EDUCATION
SPECIAL SECTION:
installing or repairing wires and other electrical components
interests you, this career might be electrifying.
• Plumber – You’ll need your high school diploma and an
apprenticeship to become a plumber. Once you are licensed,
you can start to work, but you’re sure to need some physical
strength to take on this job.
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer – After obtaining an
associate degree, sonographers go on to prep patients for
procedures, review and process images for physicians, and
administer ultrasounds. You’ll also be responsible for operating
imaging equipment.
• Elevator Installer – A career with high earning potential,
elevator installers repair and maintain elevators, escalators,
moving walkways, and lifts. A high school diploma and
apprenticeship is required for this role, so if you’re good with
power tools, this job might be a lift up for you.
past the old stigma of choosing a trade school over college. Here are
a few of the best trades or vocations available.
• Air Traffic Controller – With a few years of intense training and
a certification by the FAA, air traffic controllers are highly sought
after. Individuals must have the ability to concentrate, organize
flight plans, inspect radio equipment, and are required to be
constantly vigilant to successfully execute their job duties.
• Radiation Therapist – An associate degree is required to land
a job as a radiation therapist, along with a licensure to practice.
If you’re interested in caring for other people, this job requires
administering radiation for cancer treatments.
• Dental Hygienist – Smile! Your career could be in making teeth
brighter. Dental hygienists work to clean teeth, take x-rays, and
educate patients on oral health. They are also ranked among the
most satisfied workers. You’ll need an associate degree to pursue
this career.
• Electrician – Training to become an electrician takes about as
long as it takes to get a bachelor’s degree and a license, but this
job training pays for itself along the way. If reading blueprints and
TYPES OF COLLEGE LOANS
Getting into college is one of the most exciting times of a
student’s life and is the first step in shaping his/her career. Many
colleges and universities offer a myriad of grants or scholarships
to assist with paying for post-secondary school, but often these
are not enough. Student loans provide financial assistance for
students to cover the costs associated with attending a college
or career school, including tuition, supplies, books, and living
expenses. There are several types of loans available including
need-based, non-need-based, state, and private.
Need-based loans are provided to students who are unable to
pay the amount needed to cover all costs to attend college. Need
is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA), which can be completed online, as the name suggests,
for free! Need-based loans are available as a Federal Perkins Loan,
awarded to students with the highest need, or a Federal Direct
Subsidized Loan, provided interest-free while in college.
If FAFSA determines that a student is ineligible for a need-
based loan, non-need-based loan options are available as a
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan or Federal Direct PLUS
Loan. Unsubsidized loans allow the borrower to add interest
to the total amount borrowed after graduation, but beware, as
this leads to owing even more money when it comes time to
start paying off the loan. Direct PLUS Loans provide graduate
students or parents the opportunity to borrow the total cost of
attending college, minus other financial aid received.
Unlike the loans mentioned above that are sponsored by
the federal government, state and private loans are sponsored
by banks, colleges, foundations, and state agencies. The U.S.
Department of Education manages all college loans available
by state and requires students to be in-state residents or
enrolled in a college in that state. Private loans are an option for
borrowers but come with terms and conditions that may not be
as favorable as federal loans. Private loans also require a cosigner
who is responsible for repaying the money if the student fails to
do so.
MANAGING DEBT POST-COLLEGE
Student loan debt continues to increase and has become a
burden on both graduates and the U.S. economy. There are a
variety of loan repayment options for students. Here are some
tips on how to approach repayment.
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WOODLAND HILLS
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