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Admission In American Universities For Indian StudentsBefore the Standardised Test: Finding the Right FitThe most dominant factor is obviously academics; choosing the area of studies is the first step to identifying the universities and colleges keeping in mind your child’s interests and possible area of study. There are over 4000 colleges in the spectrum, and there are limitations to how many colleges we can apply to the internet is an ideal place to start exploring. Credibility is of paramount Importance a college known for academic repute usually ensures a holistic environment for development and growth.Understanding the Undergraduate SystemThe US has a vast system of undergraduate colleges and universities spread over the entire expanse of the country, a large number of them offering quality, education. When we started exploring the canvas, we were swamped by terms like schools, universities. and colleges; public, private and many others. In this section, we will try and paint the scene in a clear picture. The undergraduate degree is offered in ‘universities', 'colleges' and 'schools'—a lot of times, especially for the undergraduate programs, these terms can be substituted for each other. A university will offer graduate and doctoral degrees as well, while a college will usually offer only an undergraduate degree.The educational establishments can be classified as given below:Private universities/collegesAs the name suggests, these schools are managed and hu individuals and trusts. Fifty-nine percent of all institutions fall into this category. The fee structure would be similar for American students and international students.e.g. Boston University, Claremont McKenna College, University of Southern California, Williams College, New York UniversityPublic universitiesThese schools are managed and funded by the government, commonly by the state. Public universities offer graduate and postgraduate degrees. They have a different fee structure—the students the State would pay lower fees as opposed to students from outside. The public education system in the USA is based on a collection of taxes from the residents, therefore a lower fee is charged to students who are residents as their parents would have contributed in the way of taxes. Public universities are usually larger than private, having a greater number of students. The application fee for a public university would be lower as well.e.g. Georgia Tech - Georgia Institute of Technology, College of William & Mary, UC Berkeley - University of California at Berkeley, UCLA - University of California at Los Angeles, University of Washington - Seattle, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Virginia at Charlottesville, University of Wisconsin at Madison.State Universities/CollegesThis category of institutions are public and completely supported by the individual states. They would usually have 'State' as part of their name and have multiple campuses across the state. Several highly-ranked colleges are part of the system. E.g. California State University, Michigan State University, the State University of New York popularly known as SUNYLiberal Arts CollegesWhile searching on the internet, the term “liberal arts' comes frequently in the description of colleges-we in India are not familiar with this term. There is confusion that is associated with this genre of institutions. The actual name is the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which is colloquially shortened to ‘Liberal Arts College'. A liberal arts college will usually be smaller in size, a residential experience may be mandatory—the students are exposed and encouraged to participate in a variety of cultural, intellectual and social activities. Its curriculum is holistic in approach, covering a wide variety of subjects from the fields of humanities, arts, social sciences, and physical sciences. The class sizes are normally small with an emphasis on dialogue, debate and classroom interaction. The program is for four years. In the first two years, the students would take a variety of subjects from the sciences as well as the arts stream, before declaring a major. The degree awarded would be a Bachelor of | Arts or Science depending on the choice of major. e.g. Williams College, Amherst College, Middlebury College, Wellesley College, Pomona College, Oberlin College, Vassar CollegeInstitutes of TechnologyThe curriculum in these schools is focused on the fields of science, engineering, and technology, awarding undergraduate as well as postgraduate degrees. Along with classroom academics, opportunities are given for independent research right from the beginning. Many of the well-known institutes encourage and make it mandatory for their students to take courses like folk theatre, music, mountaineering, and the students get credits for the same—it is not just an extra-curricular activity, it contributes to the student's degree. e.g. Illinois Institute of Technology, Harvey Mudd CollegeSchools of Arts and Fine ArtsThese are specialized schools offering training and degrees in the fields of music, arts, fashion, acting, and others. If your child's heart and passion lie in the fields of music, art, graphics, photography, and fashion, then this category of schools would be the obvious choice. Your child will be able to choose from a 2-year associate degree or a 4-year undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Fine Arts). Some schools are stand-alone while others are attached to a university. There are also schools in which your child can do a dual degree 1.e. Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 5 years. The Rhode Island School of Design offers a very prestigious dual degree program with Brown University. e.g Juilliard school for dance, drama, and music, the Parsons school of art and design, The Art Institute of Chicago, Fashion Institute of Technology, Tisch School of the Arts is a part of New York University; Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts is attached to Washington University at St. LouisThe 'Ivy League'This term is often heard and associated with colleges in the USA. The Ivy League refers to a consortium of eight colleges in the northeastern states which were primarily linked together to form an athletic conference. These colleges are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. These are all established private universities that have a reputation for quality and excellence, attract top-notch students and are among the most difficult to get in.Community CollegesThere are locally supported non-residential colleges which offer 2- and 3-year programs post-high school wards an Associate Degree (AS). The courses are often designed to fulfill the requirements of entry-level employment. They also act as a bridge program for transfer into a 4-year college degree program. Many community colleges are affiliated with universities making this transition easier. Community colleges are cost-effective, offer great flexibility and are a great pathway to academic enhancement.Accredited universitiesThere are approximately over 4,000 colleges in the USA offering a 4-year undergraduate degree program. While choosing a college or a university for our children, it is important to ensure that the college/university offers quality education and is 'accredited or ‘recognized in the Indian parlance. In India, government-run bodies like the University Grants Commission (UGC) or the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) provide the quality norms to our higher education institutions. In the USA, the government does not recognize the institutes of higher education, instead, it has appointed private non-governmental bodies that specifically monitor and assess the quality of institutions. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the United States Department of Education (USDE) review these Organisations giving them the authority to give accreditations to universities and colleges.When to StartThe pre-examination stage is one of exploration and information gathering. Start your research 12-18 months before you intend to begin studies as an undergraduate, or at least 24 months before beginning a graduate program. You start your research from a search could begin under the following heads: Which institution will best suit your personality? It’s recommended that you only consider accredited U.S. colleges and universities. A searchable list of accredited institutions is available through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Where would you like to go? The U.S. has a great diversity of weather, culture, and environment and you should consider these when looking at locations to study Why do you want to study in the United States? find the school that matches you and your priorities and long-term goals. Pursuing which course will give you the best employment opportunity in the long run?LocationThe next factor you should keep in mind is the location. The USA is a very large country and each area, the geographical region has a distinctive and individual culture.Urban or Rural?The US offers quality institutes in both kinds of settings the location will contribute and enhance your student life. natural beauty has very large dorms and rooms, a town that has grown and focuses around the university, an enhanced degree of familiarity between fellow students and professors, a well-developed community interface, free transportation around the campus and a conducive environment for outdoor sporting activities. The urban campus is usually in the center of fast-paced life—busy roads, museums, theatres, restaurants, parks, dance studios, shopping avenues-depending on perception, all the charms or distractions' of a large city! In comparison to a rural setting, rooms and dorms are really small, transportation costs are individual and therefore an expensive-in fact, urban campus is more expensive. The Internship opportunities are great, and a student usually has plenty to do.ConnectivityIf the college is located close to an international airport with a connection from India, it is a great logistical plus. You just have to take an airport shuttle to his campus. Domestic transfers in the US often require a change of airports, making the journey fairly complicated and long.ClimateClimate is a major change and winters in the northern, mid-east and midwest of the USA can be extremely harsh. Studying in these areas requires a completely new and if I may say so, alien wardrobe consisting of overcoats of various weights and boots for different seasons ranging from wet to ice! The 1st season will be particularly difficult, but the internal heating systems are more than adequate.CommunityMost good schools have between 7-9 percent international admissions, while there are other well-known universities like the University of Southern California, where international students comprise over 15 percent, and Purdue, with 16 percent international students, enrolls about 200 freshmen from India each year.FinanceThe next step is to think about how much it will cost to study in the USA. You want to think about:The cost of admission and other school fees Accommodation costs Living costs including food and travel Not each university but few of them also allow students to do part-time internships to financial aid their basic daily expenses. Fortunately, there are a lot of options for getting financial aid to study in the U.S. which are available on the website of the colleges or universities which you may choose. A scholarship from the institution where you want to study, U.S. Government-funded programs, awards and funds from other organizations, in-state tuition benefits, waived application fees and deadlines, and similar provisions.The Standardised TestSAT 1SAT ReadingThe SAT 1 exam begins with critical reading and writing the part that tests the reading, comprehension and writing skills of the student. The first part of section 1 is of 65 minutes duration with 52 questions.SAT WritingA short break is followed by the 2nd part - writing and language. This section is of 35 minutes duration with 44 questions spread over 4 passages. Topics from Humanities, Science, Social Studies and Careers are covered. There are 11 questions attached to each passage. 20 questions address conventional grammar while the remaining 24 explore writing techniques, expressions, and logical analysis. A graphical interpretation is also included.SAT MathThis section evaluates the student’s mathematical proficiency and skills focusing on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and data analysis. A graphical interpretation is also included. The questions are in the combination of multiple-choice and ‘Grid-Ins’, or Student-Produced Response questions. In a ’grid-in’, there are no multiple-choices and the student has to solve the question similar to the math problems done at school. The ‘catch’ in the situation is that the answers have to fit in a ‘grid’, which is unfamiliar to our system, therefore requiring a lot of practice.there are 2 parts - Calculator and the Non - Calculator.The SAT Essay -(optional, 50 minutes)It is a lot like a typical college writing assignment in which you’re asked to analyze a text. Take the SAT with Essay and show colleges that you’re ready to come to campus and write.ACTACT or American College Testing is an alternative to SAT1. Currently, it is a pen and paper test. However, it is expected to change into an internet-based test for International students in the coming years. The ACT exam is currently available in India in February, April, June, October, and December. The ACT testing time is 2 hours & 55 minutes and has an extra optional 40 minutes Writing Test. The ACT is scored out of 36. Each of the four sections is scored out of 36 points, and then the section scores are averaged together to find your total score.ACT EnglishThe English section tests the student's understanding of the English Language-grammar, punctuation, and sentence construction. Spelling and vocabulary are not a priority here but 75 questions have to be answered in the given time.The ACT MathematicsThe ACT mathematics test consists of pre-algebra (14 questions), algebra (19 questions), plane trigonometry (14 questions); coordinate geometry 19 questions), and elementary trie 14 questions). Questions are placed in order of difficulty from easy to hard and usage of the calculator is allowed.ACT readingThis section consists of 1 passage each from Social Studies, Natural Sciences, Humanities, and Prose Fiction. The questions are based on the comprehension of the passage. There are ten questions to answer in each passage for a total of 40 questions.ACT scienceThe science test involves understanding passages that comment on scientific information. The information is presented in six groups in the form of charts, graphs, summaries of scientific research, or as the conflicting viewpoints of two or three scientists. There are 40 questions, the answers to which can be extrapolated from the information provided.ACT WritingThe test includes a single essay on a given prompt. You have to plan, write and edit the essay. The prompt is usually based on contemporary issues. The essay score is on 12 which is graded on parameters defined by ideas and analysis, development and support, organization and language use.The ACT Writing is optional, the essay score will not be factored into the ACT composite score.SAT 2The SAT2 tests are 1-hour tests on specific subjects. The SAT2 has 22 separate tests covering 5 subject areas like Math, History, Literature, Science and Languages scored on a scale of 200-800. These tests are designed to assess the student's knowledge in specific areas. Not all schools require subject tests, but it is mandatory for most top schools and they specify the number of subject tests i.e. 2 or 3. Please check the individual college website for the SAT2 requirement.Language Proficiency TestsTOEFLTOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is the most widely accepted English Language exam to check an examinee's proficiency and comfort in understanding, listening, speaking and writing the English Language. It is accepted over 9,000 colleges, institutions in over 130 countries. TOEFL is considered a mandatory test if you want to study, work or immigrate to a country where English is the 1st language.IELTSIELTS or the International English Language Testing System and is jointly administered by the British Council, the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations and IDP Education Australia. As the TOEFL, this is a test to assess the student's comfort with the English language combining your proficiency in listening, reading, writing and speaking skills. The tests are conducted in British English vis-à-vis the TOEFL which uses American English and accents. One major difference is that in the IELTS, the speaking section is conducted as a viva by the examiner, while in the TOEFL, the candidate just answers into the microphone; there is no face to face interaction with the examiner.The Common AppThe Common App or the Common Application (available at Your future starts here) is an undergraduate college application form that managed by an organization called The Common Application, INC. This organization has more than 700 colleges and universities as members. The applicant can use this one form to apply to a maximum of twenty member colleges. The Common App, for understanding, can be segregated into two segments:The 1st segment which acts as a general application with the information required by all the colleges your family background, academic and extracurricular achievements, the test scores and writing skills in the form of short essays.The 2nd segment is the 'supplement' required by the specific college, each with its individual questions and essays. The Common App records an applicant's profile from class 9 onwards.Mid-way into your final year in school you are done with most of your qualifying exams, and it’s time to start the form filling process. Colleges and universities may have their application or Coalition Access form or Common Application form. Colleges offer a variety of decision plans with specific deadlines. Supplements and Portfolios Many colleges (almost 2/3rd of the members) require additional supplements to be submitted. The supplement may have an additional essay, institution-specific questions, the most common being—'why did you choose college XYZ?' Most member colleges will ask you to submit the supplements through the Common App. Please note there are many universities and colleges which may not be a part of this system and you would have to tackle those applications individually; e.g. University of California, MIT, and Texas universities. (The list of member colleges/universities can be found at the Common App website). Sending the Common App The Common App, the college supplements, the school forms are designed to be exclusively accepted online. At every stage, the Common App format will remind you of missing information and will be processed only when all the information has been filled. Along with the student profile, the specific college supplements, as well as school forms, can be sent with ease online. If there is a problem, the issue usually is with the school forms. There is no paperwork, no couriers, the teachers upload their recommendations on your Common App identity page; and then it's just a simple click of the button the form is sent. You can vary the specific recommendations to send from college to college. Sending the Courier Package In some cases, the school may not have a system of sending documents online; In that case, you will have to send the documents by courier. Don't panic, you have to send almost everything online i.e. The Common App, Payments and the Supplements. Only the school forms i.e, counselor's recommendation, the teacher's recommendations will have to be couriered. The Courier will contain very important documents related to the application. Utmost care must be taken in organizing the documents as well as tracking the document to its final destination--the admission office of the colleges. Correct references should be given so that the admission office finds it simple to match with the rest of the application material which has been sent online. We have given a few guidelines to make this process as hassle-free as possible these guidelines will be relevant when sending all further documents e.g. financial, and any other relevant document not mentioned in the Common App.TimelineAugust 1st week Register and begin. Sections on the background and personal data can be easily completed this week.August 2nd week The target is to complete the activities page. Compose the Short writeup on the significant activity as given in the Writing section of the Common App.August 3rd week Select your statement topic, think, discuss and draft. It is also important to list out all the supplemental essays and group them under similar topics/themes.August 4th week Complete the student information section for the supplement. Show our drafts to other people for feedback.September 1st/2nd week Complete personal statement and 2nd draft of at least 50 percent of supplemental essays.September-3rd/4th-week Complete supplemental essays.October-1st 2 weeksGo through all your essays written with a fine-tooth comb, so that they are absolutely ready to be uploaded. Request and ensure that the teacher recommended it. Remember EA/ED deadlines are usually in the 1st week of November.

If you are a teacher, student, parent, or administrator, you should be following education blogs. Why? Simply because blogs are an ever-increasing way to spark ideas, creativity, and innovation. The following list is a compilation of blogs for those interested in education.Written by parents, administrators, businessmen, teachers, and administrators, these blogs stand out with their unique style and excellent content.Traditional Elementary Education1. Cathy NelsonCathy Nelson’s blog is for educators and library media specialists who are interested in technology integration in the classroom. She offers help, resources, and ideas from her own personal experience. She won the EduBlog award in 2007 and 2008.2. Cool Cat TeacherCool Cat is a local teacher, author, and non-profit initiator, dedicated to inspiring fellow teachers with innovative and fresh ideas for reaching students in the classroom. Be sure to check out The Captivating Teacher Manifesto.3. Principals PageA blog centered on school administration issues. In addition to personal anecdotes, tips, and education philosophy, he writes various articles for other websites that you can find on his site. Examples of his work include The Connection Between Teachers and Smartphones, and how Social Media Connects Educators.4. Teaching Blog AddictA blog dedicated to educators who want a one-stop shop for all the best education blogs and resources on the Web. They arrange posts by categories, so teachers looking for ideas in a certain subject can find content quickly and easily.5. Learning Is MessyBrian Crosby is the author of this blog and a teacher who specializes in “at risk” students. He shares his ideas for learning in a personal style and encourages other teachers to understand that sometimes learning isn’t linear.6. The Curriculum CornerThis blog is run by two teachers (who happen to also be neighbors), and gives instructional tips for teaching lessons that meet the Common Core standards.7. The Organized Classroom BlogThe Organized Classroom is a blog primarily for teachers who need help making their classroom functional and efficient. The website offers free resources, tips, and ideas from local teachers.8. Polka Dotted TeacherA fun and whimsical education site for teachers who need to add some color and creativity into their classroom. Her site is in the style of Dr. Seuss.9. Educational AdvancementThis blog is part of a larger website that is dedicated to helping gifted youth. It focuses on news, information, and other resources for parents and teachers of talented children.Traditional College10. Omniac EducationThe Omniac blog is for high school students who are planning to go to college. The site gives tips for taking college entrance exams, as well as ideas for maximizing the success rate of college applications.11. Study HacksA computer scientist and published author writes this blog about what makes students successful. He chronicles some of his controversial thoughts on why pursuing your passion is a bad idea and gives tips and hints found in his numerous books.12. Parents Countdown To College CoachThis blog is mainly for parents who might need some extra help in getting their child off to school. Expect to find advice on how to help your child succeed in college, tips about transitioning to a dorm room, as well as financial aid and application resources.13. ProfHackerA blog dedicated to helping educators with their productivity, technology integration, as well as teaching. The latest post is an interesting entry about professionalism on social media, an increasing problem that has only been introduced since the explosion of sites like Facebook and Twitter.14. Thesis WhispererThe Thesis Whisperer is a collaboration of writers and students who talk about the process of writing a dissertation. Everything from planning your writing process, tips, presentation ideas, and dealing with your supervisor, is covered in this group-authored blog.15. Teen College EducationA blog written by both students and educators! Topics include admissions to college, high school tips for maximizing college potential, and how to score well on college entrance exams. It even gives practical advice about how to survive on a student budget and what to do after graduation.16. University of VenusThe Inside Higher Ed blog is a large site written by numerous authors. It covers everything from technology, to education philosophy, strategies for admissions, and career advice.17. NextStepUThis blog is associated with the NextStepU magazine. It offers advice about various colleges and degrees, and offers giveaways from time to time. It also has tools like scholarship search and college match.18. CheggThis blog is attached to the Chegg website; a student services site for planning and study help. The blog gives advice about finding inexpensive textbooks, study habits, and scholarships. Be sure to check out the post, What Does Your Major Say About You?19. The Ivy CoachThe author of this blog is Bev Taylor, a well-known counselor who is frequently seen on media sites, giving tips about getting into Ivy League schools. Her blog centers on helping students gain entrance into the school of their dream. She also offers herself for hire!20. StratedgyThe Stratedgy blog is meant for educators who want to discuss ways to compete in an ever-expanding world of education options.E-Learning and Edtech21. Tic Tac InteractiveTic Tac interactive is Scandinavia’s “leader in digital education” – and their blog features some pretty interesting conversations about education.22. The Daily RiffFrom their “About Us” page: As provocateur, muse, catalyst and game changer, The Daily Riff will “sniff and sift” through our edu-culture, “curating” news and opinion in quick, digest-sized take-aways for you to use and share. I think that says it all.23. ElearnSpaceThis site is full of solid information regarding open courseware, technology, education philosophy, and networking. There are slide presentations to go with some of the posts as well.24. Speed of CreativityWesley Fryer is a keynote speaker and author who owns this blog. He explores topics like digital storytelling, creativity and technology integration in education. Many of his presentations, handouts, and other materials are available to read and download.25. Beth KnittleBeth Knittle is a technology integration specialist for a K-12 district and blogs about her learning experiences. She has presented at several major education conferences like MassCUE and EduCon. She has an attached Wiki and a scrupulously organized archive page.26. Edcomp BlogA lecturer in Scotland at the University of Strathclyde authors this blog. Check out his blog post on creating memorable passwords for middle school students, or his review of text online adventure games. He writes in short post form, making it an easy blog to read when you are short on time.27. The Tech Savvy EducatorThis blog is a practical guide to technology integration. There are posts about using the iPad in the classroom, how to make an inexpensive green screen, as well as starting up an online book club. The owner and author is Ben Rimes, a K-12 technology specialist in Michigan.28. Will RichardsonWill Richardson is a published author, TED talk presenter, and parent who blogs about technology and its educational potential. His book about web tools for the classroom has sold over 80,000 copies.29. The Thinking StickThis blog covers all things technology and education. The author is Jeff Utecht, an educator, consultant, and author. Some of his top tweeted posts are 10 Reasons to Trash Word and Use Google Docs, Gmail Tips for Teachers, and Lecture as Content Delivery is Dead.30. The Rapid E-Learning BlogThis is a blog all about e-learning. It tackles topics such as how to design e-courses, web applications for e-learning, PowerPoint, graphic design, and interactive e-learning.31. Life in Perpetual BetaHarold Jarche’s blog is called Life in Perpetual Beta. His topics center on practical tips for leadership, social networking in business, and collaboration. He tackles ideologies of learning and knowledge from a philosophical perspective, adding technological aspects to his writing.32. The Online Learning UpdateThe Online Learning Update is a blog about online education news and research. The editor is Ray Schroeder, a University of Illinois professor, and he gathers headlines about university open courseware.33. E-Learning QueenStop at the E-Learning Queen blog and meet the Queen’s assistant, Susan Smith Nash. She humorously names her reader the “queen” of e-learning, since you are reading her site. She focuses on distance learning, e-course design, and social/psychological issues surrounding the online education process.34. Funny MonkeyFunny Monkey blog is highlights all the news and information related to Funny Monkey, a business dedicated to making educational materials free. In addition to news, the blog also covers major educational issues, technology, and classroom solutions.35. Cammy Bean’s Learning VisionsCammy Bean’s Learning Visions blog is about e-learning design. She hosts webinars about the best ways to effectively design e-courses, tools to use, and how to get started.36. Dangerously IrrelevantA blog written by Dr. Scott Mcleod that focuses on the problem between exploding technology and the educational system that cannot keep up. Rather than integrating technology into a classroom that is outdated and behind, he offers solutions to these incongruities.37. The Innovative EducatorThis blog focuses on strategies and technology solutions for education that are “way out of the box”. Lisa Nielson is the owner and author, having appeared in many well-known publications such as The New York Times and Huffington Post.Education Policies38. Best of Education BlogThis Best of Education Blog, hosted by the National Education Policy Center, pulls recent posts from various education bloggers. It covers all education issues including teacher unions, curriculum, technology, policy, and even teacher evaluations.39. EduwonkSponsored by Bethwether Education Partners, this blog is about education policy and politics. The primary author, Andrew J. Rotherham, served as a special assistant to President Bill Clinton, and currently writes the weekly School of Thought column for Time magazine.40. Thoughts On Education PolicyThis blog primarily focuses on urban poverty as it relates to educational policy. The author Corey Bower became frustrated with the education system after trying to teach in an inner city New York school for two years. Now, he is a professor of leadership at Niagara University. Expect to read posts about frustrating classroom conditions, the differences in high and low performing schools, and why everyone should have a liberal arts education.41. EdwizeEdwize is a blog for education news and opinion. It focuses on New York schools, teachers, and issues. Be sure to check out the section called New Teacher Diaries- real life stories from New York’s new public school teachers.42. Education Experts BlogThis blog’s tagline is, “Debating the future of American education.” Expect to read posts about politics, testing problems, and other issues plaguing the current educational system.43. EdspressoEdspresso’s clever name highlights the focus of this blog- a daily morning shot of the latest education news and reform. It covers headlines and politics as it relates to education and is updated frequently.44. Successful SchoolsScott Taylor is an assistant superintendent and professor at the University level. His blog is listed on Edudemic’s website as one of the top education blogs that you should follow. His casual conversational style is easy to read and still packs a powerful and profound punch.45. Joanne JacobsJoanne Jacobs, writer and educator, writes a blog about education in general. A diverse range of topics are covered.46. Campaign K-12A blog focusing on education and politics. Current posts center around the campaign trail leading up to the US election in November, and how it relates to education policy.47. Stories From SchoolStories from School was labeled as one of the best educational blogs of 2010. It focuses on real life examples and stories of teachers and how they are impacted by the latest educational policy changes.Learning Techniques48. Thank You BrainThis blog focuses on ways to improve your ability to memorize. Dr. Bill Klemm is a neuroscientist, education consultant, and professor who chronicles some of his research on this personal blog.49. Cerebral Hacks – EducationCerebral Hacks is a blog about the brain and how it functions. It has a section dedicated to learning and education that educators should check out.50. 2¢ WorthDavid Warlick cleverly writes his “2 cents” worth of education strategy, measuring success, and how to learn. He admits that often his posts spark more questions than answers.Source: 52 Education Blogs You Should Follow

It is widely accepted that the most fundamental component to successful marketing is knowing the target audience, including what channels would be best used to reach them, their socio-economic status as well as their needs and desires. Being aware of these important factors allows marketing managers to develop marketing strategies that deliver targeted messages through appropriate channels to effectively brand a product or service such that it appeals to the target market and increases the company’s market share. Companies hire market research analysts to gather data, interpret feedback and advise on ways to successfully apply research findings. Even the best creative in the world has little effect if it isn’t put in front of the right audience.Market Research vs. Marketing ResearchAmong experts, market research is differentiated from marketing research, although the two are closely related and go hand in hand in completing the entire picture with regard to market accessibility and product marketability. Market research is the process by which analysts determine the products and services that consumers in a given market are interested in. Marketing research, on the other hand, is the process by which analysts determine how best to market and sell these products and services by determining the most effective marketing strategies and isolating the best marketing channels for reaching the target market.The Market Research ProcessMarket research analysts are the information gurus of the business world whose primary role is to bridge the gap between commercial ambitions and consumer demand. This is no simply task. The first step is to determine the main objective of conducting research- what exactly is the client company trying to learn about consumers?Once a research goal has been established, market research analysts devise a strategy to collect data that reveals target market opinion. Some popular tools used to extract this information include surveys, polls, interviews and questionnaires. Much of this research is conducted online since the Internet tends to generate faster responses drawn from a vast number of participants.After market research analysts have executed their research approach they will analyze, evaluate and interpret results and report their conclusions. These findings are then presented to the client company’s marketing director so decisions can be made about future sales, distribution and promotion tactics. Companies may also make deductions based on research to predict changing trends in the market and devise ways to adapt to them. It is at this stage that businesses receive answers to the questions they had originally posed, such as:Does this product have public appeal?How much will consumers pay for this product?What should be the target demographic for this product?Does this product design attract customers?Which companies present the most competition for this product?EducationThe most common way to start a career in market research is through formal education. According to the United States Department of Labor, 71% of professionals in the field hold a bachelor’s degree, 25% hold a master’s degree and 4% hold a doctoral or professional degree. Many market research analysts often have a strong academic background in marketing and market research, but many hold degrees in business administration, liberal arts, statistics, qualitative research, computer science, social sciences and communication. There are several other closely related degrees that can similarly prepare students for a career in the field. For example, colleges and universities may also offer associate, bachelor, master and doctorate degree programs in survey research, predictive analytics, survey statistics, survey methodology, survey design, data analysis, and qualitative methods.Schools that provide market research education often design course content that covers the fundamental principles of the industry as outlined by the Marketing Research Association (MRA):Marketing BasicsPlanning the Research ProcessResearch DesignSamplingWeb Survey ResearchData Delivery MethodsResearch ManagementCommunicating Research ResultsData AnalysisData Collection SkillsMeasurement InstrumentsCertificationOne of the best ways for market research analysts to prove their skill and competency is to sit for the Marketing Research Association (MRA) exam, which results in the Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) credential. The MRA understands that not all market researchers have the same amount of education and experience, and offers three different types of professional certification to reflect these differences.Market research analysts can apply for certification as research providers, corporate researchers or research adjuncts. Within these categories, professionals can then indicate their level of occupational comprehension by choosing to be certified as either a practitioner or expert. In general, those with between three and five years of experience are eligible for the practitioner’s certification while those with more than five years of experience can qualify for the expert’s certification.Job OutlookOne of the many benefits of developing a career in market research is the current employment growth trend for this industry. In fact, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that between 2008 and 2018 market research analyst can expect to see a 28% spike in employment opportunities throughout the country. This increase equates to at least 70,100 more jobs.Industries of EmploymentThe United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (US BLS) reports that as of May 2010 there were 261,780 market research analysts and marketing specialists employed nationwide. Here, employment statistics are often expressed in terms of industry-specific figures. For example, the industries with the highest levels of employment were:Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (29,380)Management of Companies and Enterprises (22,720)Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (13,840)Computer Systems Design and Related Services (12,140)Insurance Carriers (10,200)Employment opportunities for market research analysts vary across geographic locations because states have individual qualities concerning economic conditions, populations, political climates and public demand for services. Therefore, professionals with the flexibility to relocate for a position may benefit from increases in career opportunities. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the states with the highest employment levels for market research analyst are:California (40,390)New York (26,700)Texas (16,090)Pennsylvania (15,070)Illinois (12,890)On the other hand, the states with the lowest employment levels include:Montana (340)Maine (310)Wyoming (270)South Dakota (220)Alaska (200)SalaryThe United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that market research analysts can expect an average annual wage of $32.14/hr. or an annual average salary of $66,850/yr. Professional that show a strong dedication to continued education by receiving additional training, gaining technical skills and earning advanced degrees are more likely to advance their careers by qualifying for job promotions which may include salary increases.Salaries may differ depending on the industry of employment. The highest paying industries of 2010 were:Personal Care Services ($113,920/yr.)Aerospace Products and Parts Manufacturing ($93,850/yr.)Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing ($92,560/yr.)Federal Executive Branch ($91,660/yr.)Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing ($90,650/yr.)Like employment rates, salary expectations also contrast according to geographic location. For example, the top states for 2010 include:Oregon ($82,290/yr.)Washington ($79,970/yr.)Delaware ($77,780/yr.)District of Columbia ($75,020/yr.)California ($74,300/yr.)Professional AssociationsThere are many factors that can separate market research analysts from one another such as salary and wage earnings, industries of employment, job titles and responsibilities, areas of specialization, geographic locations, job competition, level of education and experience. Participation and membership in a professional association is a great solution to feelings of occupational isolation, and can serve as the common ground for all market research professionals.Organizations like the Marketing Research Association, the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASTRO) and the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA) were all created to establish a space where market research analysts could “shake hands” with their professional colleagues. Here collaboration, not competition, is the primary focus.Professional associations give market research analysts the unique opportunity to exchange ideas, gain insight into industry news and trends, partake in discussion boards, plan and attend trade events, and post and apply for jobs. But above all, professional associations are designed to encourage occupational development and growth through the unifying force of shared learning experiences. Continuing education often comes in many forms including, but not limited to, formal course offerings, academic publications and materials, conferences, lectures and seminars.Top Market Research FirmsMany marketing research analysts are hired by marketing firms. These firms exist primarily because they allow companies to consult with and receive services from marketing research analysts without having to spend the time and money needed to create an entire internal department dedicated to marketing and market research analysis.According to the Honomichl Top 50 list, the ten highest-ranked market research firms in the United States for 2010 included the following:Nielsen Co.KantarIMS Health Inc.Symphony IRI GroupWebstat Inc.Arbitron Inc.IpsosGfK USANPD Group Inc.ICF International Inc.