My white-chocolate pumpkin cheesecake recipe is ready to be whipped out and put the sweet finishing note on holiday diners. That's what I've been talking about in conversations with my family and friends since the Halloween costumes were put away - Thanksgiving potlucks and holiday dinners and parties.

One of my 30-something friends would love to become a personal chef, and she displays a natural talent in the kitchen, creating the most difficult Martha-esque recipes quickly, while mine are disasters. So it's amazing to learn about the types of culinary training available for her and others pursuing that goal in the growing field.

Look at the backgrounds of celebrity chefs and restaurant owners in major cities competing on popular shows such as "Top Chef," and you'll find an array of education experience.

One of my "Top Chef: Las Vegas" favorites, restaurateur Kevin Gillespie of Atlanta, cooked part-time at eateries while attending the Art Institute of Atlanta.

The stars of Food Network also demonstrate different paths to a culinary career. Bobby Flay attended the French Culinary Institute while Giada De Laurentis earned a degree in anthropology from the University of California in Los Angeles before focusing on food and training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, as did Sandra Lee.

The entertaining Guy Fieri route's was a bachelor's degree in hospitality management from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, then working in and owning restaurants before being named "The Next Food Network Star" a while back. Iron Chefs Cat Cora and Michael Symon are graduates of The Culinary Institute of America.

You could leave those schools with associate and bachelor's degrees as well as the in-depth instruction and hands-on experience that will propel you to succeed in your next kitchen, whether it's in the glare of the TV cameras or delighting small groups of diners every night.

Article by, Lori Johnston and courtesy of CollegeSurfing Insider.

Posted by Candice Arnold on November 25, 2009 at 8:21 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

The October edition of the Carnival of College Admissions, hosted by CollegeTreasure.com, came and went without my even realizing it. My bad. These monthly blog roundups are packed with information for college students and recent graduates to use in their quests for the best colleges or universities, internships or entry level jobs.

Articles are submitted by a variety of bloggers like Brady Norvall of MyUsearch blog, Dawn Papandrea of CollegeSurfing Insider and Mark Montgomery of Great College Advice, to name a few.

Choosing a school, a major, an internship, or finding the right entry level job doesn't have to be overwhelming. Monthly gatherings like the Carnival of College Admissions put all the information any student or job seeker could ever need just one click away.

Posted by Candice Arnold on November 20, 2009 at 10:52 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

College provides cutting-edge nanotech education and training to students
in meeting the shifting needs of the American workforce

Dakota County Technical College (DCTC), in Rosemount, Minn., will serve as the inaugural pilot site of the NanoProfessor NanoScience Education Program, which will provide students with a curriculum written by nanotechnology experts covering the areas of Nanotechnology Basics, NanoPhysics, NanoChemistry, and NanoBiology.

By implementing the NanoProfessor Program in the 2010 academic year, DCTC has taken an important step toward offering students an education in nanoscience.

"Our mission at Dakota County Technical College is to provide our students with education and training that prepares them to compete in the rapidly-changing marketplace," said Ronald E. Thomas, president of Dakota County Technical College, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. "We recognize the importance of nanoscience education, its many applications, and the advantage that the NanoProfessor Program will provide our students in preparation for future jobs in all areas of nanoscience."

"Students enrolled in our nanotechnology program at DCTC will benefit from the NanoProfessor's curriculum, which is focused on concrete applications of nanotechnology. The suite of equipment also allows the concepts of nanotechnology such as molecular interactions to be explained and studied through hands-on experience rather than just charts and simulations," said Deb Newberry, director of the nanoscience technology program at DCTC. "The addition of the NanoProfessor Program will help us provide our students with an unmatched education, giving them the skills and knowledge to find employment in companies that are applying nanotechnology to product development, testing, research, and manufacturing design."

"Dakota County Technical College is at the forefront of innovation in education," said Dean Hart, executive vice president of NanoInk.

According to Career Voyages, a Web site collaboration of the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Education, careers in nanotechnology are second only to biotechnology in terms of current and future demand for skilled workers. For students, knowing about these emerging industries can help them choose educational and career paths that will keep them on the cutting edge of this rapidly growing profession.

Students participating in the NanoProfessor Program at DCTC will use interdisciplinary-focused experiments to quickly and easily begin working at the nanoscale level. These skills can be applied to careers in virtually every industry using nanotechnology to enhance everyday products like printers, automobiles, cosmetics and sports equipment; new advancements are being made in medicine and energy, too.

The NanoProfessor Nanoscience Education Program aims to advance the field of nanoscience and address the growing need for skilled workforce of nanotechnologists. The program utilizes NanoInk's state-of-the-art NLP 2000 Desktop Nanofabrication System to provide students an interdisciplinary-focused, hands-on approach to quickly and easily build custom-engineered, nanoscale structures in a classroom setting. The NanoProfessor Program, including equipment and an expert-driven curriculum, is available for community colleges, technical schools, high schools and universities nationwide. More information is available at www.NanoProfessor.net.

Posted by Candice Arnold on November 20, 2009 at 10:39 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

College, Careers, and the New Economy

Recent economic changes have prompted the editors of The Big Book of College Majors and Viable Jobs Matrices1 to issue their twelfth edition. The new book cross references college majors and minors and predicts the resulting job prospects in light of the recent changes on Wall Street and the uncertainty that comes with a new administration in Washington.

This is a "must read" for all college-bound students. Before you decide your college major, I recommend you read the newest edition. Here are a few excerpts to get your mental juices flowing while you prepare for what is really important in getting a decent job after college...Greek Rush Week.

Major: Nursing. Minor: Bioenvironmental Engineering.

Skill: The ability to create health-inducing surroundings especially in hospitals.

Job Outlook: Hospital gift shop clerk. You'll spend your days recommending the prefect flower arrangement based on the patient's diagnosis. Doctors will begin to question your interference when you start making weekly visits to the ICU to reassess the Feng Shui of the ward. Ultimately, you are fired for pilfering hand sanitizer from the gift shop. Continue reading ...

Article by, the Barefoot and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Posted by Candice Arnold on November 18, 2009 at 6:46 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

OK, maybe college was never uncool. But in this recession, college attendance among young adults is the highest it's ever been. Ever.

Here's proof: In October 2008, close to 40 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds were enrolled in college, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of newly released data from the Census Bureau. That translates into almost 11.5 million young adults in higher ed.

Of course, a majority of the college enrollment growth has come at community colleges, where enrollment tends to rise as the economy worsens. After all, who can afford a pricey private college education when community college offers a good education for a fraction of the cost?

But it's not all about money. Even though the most growth has been seen at community colleges, enrollment at four-year colleges has remained steady despite annual tuition increases that outpace inflation.

So why is everyone flocking to college? In a downturned economy, going to college can seem counterintuitive - who can afford tuition when they can't find a decent paying job? But the adage "you have to give something to get something" might put the situation into perspective.

During this recession, the national unemployment rate has been at its highest level in more than 25 years. We're all feeling it, but many young adults are bearing the brunt of the strain. Just 46 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds were employed in September 2009, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's the lowest percentage since 1948, when the government began collecting this kind of data.

Recession Redemption

The choice for college speaks volumes about the anticipated and proven outcomes of a college education. If young adults can't find work now, and therefore decide to go to college, they must be doing so because they believe education will help them get a job. And not just any job - college education translates into higher positions and salaries than high school diplomas do.

When you think about it, the data paints a picture of hope. Instead of bemoaning the current financial situation, young adults are taking their future into their own hands by pursuing higher education. They've determined that their lives can be better than what they know today, and they're turning that possibility into reality.

So maybe the recession hasn't been a total loss. If it has motivated people to do something good for themselves - something that might have otherwise escaped their list of priorities - the economy might just be redeemable after all.

What about you - have you been able to redeem the recession? It's evident that young people view college as a worthwhile investment. Have you thought about the benefits of pursuing higher education, especially in tough economic times?

The fact is that whether you're out of work, in need of a promotion, or ready for a career change, choosing college is always a smart move. Is the recession what it will take for you to make a change? If so, take advantage of the opportunity to make a better life for yourself. Education can always take you where you want to go.

Article by, Robyn Tellefsen and courtesy of CollegeSurfing Insider.

Posted by Candice Arnold on November 17, 2009 at 3:19 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Here's some encouraging news out of my home state of Georgia: Record numbers of students are enrolling in technical colleges, inspired to try new career fields and seeking to quickly gain the knowledge needed to land those jobs.

Data from the Technical College System of Georgia shows a 24 percent increase in 2009 enrollment compared to 2008, with 110,254 students in the state's 28 technical colleges. The previous record: 91,838 students, in 2003.

Officials say the enrollment increase is due to the downturn in the economy. The education provided by technical schools can provide marketable skills that open doors to jobs in high-demand fields such as healthcare, business and office technologies, and computer information systems.

You can gain that knowledge faster than at traditional four-year colleges and universities. In Georgia, its 600 certificate, diploma, and degree programs can be completed in six months to two years, depending on the program. That's much like other areas of the county, and the costs are low ($2,100 is the annual tuition and fee average in Georgia).

And the interesting thing is that technical colleges have a diversity of ages among the students enrolled. The schools in Georgia are seeing an increase in students under 21, with recent high school graduates joining experienced workers in the classrooms. Having that diversity of ages in programs is beneficial to everyone, preparing you for a multi-generational workplace.

You may be among those who have lost jobs or are just ready for a different career path, and technical colleges are an affordable route worth considering.

Article by, Lori Johnston and courtesy of CollegeSurfing Insider.

Posted by Candice Arnold on November 10, 2009 at 10:41 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Whether or not you enjoy a good scare, have you ever wondered what exactly makes horror novelists, screenwriters, and directors tick? Call them deranged, call them genius, but definitely call them college educated -- which means that your favorite horror flick might just have been inspired by an eerie encounter these creep inducers had on campus.

Check out our top 20 list of horror novelists, screenwriters, and directors (including two dynamic duos) and the classics with which they found their fame and fortune. Then see where these masters of the macabre matriculated -- maybe you're heading there yourself, if you dare. Continue reading ...

Article by, Barbara Bellesi and courtesy of CollegeSurfing Insider.

Posted by Candice Arnold on November 9, 2009 at 12:36 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

While health care reform is grabbing headlines, health care is one of the more secure job sectors. Some professionals in hospitals and physicians offices are seizing the moment to earn degrees. If you're a registered nurse, you may be considering a bachelor's in nursing, which could lead to promotions or higher-paying jobs. You also could teach future nurses.

And there are plenty of choices for nurses, with more than 700 nursing programs offering degrees at the bachelor's level, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some are available online. You'll join a growing number of students - 145,845 as of 2008 - enrolling in baccalaureate nursing programs, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Here are three questions to ask when considering a nursing degree.

1. What additional skills will I acquire with my BSN?

Students can learn the skills to work in a range of clinical settings and provide comprehensive nursing care to patients and their families. Expect to gain knowledge to make decisions quickly in health care settings, collaborate with other professionals on issues of health and wellness, and develop management skills. Officials at Jacksonville University (FL) also report that a BSN degree can be beneficial for those seeking to enter into high-demand fields such as critical care, cardiology, dermatology, ob/gyn, and oncology.

2. How will earning a BSN impact my career?

It can. Jacksonville University, which offers one of the online bachelor's of nursing programs, reports that the degree enables nurses to move from the technical level to a professional practice. It cites a 2007 earning survey in RN magazine that found salaries are increased from 50 cents an hour to $3.20 an hour. A nurse with a BSN also could receive a specialty pay differential, the university says.

3. Is a career in teaching possible?

There is a great need for nursing teachers. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing found 32,617 qualified applicants in 2008 were not accepted due to factors including the shortage of teachers. The association's CEO and Executive Director, Geraldine "Polly" Bednash, says: "Increasing enrollment in baccalaureate nursing programs is a critical first step to correcting an imbalance in the nursing student population and reversing our nation's diminishing supply of nurse educators."

In short, there are many career roads for those with a BSN. Which one will you take?

Article by, Lori Johnston and courtesy of CollegeSurfing Insider.

Posted by Candice Arnold on November 9, 2009 at 10:28 AM | Leave a Comment (0)