Do Culinary Arts College Students Need Identity Protection?

It's amazing how in today's world technology can be both a blessing and a curse at the same time.  When you apply to a culinary arts college online, or even request information via the web, you most likely know that you are taking some risk.  If you have ever taken the time to read the terms and conditions or privacy statements on just about any website, you will see words like "share information", or "cannot be responsible for what other websites do with the information you provide", or "please read the terms and conditions for the other website you will be visiting", etc.  They all differ in one way or another with the way they state their privacy policies.

If you are applying for a culinary arts college financial aid loan online, you need to be especially careful about reading the terms and conditions of the websites you are visiting.  You will also want to make sure that the website is secure by looking in the search bar for the all important "https" instead of just "http".  Also, on many sites, if you look to the bottom right of your page, you will see a picture of a lock.  If the lock is open then the site is not secure.  If it is closed (kind of like the one you may have used in a gym locker), the site is supposed to be secure.

In addition to checking items like the search bar and the lock to see if your site is secure, you may want to have a backup in place.  There are companies who do provide identity theft protection but not all of those companies are alike.  The problem is that many of those companies alert you after a problem has occurred and by then, your most critical information may have already been gleaned.  There is a company who is proactive though and prides itself on providing what they call an early warning system.  This company, IdentityHawk, will alert you when there is any suspicious activity on any of your accounts that you register, before something happens.  They will also point out weaknesses that might help thieves target your information.   IdentityHawk also offers a free 30 day trial to their program.  This should be an ample amount of time for you to determine if this great service will pass the test for protecting your name, your property and your identity.

Once again, technology is great and convenient for the culinary art student, but registering online or even taking courses online opens one up to information thieves who would stop at nothing to get any type of valuable information from you that they can.  Protect yourself by being aware of the basic protections offered in the search bar, through the lock, by reading the privacy portion of websites and by utilizing the services of a proven identity protection program like IdentityHawk.

New Culinary Arts College Students Can Monitor and Establish Good Credit

When high school graduates first start their search for a good culinary arts college, they find out very quickly, when applying for a student loan, that they are making a commitment to establish credit.  In order to do this, they will either be trying on their own to get a student loan, or be piggybacking on someone else's established credit like a parent or guardian's credit to help them get their first loan.

What they quickly find out when applying for a loan through a bank is that all lenders require an established  credit history in order to get a loan.  That is where a cosigner is needed when a student has no established or existing credit.  When finding a parent or guardian who agrees to cosign for your student loan, you will see that one of the ways banks decide who to lend to is by pulling a person's credit report.   This report will be critical in helping the bank or lender determine if they should take the risk in giving out money toward a student loan. 

Many high school graduates seeking to get a good culinary arts education, really are not educated in the matters of finance and money.  Getting your first loan through the government will be an experience in learning how to do paperwork the right way to apply.  However, once that loan is approved, the hard part starts.  The checks are sent to the new student.  Sometimes the checks are quite large and the student gets the impression that they are now "rich".  This is a common feeling because many students have never seen a check quite as large as the ones that students can receive when they apply for a loan.  At times they forget what the loan is for and start out by using the loan for unnecessary items, forgetting to carefully budget what they have received. 

The money received for your culinary arts education is to go toward the payment for your college credits, books and living expenses.  It's not a good idea to pay for those expenses last (as many new students do) while spending the money on other things because you will quickly find out that there isn't enough money to go around when the basics need paid for. 

Once the student finishes up using all of the funds that were given to him/her either through the government or a private lender, and the student graduates, it is critical that the student understand that paying back any type of loan in a timely manner is necessary.  This helps the student establish good credit which can be very helpful in getting necessary items needed in the future.  For example, the student may need to buy a car once they start their new job upon graduation.  Or, perhaps they will need to find a place to live.  If a small credit history has already been established because s/he started to repay their loans and they were being paid on time, it is more likely that they will have an advantage in getting more credit for the things they need. 

It's always a good idea before making a purchase, to check out their own credit score.  There are companies out there who will offer a "free credit score" trial period.  This is oftentimes a great deal because it helps you keep track of where your credit is and where it is going in the future.  You can always upgrade to a paid monthly credit score report if you choose, but your initial credit score can be obtained for free once you sign up.

Students should always keep in mind that it's fun to get their student loan checks in the mail, but with that loan comes a responsibility that will lay the foundation for establishing good credit for the rest of his/her life.  Bad credit ruins the opportunity to do many of the basic things that will need to be done in the future, including getting a good job so it's critical that this issue is taken seriously.

Can A Culinary Arts Student Benefit from Online Computer Training?

When you are striving to get the best culinary arts college education, you must have the basic computer training courses necessary to succeed online and off.  To get the best education, you need the best training.  Many are interested in doing this type of training in the most convenient way.  For that, there is a simple solution.

In today's technological world, those who are not familiar with computer basics are very simply, left behind.  Students starting in Pre-school are being offered a taste of what is instantly available at their fingertips.  As we progress throughout our lives, the computer is becoming an integral part of our world, yet the statistics show that there are still millions of people who are unaware of how to use a computer correctly or who even miss many of the basic functions a computer can provide. 


When planning your culinary arts education, it's highly likely that you will seek online courses in addition to attending a brick and mortar career college.  With this in mind, you will need to carefully choose those companies that can provide you with the best computer training for your money.

One of the leading e-learning, instructor led training of online computer courses is a company called CBT Planet.  CBT Planet not only provides the very basics of computer introduction for those who need an introduction to computers, but they also provide highly technical computer training all the way through a wide variety of IT certifications.  This training is accomplished through the utilization of online courses, dvds, and virtual chat with instructors in an online classroom type of setting.  Best of all, this is accomplished at your own pace and can be tailored to meet your own unique learning style.  You get to choose which modules work best for you.

Companies benefit from the computer training by utilizing the dvds and online instructors in place of taking up the time of their own personnel.  Virtual instructors and programs can be accessed time and time again, saving both time and money.  Private individuals can benefit from highly technical IT instruction or learning computer basics and then progressing to more advanced modules.  

In addition, the courses can be used by individuals who are seeking a new career or who have been laid off and need to find a career that is marketable and in great demand.  Teachers can use these courses to supplement their own teaching and to spur their students interest in technology fields which are in excellent demand for future employment.

In conclusion, CBT has much to offer a prospective culinary arts student on the basics of computer training, an IT student or a beginner student who is seeking to overall enhance their computer skills by utilizing friendly, self-paced, excellent computer training modules.    

Benefits of Getting Your College Education Online

We live in an extremely busy world today.  Our schedules oftentimes are so full that finding time to further our education can be just about impossible.  Demands at work are greater than ever before and are thus more time consuming.  However, with that being said, those who truly do want to get a higher education now have the proven option of taking ONLINE COURSES.

What are some of the benefits of taking an online course or even getting a full culinary arts college education or other education online?  As we mentioned, time can be one of the main factors.  Online college courses can be taken in a way that can fit into your own customized schedule.  In addition, taking an online course alleviates the problem of having to commute to and from a brick and mortar college, eliminates parking fees, and the long walks to classes on the huge college campuses.  You can work at night for a few hours each night.  You can take one course or many as you have that  flexibility.

In addition to being able to find online courses in the culinary arts field, there are other online courses that can broaden one's experience.  For example, there are online degree programs in nutrition, a logical supplement to anyone seeking to prepare the healthy foods of the future.  There are literally hundreds of online courses available that can help you customized your own college degree.

One site, The National Center For Education Statistics College Navigator http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ will help you to find answers to your questions about which online college program might be the best for you.  It will help you determine which subjects might supplement your culinary arts college experience as well.  

Being informed is the best first step so check out your options and then take action.  You could be on your way to earning a college degree online in no time at all, at your convenience.

Where Can I Find Affordable College Textbooks?

For anyone deciding to attend college, whether it be a culinary arts college, career college or four year university, one of the most expensive items to purchase are college books.  There is no way around it.  These are a must have on your list of expenses.

However, with that being said, there are ways that you can find affordable textbooks.  One way is to watch in the local college papers for textbooks that are advertised.  You can look on Craigslist, Ebay, Bonanza, local newspapers and in online newspapers.  Occasionally papers like the Pennysaver also have cheap textbooks listed.  

There are companies who seek out sources for the least expensive college textbooks and specialize in leading you to the purchase and sale of affordable college textbooks.  The number one site online is "Affordabook.com".  You will want to put them on your list when trying to buy or sell your used college books.  That way others can benefit from what you have and you can make some money toward purchasing the books you need. 

It is really important though that you check which edition is being sold as it does seem like the colleges like to change textbooks often. With competition from the internet, it's no wonder.  Text books can cost hundreds of dollars per book and the only way these companies can make money is to change the editions.  Legitimate reasons would be that information that is available in certain subjects can change frequently as well.  It may be old fashioned, but notepads, computers, Kindles and the like can never replace the smell and feel of a super heavy duty college book.

Best Online Colleges for 2011

When starting your search for the best culinary arts colleges or any of the top online colleges, it is important to consider a number of factors.  For example, after deciding on your major, the next thing that probably comes to mind is the cost, then the location, and then the quality of the school or college compared to the cost.  

How do you find out this information?  The first step would be to do a search on the specific type of career college you want to attend.  In this case, if you've chosen culinary arts colleges then you will go to google and type in "culinary arts colleges".  You will see hundreds of colleges all across the country and you won't have time to go through all of them.  The next logical step is to type in "culinary arts colleges pennsylvania" (or whatever state you think you would like to attend college in.)  This will narrow it down even further.  You can go on to choose more states individually if you don't find any interesting schools you'd like to attend. 

Once you've narrowed your search down to a few colleges, then you visit their websites to see what they have to offer.  Jot down those of interest and then contact those schools through their online contact forms or by phone and speak with an admissions counselor.

Another way to identify the best online colleges is to visit sites who have already used a process to weed out the most undesirable schools.  For example, there is a new website called Degreejungle who just published a ranking of the top 64 online colleges in the United States for 2011. This is an in-depth, objective ranking and one of the best ever of online universities. You can learn more about these rankings at:  http://www.degreejungle.com/rankings/best-online-colleges 
They've made it easy and convenient for you to apply to a variety of schools directly linking to their site.  You simply click on the links provided and fill in the information as requested.  If you are interested in culinary arts specifically, all you have to do is send an inquiry to these schools to find out where their culinary arts classes are held.  Doing your search this way could save you some additional time and get you started contacting schools more quickly.  

Finding the best online colleges is not hard when you have a plan in mind and follow it.  Do the research up front to get the best results, after all, this is a lifetime investment.

Benefits of Attending Online Degree Programs

The great thing about education these days is the ability to find Online Degree Programs for just about any field of interest a prospective student may have.  Online degree programs, whether it be in the culinary arts field, a technically related program like automotive technology, a graphics arts program, or even online degree programs in nutrition, offer many benefits. 

Many adults are considering entering a career college part-time, mainly because they are now working, but not getting ahead in their present field.  With the economy being as poor as it is right now, high school graduates are having a more difficult time entering the workforce and as a result are having to consider attending a two or four year college.  That means that they may have to get a job while going to college online part-time to find the best career path for them.  

In addition, not everyone has the time to stop what they are doing and attend a career or four year college at a brick and mortar school full time.  Online degree programs offer the prospective student the opportunity to work classes around their own personal schedules while working from a home, library or internet cafe location.  This also works great for a stay at home mom or dad who can only spare a few hours a night, or an individual who is working full time during the day but wants to further their education part time so they can move up in the ranks at work.  The student can stay at home and work from a computer, still getting expert education from instructors who are specifically trained to work with college students who want to attend school online.

Another advantage is the ability to take only courses that the student actually needs and paying for them by taking one or two courses at a time, over a longer period of time.  This can take some of the financial burden off the prospective student.   Also, think of the money saved by not having to pay for parking fees and gas to get to a brick and mortar college, not to mention the savings in travel time. 

Exploring an online educational career is something every prospective student should consider, even if it entails a combination of brick and mortar and online courses to enhance the total education experience.  For information on finding money to attend your choice of career college, you may want to visit the Federal Student Aid College Finder at:  http://studentaid2.ed.gov/gotocollege/collegefinder/advanced_find.asp