Doctor's Hoods

The doctor's hood is not with rank the sort of velvet colors listed on the top, the correct velvet color for all PhD hoods is dark blue, in place of the mastery of the order of scholarship attested to by the giving of the Ph.D. On the other hand, the correct velvet color for all non-PhD doctorate holders would be that of their exacting field. To income that while a Doctor of Education would get light blue velvet, but a PhD in English would receive the dark blue velvet. Similarly a non-PhD Doctor of Science would receive Gold velvet, but a PhD in Science would receive the dark Blue Velvet. A non-PhD Doctor of Engineering would get Orange Velvet, but a PhD in Engineering would each get the dark blue velvet.

To avoid confusion, it is very main, therefore for all doctors the order of academic hoods must be clearly state whether they are a PhD and would be receiving the dark blue velvet regardless of their field. For that reason, we offer the choice of new piping on our PhD gowns and hoods as a stoles for graduation, for example light blue piping for a PhD in education; scarlet piping for a PhD in divinity.

Doctoral tams are obtainable in your option of four, six, or eight corners and in your pick of either a gold silky or gold metallic jumbo doctoral tassels. We keep doctoral tams in stock in customary black velvet, and can also create them in your choice of colors such as Red or Blue. Most faculty members choose six or eight sided tams for the faculty regalia.

In addition to your doctoral gown, most people will need to purchase a doctoral hood. Luxurious doctoral and PhD hoods are obtainable with or without piping. If your doctoral gown has piping, then you will almost certainly wish to order matching piping for your hood. The satin lining of your hood normally represents your school's colors.

Though not generally required, most faculty members who have doctoral degrees choose to purchase tams to differentiate themselves from students and non-doctors who normally wear mortarboards. If you do not wish to purchase a tam, then we will be happy to send you a mortarboard as a stole for graduation.

In recent universities, the idiosyncratic mark of a degree is the hood, which in its initial form was simply an article of clothing. Because the churches and sermon halls of European universities were cold, drafty places, scholars wore hoods as head coverings, attached to a cape or worn unconnectedly. The college colors make up the lining and the trim color vary depending on the field of study. The hood supposed to be placed so that it drapes off your shoulders and over the back of your gown. The border trim should be positioned on the outside of the hood. Be sure the hood lining is showing.

Summer Scholarship Programs

Home schooled children have the best of both worlds - they can attend summer high school programs abroad or locally, whether they are home schooled full-time or not. Cities across the country are now offering summer scholarship programs for high school students and graduates. Students are eligible for funding while completing their courses at home, as well as after they receive their diplomas. Additionally, home schooled students have the flexibility to extend their summer high school programs abroad, because they are not encumbered by specific school calendar. For instance, knowledge of a foreign language is almost always required for most undergraduate programs, especially if you plan a career in the humanities or sciences. What better way to reinforce whatever you have learned at home in the U.S. with a trip abroad? Now, the catch is, if you are looking for scholarship money, you must be registered in a U.S. college or university, even if the courses you take will not be on U.S. soil.

For example, the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has scholarships available to graduates of its public high schools. However, this does preclude a home schooled child from applying. The funds are made available to state-run universities or the Community College of Philadelphia. The Philadelphia scholarship programs are limited to students in their freshmen year only. The grant awards are calculated after financial aid and outside scholarship money is taken into consideration. However, this does not mean that you are limited to taking a course in Philadelphia. It may be possible to qualify for free summer high school study abroad by attending a school that has an agreement with the Community College of Philadelphia.

If you live in Tallahassee, Florida, scholarship programs are available to students in grades as low as the ninth grade. CARE, (the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement), has established a summer scholarship program that helps youngsters learn about the college application process as well as ways to maximize their financial aid package. These scholarships are offered during the summer and after school. CARE begins to recruit children as early as the sixth grade. They target minority and low-income students from local public schools in Tallahassee, Florida. The scholarship program was initiated by Florida State University in 2000. If your child is home schooled, he or she may still be eligible to attend, especially if they have aspirations of attending college.

As part of their package, FSU will relax its admissions standards for low-income, first-generation students provided the student agrees to participate in the CARE program no later than the summer before entering college. The summer program lasts for seven weeks and helps students learn how to do well on the SAT and ACT exams. Part of the scholarship program includes a weeklong orientation, which is followed by a six-week residence hall experience. Upperclassmen counselors supervise the residence hall.

Similar summer high school programs abroad as well as stateside programs are now being offered all over the U.S., so if you intend to send your child or children to college in the near future, it would be quite beneficial to check into summer scholarship programs in your area or state. Remember, the application process may take a while, so it's best to search for scholarship programs at least a year ahead of time. This is true especially for children who are being home schooled.

Top 15 Strangest Scholarships

Thousands of soon-to-be students are hunting for extra financial assistance for college tuition. Without a perfect SAT score or the ability to run a sub 4.5 forty yard dash, you might find your chances of securing a scholarship aren't looking too bright. However, you might not realize that your odd talent or hobby may make you the perfect applicant for one of these 15 strange but real scholarships.

Oink, Oink

Has your room been compared to a sty? Are you comfortable living in a messy habitat? These aren't requirements for a scholarship, but they are attributes of the creatures you care about - pigs! If you're interested in creatures of the bovine persuasion, this is the scholarship for you; the International Boar Semen (IBS) Scholarship is available for those interested in swine management. For more information, visit piggene.com/IBS/ibs_home.htm.

The Next Generation of . . . Klingons

Trekkies, leave your capes, figurines, posters and other memorabilia behind. Just bring, well, yourself! Klingon Language Institute, in an effort to promote language study, awards one lucky winner a $500 Kor Memorial Scholarship-but don't worry, fluency in Klingon is not a requirement. Check out the requirements for this scholarship at: kli.org/scholarship/.

Think Tall Thoughts

You've got Michael Jordan's stature but you're about as agile as a water buffalo. That's okay with Tall Clubs International! Males over 6'2" and females above 5'8" are encouraged to apply. The reward is no small (pun intended) amount either; Tall.org awards a whopping $1,000 scholarship to the winner. Find more info at: http://www.tall.org.

Yo, Shorti!

For the vertically challenged, the Billy Barty Foundation offers scholarships to students of "short stature". Similarly, the Little People of America awards students - and their families - scholarships. To join, members must be 4'10" and shorter. Scholarship amounts range from $250 to $1000. Read all the requirements at: lpaonline.org.

More Trans fat, please!

Say goodbye to the cabbage soup, grapefruit only, or south beach diets! The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance encourages "fat" people to apply for one of their two merit-based scholarships. The scholarships, offered to already-existing NAAF members, awards $1,000 for first place, while the second place prize is $500. For more fat-friendly information regarding the scholarships, go to: naafa.org/newevents/shcolarship.html

For the Herbivores

Calling all veggie-lovers around the world! Two health-conscious winners will be awarded $5,000 in scholarship money from the Vegetarian Resource Group. But be forewarned: unless you love your legumes, this scholarship is not for you. Eligible applicants must not only exemplify a healthy lifestyle, but also promote vegetarianism within their community too. For more information visit: vrg.org.

Sk8 through School

Thanks to Tony Hawk and a few scrapes, bruises, and breaks, your skateboarding skills may have finally paid off. The Patrick Kerr Skateboard scholarship program awards four different scholarships each year. One applicant will receive a $5,000 college scholarship and three others will receive $1,000 awards. And your mother thought skateboarding would never get you anywhere! Requirements include maintaining at least a 2.5 out of 4.0 GPA, be a graduating senior, and a United States citizen. Be sure to read all the requirements skateboardscholarship.org.

Bit of the Bubbly, Please

Finally, your weakness for wine might serve another purpose-besides the pounding morning-after headache. The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (AASEV) awards multiple students for enrolling in science fields relating to the grape and wine industry. The scholarship amount is not predetermined; it varies year to year. To read other requirements for this scholarship, go to: asev.org/scholarship-program.

Bowling for Dollars

Though those middle-school years of loitering around bowling alleys have ended, your talent for earning turkeys may finally be cashing in. The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) offers a range of scholarships, including the Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow that offers a $1,500 renewable scholarship for distinguished male high school bowlers and the Alberta E. Crow Star of Tomorrow that also offers $1,500 in renewable scholarship funds for great female high school bowlers. Read more at: bowl.com/smart/locateState.aspx.

Got Milk?

The Scholar-Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year award is given to twenty-five graduating high school seniors who have what it takes to sport the famous milk mustache; winners receive $7,500 in scholarship funds. If that's not enough, winners receive a special ad that runs in USA Today. If that's not enough, winners receive an all-expense trip to an awards ceremony at Disney Wide World of Sports' Milk House in Orlando, FL and an induction into the Milk House Hall of Fame. Check out applications at: sammy.bodybymilk.com.

Offer an Organ

You signed up to be an organ donor when you received your license. Put that heart on your ID to use! The Students for Organ Donation Youth Leadership award one or two $500 to $1,000 scholarships to full-time high school or undergraduate college students. Successful candidates actively promote organ donation and transplantation. More criteria to apply for this scholarship can be found at: studentdonor.org.

Tee It Up

You've seen them trudging up and down the greens, toting thirty pounds of iron on their backs, and offering tips to improve swings, distance and posture. Finally, they're due their recognition; Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund, founded in 1949, offers anywhere from $1,500 to $7,500 per year to caddies. Eligible applicants must have served at least two years as caddies, helpers in the pro shop or course superintendent operations at a club in Massachusetts. Read more information: ouimet.org/scholarships/

Color in the Lines

Did you meticulously color in the lines of your coloring books as a child? You may have graduated from crayons to acrylics, but the concept is the same: you're an artist at heart. Established in 1983, the L. Ron Hubbard Illustrator of the Future contest awards both quarterly and annual scholarships, ranging from $1,500 to $4,000. Read more : writersofthefuture.com

Hot, Hot, Hot

You've heard it, those three little words...in case of a fire: stop, drop and roll to safety. Earning a scholarship from the American Fire Sprinkler Association is almost just as easy; AFSA offers ten $2,000 scholarships per year to graduating high school seniors. Requirements include reading an essay and taking an online (and open-book) test. Read more about this sizzling offer on: afsascholarship.org.

Giddyup, cowboy!

The Arabian Horse Foundation offers an annual scholarship of $2,500 to one eligibly equine enthusiast. The scholarship, named in remembrance of William Zekan, is offered to horse lovers that demonstrate financial need, are currently either a high school senior or college freshman and can provide two letters of recommendation. For more eligibility criteria: arabianhorsefoundation.org.

Ways to Pay For College

Scholarships

The high cost of attending college is something that young people of every generation have to deal with. However, with the costs of college increasing exponentially every year, students without means are having a harder time getting a college education. One of the best ways to pay for college is through a scholarship. Most people are aware that colleges offer football scholarships to the most promising players, but what if you're not athletic? Don't give up hope. Academic scholarships are routinely available for those with high GPAs in high school. Also, special scholarships are normally available based on family need. Another thing to consider is an ROTC scholarship that will pay all your room, board, tuition, and books in exchange for a military commitment.

Grants

The federal government is kind enough to give money away free to students attending college. These usually come in the form of cash payments directly to the student's college. The maximum grant right now is just over $5,000 for a year, an amount that can help. Depending on where you attend college, the Pell Grant may decide whether or not you get to go to college at all. Other grants are available depending on your locality. For example, some states award profits from lottery revenue to students' tuition costs.

Loans

No one really likes the idea of amassing huge amounts of debt, but sometimes it is a necessity if you want to have a good life. While you are still in college, you don't have to pay on these loans, but once you graduate, the payments start, so you should have some plans for your post-college career. A variety of student loans are available through private sources as well as through the government.

Work

It's hard to go to college full time with holding a full time or part time job, but sometimes it's necessary if you believe in what you are doing. Granted, it's hard to pay for all of college this way, but if you can get your yearly costs paid down to $10,000 or $20,000, working a job will be a feasible way to close that remaining gap.

Government Grant Program To Aid Minority Students

African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and other promising minority students intent on pursuing the agricultural field as a career option can attain their goals with a government grant.

Sadly, many minority Americans are finding it difficult to enhance their academic potential due to financial constraints. Fortunately, the government is exerting extra effort and allocating funds to enable bright, young minority students to fulfill their dreams. One such initiative is the Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program that aims to assist promising students from marginalized backgrounds excel as agri-science or agri-business specialists. This minority grant provides much-needed student financial aid to undergraduate minority students funneled through colleges and universities that offer a variety of agricultural courses. In essence, this scholarship grant provides a valuable window of opportunity to diversify the work force in the field of food & agricultural science, forestry, natural resources and other related agricultural fields. More than $900,000 has been estimated to be earmarked for 2008 to benefit minority Americans, with grant funds ranging between $20,000 to up to $80,000 to be awarded.

Aside from education assistance, a typical grant search will yield thousands of sources of non-repayable grants that are awarded for virtually any worthwhile purpose. Citizens should take advantage of these funds to improve their present situation in the areas of housing, medical assistance, transportation, employment, and so much more. Millions of dollars of grant money is left unclaimed each year since many Americans are not aware of such or have no idea where to look. The Multicultural Scholars Program though is available that will greatly benefit poverty-stricken minority undergraduates seeking well-deserved professional careers.

What Do All the ESL Acronyms Mean?

Every industry has its acronyms and Teaching English is no exception. If you are new to the world of language teaching, you may very well find these a tad confusing. Let me run through most of the acronyms you are likely to come across in ads for teachers and education articles:

ABE: Adults Basic Education (Canadian version of GED).

ACT: The ACT is America's most widely accepted college entrance exam. It assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.

CAI: Computer-Aided Instruction (like CALL but not necessarily for teaching the English language).

CALL: Computer-Assisted Language Learning (using computers to teach English).

CELTA: Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (Cambridge). Very popular in Europe and accepted elsewhere as an alternative to TESOL, particularly if the school follows a British curriculum or uses British teaching materials.

Certificate IV in TESOL: This is the Australian version of the TESOL certificate. See below for the definition of TESOL.

CELTYL: Certificate in English Language Teaching to Young Learners is Cambridge's version of TEYL. See TEYL below.

COTE: Certificate for Overseas Teachers of English (British course for non-native English teachers). This has been replaced by ICELT. See below.

DELTA: A diploma program from Cambridge that takes CELTA to a deeper level.

EAL: English as an Additional Language (where people already know two or more - such as in Europe).

ECE: Early Childhood Education (You need this to work in a day-care facility).

EFL: English as a Foreign Language (People have usually had little or no exposure to English. More a European term.

ERIC: Educational Resource Information Center in the USA (great online resource for teachers).

ESL: English as a Second Language (People have usually had some exposure to English).

ELT: English Language Teaching (or Training).

ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages (usually interchangeable with ESL/EFL).

ESP: English for Special Purposes (English for New Immigrants/Survival English, Academic English, Business English, English for Accounting and Finance, Legal English, Medical English, Technical English, English for Tourism and Hospitality).

GED: General Education Diploma (High School diploma for mature students primarily in the USA).

ICELT: In-service Certificate in English Language Teaching. This is a new course offered by Cambridge ESOL to replace COTE. See above. It is for experienced teachers who perhaps do not have as much basic training as they should, want to deepen their understanding of the teaching process or who have been away from language teaching for some time.

IELTS: International English Language Testing System. This is a British-based English test used primarily for college and university entrance. It is popular in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. They are making inroads into North America. The test is receiving criticism in Canada because the British accents used in the Listening test are so different from Canadian accents. IELTS recently launched a USA site so hopefully the accent issue is being addressed and that will spill north across the border.

K-12: Kindergarten through Grade 12.

KET: This Key English Test from Cambridge is a basic English test poplar in overseas schools at junior high school level. Students will usually be at the Elementary ESL level. PET follows it. See PET below.

PET: The Preliminary English Test is a Cambridge test for ESL students at the intermediate level. Often given in schools the year following the KET.

P/SAT: PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test(TM).

RSA: Royal Society of Arts. Cambridge University took over administration of their RSA course and renamed it CELTA. See CELTA above.

SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test. US Colleges use this as an entrance test. It tests English language skills, reasoning and math problem solving.

TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language

TEFLA: Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults

TESL: Teaching English as a Second Language

TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (usually interchangeable with ESL/EFL)

TESP: Teaching English for Special Purposes

TEYL: Teaching English to Young Learners (combines ECE and ESL). Now, Cambridge have brought out their version called CEYTL

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language (Used for university entrance for foreign students primarily in North America)

TOEIC: Test of English in International Communications (used by companies primarily to test the English of new employees)

WALL: Web-Assisted Language Learning (using the Internet to teach English)

Did I miss any? I did but I tried to give readers the main ones. If there are more you think should be added to my list, let me know and I'll add them in.

Mothers Are Getting $10,000 From the Government to Go Back to School - Qualifying is Super Easy!

Mothers are special people for everyone; and the new government of Obama is aware of that. That is why the government is providing all the necessary help to get the mothers educated to the highest level. The government has created a scholarship plan that will give large sums of money to all mothers who enroll to get higher education. Each mother who qualifies will receive ten thousand dollars as financial support.

The money should be spent on supporting oneself through the period of study. It should help pay for tuition, for accommodation, transport and anything that is required to make life easy for academic work. Because it concerns mothers, they are allowed to spend the money on the up keep of their children as they themselves are in school.

Taking care of children can be one of the many reasons why mothers will not want to leave their family for studies. Keeping this in mind, there is provision that mothers who are not willing to leave their families completely can enroll for a part-time or an online program.

The application procedure is very simple. You can apply online just as you will sign up with any service on the internet. There are no complex demands on the individual. You need to be American at least 18 years or older. That is the basic requirement. No one who applies after enrolling for a course will be denied funds from the program. If you are a mother in America, and you wish to study, this is the chance for you to get your share of government support.