Financial aid applications are available for completion as of January 1, 2011. As you enjoy time off with friends and family during the holiday break take a few minutes to gather the documents you'll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile (an additional form required for institutional aid from some private colleges only). The links at the bottom of this post include a list of documents we'll need to help you fill out these forms as accurately as possible. Take a peek, have a conversation with your folks and come see GEAR UP as soon as you return from break to schedule an appointment. If you and or your parent(s) cannot find your tax returns from last year make a call to the people that filed your taxes and request a copy. Institutions with February deadlines know you will be estimating, better to make an educated guess than miss a deadline and thousands of dollars in aid. Fear not, we are here to help you and your families through this process. As long as you bring the documents we'll get you squared away. If you have extenuating circumstances and are unsure of which adult is required to submit information stop by GEAR UP and we'll figure it out. We'll be here to file appeals, help with verification, and interpret your award letters. Enjoy your holidays everyone!Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Financial Aid Season
Financial aid applications are available for completion as of January 1, 2011. As you enjoy time off with friends and family during the holiday break take a few minutes to gather the documents you'll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile (an additional form required for institutional aid from some private colleges only). The links at the bottom of this post include a list of documents we'll need to help you fill out these forms as accurately as possible. Take a peek, have a conversation with your folks and come see GEAR UP as soon as you return from break to schedule an appointment. If you and or your parent(s) cannot find your tax returns from last year make a call to the people that filed your taxes and request a copy. Institutions with February deadlines know you will be estimating, better to make an educated guess than miss a deadline and thousands of dollars in aid. Fear not, we are here to help you and your families through this process. As long as you bring the documents we'll get you squared away. If you have extenuating circumstances and are unsure of which adult is required to submit information stop by GEAR UP and we'll figure it out. We'll be here to file appeals, help with verification, and interpret your award letters. Enjoy your holidays everyone!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Final Push for Seniors
It's already mid-December! If you are a senior and have not submitted your applications the time to act is now. Gather your recommendations, essays, and anything else the schools you are applying to require. Make an appointment with your guidance counselor and get the applications in the mail. Over the holiday break you can dig out 2010 tax returns for you and your parents and save your last pay stubs from December. We'll start helping students with their FAFSA and CSS Profiles after the break. If you are anxious about the process stop in and see your GEAR UP counselor for a list of documents you may need. If you are a foster student, have a legal guardian, or have a non-traditional living arrangement come up and have a chat with us so we can let you know which items you will or will not be required to produce. Good luck everyone!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
December’s Career of the Month is Biotechnology
Biotechnology refers to the use of living organisms or their products to modify human health and the human environment.
Biotechnology has been around since prehistoric times. The discovery that milk could be converted into cheese and yogurt and that humans could plant their own crops and breed their own animals are just a few examples of biotechnology in action. You might picture a scientist in a white lab coat developing drugs for depression or cancer when you think of this career. You would be right but there are SO many additional career opportunities in the field of biotechnology and here are a few more examples:
• Environmental biotechnology products make it possible to clean up hazardous waste more efficiently by harnessing pollution-eating microbes without the use of caustic chemicals.
• Industrial biotechnology applications have led to cleaner processes that produce less waste and use less energy and water in such industrial sectors as chemicals, pulp and paper, textiles, food, energy, and metals and minerals. For example, most laundry detergents produced in the United States contain biotechnology-based enzymes.
• DNA fingerprinting, a biotech process, has dramatically improved criminal investigation and forensic medicine, as well as afforded significant advances in anthropology and wildlife management.
Additionally, there are career opportunities that range from sales and marketing to research development to manufacturing and quality control. This is a field that is constantly growing; the number of employees in this field has increased by more than 90% over the last ten years!
Education and training requirements vary greatly depending on the type of position and the industry sector. This degree will require a substantial background interest in math and science. The education needed for specific positions varies from an Associate’s degree all the way to a Doctoral degree. While many positions require a 4 year (Bachelors degree,) a significant number of positions now require a two year degree or less.
Check out the Associate’s degree program in Biotechnology at Mount Wachusett Community College for an example of how to get started and which courses you will have to take in college. www.mwcc.edu
Biotechnology refers to the use of living organisms or their products to modify human health and the human environment.
Biotechnology has been around since prehistoric times. The discovery that milk could be converted into cheese and yogurt and that humans could plant their own crops and breed their own animals are just a few examples of biotechnology in action. You might picture a scientist in a white lab coat developing drugs for depression or cancer when you think of this career. You would be right but there are SO many additional career opportunities in the field of biotechnology and here are a few more examples:
• Environmental biotechnology products make it possible to clean up hazardous waste more efficiently by harnessing pollution-eating microbes without the use of caustic chemicals.
• Industrial biotechnology applications have led to cleaner processes that produce less waste and use less energy and water in such industrial sectors as chemicals, pulp and paper, textiles, food, energy, and metals and minerals. For example, most laundry detergents produced in the United States contain biotechnology-based enzymes.
• DNA fingerprinting, a biotech process, has dramatically improved criminal investigation and forensic medicine, as well as afforded significant advances in anthropology and wildlife management.
Additionally, there are career opportunities that range from sales and marketing to research development to manufacturing and quality control. This is a field that is constantly growing; the number of employees in this field has increased by more than 90% over the last ten years!
Education and training requirements vary greatly depending on the type of position and the industry sector. This degree will require a substantial background interest in math and science. The education needed for specific positions varies from an Associate’s degree all the way to a Doctoral degree. While many positions require a 4 year (Bachelors degree,) a significant number of positions now require a two year degree or less.
Check out the Associate’s degree program in Biotechnology at Mount Wachusett Community College for an example of how to get started and which courses you will have to take in college. www.mwcc.edu
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