considered to be a higher level of education than a high school diploma but less than a Bachelor’s Degree which is a four-year commitment. The equivalent in the UK would be a Diploma. Most people who take an Associate Degree are looking to enhance their technical skills in certain fields. This will give them better job prospects. Associate Degrees can be taken part time which allows you to work and earn money at the same time. You can take an Associate of Arts, an Associate of Science, an Associate of Applied Science or an Associate of Applied Arts Degree. Jobs that you can apply for with an Associate Degree? These include air traffic control, legal assistant, dental hygienist, and engineer.

Bachelor’s Degree

A Bachelor’s Degree usually last four years. On this undergraduate program, you will choose a major subject to study. This subject can be anything from communications to biology or finance to languages/literature. The four types are Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Applied Science. Apply for a Bachelor’s Degree if you know that the career you want requires one. Or if you are interested in continuing your higher education studies to further your future career prospects. Your Bachelor's Degree will require a lengthy dissertation in the final year. For this part of the course, it is worth investing in dissertation proofreading services to ensure your complex manuscript is free of all grammatical and punctuation errors. A degree at this level should be taken seriously as it another four years out of your adult life. Many choose to carry on at university for the social life and freedom on offer. But remember these degrees are expensive, so it is a time to study hard as you are shaving four years off of a salary you could be earning.

Master’s Degree

To apply for a Master’s Degree, you must already hold a Bachelor’s Degree. A Master’s takes 1-2 years and enables you to study further in a specialized subject. This is an intensive program that requires complex study and a high level of academic knowledge.  Many Master’s Degrees enable working professionals to continue a career while studying. So they also require dedication, motivation and a lot of hard work. A Master’s Degree is ideal for those that love academia and want to make a lasting impact on their CV. A Master’s Degree can also be undertaken if you wish to change direction in your career and need qualifications in a new chosen subject.

Ph.D.

A Ph.D. stand for a Doctorate of Philosophy and is and intensive academic program that requires a lot of independent research. This is one of the highest degrees you can earn and will stand you in good stead for future career prospects. A Ph.D. is time-consuming, complex, intellectual and creative. You will need to complete a thesis in your chosen subject that shows original research in your subject matter.  Ph.D. holders will get higher salaries and will be able to work in academic research industry jobs. However, competition is tough and while you are doing your Ph.D. you will also have to get as much of your work published as possible.

Selling Up? These Tips Will Wow Potential Buyers When They View Your House

So you’re trying to sell your house? If you want a quick and easy sale, there are some tricks you should try out when potential buyers are viewing your home. Ready for that signature on the dotted line? Then these are all the stops you need to pull out during viewings.

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Increase Curb Appeal

How does your home look from the outside? This will be the first thing viewers notice, and it will be what they base their first impression on. Make sure your front garden is neat and tidy. If it is summer, there should be plenty of flowers out on display. The building’s exterior also needs to be well maintained. If it is in need of some repointing, you should think about getting someone in to do it as soon as possible. If the outside of your property doesn’t look perfect, potential buyers could drive right by without even looking at the inside.

No Clutter

When viewers are looking around your home, they will try and imagine themselves living in the property. One thing that makes that very difficult to do is a lot of clutter. As the saying goes, ‘less is more.’ So keep ornaments down to a minimum on surfaces. It’s not just physical clutter that should be removed. You also need to change a cluttered decor. So, for instance, any decorative features that could be distracting or are very bold should be removed as well.

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Add Homely Touches

It’s important to keep your home clutter-free, but it should also have plenty of homely touches. This will help it feel welcoming and inviting to viewers. There are a few items that potential buyers love to see in properties. Things like a fitted kitchen and wood burning stove always go down well. If possible, try and get these installed before your house goes on the market. If you already have a stove, make sure it is on during a viewing. That way, viewers know that it is in working order. If you need to fix yours, shop online for parts for your pellet stove.

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Be Positive

When you are showing people around your home, it is important to be positive about the property. Even if you are moving out for negative reasons. After all, your home is now a product that you have to sell! And no one will want it if they only hear bad things about it. If the viewers ask you any questions about the house, always answer them. Don’t try and shy away from questions. Otherwise, they may think you have something to hide!

De-Odorize

If you have pets in your home or are a smoker, it is a good idea to deodorize your home before anyone comes to look around. Even though you may not be able to smell anything, other people will instantly notice any bad odors as soon as they walk through the door. Go through your rooms with an air freshener to mask any bad smells and freshen the place up.

Double Cash Back on Swagbucks Doing #HalloweenShopping

 

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Stock up on Halloween candy and decorations, and get those costumes ready for the big day!

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Walmart 

 Target 

 Kmart 

 Home Depot 

 Cost Plus 

World Market 

 Pier1 Imports 

 Michael's 

 Wholesale Party Supplies 

 Amazon 

 and many  more!

Get a $4 bonus when you join Swagbucks this month!

 

 You've probably seen me write about Swagbucks a lot on here. It's a site where you earn points (called SB) for things you're probably doing online already, like searching, watching videos, discovering deals, and taking surveys. Then you take those points (1 SB is worth a penny) and exchange them for gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, or PayPal cash.

Unlike a lot of other rewards site, you can cash out at any time, and they have gift cards for as little as 300 SB (The $3 Amazon gift card - every little bit helps)!
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So let's recap - if you do all of those things, you'll have at least 700 SB to spend. Plus, there are all sorts of great deals and other earning opportunities all October long, so why stop at 300 SB? You could earn a LOT more. [TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE EARNED AND USED IT FOR]. Sign up now!

Winter Is Coming: Prepare Your Home Sooner Rather Than Later

It might only be the start of October, but soon enough the cold - freezing cold - weather will be here. By preparing your home for winter sooner rather than later, you can ensure that when the snow starts to fall, your home is properly protected. If you fail to protect your home from the oncoming winter weather, it could end up being severely damaged to the point where it’s no longer livable. That’s a scary thought, isn’t it - not having a home to live in?

To prevent your home from being damaged by the winter weather, here are some things to consider doing:

Get your pipes freeze-proofed

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One of the most common home emergencies in the winter months is burst water pipes due to freezing. A burst water pipe can cause a small amount of water to leak out, or it can cause your entire home to become flooded. That’s why it’s so important that before winter, your have your water pipes freeze-proofed. You can opt to do this yourself, or you can hire a professional to do it for you, depending on how confident you feel about doing it yourself. There are various methods for doing this, the most successful, however, tend to be heat tracing and the use of insulation.

Check your home for damp and mold

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The sight of damp or mold is enough to send most homeowners into a frenzy. A lot of homeowners believe that once your home has damp and mold, it can never be got rid of. However, that’s far from true - it can be hard to alleviate, but it’s not impossible. However, the sooner you notice it, the better. The reason it’s important to check your home for damp and mold before winter sets in is because the presence of it indicates a problem in your home. Normally, the cause of damp and mold is one of two things: a lack of ventilation or a leak. If it’s the latter, it will only get worse throughout the winter. So it’s best to find the source and get it dealt with as soon as possible.

Have your roofing and gutters checked

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As soon as the trees are bare, it’s time to check your gutters for any blockages. This is important as come winter, rainfall increases. Should there be, a particularly heavy bout of rain and the water fails to drain properly it could damage your home’s walls and foundations. This could lead to all sorts of expensive problems. But by taking the time to clear out your gutters, this can be prevented. While you’re up on the roof checking your gutters, you may as well also take the time to check your roof itself. What you want to look out for are any tiles that are missing, cracked or damaged in any way, as these may allow water or pests to enter your home.

To ensure that come winter your home is properly protected from the elements, take note of the advice above. Your home is yours’ and your family’s sanctuary, and so, the last thing you want is a lack of preparation causing it to be damaged.