Drug Addiction Bad And The Bone - 1247 Words

Drug Addiction: Bad to the Bone The world, holistically, has faced many dilemmas. One that has plagued society for centuries is drug addiction. One might feel as if they’re too wise, too dominant, too up to speed to become addicted to drugs however addiction can lure anyone. Drug addiction has been an obstacle that has been a quandary for the nation, and people must be informed about. This includes the different addictive drugs and how they affect society. According to webmd.com, the definition of drug addiction â€Å"is a chronic, often relapsing, brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use wherein the user has no effective choice but to continue.† (webmd, 2014). Dating back to the 19th century, Americans first discovered drugs†¦show more content†¦Nicotine as a medical product is utilized to avail in smoking urges. Some of the products used are nicotine gum, nicotine lozenge, nicotine patch and the nicotine inhaler. Using a modicum, avails reduc e nicotine withdrawal symptoms when a person quits smoking. Marijuana also known as Cannabis is a mixture of dried and crumbled leaves including the stem that derives from the plant itself. This mixture colors consist of brown, green and gray. According to teens.drugabuse.gov, there are various street names for marijuana that vary from city to city and neighborhood. These common names are:â€Å" Pot, Grass, Herb, Weed, Mary Jane, Reefer, Skunk, Boom, Gangster, Kief, Chronic, and Ganja.† (Marijuana. NIDA for Teens, 2014.) Marijuana is generally utilized by smoking it loosely. Every so often it is smoked through a water pipe. Others smoke blunts filled with the drug and some users brew it as tea or commix it with food. Cocaine is an addictive drug extracted from coca. Cocaine appears in two state of being, powder cocaine and crack. Powder cocaine is a white powder made from the leaf of the coca plant. Street dealers’ generally commix cocaine with other substances that include cornstarch, talcum powder, or sugar. They also mix cocaine with active drugs that can be found in local anesthesia. Crack occurs in the form of minuscule white rocks that are smokeable. It obtains its name from the cracking sound that rocks make when it is heated. â€Å"Cocaine is generally

Project Planning And Time Management - 1389 Words

Project Plan 1. Introduction Among the major factors involved in the successful completion of a PhD programme are project planning and time management. Therefore, defining and clarifying the scope and objectives of a project and breaking down the work into tasks and subtasks are crucial in order to achieve the set objectives, assess the projected timing and duration and prioritise key tasks with regard to importance and urgency. Frequent monitoring of progress against the plan constitute an essential part of the project review (assessment) process and are essential in order to ensure that the project is progressing successfully [1]. The attached Excel Gantt chart spreadsheet (the template sourced from [2]) represents the project plan for the first year of my PhD programme in the Computer Science department at Aston University, which began in May 2014. The plan was constructed based on the principles of project management (planning, performing of tasks, monitoring, and completion). The following sections present a synopsis of the research project and a discussion of how the specified tasks and subtasks can be achieved. 2. Synopsis of Research Project and Overall Aims The research project aims to produce a Decision Support System (DSS) for predicting potential outcomes using fuzzy methods. The system will be tested on the domain of predicting water pipe condition, which uses input data that comes mostly from measurements. The overall goal is to explore how differentShow MoreRelatedEssay on Construction Project Management and Business Management925 Words   |  4 PagesConstruction Project Management and Business Management Over the past few years, the construction industry has been changing dramatically. One of the most important stages in the construction management and business management is the planning phase. They share similar two main levels of planning which are the strategic and operational planning. However, business management planning to decide in advance what should be done, and how to do it, when you do and you are done. On the other hand, ConstructionRead MoreOrganization Planning, Project Management, and Information Technology1319 Words   |  6 PagesApplication: Organization Planning, Project Management, and Information Technology The successful implementation and subsequent meaningful use of information technology solutions within a health care organization is a challenging and iterative process. The organization must engage in careful and ongoing strategic and tactical planning to ensure that the implemented technology will ultimately be effective and beneficial for its practitioners, staff, and patients. To prepare for this ApplicationRead MoreThe Importance Of A Project Manager On A Construction Site1052 Words   |  5 PagesPart 1. Investigation A project is one which has a start and end to it but for a project to start there is lot of planning is done much before the actual project is started, the project manager is the one who has everything on his shoulders from start to end and even after the end if further assistance is required to the client. There are basically ten things that a project manager on a construction site has to take care of, planning the work, hiring and firing of employers, supervising the workRead MoreProject Management And The Major Areas Of Projects Management1619 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Project Management and the major areas of project management, let see actually what is a project? A project is defined as â€Å"â€Å"a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result† (Schwalbe, 2014). Projects involve different operations like the project is terminated when the scope and objective of the project are met. According to an IT project or any kind of project it involves number of persons or a team or an individual in order to complete the mission. A project canRead MoreProject Management Tools And Techniques1203 Words   |  5 Pages Project Management Tools and Techniques Stephanie Czechowicz MSc Project Managment Anglia Ruskin University 05/01/2016 Project Management Tools and Techniques A number of techniques are used by the project managers for the success of a project. Any activity or a task that needs some preparation for achieving goals can be done better by the use of methods of project management (chapman, 2002). These methods can help the managers in planning and management of different sort of tasks, especiallyRead MoreEssay: the Importance of Planning Project Boundaries1707 Words   |  7 PagesEssay: The Importance of Planning Project Boundaries By: Camila Ferrari - 09175130 1 - Introduction: â€Å"Project management is a series of activities embodied in a process of getting things done† (Cleland, 2007, p.51). What stages would be involved on defining the ‘series of activities’ and what needs to be ‘done’? Would a complete definition of the project and its boundaries be directly linked to the project success? This essay will critically analyze the following statement: â€Å"The FirstRead MoreSoftware Project Management Quiz Questions1182 Words   |  5 Pages | ____ 2. ____ processes include defining and authorizing a project or project phase. |a. |Monitoring and controlling |c. |Executing | |b. |Planning |d. |Initiating | ____ 3. The Project Communications Management knowledge area maps to the ____ process group through the activity of information distributionRead MoreProject Management Life Cycle Description Essay1295 Words   |  6 Pagesthe project team will utilize the project management life cycle to ensure the projects forward movement. This cycle promotes an organized manner in which to keep the project within the time scope, budget scopes, and facilitates fluid processes to harness risks and make appropriate decisions based on research, analysis, and proper process usage. This cycle includes five phases: initiating the project, planning the project, executing the plan, monitoring and controlling aspects of the project, andRead MoreProject Management : Project Planning Fundamentals1213 Words   |  5 PagesThese have brought very effective changes to project management.project management includes implementing,controlling,goals and identifying tasks which are to be achieved.the concept of the project and project management involves project evaluation,project selection,project planning fundamentals.project cost control and scheduling of a project in critical methom(cpm) which are crucial to technology-intensive organizations which have been discussed.a project is a sequence structure that are connectedRead MoreProject Management Principles Of A Project Manager Essay1319 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Construction projects have always been a very important part of human civilisation. For handling a construction project there need men, money, machinery, material and management. The project would be successful when the project manager has these five variables under control. The key to project success is to pick the right project manager. A right project manager is the person who manages the triple constraints (cost, quality and time), scope and safety for the project to be planned in a correct

The Cost Of Higher Education Essay - 1296 Words

Karla Fiscal-Zatarain Communications M01 Ben Bates 28 July 2015 The Cost of Higher Education General Purpose: To persuade. Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience that the cost of a higher education is too high and should be lowered to a much reasonable price. Central Idea: The cost to attend universities has skyrocketed over the past few decades and because of this, many students have chosen to skip out or put it off because they simply can’t afford it. Introduction: Attention Getter: On November 18, 2011, students from the University of California, Davis gathered around in silent protest in the universities’ quad. They were peaceful. Yes they broke a few rules - nothing big though. Yet police wouldn t have it and they wanted them out. After refusing the police s requests to remove themselves from the quad, the students were pepper sprayed in front of everybody for everyone to watch and record. Videos like the one I just showed you surfaced across the web and on news broadcasts around the country. What exactly were these students protesting? The increase of tuition in universities nationwide. Introduce Topic: It seems that dream of continuing on to a higher education is getting harder and harder to achieve right after high school because it s getting much more difficult to afford. With an average cost of about $19,000 - $23,000 - per year - according to Trends in Higher Education published onto College Board, last updated in 2015, students find themselves takingShow MoreRelatedThe Cost of Higher Education754 Words   |  3 Pages For most high school seniors the cost of higher education may be a daily or at least. It is an even a concern in that a group of students, who all share a common, concern, around the same age, but with no reliable income. Each one is making a huge investment in their future, but in majority of cases adding more and more debt to their lifestyles. Though majority of students receive financial aid, the amount of debt which tuition builds is beyond stressing. For some students relying on their familyRead MoreThe Cost Of A Higher Education958 Words   |  4 PagesAll through life, most children are told that getting a higher education is the only way to have a successful life. Each year the cost of college rises, with that the total student debt rises as more students take out loans to help pay for his or her education. An astounding 1.2 trillion dollars is the United States student debt amount, and every year it continues to grow. (Investor’s Business, 2015, p. A14). According t o new reports, 27.3% of student loans are delinquent and that on average a student’sRead MoreThe Cost Of Higher Education1100 Words   |  5 PagesOver the past four decades, the costs of higher education has risen at a rate that surpasses the rate on inflation. Students, parents, and policymakers are concern about the rapid increase. The literature supports that there are multiple trends such as a decline in federal and state support as well as outdated policies and practices that have contributed to continued rise. Thelin (2015) analyzed Edwin Slosson’s 1910 anthology on Great American Universities, which provided data on fourteen prominentRead MoreThe Cost Of Higher Education898 Words   |  4 PagesThe cost of higher education College institutions offer a wide range of degrees and certificates, ranging from associate degrees to post-doctorates. A bachelors degree is another name for a 4-year degree, and such can be given in a wide variety of fields of study. According to the Digest of Education Statistics, during 2012 and 2013 more than 1,8 million bachelor degrees were conferred to college students in 34 different fields of study. So, prior to defining the cost of education, there is a needRead MoreHigher Education Costs And Education983 Words   |  4 Pages Higher Education Costs Education, there should be no class distinction. Education should be provided to all, irrespective of their economic, social or religious backgrounds. Education is defined as gaining knowledge which is funded by the government or charity organizations for awareness, charity, religious, or any other motives. It’s like an investment which helps to build the economy in the long run rather than a way of getting short-term inceptives from students.Read MoreThe Cost Of Higher Education2006 Words   |  9 PagesThe Cost of Higher Education Has Resulted in Extreme Student Loan Debt, How Do We Reverse This Cycle? During high school we are often told that higher education is essentially a precursor to achieving success in the workforce, meaning that your success is dependent upon earning a degree. We are also told that higher education is the key to â€Å"happiness† because it is clear that both a fulfilling and lucrative career is a direct representation of success. Sometimes parents, teachers, and guidance counselorsRead MoreThe Cost Of Higher Education Essay2074 Words   |  9 PagesHow to Combat the Cost of Rising Higher Education The cost of higher education is on the rise in the United States of America (USA). â€Å"Technology tends to unbundle stuff. Look how it’s unbundling television, or how it unbundled the music album. The college degree is a bundle that doesn’t work for everybody and creates unnatural market conditions, which is why college costs consistently rise faster than inflation.† (Newsweek) The cost of higher education tuition is skyrocketing throughout the USARead MoreThe Cost Of Higher Education Essay2115 Words   |  9 PagesThe cost of higher education is on the rise in the United States of America (USA). â€Å"Technology tends to unbundle stuff. Look how it’s unbundling television, or how it unbundled the music album. The college degree is a bundle that doesn’t work for everybody and creates unnatural market conditions, which is why college costs consistently rise faster than inflation.† (Newsweek) The cost of higher education tuition is skyrocke ting throughout the USA. Imagine being a lower class family, both you and yourRead MoreThe Cost Of Higher Education3697 Words   |  15 PagesThe cost of higher education is constantly rising and does not look to be stopping anytime soon. However, many individuals are concerned about the increasing cost and have little understanding as to why these costs are increasing despite the increasing revenue stream of many colleges and universities. Additionally, taking in consideration the current cost compared to the past 5 to 10 years is very important when addressing this issue. As the cost of a college degree increases it is becoming harderRead MoreRising Cost Of Higher Education1345 Words   |  6 PagesI have selected to write about the rising cost of higher education in the United States. In mass media we see discussions of how expensive it is for students to afford admission to a four-year college, student debt being higher than it ever has in previous years, and how these consequ ences make it difficult for graduating students to attain social mobility. As a student, it is within my best interest to discover the social factors that influence the cost of attaining a college degree. Many of my

Briefing note performance management free essay sample

Two purposes of performance management and their relationship to business objectives: Performance management drives employee behaviour to align with business goals and objectives. This alignment happens because job responsibilities and expectations are clear, resulting in increased individual and group productivity; and also better information is available to use for promotion decisions. Having a Performance management system in place will serve the following purposes; †¢Employee decision-making Appraisal information is used as a basis for pay increases, promotions, transfers etc. †¢Employee development Appraisal information is used to guide training, job experiences, mentoring and other developmental activities. Three components of performance management systems: There are several components of a successful performance management system. An effective performance management system is not a one-size-fits-all approach but will generally include the following components: Plan: Setting clear objectives and goals and establish performance standards. Monitor: Identifying key performance indicators and conducting accurate and regular performance appraisals/ reviews and rewarding performance effectively. Review: Regular and honest feedback through performance planning conversations and career development initiatives. The Relationship between motivation and performance management On a basic level people are motivated towards desired outcome such as congratulations from the manager for a job well done or to avoid an undesired outcome such as an argument with the boss about targets not been hit. ?There are extrinsic and intrinsic factors to how we as individuals channel our motivational energy. ?Getting people to ‘opt in’ as oppose to ‘opt out’ is an important part of communication in business. The ideas of Abraham Maslow have had considerable influence on management thinking since the late 1940’s. Maslow has a positive view of human nature; a belief in the individual’s potential for personal growth – what he called self-actualisation which is displayed in his pyramid of Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow suggested that needs only motivate people when they are unsatisfied. When applied to his hierarchy lower-order needs (basic physical needs, comfort, safety and security) have to be satisfied before higher order needs (self-esteem and personal growth) assert themselves. To apply these theories into the workplace you should make sure your workforce is getting its basic physical and safety needs (reasonable working conditions, job security etc. ) Applying Maslow’s model will mean employees are more likely to work towards company goals only when there is harmony with their own personal goals. MaslowHerzberg Fred Herzberg’s two factor theory is based on looking at the main factors which result in either satisfying or dissatisfying experiences at work. The assumption is that if the individual is satisfied in their work, this will mean good performance, or, at the very least a willingness to stay on the job. Factors leading to dissatisfaction were found to do with conditions of work – company policy and administration, technical supervision, salary, interpersonal relations and physical working conditions. Herzberg called these the hygiene or maintenance factors. These are necessary minimum for a healthy workplace – they make people come into work and stay there but, they don’t necessarily encourage people to be productive. It is the other factors, the ‘satisfiers’ or ‘motivators’ such as achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility, advancement, that encourage people to work harder. The link between motivation and performance seems to be an obvious one. If individuals are highly motivated, they will perform better. In turn better performance may well lead to a sense of achievement and result in greater motivation. Thus relationship between motivation and performance can be a mutually reinforcing one. Factors to be considered when managing different levels of performance: Many managers mistakenly spend most of their effort on trying to improve their low performing employees, believing that their high performers are low maintenance. The low maintenance belief is prolonged because high performing  employees are self-motivated individuals that need very little daily work direction. However the fact is that high performing employees do need a lot of attention to sustain their high level of performance. They need praise, recognition and collaboration. High performing employees are very skilled at working independently and will become frustrated if their manager give s them too much direction. These employees will seek guidance form their managers when they need assistance, they take ownership and pride, seek challenges and are bored quickly with mundane tasks; they need to feel valued by their manager and the company. As a manager you must make them feel like a business partner, not just an employee. Get them involved in goal setting, seek their advice from their area of expertise, give them exposure to higher management and other executives – all these things will show you value and trust them – in turn they will give you their loyalty. Plateaued Performers have the mind set of either not preparing or wanting to progress any further, they have petered out or are ready and willing to progress but are stuck in their current role due to other factors surrounding them. They are likely to be less enthusiastic, in a sales role they are likely to rely on existing relationships to drive sales, and they will appear to be ‘going through the motions’ with a sense of disengagement. Plateaued performers are experienced, valued employees who once, often recently performed at a higher level. However due to some unseen issue or closely held mind set, they are no longer reaching their potential. The likely outcome, if the problem goes untreated is that a once solid performer will find themselves plateaued stagnated in bit performance and professional development. Managing poor performance, whether related to capability or attendance, raises a number of different issues for employers and their HR professionals. Failure to perform or attend may be related to the following factors, which may or may not be connected and which may not be readily apparent such as lack of application or misconduct on behalf of the employee; lack of the required skills; and/or illness or disability. If poor performance is due to lack of application (unconnected to an underlying medical condition) or following the falsification of qualifications and  experience for the position that the employee holds or simply by a plain refusal to obey lawful orders, then it is appropriate to deal with the matter under normal disciplinary procedures for misconduct. However, the disciplinary procedure may not be appropriate when dealing with employees who are failing through no fault of their own. Where the failure to perform is due to a lack of the required skills, following say a reorganisation or where an employee has been prematurely promoted, then the employee should be assisted, wherever practicable, with further training or coaching and given a reasonable period to reach the required standard. Some employers therefore prefer to operate a gentler capability procedure referring to cautions rather than warnings and greater flexibility with regard to timescales The main purposes of reward within a performance management system are to retain, motivate key employees and to reduce turnover. It’s a known fact that people are the most important asset in the organisation. The Forum for People Performance Management and Measurement also believes that staff rewards have a valid purpose in this process. The groups Leadership and the Performance of People in Organisations: Enriching Employees and Connecting People study pointed out that many companies are using their performance management processes to encourage employees to work towards personal goals such as training and skills development. Claiming that such an approach can result in improved financial performance as well as being beneficial to the individual, the research said: Reward systems need to be adapted to reflect a leadership approach that ultimately satisfies peoples basic needs for achievement, a feeling of control over ones life and a sense of belonging.   Identify at least 3 components of a total reward scheme: The total reward system is a multitude of tools that the employer has in its hand and may be used to attract, motivate and retain employees. From the employee point of view the total rewards represent everything that he/she perceives to be of value resulting from the employment relationship. The reward conce pt covers both financial and non-financial pay. The components of a total reward system are: Compensation – is a critical component of the reward system that includes: basic pay system (annual or monthly salary rate) and variable or incentive pay systems (sales commissions, appraisal/performance-related pay, skills-base pay, etc. ) Benefits – are used to supplement the cash compensation that the employees receive and are designed to protect the employees and the family from financial risks. These can be life insurance, medical insurance, dental, retirement plan, savings scheme, uniform, gym membership, company car, breaks, company holidays, extra annual days, personal days, etc. Work life in this category is included the followings: workplace flexibility, paid and unpaid time off, health and well-being, caring for dependents, financial support, community involvement, and management involvement/culture change intervention. Performance and recognition Performance is a key component of the organisational objectives and involves the alignment of organisational, team and individual effort towards the achievement of business goals and organisational success. The recognition acknowledges and gives special attention to employee’s action, efforts, behaviour or performance. Recognition programs acknowledge the employee contribution immediately after the task has been completed. This type of recognition award can be financial or non-financial (e. g. , verbal recognition, certificates, trophies, tickets, dinners, etc. ) Development and career opportunity – includes learning opportunities (e. g. on the job learning, tuition, seminars and conferences attendance, corporate universities, self-development tools and techniques, new technology training, etc. );coaching/mentoring(e. g.  , leadership training, formal and informal mentoring programs, association memberships, exposure to resident experts, etc. ) and advancement opportunities (e. g. , internal job openings, promotions, overseas assignments, internships, succession planning, career pathways, etc. ) 2 sources of data required by individual involved in performance and reward management processes: Gathering performance information from a variety of sources increases objectivity and ensures all f actors impacting performance are considered. This information should include objective data like sales reports, call records or deadline reports. Other valuable information includes: feedback from others, results of personal observation, documentation of on-going dialogue, records of any external or environmental factors impacting performance many reviews also include an employee self-evaluation. Other documents that help define performance objectives include: past performance appraisals, current departmental and organisational objectives and documented standards related to career goals. In order to gather feedback from other employees, organisations will often use a 360 ° feedback process. Along with the completion of a self-assessment, selected peers, assistants, and managers are asked to contribute feedback around pre-identified areas. The feedback is based upon specifically identified skills or competencies and the final results are compared against the employees self-assessment this type of feedback increases self-awareness and in some cases is used to support the performance evaluation process

White on Black Review Essay Example

White on Black Review Paper Essay on White on Black I do not want to write what is gigantic reviews and sing brovady. Let me just say that the book is made valid impressions going. But in this brief essay I would not want to lay it on the shelves and try to analyze how a general, I believe that each of these works is to take something for themselves. And thats what I podcherpnul for sebya.Galego not crying and trying to pull us to the heart, he says that life, such as it is. That he came into this world, so it is necessary. And he was pleased with his body, because as the choice he does not, then its a good body. but most importantly, I realized that all people can be divided into four categories: those who can, and change their own destiny; those who have no opportunity to change something, and just goes with the flow; those who have the ability but do not change anything and just drift, and those who have a one in a million Shas and sometimes is used it to 200% and Gallego is from the fourth group. But if you possess them as toupory adochev the strength of the inner world that this is the last group out on the first step, they actu heard by their fate. A real, crippled the world are drifting through life fragments of people who do not want to finger and move, even for themselves, but because they have everything to prosper. Of course ideas are many, but Ill leave the rest for himself, so as not to pollute the minds of those who will read this review. In late just want to cause arguments Gallego, who beheld one of the sites where he publishes his thoughts and brief article, so that the reader understand the authors line of thought. As I have read the thoughts of Ruben talking about human values, and as a metaphor selected is monetary value, and what he says: if we evaluate a person for physical data, then Im probably not a lot, I do not have the growth I have the length of my body but still the same as a stand, and yet I have a soul, and she, too, seems to me to be worth at least not much, but I am a person mean s, in November or when you do not understand what healthy people platat money prostitutes because if they pay money of kindness to them, then they deduct them from his personal value and soon nothing will stand, and if a person is not something you should not, whether he is a man? , of course, prostitution here as an example of, well, the train of thought I think is clear.

Is the Banana Republic Credit Card Right For You Full Review

Is the Banana Republic Credit Card Right For You Full Review SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The Banana Republic credit card is a solid option for frequent shoppers looking to earn points, but like many store brand cards, it’s not without it’s pitfalls. You may be wondering: what are the pros and cons of the Banana Republic credit card? Do I have to be a frequent shopper at Banana Republic to reap any benefits? What do users say about this card, and how does it stack up against similar cards? Is this card right for me? In this post, we’ll answer all these questions and more, doing an in-depth review of the Banana Republic credit card so you can make a fully informed decision about whether or not to apply. What Is the Banana Republic Credit Card? First, let’s discuss the basics. Banana Republic is one of the brands under the Gap, Inc. umbrella, which also includes The Gap, Old Navy, and Athleta. There are technically two Banana Republic cards: the Bananacard and the Banana Republic Visa Card. When you sign up, depending on your credit, you'll be given one of them. If you have poor to limited credit, you’ll be given the Bananacard. The Bananacard is a basic store card. A store card works like a credit card except it can only be used at the brand or umbrella brands that issues it. It won’t work if you try to use it to purchase anything anywhere else. So the Bananacard can only be used in-store or at any of the other Gap Inc. brands. If you have good credit, you’ll be given the the Banana Republic card. The Banana Republic card is an actual Visa credit card, so it can be used at any of those stores but also be anywhere else Visa is accepted. It’s a chip card with standard fraud protection services, and the primary cardholder can add an authorized user. Regardless of the card you get, you will receive 20% off your first purchase at any Gap, Inc. store by signing up. In this post, we will focus on the Banana Republic Visa card and its upgrade, the Banana Republic Luxe card. If you love to shop at BR, this could be a great card for you- but there are a few caveats! What Are the Banana Republic Credit Card Features and Rewards? As stated above, when you open a Banana Republic Visa credit card, you will receive a 20% discount off the first purchase made with that card at a Gap-branded store. Beyond that, each purchase made by the credit card earns points. Cardholders receive: 3,000 bonus points (worth $30) when you make your first purchase outside the Gap, Inc. brands five points for every $1 spent at any Gap, Inc. brand, and one point for every $1 spent elsewhere. no annual fee for the card These points can be used on purchases made both online and in person. If you don’t use the points during the billing cycle you earn them in, they are rolled over into the next cycle for up to two years before they expire. In addition to points, cardholders also receive: access to exclusive sales and events throughout the year at Banana Republic and their factory stores birthday coupons every Tuesday, 10% off at every affiliated store except Banana Republic Signing up for email account updates will get you 500 bonus points, and opting in for paperless statements gets you another 500, for a fairly easy $10 back. One big benefit of the Banana Republic Visa card is the lack of an annual fee. The Banana Republic Luxe Upgrade If the cardholder meets certain criteria, they can upgrade to the Banana Republic Luxe card. These criteria are that the cardholder: must earn 5,000 reward points annually, ie, spend $1,000 or more with it per year, must keep the account in good standing, and must make the minimum payments due. Luxe Upgrade Benefits The Luxe card offers some additional benefits that the regular visa doesn’t, including: a quarterly bonus of 20% of the points earned that quarter (a three-month period, so four times a year), once per quarter, a choose-your-own-sale day in which triple the regular points (15 points per dollar spent or 15% back) are awarded, free three-to-five-day shipping of online purchases at any of the Gap, Inc. brands, and unlimited alterations of Banana Republic merchandise. You have to use your Banana Republic Luxe card at least once per year at a Gap, Inc. store to maintain Luxe status. There is no annual fee on the Luxe card either. Free shipping is a great perk of the Luxe card for online shoppers! What are the Downsides of the Banana Republic Visa Card? The Banana Republic Visa card does have several drawbacks. The biggest downside is that, like most store credit cards, there is a very high interest rate charged on Banana Republic Visa cards, and there’s no reduced rates initially. They have a 25.24% APR, which is actually even higher than the 23.88% average for store credit cards. This means that you absolutely shouldn’t hold a balance from month to month: you should pay off your balance in full each month to avoid very high fees. Secondly, it should be noted that the points do expire after twenty-four months. You also can’t redeem more than 25,000 points (up to $250) in a single billing period or more than three rewards earnings on any one purchase. Together, these limitations make it necessary to redeem your points very regularly in the small amounts allowed in order to maximize your benefits. They do this because this encourages more frequent shopping on your part! Moreover, there is a 3% foreign transaction fee, so this card would not be a good choice to use abroad. Another thing to consider is that some of the promotions and coupons that cardholders receive get â€Å"leaked† online, so you can search for, find, and use the codes pretty easily via sites like Retailmenot. Finally, the card is issued by Synchrony Financial, and customer reviews for Synchrony aren’t that great. Many cardholders report confusing contract terms, slow response times when fixing statement inaccuracies, and bad customer service. However, it’s hard to find good reviews of any consumer financial services company, so take this with a grain of salt. Lots of people open store cards around the holidays to try and save money on gifts! The Bottom Line: Is the Banana Republic Card For Me? If you are a frequent or even a semi-frequent shopper at Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, Athleta, or any of the Gap, Inc. brands, this card has a very competitive rewards structure and would be a good choice for you. The 5% cash-back on all of their many brands combined with the lack of annual fee make it good for shoppers looking to save money. Plus, the free shipping and alterations for Luxe cardholders are an excellent perk. Families with children and parents who frequently the many Gap, Inc. brands will find this card especially helpful. However, you need to be able to pay the full balance on the statement every month. Otherwise, with its extremely high APR, it will become more expensive than it’s worth. If you rarely shop at Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, Athleta, or any of the Gap, Inc. brands, this card isn’t for you. The 1% points deal on all other purchases is only about average for a credit card, and you should be able to get better deals depending on where your money does go. Note that most retailer cards also have a high interest rate and no annual fee, so these perks won’t help you decide between store cards. But if you don’t shop at Gap, Inc. brands or any other one store or company that often, it’s a better idea to go for a more general credit card anyway, which often offer better financing options for those who need to carry a balance- especially considering that the "point" reward system will not be useful to you, since it's different from cash back. If you're thinking about getting the Gap visa card instead, note that the two cards are almost identical in terms of costs and benefits (very literally- the Gap card has the exact same rewards structure and it also applies to all Gap, Inc. brands). The only exception being on the first Tuesday of every month, Gap cardholders get 10% off at Gap.com and in Gap stores.

19 Top Scholarships for High School Seniors

19 Top Scholarships for High School Seniors SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Aside from grants and loans, private scholarships are some of the best ways to help fund your college education. There are thousands of scholarships out there for high school seniors, all with different eligibility requirements, deadlines, and award amounts, so it's definitely worth your time to do some research. Senior year is prime crunch time when it comes to your college scholarship search. If you’re just starting the search process and need a little help getting off on the right foot, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve compiled a list of some of the best college scholarships for high school seniors based on availability and award amounts. These scholarships are generally flexible (so you’ll be able to use them at any accredited college you attend), and they also don’t have any geographical restrictions (so you’re eligible to apply no matter where you live in the US). The list is broken down into four sub-lists: scholarship competitions, merit-based scholarships, need-based scholarships, and specialty awards. Don't forget to check out the end of the article for strategies on getting the most scholarship money possible! All scholarships are competitions- to win the following scholarships, though, you'll have to go head-to-head with other students. Scholarship Competitions The following scholarships are awarded based on performance in some sort of contest. These types of scholarships can be pretty intensive, so give yourself extra time to effectively prepare if you plan on pursuing one of them. Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition Students compete for this award by writing and recording an audio essay on a patriotic theme. The theme for the 2019-20 contest is "What Makes America Great." The first-place winner gets a grand prize of $30,000 as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC. The program gives out a total of $2.1 million in awards and incentives each year. Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12 Deadline: October 31, 2019 The Fountainhead Essay Contest Students compete for this award by writing an essay on one of three topics related to Ayn Rand's book The Fountainhead. The first-place winner will receive a grand prize of $10,000. Runners-up also receive awards. Each year a total of $22,500 is given out in prize money. Eligibility: Students in grades -12 Deadline: Likely late April, 2020 Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest Students compete for this award by writing an essay on one of three topics related to Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged. The first-place winner will receive a $25,000 prize. Runners-up also win prizes, and a whopping $40,000 in scholarship money is awarded annually. Eligibility: High school seniors, college students, and graduate students Deadline: September 19, 2019 American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest Are you a good public speaker, or do you just want an excuse to hone your public-speaking skills? Then this competition would be a good fit for you. Students compete for this award by preparing and performing a three- to five-minute oration on some aspect of the US Constitution. You can view this year's topics here. The first-place winner receives $18,000, second place receives $16,000, and third place receives $14,000. There are also smaller awards for state winners. In total, annual award amounts can exceed $138,000. Eligibility: US high school students under 20 years of age Deadline: Varies by state, as contests are arranged by local American Legion departments. Get more information for your state here. Create-a-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest (Gallery Collection Scholarship) This scholarship is pretty unique- and it's great for students with some untapped artistic talents! Students compete for this award by submitting a photo, piece of artwork, or computer graphic to be used on the front of a greeting card. The winner will receive $10,000, and the winner's school will also get $1,000. Eligibility: High school and college students, aged 14 or older Deadline: March 2nd, 2020 To win these scholarships, you have to show that you're tough- or at least that your brain is tough. Scholarships Based on Academic Strength The following scholarships are generally awarded based on students' academic performance in conjunction with a few other factors, such as leadership skills and commitment to community service. As a result, the most competitive applicants will be dedicated, high-achieving students who are also invested in their communities. Coca-Cola Scholars Program Coca-Cola Scholars are judged primarily on their academic performance, extracurricular activities, leadership experience, and community service. This scholarship program is fairly big: 150 awards of $20,000 each are given out every year. You can learn more about the Coca-Cola Scholarship by reading our guide to winning the award. Eligibility: Current US high school seniors who are not children or grandchildren of Coca-Cola employees Deadline: 5pm EST Thursday, October 31, 2019 Burger King Scholars Program Applicants to this scholarship are judged on their GPA, work experience, extracurricular activities, and community service. Award amounts range from those as small as $1,000 to those as large as $50,000. Eligibility: employees and their spouses/partners/children, US high school seniors Deadline: October 15-December 15, 2019 Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarships For these, award eligibility requirements will vary based on your local Ronald McDonald House Charity chapter. For example, some have ethnic eligibility requirements. Deadlines and award amounts will also vary by location, but some of the bigger national awards can be as large as $100,000! Check out our how-to guide to learn more about getting an RMHC scholarship. Eligibility: High school seniors, but other requirements may apply depending on scholarship Deadline: Varies depending on scholarship but likely January 2020 If your family income isn't enough to cover college expenses, need-based scholarships might be a great option for you. Scholarships Based on Financial Need The following scholarships take financial need into account when choosing award recipients. For many of these programs, though, financial need is just one of many criteria considered. In other words, strong applicants will also be successful students, leaders, or community activists. For most of these applications, you'll likely have to submit documentation about your family income. Horatio Alger Scholarship Award This generous need-based scholarship is geared toward students who have faced and overcome great obstacles. To be considered eligible, your gross adjusted family income must be at or below $55,000. At the national level, there are 106 $25,000 awards; at the state level, there are scholarships for all 50 states plus the District of Columbia of $10,000 each. This one scholarship application will get you considered for many other national, state, and specialized scholarships, which means less work for you and more opportunities for scholarship funding! Eligibility: US high school seniors who plan on getting a bachelor's degree Deadline: October 25, 2019 Jackie Robinson's Foundation Scholarship Program Applicants to this need-based scholarship are judged on theirleadership skills and commitment to community service. To be considered eligible, you must identify as a minority student. As many as 60 new scholarships are awarded annually. The scholarships are four-year awards, and recipients can receive as much as $30,000 over four years. Eligibility: US minority high school seniors who plan on getting a bachelor's degree in the US Deadline: Likely February 2020 Engebretson Foundation Scholarship This need-based scholarship is pretty straightforward: it's awarded to one student each year who demonstrates not only financial need but also impressive academic performance and leadership ability. The annual award winner receives $5,000 per semester of college. Eligibility: High school seniors with financial need who plan to attend a four-year college Deadline: March 1, 2020 (note that applications must be submitted via mail) Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program In addition to providing funding for college, this scholarship program offers personal advising on selecting a college, navigating the financial aid process, and transitioning from high school to college. Applicants are judged on academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, desire to help others, and leadership skills. Awards are given to students each year, and can be as high as $40,000 per academic year. In 2019, 121 students were accepted into the program. Eligibility: High school seniors with financial need who plan to attend a four-year college Deadline: November 13, 2019 Elk's National Foundation Most Valuable Student Competition Applicants to this need-based scholarship are judged on their scholarship and leadership abilities. In total, 500 scholarships are awarded across the country totally $2.44 million, and award amounts (over four years) range from $4,000 to $50,000. Applications must be submitted to the Elk Lodge closest to your home address, so make sure to research the Elk Lodges in your area before you apply. Eligibility: US high school seniors who plan to attend a four-year US college Deadline: November 5, 2019 at :59 PM Gates Scholarship The Gates Scholarship aims to help scholastically-outstanding minority high school seniors reach their full potential. 300 students each year receive a scholarship covering the full cost of attendance (including tuition, fees, room, board, books, and transportation) that is not already covered by other financial aid and expected family contribution. Read more about the Gates Scholarship and how to win it here. Eligibility: US minority high school seniors who are Pell-eligible (Pelligible?) and have a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) Deadline: September 15, 2019 These next scholarships are unique- just like every student applicant! Specialty Scholarships The following scholarship programs are national awards that target students who have specific or unique interests or achievements. Whether you're the next president of the SPCA or even the USA, you should be able to find a specialty scholarship that's perfect for you! CIA Undergraduate Scholars Program This program offers more than just a scholarship- if you're selected as a winner, you'll become a part of a pretty unique internship program. Interns work at the CIA during summer breaks and also get an annual salary (with benefits) and an annual scholarship award of up to $18,000. You must demonstrate financial need to qualify. Income eligibility ceilings are $70,000 for a family of four or fewer, and $80,000 for a family of five or more. Eligibility: High school seniors Deadline: Likely spring 2020, with applications opening in early 2020 Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship Are you a proud vegetarian? This might seem like a niche award, but the scholarship is very real! Applicants are judged on their "compassion, courage, and a strong commitment to promoting a peaceful world through a vegetarian diet/lifestyle." If you've promoted vegetarianism at school or in your community, you'll likely be a strong candidate for this scholarship. The first-place winner receives $10,000, and two runners-up each receive $5,000. Eligibility: Graduating high schoolseniors Deadline: February 20, 2020 Davidson Fellowship Scholarships Do you have an extraordinary achievement you're particularly proud of? This scholarship is for students who have completed an impressive piece of work in the fields ofscience, technology, engineering, math, literature, music, or philosophy. Scholarship requirements differ based on the type of project, with awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. Eligibility: US citizens or permanent residents 18 years of age and under Deadline: Likely February, 2020 AXA Achievement Scholarship This scholarship targets students who have empowered society through achievements that mitigate risk. This idea can be interpreted pretty broadly, so spend some time figuring out what risk means to you and whether you've participated in making the world a safer place through any of your activities. In 2018, more than 300 students representing all 50 states; Washington, DC; and Puerto Rico received one-time scholarships in increments of $2,500, $10,000, or $25,000, and the winners' schools will also receive $1,000 for every student who wins a scholarship. Eligibility: High school seniors who will attend college in 2020-21 Deadline: Likely late 2019 William Randolph Hearst Foundations US Senate Youth Program If you're passionate about public service, this is the scholarship for you. The Senate Youth Program targets students who participate in their high school student government and plan to study history or political science in college. Applicants are judged on their leadership skills, academic performance, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. Each winner will receive a $10,000 award in addition to an all-expenses-paid educational week in Washington, DC, in March 2020. Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors Deadline: Varies depending on state but is typically in October Higher education costs in the United States have been skyrocketing for the last 20 years, but it's still possible to get a great education without breaking the bank. Learn how you can maximize the quality of your college education while minimizing costs with our six-hour online course. Tips here, get your tips here! Making the Most of Your Scholarship Applications: 3 Key Tips If you're going to go through all the work of submitting a scholarship application, then you want to make sure you have the best chances possible of winning awards. The following three tips will help you submit the greatest number of successful scholarship applications possible. #1: Do Your Own Research As you've probably noticed, many of the above scholarships are fairly generous national awards that'll likely be quite competitive. Unfortunately, you could be a strong applicant for many of these scholarships and still not win a big award. So what's a student to do? The reality is that there are countless scholarship programs out there that might be really good fits for your interests, location, background, identity, etc. The more niche a scholarship program is, the better chances you'll have of winning an award (if you're a qualified applicant, that is). So do some research on scholarships programs that operate in your area or are offered to students with your particular interests, experiences, skills, or passions. The Ronald McDonald House Charities scholarships are a good place to start. You can also pay a visit to your guidance counselor who should have more information on local scholarships. In addition, you could branch out on your own by searching online for scholarships in your area. If you have a particular talent, skill, or interest, look for scholarships that are offered to students based on those criteria. #2: Apply Broadly Applying for scholarships- like applying to colleges- is, in part, a numbers game. You wouldn't apply to just one school if you wanted to optimize your chances of getting into a great college, would you? Many scholarship applications ask similar questions and require similar information, so if you apply to one program, you might as well apply to a bunch. It's free to apply for most scholarships anyway- all it takes is a few hours of your time. Finally, take advantage of applications that submit you for consideration for many scholarship awards, such as the Horatio Alger Scholarship mentioned above. #3: Make Note of Deadlines Scholarship applications are all over the place- there's no defined "scholarship season" for submission deadlines, but many are due before college application deadlines. As such, it's better to start your scholarship search sooner rather than later so you don't miss out on any great opportunities. The summer before your senior year is a good time to start making note of programs that you're interested in. Keep track of application deadlines by maintaining a spreadsheet that you update regularly. This is especially helpful if applications require you to ask for letters of recommendation; you can make sure to give teachers and mentors plenty of advance notice to write you a letter. What's Next? Want to get a head start on scoping out scholarships? Then check out our comprehensive guides to winning some of the most competitive national scholarships available, including the Gates Scholarship, the Coca-Cola Scholarship, the Walmart Scholarships, and the McDonald's Scholarships. Looking for scholarships with low-hassle applications? Our article on the easiest scholarships to apply for will give you a great starting list. Wondering if you can get a scholarship for something like being left-handed? Learn more about the weirdest scholarships you can win here. Need more help with your scholarship search? Read our expert guide on how to find college scholarships and the best scholarship search websites. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: