Crossing the Line of Police Brutality - 2199 Words

####not well written####Introduction Police brutality is the use of any force exceeding that reasonably necessary to accomplish a lawful police purpose. (Gregory Umbach) There is a very thin line as to what is acceptable and excessive use of force for police officers. Many police departments try their best to outline what is appropriate use of force to weed out these unacceptable practices. However, some evidence and scenarios point to race being a possible factor in police brutality. There exist two sides to this argument on the bias of race in police brutality. One side believes that race does play a role in the polices overuse of force, while the other side disagrees and states that other circumstances lead to the propensity of most police abused victims to be of the minority ethnic group. In this literature review, sources that directly relate race with police brutality and their excessive use of force shall be analyzed along with sources that state the opposite and find the poli ce brutality coincidental to the race of the victim or officer. It is in my opinion that race clearly does lead to the increase in police brutality, as the police put themselves in confrontations more often with the minority groups, through the use of racial profiling in terms of stop and frisks. The Problem The problem of police brutality being linked to race is not a new one. Most officers do not believe that they are at fault and usually blame the victim for instigating the conflict.Show MoreRelatedWe Must Stop Police Brutality826 Words   |  4 PagesPolice brutality is an act that often goes unnoticed by the vast majority of white Americans. This is the intentional use of â€Å"excessive force by an authority figure, which oftentimes ends with bruises, broken bones, bloodshed, and sometimes even death† (Harmon). While law-abiding citizens worry about protecting themselves from criminals, it has now been revealed that they must also keep an eye on those who are supposed to protect and serve. According to the National Police Academy, in the pastRead More Police Brutality Essay1388 Words   |  6 PagesIn recent years, police abuse has come to the attention of the general public. While citizens worry about protecting themselves from criminals, it has now been shown that they must also keep a watchful eye on those who have been given the responsibility to protect and serve. This paper will discuss the types of police abuse prevalent today, including the use of firearms and recovery of private information. I will also discuss what and how citizens’ rights are violated by the police. We will also exploreRead MorePolice Profiling is Racist Essay1059 Words   |  5 PagesStates are against police profiling in our cities and towns against African-Americans and other minorities, while they are supporters of racial profiling in our airports. This research paper investigates how profiling everywhere can help improve our security, while not crossing the fine line into racis m. This paper also shows some examples of when profiling has turned into racism, and how we can prevent this. There are many people in the United States that are against police profiling. ProfilingRead MoreBroken Window Crime Essay795 Words   |  4 Pagestheory was adapted into a method of policing. It was implemented in New York in 1994, becoming the fifth of eight policing strategies adopted by the New York Police Department (NYPD) under Police commissioner Bill Bratton (Newburn,2013) and emphasised enforcing minor ‘quality of life’ offences to make neighbourhoods feel safer. Initially police presence was increased on subway platforms in an attempt to reduce fair evasion, wherein many turnstile jumpers were caught (Hartcourt and Ludwig, 2006). TheRead MorePolice Brutality3320 Words   |  14 PagesIn recent years, police actions, particularly police abuse, has come into view of a wide, public and critical eye. While citizens worry about protecting themselves from criminals, it has now been shown that they must also keep a watchful eye on those who are supposed to protect and serve. This paper will discuss the types of police abuse prevalent today, including the use of firearms and receipt of private information. I will also discuss what and how citizens rights are taken advantage ofRead MoreWhat Can Social Psychology Teach Us About What Happened At Abu Ghraib? Essay1023 Words   |  5 Pagesshift. The soldiers involved were all reserve soldiers who were not prepared or trained for this mission. They were asked to interrogate the detainees ‘take the gloves off’ to extract information out of them. The soldiers were pressured into crossing the line to gain information by the centre intelligence agency, tier 1A was known as the interrogation hold. One detained was mentally ill, he covered himself in faeces every day, the soldiers would have to role him in sand so he wouldn’t smell so badRead MoreBlack Panther Party : A New Political Organization1851 Words   |  8 Pageshealth clinics, to rent strikes resulting in tenant ownership of their buildings, to Liberation School for grade-schoolers, to free clothing drives, to campaigns for community control of schools, community control of police, and campaigns to stop drugs, crime, and police murder and brutality in the various Black colonies across America.† Huey created the Panther’s with the vision that he can change the conditions of African Americans by taking up arms against white supremacy. Members of the organizationRead MoreJudicial Issue : Police Misconduct3148 Words   |  13 PagesWill Addington SPC3513 Argumentation Paper Project # 1 Judicial Issue Police Misconduct America, being founded on doctrine such as The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, shows how we as a nation hold justice and freedom forefront in our belief system. Having a police force in our country to help the citizens of the United States of America uphold these values, that have been passed down over the generations, the values that our forefathers created for us, is one of the mainRead MoreThe State of Israel and The BASEL System1579 Words   |  6 Pagesbetter spent. Because Israel violates the human rights of Palestinians the United States should not aid them. The Israeli have killed innocent Palestinians, including women, children, entire families and peaceful protestors. During protests, Israeli police and soldiers meet the protestors with rubber bullets, 22-caliber bullets, and tear gas canisters firing them into the crowds. Two young Palestinian men were killed may 15th, 2014 during a demonstration for Nakba Day, a commemoration of the destructionRead MoreThe Fall of the Berlin Wall1382 Words   |  6 PagesSoviet sector of Berlin. Roused from sleep, people looking down from their windows saw convoys of trucks and troop carriers speeding toward the line dividing East Berlin from West Berlin. Within two hours, thousands of steel-helmeted East German troops and armed police were deployed along the border. Guards with automatic weapons were posted at crossing points between the eastern and western sections of the city. Machine gun positio ns were set up. Border patrols were assigned and dispatched.

Essay on Organizational Theory - 881 Words

This is a study to examine the background of various organization theories and their development from the perspective of legitimacy and efficacy; to evaluate selected discussions regarding theory development and various theories; to encourage the use of evidence based theory development and to provide a look into the model and related theories that are created after looking at the existing theories. While not rejecting the need for thorough testing of theories, I am simply looking into the suggestion of theories and models for their worth. Only is that when we begin to thoroughly looking into the application of the theories, that they can then be tested in conditions of their authenticity and the level that they are useful.†¦show more content†¦There are several new theories, models and extensions of existing theories out there that in the future should be available to be presented for discussion and to be tested for the soundness in their application ability (Miles, McKe nny, Short, Davis, Wu). With this thought, we must start the movement of progress for the organizational theory development so we can be prepared for the beginning and use in the current changing environment of business. In using an evidence based approach, we will begin to discover new approaches and expand the existing theories and current models. Research has shown that there have been several management and organization theories that have been tested through the years and a lot of those were introduced as very sound and logical prior to testing and were accepted by the majority of theorist. The finding of these theories and models simply do not mean that there is a necessity in depth testing and validation for them to be measured justifiable theories. There are theorists that have said that the incorporation of this theory creation and testing is vital. With that said, all of the building and formation of new theories needs to be evaluated so that an evaluation is feasible through sound and dependable testing. But with all of this testing, several problems have emerged as theorist and researchersShow MoreRelatedOrganizational Theory671 Words   |  3 PagesOrganizational Theory Angele Muhammad February 5, 2014 Assistant Professor Darren Gil Southern University at New Orleans Abstract I will discuss the basis of an organizational theory as it applies to the criminal justice system. I am discussing and giving a clear understanding of the criminal justice system as an organization of a bureaucratic management system with hierarchies and processes of inputs, processes, and outputs within one aspect of the criminal justice system i.e. policeRead MoreOrganizational Theory Of Organizational Management1488 Words   |  6 PagesOrganizational theory studies the various variables that influence the behavior of an individual(s) working within an organization, but also, â€Å"prescribes how work and workers ought to be organized and attempts to explain the actual consequences of organizational behavior (including individual actions) on work being performed and on the organization itself.† (Milakovich Gordon, 2013, p.145). Of the many approaches to organizational analysis, Classical Organizational theory has been, even to thisRead MoreOrganizational Theory Essay1553 Words   |  7 PagesAndrea K. Rivers ORG6503 : Organizational Theories amp; System Instructor: Kathleen Henry September 24, 2011 Introduction The owner of Creative Colors has taking my advice regarding restructuring and downsizing the company. The organization is now operating much more efficiently and has seen revenues begin to climb in its retail stores. With the improving economic climate in the region and the growing strength of the U.S. dollar compared to the Canadian dollar, the owner now sees an opportunityRead MoreThe Theory Of Organizational Change1450 Words   |  6 Pageseducate their employees in understanding and supporting change. Taking both organizational and employee perspectives into account, Armenakis and Bedeian (1999) have reviewed major research publications on the theory of organizational change from 1987 to 1999. To set a basis for selecting from the vast number of the available material, their study was concentrated on those researches focusing on the fundamentals of organizational change dynamics. The researchers acknowledge the effect of the extent ofRead MoreComparing the Modern Organizational Theory and Improvisation Essay1126 Words   |  5 PagesOrganization theory deals with the formal structure, internal working, and external environment of complex human behavior within organizations. As a field spanning several disciplines, it prescribes how work and workers out to be organized and attempts to explain the actual consequences of organizational behavior (including individual behavior) on work done and on the organization itself.(Gordon and Milkavoich, 147) It has been evolving for centurie s on how should work be done in the public administrationRead MoreOrganizational Theory and Practice3050 Words   |  13 PagesOrganizational Theory Practice Introduction Previously people were less interested in an organizational culture. Cultural perspectives were not really important. When it comes to cultural change, leaders used to take an action at the end, at the time where company was facing bankruptcy, and they were not succeeded. Unlike now, culture is significantly important aspect in an organization. It shapes how people think and behave. Once an employee gets hired, firstly he or she tries to identify existingRead More organizational theory Essay2283 Words   |  10 PagesManagement.† (Internet) This is where the Human Relations School steps in. Its primary focus is the importance of attitudes and feelings of workers, while informal roles and norms influence performance. â€Å"At the most general level, human relations theory views humans as social creatures who have a need and desire for communication and interaction.† (Internet) Numerous studies have been conducted over the years trying to come up with the most efficient f orm of workplace management. The most famousRead MoreThe Neoclassical Organizational Theory Essay633 Words   |  3 PagesThe neoclassical organizational theory, which evolved as a reaction to the rigid, authoritarian structure of the classical organizational theory, focuses on the importance of human relations and behavior in the workplace (Docherty et al., 2001). According to the classical organizational theory, there is a single best method to designing an organization. Based on this theory, a manager must have close control over their subordinates, resulting in an organization with tall hierarchies and a narrowRead MoreOrganizational Theory Multiple Perspectives1514 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction In order to have a better understanding of organization theory, organizational phenomena should be studied in different ways. Different ways of thinking produce different perspectives which come to different concepts and theories. In this essay, multiple perspectives which are modern, symbolic-interpretive and post-modern will be defined. By examine the assumptions, which are ontology and epistemology underlying each of these perspectives, they can be compared. Also, how these perspectivesRead MoreExamples Of Neoclassical Organizational Theory909 Words   |  4 Pagesperspectives that moved away from the mechanistic views of classical organizational theory in which human beings act as different parts to that machine to an approach that attempts to account for internal and external environments. This multi-dimension approach is considered an intellectual merger of most prior schools of thought beginning with neoclassical. Neoclassical organizational theory, a modified version of the classical organizational theory was developed at the end of WWII through the 1950s as neoclassical

Zero Effort Network Essay Research Paper Zero free essay sample

Zero Effort Network Essay, Research Paper Zero Effort Networks ( Z.E.N. plants ) is a great new tool in NetWare 5, that makes the web decision maker # 8217 ; s occupation a batch easier by leting him to pass less clip at each user workstation. To be able to utilize the Z.E.N. works these are the lower limit hardware demands: ? Processor: 486/33 or higher? Memory: 16 MB ( for Windows 95 ) ; 24 MB ( for Windows NT ) ? Hard disc infinite: 4 MB ( workstation ; 24 MB ( full station ) Z.E.N. works demands to be installed on the waiter and the client on the workstation needs to be updated. During the installing procedure Dynamic Link Libraries ( DLLs ) are copied to the workstation. DLLs contain routines that are called by an application to execute certain operations. Another public-service corporation that is included in Z.E.N. works to assist the distribution and direction of applications is the Application Launcher, which consists of four major constituents: ? Snap-in DLL? Snapshot? Application objects in the Neodymium tree? Application Launcher Window and Application object The snAppShot public-service corporation allows you take a snapshot of the Windows workstation before put ining the application. We will write a custom essay sample on Zero Effort Network Essay Research Paper Zero or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The snapshot includes Registry scenes along with the names of system and application files on the workstation. After the application has been installed, the snAppShot public-service corporation takes another image of the workstation # 8217 ; s constellation and so uses the two snapshots to make an Application Object Template ( AOT ) file. The Application Launc her uses the AOT file to find what Registry scenes and system files need to be copied to the workstation to run the application from the web. In add-on to including constellation scenes and system file names, the AOT file besides contains the name of the Application object and the way where you want to hive away the AOT and installing files. Consequently, before running the snAppShot public-service corporation, you need to specify the name you want to utilize for the Application object and make up ones mind where the application and AOT files will be stored. The Application Launcher package consists of two constituents: the wrapper plan and the launcher. The wrapper plan determines which launcher plan ( NALW31.EXE, NALWIN32.EXE, or NAL.EXE ) to run based on the client computing machine # 8217 ; s operating system. The launcher plan so determines the Application objects to which the user has entree and displays a window demoing all applications the user has been authorized to run. When the user selects an application, the launcher determines whether the application is installed on the workstation. If this is the first clip the user has run the application from this workstation, the application will automatically be installed utilizing the AOT file created by the snAppShot public-service corporation. If Application Launcher senses that the application constellation has been damaged, or files are losing or corrupt, it will automatically correct the application constellation and transcript and damaged or losing files.

Rational Choice Theory and Structural Functionalism a Supplementation and Assimilation Essay Example

Rational Choice Theory and Structural Functionalism: a Supplementation and Assimilation Essay Rational Choice Theory and Structural Functionalism: A Supplementation and Assimilation Great theories produce opposition in connection to their inconsistencies and while challengers may position the theory contra itself, followers tend to revise the theory in order to preserve it from dismissal. This usually occurs by broadening the original theory while maintaining that the revision is consistent with the theory’s original meaning. In exploring Talcott Parson’s Theory of Structural Functionalism I have been motivated by its ambiguities to revise it in such a way. I am not a proponent of Structural Functionalism and have strong ties to Rational Choice Theory. I enjoy that it is concerned with relating micro and macro levels of study rather than affirming that one is better than the other (Ritzer). I am also an atheist with no real ties to a moral code other than that dictated by societal norms (throughout this paper I will use the word society to refer to contemporary Anglo-Canadian society) and expectations, but my belief system rests in Ayn Rand’s philosophy of objectivism. I live according to motivated self-interest and believe that all choices great and small are rational. We will write a custom essay sample on Rational Choice Theory and Structural Functionalism: a Supplementation and Assimilation specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Rational Choice Theory and Structural Functionalism: a Supplementation and Assimilation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Rational Choice Theory and Structural Functionalism: a Supplementation and Assimilation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Being raised in a household that avoided unnecessary communication at all costs compelled me to become a pragmatic and honest person in what little communication we did have. This pragmatism has consistently carried me through my interactions with others and has proven beneficial in seeking out and acting in my best interest. With this pragmatism comes an unrelenting want to avoid, deductive theory. This would explain why, in a position as a meta-theorist I feel compelled to assimilate Structural Functionalism to Rational Choice Theory. Due to its individualism, Rational Choice Theory could be considered neoliberal ideology. However, my interpretation leads me to understand that it does not necessarily lead to an individualistic model of society as a whole. For this reason I believe that the micro theory can easily and harmoniously be coincided with the macro theory of structural functionalism. In fact, despite its purported nature as a macro-theory, Parsons (1977) says that his theory can be extended to the microbiological level. To take from Coleman’s (1990) aim I’d argue that structural functionalism takes for granted an explanation for why and how social norms emerge as well as an account for the existence of dissent to these norms. Rational Choice Theory necessarily and seamlessly supplements Structural Functionalism and fills this theoretical void. Rational Choice Theory generally contests structural methods of explanation and assumes that society is equal to the totality of actions of individuals and that complex social phenomena can be explained in terms of the individual actions of which they are made up. This standpoint, called methodological individualism, holds that individuals are moved by their wants or preferences. Social order arises from these actions of individual self-interest. It positions itself in individualism and holds that sufficient sociological accounts involve individuals, their understanding of the conditions in which they are situated, and the reasons for choosing to take certain actions. Choices are made in relation to both their goals and the means for attaining these goals. This involves the rational actor who is relatively independent, egoistic, goal-oriented, and rationally calculating. In this way, we act in accordance to our hierarchy of preferences. As rational thinkers we are constrained by logic and as rational actors we are constrained by our temporal reality. Rational choice theories hold that individuals must foresee the outcomes of multiple courses of action and calculate the one that will be best for them. Rational individuals choose the alternative that is likely to give them the greatest fulfillment. Some reasons why attempts to reconcile Rational Choice Theory as a macro theory of social action may be contested include the problems of, collective action, social norms, and social structure. The question comes to be: if individuals consider the personal benefit to be made from each course of action, why would one ever choose to act in a way that would benefit others more than themselves? Why do people seem to follow norms of behaviour that lead them to act in altruistic way that seem to take precedence over their self-interest. For Parsons, (1977) this could be explained only by acknowledging that there is a normative, component in decision making. I would be quick to intimate that this understanding may be remedied to coincide with rational choice theory by suggesting that people are willing to make decisions that benefit others at the expense of their own immediate self-interest because they have regarded the course of action as continuing on longer than the immediate. Talcott Parsons makes some main assumptions about society including that all parts are interdependent, the whole may be impacted by the nature of one part, tendencies to change from within are controlled by systems and social action is voluntary in nature. Parsons argued that action had to be guided by social norms and values. Structural Functionalism proffers that society leans towards equilibrium and social order and society is seen as a biological body, in which systems keep the body healthy. Societal health is apparently guaranteed when individuals accept the general mores of their society (Parsons:1977). This theory of voluntarism does not suggest that agency is governed only by free will but rather that it is constrained by boundaries. These boundaries form a patterned structure of relationships which come to be known as norms. Parsons believes that agency is a combination of individual action and restrictions of social systems. He then also proposes however that the successful functioning of society requires collectivism, as opposed to rational action. He fundamentally contradicts himself in that he gives space for individual action within his theory yet his theory is deemed a rival to individualism and a proponent of collectivism. He asks the question, ‘How can society persist when its members are pursuing their own self-interested goals? ’ (Parsons:1951). He seemingly answers his own theoretical question in that within his methodology, individuals are both constrained by systems and driven by individual goals. He states that â€Å"the problem of order, and thus of the nature of stable systems of social interaction that is, of social structure, thus focuses on the integration of the motivation of the actors with the normative cultural standards which integrate the action system, in our context, interpersonally† (Parsons:1951). Parsons focus was on the external forces that shape our individual motivations. His theory of Structural Functionalism however leaves a gaping void in explaining deviant behaviour. He makes a grand assumption about the existence and control of normative values. There is no consideration for resistance or dissent to these values. This lack of attention to social conflict ignores power and inequality. To look at decisions as long chains of actions we can begin to see how an individual’s hierarchy of preferences may influence them to incur immediate dissatisfaction for greater more fulfilling satisfaction in the long run. There exists anticipation for future reciprocity that becomes accepted as a kind of norm. This understanding presupposes that individuals will develop trust in each other, a rational response in attempts to build partnerships. This can be harmoniously tied into Parson’s Structural Functionalist understanding in which norms guide the individual. Rational Choice Theory is simply a reduction of societal norms to the individual level in which in most cases acting in line with these norms is in the individual’s self-interest. In this way we can incorporate Parsons’ viewpoint that societies are self-regulating and stable. In the cases where it is not calculated to be in their best interest to conform to mores we observe deviance. This is where Parson’s theory lacks explanation and where Rational Choice Theory can methodologically pick up the pieces. References Coleman, J. S. 1990. Foundations of Social Theory. Cambridge: Belknap. Parsons, T. 1937. The Structure of Social Action. New York: McGraw-Hill. Parsons, T. 1951. The Social System. The Free Press, New York. Parsons, T. 977 Social Systems and the Evolution of Action Theory New York: Free Press. Ritzer, G. 1991. Metatheorizing in Sociology . Lexington Books , Lexington, MA. [ 1 ]. In Capitalism and Commerce (1991) Edward W. Younkins defines Ay Rand’s moral theory of self-interest as derived from mans nature as a rational being and end in himself. It recognizes mans right to think and act according to his freely-chosen principles, and reflects a mans potential to be the best person he can be in the context of his facticity.

How Much Is College Tuition Average Costs

How Much Is College Tuition Average Costs SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Tuition is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) costs associated with attending college. Because of this, it’s important to know exactly how much of your money will be going towards this expense. In this article, I’ll explain exactly what’s included in this â€Å"tuition† line item on your college bill. Then, I’ll get into some of the nitty-gritty details, like: What isn’t included with tuition Average college tuition cost and the wide range of possible tuition prices Ways to pay less for college tuition Read on to learn more! What's the Average College Tuition Cost? So, tuition prices vary from school to school. Sometimes tuition prices will even vary within a certain school depending on your program or state residency. With that being said, here are average college tuition fee prices (2014-2015): $31,231 at private colleges $9,139 for state residents at public colleges $22,958 for non-state residents at public colleges As you can see, there’s a lot of variation in the prices of tuition based on the type of school you attend. These average amounts are helpful of course - they tell you what typical costs to expect - but we can also look at extreme prices at both ends of the spectrum. The Cheapest College Tuition Prices Some schools offer tuition prices that are significantly lower than the averages listed above. Schools that offer such low prices usually fall into one of two categories: They’re public schools that receive large subsidies from local governments so that they can charge students less They’re private schools that have made it their mission to offer low-cost educations The lowest tuition price I could find was $660 per semester at Dine College, in Arizona. There are many other schools that are very inexpensive, however. The average cost of attendance on this list of low-cost schools came to only $6,077 per year. The Most Expensive College Tuition Prices Some schools offer tuition prices that are, frankly, intimidatingly expensive. Schools that come with such a hefty sticker price generally fit one or more of the following criteria: They’re private schools, which means that tuition is not subsidized by any local or state governments. They’re elite, competitive schools with high operating costs. They'resmall liberal arts colleges. The highest tuition price I could find was $52,320 per year at Vassar College, in New York. There are a lot of other schools that are close to this price range, though. This list of the most expensive colleges in the US might give you a better idea of how common it is to charge such high prices. One caveat about these high prices, however: the same schools that charge so much for tuition often offer some really generous financial aid. Just because a college or university has a very high sticker price (also known as Cost of Attendance) doesn’t mean that students actually pay the full sticker price. The more financial aid a student gets, the lower her Net Price, which is the amount she actually has to pay to attend a school. The Net Price includes all expenses - not just tuition - but it’s an important number to consider because it’s more relevant when it comes to your budgeting concerns. What Does College TuitionInclude? Most of the time, when people say â€Å"tuition† they really mean â€Å"tuition and fees† - these costs are generally lumped together into one sum. So what does tuition money actually pay for? Well, tuition is considered the core of your college bill. It’s the fee that you pay for taking academic courses, and it may be calculated per semester (i.e. a flat rate) or per credit. Your tuition helps cover things like instructor pay, facility maintenance, and administrative costs. The â€Å"fees† that are usually lumped in with tuition may vary from school to school. Fees are generally pretty small when compared to the cost of tuition alone. They’re billed to students in order to cover extra services that are required to run a functioning school. Some common fees include: Lab fees - cover extra equipment and supplies required for lab courses Library fees - cover expenses associated with library resources and materials, which can be quite expensive Registration fees - help cover administrative expenses associated with enrolling and registering students each semester Student organization, activity, or services fees- used to support different student organizations, clubs, sports, activities, or even visiting academics Technology fees - used to cover expenses associated with providing technological equipment, programs, and support on campus Parking fees - common at schools where students commute, they help to cover maintenance of parking areas Health fees - cover health and counseling services provided to students Sometimes, students feel that they should not have to pay for particular fees if they know they won’t take advantage of certain services or resources. As unfair as that may seem, schools tend to make most fees mandatory for all students - if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be able to properly budget for those expenses. That being said, it couldn’t hurt to talk to the student billing office if you don’t think you should pay for a particular fee (i.e. if you’re charged a parking fee but you don’t drive to school). Fees: Annoying add-ons that cover pretty important services (like the library that you need to do well in your classes.) Tuition and Fees: Reals Here, I'll go through a couple of examples of tuition and fee breakdowns at real schools. This way, you'll be able to see exactly where students' money is going. Example #1: Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts Sciences, Full-Time In-StateStudent An in-state college student at ASU would be responsible for the following tuition and fees before any financial aid funds were applied: Description Annual Amount Resident Tuition $9,484 Resident Surcharge $320 Financial Aid Trust Fee $94 Recreation Fee $50 Technology Fee $100 Student Programs Fee $50 Health and Wellness Fee $80 Student Service Facility Fee $150 Student Athletics Fee $150 Total Tuition and Fees $10,478 As you can see, the bulk of the annual cost goes towards tuition. The total fee amount comes to $994. Keep in mind that these expenses don't include things like room, board, and transportation. Example #2: Boston University Full-Time Student Boston University doesn't supply quite as detailed of a breakdown when it comes to tuition and fee costs. Here's what a full-time student would be responsible for at BU before any financial aid was applied: Description Annual Amount Tuition $47,422 Fees $1,014 Total Tuition and Fees $48,436 A lot more expensive than ASU, right?The major difference here is that ASU is a public school whereas BU is private. To learn more about why these sticker prices are so high, read our guide explaining why college has gotten so expensive. Although BU might come with a pretty high sticker price, that doesn't mean the average student pays $48,436 every year for tuition and fees. At schools like BU, students' average Net Price (what studentsactually pay) tends to be much lower. For more info on sticker price versus Net Price, check out our guide to college costs. WhatIsn't Included With Tuition? Tuition is a big part of your college expenses, but it isn’t the only part. Depending on where you decide to go to school, you could have to budget for some other significant costs. The most important expenses not included with tuition include: Room - This covers rent or housing, whether you’re living on-campus or off (this is usually combined with board if you live on-campus). Board - Board amounts to your food expenses, either in the form of a meal plan (if you eat on-campus) or grocery/restaurant bills if you buy your own food. Transportation - This includes the costs associated with traveling back and forth from campus. Transportation may just be daily travel (if you commute to school), but it also may include transport to and from campus for holidays and breaks. Textbooks - Textbooks are notoriously expensive - you’re responsible for getting your hands on these required materials for your classes each semester. Personal expenses - Presumably, you’ll spend some money on yourself each semester. Personal expenses include things like hygiene items, laundry, clothing, and entertainment. These costs vary pretty widely depending on a lot of factors, including the type of school you go to (public versus private), where you go to school (in-state versus out-of-state), and your own personal choices (e.g. living at home versus living on campus). To get more information about what these expenses come to, and what you can do to minimize them, check out our complete guide to college costs. How Do You Pay Less for Tuition? These tuition prices might have you a little freaked out at the moment, but don’t panic yet! Published tuition prices aren’t necessarily what students actually pay to attend a school - like I mentioned; your Net Price is more important than the published sticker prices. There aren't any fire sales or flash discounts when it comes to college tuition, but there are ways to save money. So how canyou pay less for tuition and get your Net Price down to a reasonable amount? Here are your options: Go to a School With Cheap Tuition Costs This is perhaps the most obvious strategy - you can get your tuition costs down by applying to schools where tuition is already low. It’s easy to get information about a school’s tuition cost- itshould be outlined on every school'sfinancial aid or admissions website. You can start looking for inexpensive schools by checking out this list of the least expensive schools in the US. Before you get started, however; you should be prepared for the drawbacks that come with this strategy.There isn't necessarily great selection when it comes to schools with cheap tuition rates - you might only find public schools that offer lower prices for residents or schools that aren't particularly prestigious. Apply for Financial Aid Financial aid can bring down your costs no matter where you end up -if you submit the right application, that is. Anyone can apply for federal student aid with the FAFSA, the applicationfor the biggest source of student financial aid in the US. Many colleges and universities use the FAFSA to award their own financial aid funds. For more information, check out our step-by-step guide to applying for financial aid. Attend an In-State Public School Most of the time, public schools offer subsidized tuition at very good prices to in-state residents. These prices tend to be much less expensive than prices offered to out-of-state residents. If you’re interested in any schools close to home, you may be able to save even more money on room and board by living with family instead of payingexpensive rent costs. Attend a School With a Generous Financial Aid Program I’ve already mentioned that some of the most expensive schools in the country also offer some of the most generousfinancial aid in the country. If your grades and test scores are competitive, and you’re accepted to a school that offers strong aid, much (if not all) of your financial need may be covered by the school itself. You should check out schools that cover 100% of financial need and schools that have the best overall financial aid programs. Come across a school that you're interested in? You can instantly estimate your chances of admission. Just google â€Å"PrepScholar [school name] admissions† to visit our interactive admissions page. What's Next? You've just processed a lot of information about tuition costs and how to lower them. If you want even more strategies for decreasing your costs, keep reading! Scholarships are a great way to get funding for tuition, fees, room, board, textbooks, anything you use for college, really. To get your hands on scholarship money, check out our guides to top scholarships for high school juniors and seniors.You might also be interested in top minority scholarships available to high school students. Don't have a lot of time on your hands? Submit these very easy scholarship applications. 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:

7 Expressions and Ideas About Elephants

7 Expressions and Ideas About Elephants 7 Expressions and Ideas About Elephants 7 Expressions and Ideas About Elephants By Mark Nichol The elephant, thanks to its majestic size and unusual features, has inspired an assortment of metaphors and other verbal associations. â€Å"The elephant in the room,† for example, refers to an obvious issue that observers go out of their way to ignore. A more complicated connotation is that of a white elephant, an undesirable possession often donated alongside other like items at a fund-raising white-elephant sale on the assumption that someone else will find value in it. This usage is a dilution of the original meaning, based on the custom among the kings of Siam of offering a rare white elephant to noblemen who had fallen out of favor. The unfortunate recipient would then soon be financially ruined by the cost of maintaining such a beast. From this connotation arose the usage of â€Å"white elephant† to refer to a massively expensive, wasteful construction project. A pink elephant, on the other hand, is supposedly the likely hallucination of a drunk person. â€Å"Seeing the elephant,† by contrast, alludes to the onetime novelty of the animal, when people would travel far to view one in a circus parade or under the big top itself; thus, any overwhelming experience could be compared to this memorable observation. Then there’s the elephant test, which refers to the idea that an elephant is difficult to describe, but one knows it when one sees it. And sight, or the lack of it, is integral to a story told of six blind men who gave conflicting descriptions of an elephant because though each was giving an opportunity to touch one, they felt different parts: the trunk, a tusk, an ear, a leg, the stomach, and the tail. There’s also the concept of an elephant in Cairo, based on the idea of an algorithm computer programmers would develop to describe how to hunt elephants in Africa, involving a methodical sweep of the entire continent from south to north. This analog for creating a search algorithm refers to the placement of an elephant in the city in the far northeast corner of Africa to provide a termination point for the search process in case an elephant is not otherwise discovered. Two other associations of elephants are their well-documented superior intelligence and memory, and their fallacious fear of mice, perhaps based on observations in zoos and circuses of elephants, which have poor eyesight, unnerved by the scurrying of rodents. Finally, the origin of the adjective jumbo is an elephant of that name owned and exhibited by master showman P. T. Barnum. His hyperbolic advertisements of the elephant’s size led to the adoption of the animal’s name as a synonym for colossal. (Elephantine, by the way, is another synonym, though it also refers to ponderousness.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Mostly Small But Expressive Interjections44 Resume Writing TipsUsing Writing Bursts to Generate Ideas and Enthusiasm

Research method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Research method - Essay Example Positivists believe that all true knowledge is scientific, and that all things are ultimately measurable, and that knowledge can be organized in clear and generally accepted ways.   A positivist also tends to believe there is one best way to do things (Bryman & Bell, 2006, 57). Realism is all about accepting an event or situation as it is and preparing to deal with it accordingly (D’Aleo) Realism can thus exist independent of the onlooker. Phenomenology is about getting the deeper reasons behind human actions, concentrating on personal perspective and interpretation (Lester, 2000, 2). It would use personal interviews to get individual perspectives rather than make sweeping generalizations about the reasons behind choices. While measuring the size of the customer segment, it is clear that positivism using a scientific or mathematically verifiable method would be the best way to proceed. In research projects, both inductive and deductive reasoning can be used to establish hypotheses to be proved or disproved. Inductive reasoning progresses from the specific to the general (www.nakedscience.org). For example, regarding the feedback about their first visits to the Thai restaurant, we can start with the observations of individual opinion leaders or age groups and end by surmising the likelihood that a particular behavior or preference will be endorsed by the majority of the Brighton community of that age group or social segment. Deductive reasoning by contrast, progresses from the general to the specific (Saunders et al, 2009, 152). We can look at the major reasons why the Thai restaurant is preferred to others in the Brighton area and then concentrate on specific elements that are likely to draw in more

Aristotle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Aristotle - Essay Example Greek was the language of scholarship: it was excellent for reasoning, and since Aristotle was well brought up and educated, his language skills furnished him with the tools for analysis, calculation, interpretation, and reckoning. The Hellenistic time was when the rules of geometry were nutted out, together with the ideas for formal proof. In this area, Aristotle did a lot of thinking and discussing - which was the method of teaching of the day. Without formal rules for proving and establishing the fact, it would be impossible to formalize mathematics or science, so this was an important time in the history of mathematics. Aristotle was fundamental in establishing the ways of thinking necessary to make mathematical calculation possible, against a set of standards. Another factor that made Aristotle important is his recording of things studied, which provided evidence for those who later wrote histories of mathematics. Part of his contribution, therefore, is his perpetuating fact to enable others to read it. Fauvel and Gray, two mathematicians who did a lot of research into ancient Greek mathematics, give many extracts from Aristotle’s sources. Aristotle believed that logic must be applied to the sciences and to mathematics. ‘The sciences - at any rate the theoretical sciences - are to be axiomatised,’ he wrote. How people think mathematically is in part due to his works known as ‘Prior and Posterior Analytics’. In a simple way, this can be explained as a way to analyze, which determines the correct order in which things happen.

Cultural Diversity in the Media Essay Example for Free

Cultural Diversity in the Media Essay The term drugs refer to anything, which is not prepared by organisms and is generally considered that drugs are not part of food we eat. Although drugs also refer to Medical ailments (pills, syrups, capsules etc) but here we are discussing recreational drugs which are: LSD, Shrooms, Alcohol, Caffeine, Catnip, Salvia, Cocaine, Crack, DXM, Ecstasy, Ephedrine, Heroin, Inhalants, GHB, Tobacco, Cannabis, Methamphetamine, Milk (artificially prepared), Peyote, Nutmeg, Oxycontin, Ketamine, Whiteboard Markers and so on. Drugs have its uses and abuses. But mostly, its uses are almost negligible when one starts introspection of the conditions of society caused by the abuses of Drugs. Societies are damaging because of evils of the alarming increase in the intake of drugs all over the world, which is followed by the increase in crime and decrease in national income. It has been surveyed that people portray abnormal, illegal and ruthless behaviors after intake of drugs. Alcohols being widely available in societies of west provide easy hand in the provision of drugs. In America alone, every third child is said to be tainted by the drugs. All teens see some type of drug use or abuse in school or in the media. â€Å"The nineteenth-century explosion of drug use had gotten out of hand. Wiliam Halsted invented nerve-block anesthesia with cocaine (1885) but developed such a craving for the drug that his friends had to put him aboard a schooner for several months so he could kick the habit. He did, but became addicted to morphine from the ships supplies. It was long a closely guarded secret at Johns Hopkins University that one of the institutions founders was a junkie. Halsteds student, James Leonard Corning, invented spinal anesthesia with cocaine. Every family has a vicious drunkard dad or uncle on the loose; mournful mamas swigged patent medicines by the gallon; kids raised on heroin cough syrup graduated to coca-filled soft drinks. † Increasing display of drugs as element of â€Å"Being cool†, â€Å"Easy money†, â€Å"Failure in love†, â€Å"Family problems†, â€Å"Peer Pressures† and â€Å"Complexes†, in movies is grasping the attraction of teens and young adults. â€Å"An estimated 66. 5 million Americans 12 years or older reported current use of a tobacco product in 2001. This number represents 29. 5 percent of the population. Youth cigarette use in 2001 was slightly below the rate for 2000, continuing a downward trend since 1999. † Rates of youth cigarette use were 14. 9 percent in 1999, 13. 4 percent in 2000, and 13. 0 percent in 2001. The annual number of new daily smokers age 12 to 17 decreased from 1. 1 million in 1997 to 747,000 in 2000. This translates into a reduction from 3,000 to 2,000 in the number of new youth smokers per day. † Some of the most important movies to display drugs as an inspiration for live life, business and culture are given with their detail account of criticism and background. 1. The Blow The Blow was released in 2001 was based on a true story. The story of George Jung, the man who established the American cocaine market in the 1970s. It was directed by Ted Demme. The screenplay is by Nick Cassavetes and David McKenna. It is story of young man of middle class family struggling for a better place in society, which unfortunately do not turn out be very fruitful for the fate of the family. George then moved to California, where he starts his own business in which he finds both success and imprisonment. In prison, he meets a cellmate who introduces him into a partnership to the lucrative new market in cocaine. When George Jung released from jail he quickly becomes instrumental in establishing the exploding US market for cocaine in which he claimed that he handled about 85% of the supply in the 1970s. Although it was a movie that could be presented as a masterpiece for the awareness of the society, the movie missed its attempt. The death of the hero was tragic but his appearance in the movie appealed the young generation to a great extent. â€Å"Blow outlines the lifestyle of a mega-rich smuggler — the border crossings, the ruthless negotiations, the sudden betrayals, the wild characters, the run-ins with the justice system, the inherent problems in dealing with massive amounts of cash, the temptations — and, ultimately, the tragedy of blowing all of your dreams for greed. † 2. Trainspotting This Academy Award nominated movies was produced in 1996. Denny boyle directed it. This movie was based on a novel â€Å"Trainspotting† by Irvine Welsh. The screenplay was adapted from Welshs novel by John Hodge. This movie begins with the narration by Renton, who is a rent boy, he tell others that they should choose to live traditional family life. After his narration he tells that his train of thoughts ends with â€Å"who needs reason when you’ve got heroin? † all of his friend were addicted to drugs. The movie rotates all about dirty drugs business and its dealings. The movies most critical part is when Renton leaves drug addiction he feels no purpose of life. He then also deals in selling the heroin. Later Renton realizes that his friends are no his friends at all and leave them for a better life. â€Å"Its release sparked controversy in some countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, as to whether it promoted drug use or not. U. S. Senator, Bob Dole, decried its moral depravity and glorification of drug use during the 1996 U. S. presidential campaign, although he admitted that he had not actually seen the film. † 3. The basket ball diaries This movie was produced in 1995 and was directed by Scott Kalvert. It was written by Brian Goluboff. The movie is an autobiographical account of poet and rock musician Jim Carroll. The running time of movie was 105 minutes. As a member of an outwardly invincible high school basketball squad, Jims life centers around the basketball court and the court becomes an allegory for the world in his mind. It was biggest dream of Jim to become Star of basketball. He was Catholic high school student but later become drug addict due to bad company. Jim and his friends roam the streets of New York City as trivial thieves and revolts. Soon school expelled the Jim for he took drugs before game. Later Jim faces more trouble when his family throws him. This movie is a critical for most of its scene describing, â€Å"A youth (a mere school boy of age 13) is enjoying the drugs† and hence portrayed that it is not very offensive of a young boy or girl to take drugs in that age specially. â€Å"This movie contained incredibly dark and vulgar guided imagery which could quite possibly lead the impressionable into moral and value modification, poor coping skills, and dangerous decision-making. † 4. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas The movie Fear and Loating in Las Vegas was released on May 22, 1998. It was directed by Terry Gilliam. This film was based on Hunter S. Thompsons 1971 novel Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream. Journalist Raoul Duke and attorney Dr. Gonzo travel from Los Angeles, California to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1971 to cover a motorcycle race for a sports magazine and enjoy a haphazardly planned vacation. Fueled by the massive amount of drugs they purchased with an advance from a magazine to cover a sporting event in Vegas; they set out in the Red Shark. Wreak havoc upon the citizens of Las Vegas. Encountering police, reporters, gamblers, racers, and hitchhikers; they search for some indefinable thing know only as the American Dream and find fear, loathing and hilarious adventures into the dementia of the modern American West. The movie is filled with violence and drugs series. It effected the audience to en extent that even an incident got attached to it. During shooting Gilliam was approached by a group of young men, one of which complimented him on the film in general, but said that his favorite scene was the andrenichrome scene. He said that he had used the drug and that Gilliam had captured the effects perfectly. Gilliam didnt have the heart to tell the kid that it was made up, and went along with his story. 5. Dazed and confused Dazed and confused is a 1993 American film written and directed by Richard Linklater. The movie tells the stories of the last day of school in May 1976 in a Texas suburb. As the movie begins, the last day of school at a high school is beginning. The last day at Robert E. Lee High School proceeds with regular classes but the soon-to-be-senior class (Class of 1977) is more interested in getting ready for the annual hazing of the incoming freshman class, which will take place after school. The hazing is depicted as a ritualized event that has the support of the town, in the movie. Randall Pink Floyd was a football player who moves with simplistic grace among groups of greasers, nerds, stoners, and athletes alike. The coaches introduced a new policy for the upcoming 1976-77 school year in which athletes have to sign a written pledge that they will not use alcohol or illegal drugs. Pink refuses to sign the pledge sheet. The coach berates Randall Floyd for hanging out with that other crowd (referring to his stoner friends) and Floyd takes offense to it. â€Å"The movie conspicuously shows the much more relaxed attitudes toward both teenage alcohol consumption and driving with open beer containers at the time; Kramer can easily buy beer as the lawful Texas drinking age at the time was 18 and even that was lightly enforced. † References 1. http://www. thc-ministry. net/history-of-drugs. html 2. http://www. getsomeblow. com/index2. html 3. http://parentingteens. about. com/cs/drugsofabuse/a/druguse10_2. htm 4. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Trainspotting_(film) 5. ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP) by Thomas A. Carder http://www. capalert. com/capreports/basketballdiaries/basketballdiaries. htm 6. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Fear_and_Loathing_in_Las_Vegas_%28film%29 7. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Dazed_and_Confused_(film)

How the Greek Revered Their Gods :: Ancient Greece Greek History

How the Greek revered their gods In ancient times, the Greeks had absolute and undeniable respect for their gods. They demonstrated their admiration by putting in place many rituals and celebrations to reverence the gods that they loved and feared in order to ensure harmony with them. In particular, the focus will be on the religious beliefs of the Greeks, including prayer and sacrifice, as well as on festivals and the arts, such as the ancient Olympic games and theatre. These aspects of their culture made a significant contribution to their quality of life. Moreover, these topics will be examined in relation to the twelve Olympian gods and their associates. The ancient Greeks practiced a religion that was in effect, a building block to many ensuing pagan religions. This religion revolved around their reverence to the gods. Essentially, the Greeks worshipped numerous gods, making their religion polytheistic. They believed that exercising the opportunity to choose between a wide array of gods to worship offered them a great sense of freedom that they treasured. After all, the Greeks were known for their intellectual distinction of which their means of worship played a huge part. Each city-state, or polis, thus had an affiliated god who protected and guided its residents. Within a given polis, the belief in common gods unified the people. Ultimately, the Greeks yearned for this unity and order in the universe, which is a characteristic that is not unlike that of people today. It might seem contradictory that they believed in many gods and sought organization at the same time, for larger numbers are inherently unstable. But, to the god-fear ing Greeks, each god represented a different facet of life that together upheld an organized universe if each of these gods was properly appeased. To satisfy these gods, the Greeks participated in activities such as prayer and sacrifice and erected divine temples and centers for oracles in honor of specific gods. There is evidence of this institutionalization early on in the reign of the Olympian gods, thus forming the Olympian religion. The Olympian religion lacked the presence of true sentimentality, and the gods were not seen as forgiving or "flawless" as the Christian God is often portrayed. The Greek gods were portrayed as humans, which meant that they were not perfect. That is, the gods made mistakes, felt pain (e.g. Aphrodite in love with the mortal Adonis), and succumbed to anger and their tempers (e.

New Product Launch Marketing Plan Essay

A marketing plan can be defined as a written document that summarizes what the marketer has learned about the marketplace and indicates how a firm expects to reach its marketing objectives. It contains tactical guidelines for the commercialization programs and financial allocations over the planning period (Kotler et al., 2012). This document can be considered one of the most important outputs from the marketing process as it provides direction and focus for a brand, product, or company (Kotler et al., 2012). Typically, the marketing plan includes the following elements: Executive summary, situational analysis, marketing strategy, financial projections, and implementation controls. Executive summary Founded in 2014, Luxury-Pedic is a start-up manufacturer of luxury mattresses offering a product line that is focused on creating a lull the senses into a deep, relaxing, and peaceful night’s sleep. With other competitive offerings like Tempur-Pedic, Icomfort, and Sealy Optimum, the Luxury-Pedic product line will focus heavily on being different. By providing a quality product at competitive price levels, excellent warranty, and service experience, Luxury-Pedic will stand out. Luxury-Pedic will realize vital market penetration by utilizing a market challenger strategy and attacking the market leader on the basis of competitive pricing. Additionally, Luxury-Pedic will thrive based on the following operating principles: hiring a top-notch management team with extensive industry experience; a solid business model and long-term planning; and careful evaluation and response to competitive opportunities. Situational analysis Luxury-Pedic is entering into its first year of operation. Thus  far, its products have been well acknowledged with the intention of further and rapider expansion to come based on the marketing efforts soon to be implemented. Luxury-Pedic offers memory foam mattresses in three varieties of firmness and a several varieties of types of memory foam. Market Summary Luxury-Pedic understands the existing market and has done extensive research to understand the common attributes of the target market. This research will be used better to understand the consumers, their needs, and how to communicate best with the market. According to Business Journal for the Sleep Products Industry (2015), the target market for the mattress industry includes the following: Mattress Involved Sleep Sufferers Healthy and Content Brand Selectors Apathetics There is no set geographic target area for mattress sales. By utilizing in-store sales, Internet sales and delivery services, Luxury-Pedic intends to serve both domestic and International customers. The market can also be narrowed down to the adult demographic, ages 18 and up. Behavioral factors will include the working class, the sleep deprived or fatigued population looking for a good night’s rest. Market Growth Potential The mattress industry is a steadily growing, altering, and evolving. As the mattress industry has changed, the consumer demographics have changed as well. Baby Boomer’s no longer are wanting to deal with horrible sleep conditions as it saved money in exchange for a better nights sleep that allows consumers to be more energized and feel younger. This changing of consumer wants to consumer needs has enabled the mattress industry to become more prosperous than ever. There is an unlimited market growth potential as consumers are becoming more educated on the benefits of a better nights sleep as well as more educated on the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of mattress products. According to Wise (2012), â€Å"The mattress trade group recently revised its estimate and expects the value of mattress shipments to rise 10.5 percent and the number of units to grow 6.5 percent† (p. 3). This increased consumer knowledge base has changed the mattress market potential from being a small market with potential immediate rewards into a market where long-term growth and increase opportunity has become to the key to market success. Competitive Analysis The Luxury-Pedic 100% memory foam mattress line will move into a highly competitive space. Outside of the 100% memory foam mattress line, there is the independent wrapped pocketed coil line and the interlocking coil or traditional coil lines of a mattress. These lines are built and designed by mattress companies that have been selling mattresses for 65 to 140 years by brands such as Sterns & Foster, Simmons, Sealy, and Hampton & Rhodes just to start. When it comes to the 100% memory foam mattresses, Sealy, Tempur-Pedic, Hampton & Rhodes, & Serta are the most popular companies today. All four of these businesses produce memory foam mattresses that range in price from $698 to $9,000 for a queen set. The none memory foam mattresses range from $198 to $4,800 for a queen mattress set. Competitor Product & Price Summary When it comes to the prices of the 100% mattress foam lines, Luxury-Pedic is unable to compete with the prices of Hampton & Rhodes and the introductory lines from both Sealy and Serta. The quality differences between the Luxury-Pedic mattress lines and the lower end lines of Sealy, Serta, & Hampton & Rhodes are the differences between night and day. For their price point, none of their mattresses are 100% memory foam. They contain mostly low-grade heat conductive standard foam that sleep hot by giving back all of the heat put into the mattresses. Additionally, they do not have proper edge support or prevent body impressions. When it comes to the higher priced 100% memory foam mattresses from the other competitive brands, Luxury-Pedic mattresses will stand out due to same high quality of material, temperature regulation, comfort, and edge support at a price point that undercuts all other competing mattresses. Tempur-Pedic mattresses are the only mattresses in the entire industry that are price locked at a that is almost double of what any other memory foam mattress costs. Tempur-Pedic owns SealyTempur-Pedic, and so the focus of the Sealy  100% memory foam mattress line is to be only two steps above the Serta memory foam line. Out of all of the memory foam mattress lines, the Serta collection is the worst at temperature regulation and has no pillow top product offering. Sealy is better at temperature regulation but is the softest of all memory foam mattresses. The prices of these two lines are very similar. They range from $1,299 to $2,499. Segmentation, Target Market, & Strategy The Luxury-Pedic mattress lines will focus on three different areas of the consumer market. The first will be focused on consumer medical needs. The medical benefits of the Luxury-Pedic mattress lines range from increased circulation, increased recovery times, decreased: aches, pains, and soreness, and an increase in an overall comfort allowing for a better nights sleep. The second area will focus on consumer comfort. The Luxury-Pedic line will come in 3 different comforts from firm, plush, and pillow top allowing a customer to be able to identify the mattress that best suits their comfort needs. The third and final focus will be on consumer value as the Luxury-Pedic line will be more cost effective than Tempur-Pedic but will provide all of the same advantages and benefits of Tempur-Pedic. According to Perry (2010), â€Å"The mattress industry must sell dreams if it wants to elevate its image, boost its sale price and give consumers a better shopping experience† (p. 34). With the implementation of using these three different market strategies focusing on consumer segmentation and target marketing, Luxury-Pedic will be able to establish a stronghold in the 100% memory foam market. Pricing The Luxury-Pedic line will consist of three different mattresses firmness levels. There will be a firm, plush, and pillow top. When it comes a firm mattress, Tempur-Pedic queen price set is at $4,199, Serta is at $1,699, and Sealy has not actual firm 100% memory foam mattress. The price for a Luxury-Pedic firm mattress will be $1,899 as the Serta mattress has poor temperature regulation and it out prices the Tempur-Pedic significantly. When it comes to a plush mattress, Sealy is priced at $1,799, Serta $1,999, and Tempur-Pedic at $3,499. The Luxury-Pedic mattress will be priced at $2,099. The focus is to build value in the concept of adding more material  increases the size of the mattress allowing which causes an increase in the cost of the mattress. There is not a real pillow top in any of the Tempur-Pedic, Serta, or Sealy mattress lines, making Luxury-Pedic a true one of a kind, but in soft equivalences Sealy is priced at $2,099, Serta $2,199, and Tempur-Pedic at $4,999. The Lux ury-Pedic pillow top will be priced at $2,299. The point is to no be cheaper than a low-end mattress, but to be at a lower price than Tempur-Pedic. We will be at a higher price than Sealy and Serta with the benefit of much better quality. Distribution Strategies The distribution strategy for Luxury-Pedic will be following Indirect distribution. Luxury-Pedic Mattresses will initially be built and assembled in two factories in New Mexico and Kentucky to allow for easy mass distribution to wholesalers and mattress retailers. As Luxury-Pedic’s increase in the success, additional factories will be built to shorten delivery times in order to allow for an increase in mattress sales. The objective of the distribution strategy is to be able to get new mattresses to wholesalers and retailers in less than 72 hours after ordering. Developing clear objectives is vital to a successful marketing plan. There are numerous essential elements to consider when creating effective marketing objective. It’s important that the objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-specific or SMART for short. The SMART approach let you how to manage your marketing activities successfully. Luxury Pedic is always evolving. The mattress industry is continuously growing. Key performances indicators are an important part of information used to describe how companies such as Luxury Pedic will progress towards its marketing goal within the next three years. Retailing at competitive rates of $1899-2500 depending on the mattress performance level, Luxury Pedic is priced to achieve increased profit revenue continuously. The key performance indicators are based on legitimate data and business objectives, and they are not always financial but they are necessary for directing management to their full potential. Some other essential performances include new and existing customers’ status, customer segmentation by profitability or demographics, customer referrals, advertisement, and testimonies. Demand forecasting Demand forecasting and estimation gives businesses valuable information about the markets in which they operate and the markets they plan to pursue. The purpose of demand forecasting and estimation is to find a business’s potential demand so managers can make accurate decisions about pricing, business growth and market potential. Managers base pricing on demand trends in the market. Demand forecasting and estimation is critical for inventory management. Businesses buy inventory based upon demand forecasts. Demand forecasting and estimation methods are typically accurate for short-term business planning. Estimating demand for the long-term is difficult because there are many unforeseen factors that influence demand over time. The expansion of the global mattress industry is forecast to reach 3.7% p.a. in the coming years. Between 2007 and 2013 the market increased with an average annual growth of 4.9%. Currently, cellular plastic and rubber mattresses account for 40.9% of the global demand while the remaining market share is divided between other mattresses (41.8%), and mattress supports (17.3%). China, France, Germany, Japan and the United States represent the largest mattress markets while the strongest annual growth is forecast to occur in Tanzania (24.1%), Ethiopia (15.4%), Philippines (15.0%), Rwanda (14.8%) and Bolivia (13.3%). Marketing Objectives Developing clear objectives is vital to a successful marketing plan. There are numerous essential elements to consider when creating effective marketing objective. It’s important that the objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-specific or SMART for short. The SMART approach let you how to manage your marketing activities successfully. Luxury Pedic is always evolving, the mattress industry is continuously growing, and key performances indicators is an important part of information used to describe how companies such as Luxury Pedic will progress towards its marketing goal within the next three years. Retailing at competitive rates of $1899-2500 depending on the mattress performance level, Luxury Pedic is priced to achieve increased profit revenue continuously. The key performance indicators are based on legitimate data and business objectives; they are not always financial, but they are necessary for directing management to their full potential. Some other key performances include new and existing customers’ status, customer  segmentation by profitability or demographics, customer referrals, advertisement, and testimonies. Implementation Milestones As a new company, setting milestones in a marketing plan allows your company to track the progress of company goals; allowing the business to determine if it can reach the task by a particular date and if there is enough data to move to the next activity. Luxury Pedic will identify their tasks, the start date, and the scheduled completion date, each event will continue until every task is finished. Creating a milestone table for your business sets the plan in concrete terms with real budgets and deadlines. Luxury pedic started by identifying each milestone, assigning a due date, allocating a budget, and designating a responsible person or group for each task, this is how a plan is implemented. Control Metrics It is important to set the rules of engagement within Luxury-Pedic. In order to measure success, we must be able to have a way to create company goals and establish the way to control what needs to be done in order to achieve the objectives set forth. We must be able to have a rule to measure current success, as well. We must be able to deliver efficiently on four types of marketing control. Those types are Annual Plan Control, Profitability Control, Efficiency Control, and Strategic Control. Annual Plan Control provides us with the ability to see if the results the company is looking for are being reached. Profitability Control shows us where we are making money and, even, where we are losing money. If it is found that money is being lost, we can adjust what is being done to produce a positive gain in revenue. Depending on the money that is lost, the product or idea will go directly to the end of life cycle to save cost in that area. Efficiency control gives us the opportunity to see how our marketing dollars are being spent in relation to the impact that our marketing strategy is having on our consumer base. Strategic control will give us a roadmap letting us know if the company is going down the right path in product offerings and how we are going about to make these offers available to the public. With the proper control measures put in place, we can see a complete picture of how the company is doing at any particular time. We will be able to identify problem areas quickly and create contingency plans when needed adequately to address  any needs or areas of concern. Its falls on management to steer the company in the right direction. Creating a culture of success is vital. Frontline employees must be on board with the direction the company is moving. If it is determined that there are issue in that area by way in bad performance results, for example, it is up to management to find the right path to correct those performance issues. All parts of the business must work well together in order to serve our consumer base actually. Contingency Planning â€Å"Marketers must be ready to update and adapt marketing plans at any time† (Kotler & Keller, 2011, p. 55). There are many variables that can affect daily, monthly, and quarterly numbers in terms of production and revenue. We must be ready to address any and all areas of concerns promptly. The introduction of a new mattress company can affect the way we market and advertize to our consumer base. Competition in a marketplace can have several adverse effects. One thing we must be prepared to adapt to is the effect competition can have on pricing and promotions. Too much competition can drive prices down which mean Luxury-Pedic must change to be successful. We may need to invest in more cost friendly products that can deliver the same quality and comfort to cut cost, but will allow us to still deliver on our promise to our customer base with more affordable pricing. Major geological events can have an immediate impact on demand of our products. Floods, tornados, and hurricanes can create mass devastation that can leave our consumer base in need to rebuild. Adjustments in our offerings and promotion to assist in helping rebuild our community will increase our overall customer satisfaction. Community service events and product donations would be a way for us to stand out above the rest of our competition to show that we care about our customers and our community. During such a period, the company could see a short term dip in revenue. With the establishment of community service projects in the time of need, we can predict that we will reap positive long term success from that. Luxury-Pedic must be flexible in our approach and delivery of our products to our customer in order to achieve high success. In conclusion, a successful firm starts with a marketing plan within its first fiscal year. A marketing plan is a highly detailed and written document that summarizes how  a firm plans to reach its marketing objectives. Luxury-Pedic has outlined its marketing plans and detailed tasks to reach these elements, executive summary, situational analysis, marketing strategy, financial projections, and implementation controls will be discussed among other elements. This paper has defined the following objectives that Luxury-Pedic will implement to achieve this successful marketing plan. References BedTimes. (2012). Research Finds 5 Key Mattress Consumer Segments. Retrieved from http://bedtimesmagazine.com/2009/01/research-finds-5-key-mattress-consumer-segments/ Kotler, P., & Keller, K. L. (2011). Marketing Management (14th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Perry, D. (2010). Mattress industry should sell dreams. Furniture Today, 34(37), 33. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/docview/346182942?pq-origsite=summon&http://search.proquest.com?accountid=35812 Wise, W. L. (2012). Going to the mattress. The Post and Courier Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/docview/1115405056?pq-origsite=summon&accountid=35812

The Prevalence Of Barretts Esophagus Health And Social Care Essay

Gastro esophageal reflux disease is the chief known etiologic factor for Barrette Esophagus, and BE is the precursor lesion of esophageal glandular cancer. The prevalence of BE is reported largely from gastroenterology centres and few informations are reported from outpatients with indigestion. Lots of patients with GERD have grades of indigestion. This survey chiefly aims to find the prevalence of BE in dyspeptic patients. Material and methods: outpatients holding indigestion refer to endoscopy unit for endoscopy. Meanwhile the endoscopist takes biopsy of distal gorge. Barrett ‘s esophagus diagnosing will be find based on the endoscopic unnatural visual aspect of the distal gorge and besides based on Intestinal Metaplasia ( IM ) pathologic position. Consequences: the prevalence of BE was 5.4 % ( based on endoscopy ) and 3.7 % ( base on pathology ) . 69 % of patients with confirmed BE were & gt ; 50 old ages and 31 % were & lt ; 50 old ages. 81 % of patients with confirmed BE reported GERD symptoms as their dominant indigestion symptom, but consequence is merely 20.4 % in patients without BE ( p value & lt ; 0.001 ) . Decision: BE has a comparatively high prevalence in dyspeptic patients. The prevalence of GERD symptoms in BE emphasizes the demand for making endoscopy for dyspeptic patient. Cardinal words: Barrett Esophagus, Endoscopy, Heartburn, Pathology Introduction Prevalence of gastro esophageal reflux disease ( GERD ) is raising along with the prevalence of Barrett ‘s gorge ( BE ) and esophageal glandular cancer ( 1 ) . GERD is the chief known etiologic factor for BE, and BE is the precursor lesion of esophageal glandular cancer ( 2 ) . Adenocarcinoma of gorge is normally a locally turning tumour and it invades next variety meats and cause deadly complications ( 3 ) . BE is defined as altering the liner of distal gorge that can be recognized with endoscopy and is documented by presence of gablet cells and other standards for IM in biopsies taken during the endoscopy ( 4 ) . Hiatus hernia, fleshiness and presence of helicobacter pylori in gastro enteric piece of land are some of the hazard factors for BE ( 5, 6 ) . These factors are believed to increase BE by increasing acerb reflux. Many gastroenterologists make the diagnosing of BE by endoscopy and corroborate it with presence of IM in biopsies taken from the gorge ( 2 ) . The standard for endoscopy is the Presence of chronic GERD after ingestion of proton gaudery inhibitor or acerb suppressers for at least 4 hebdomads ( 7 ) . Association of BE with glandular cancer is the chief factor that thrust physicians to endoscopically measure GERD patients ( 8-11 ) . BE is found in 2 % of big population and 3-5 % of GERD patients ( 2 ) . The overall prevalence of BE in patients with chronic GERD is 3-12 % ( 8, 10, 11 ) .The prevalence of BE is reported largely from gastroenterology centres and few informations are reported from outpatients with indigestion. If we consider the coexistence of GERD with indigestion in many patients, the demand to measure dyspeptic patients for BE will be highlighted ( 10 ) . This present study is aimed specifically to show the prevalence of BE in dyspeptic outpatients and to research possible hazard factors for its presence. It besides determines the efficaciousness of GI endoscopy to name BE in the selected population. Material and methods: This is a prospective survey on Outpatients of GI clinic who were over 18 old ages old and had a primary ailment of at least 3 months of indigestion ( intermittent or uninterrupted ) and have been conducted during 2007-2011, after the approve of Kashan University of medical Sciences Ethic commission. We defined dyspepsia as composite of uncomfortableness or hurting in epigastric part ( with or without acerb regurgitation ) , inordinate belch or belching, abdominal bloating, early repletion or feeling of unnatural or slow digestion or pyrosis ( 10 ) . Patients who had a documented history of upper GI surgery, a clinical probe of indigestion by endoscopy or radiology ( in the old 6 months ) or on more than two occasions in the past 10 old ages, and used proton pump inhibitors within 30 yearss or H2-receptor adversaries within 14 yearss of registration excluded from the survey. Out of the outpatients enroll ; those who consented orally to an endoscopy enter our survey, and refer to endoscopy unit of shahid beheshti infirmary, a cardinal infirmary in Kashan. Of the enrolled outpatients, informations on age, sex, nationality, weight and tallness, presence and laterality of GERD symptoms and continuance of dyspeptic symptoms will be record in separate signifier. The presence of BE will measure in two ways: endoscopically, and histologically. Barrett ‘s esophagus diagnosing will be made based on the endoscopic unnatural visual aspect of the distal gorge. If there was a intuition of Barrett ‘s epithelial tissue in the distal of the gorge, the endoscopist find the instance as Barrett ‘s gorge and we mark the instance as BE instance by endoscopy. The presence of â€Å" gastric-appearing mucous membrane † or â€Å" columnar-lined † gorge is the standards for the endoscopist study of BE. The lengths of the unnatural epithelial tissue were non recorded. Biopsies from all instances were taken merely proximal to the gastro-esophageal junction, harmonizing to standard pattern for histological verification meanwhile the process. The determination of the figure of biopsies to be taken was made upon the estimate of Barrett ‘s epithelial tissue length by the endoscopist. If groundss of IM were seen in the biopsies by the diagnostician, BE could be confirmed, and we mark the instance as BE instance by pathology. These informations will be added to the patient ‘s signifier. Data enter SPSS package and analyze with descriptive statistics, qis square trial and t-test. Consequences Of the 1156 outpatients enrolled, 12 patients did n't consent to hold endoscopy. Out of these 12 patients 9 were afghanian who had n't return to hold endoscopy for unknown grounds. 3 of Persian patients did n't accept to endoscopy and establish endoscopy unneeded, although the physician explained the necessity. A sum of 1144 dyspeptic patients underwent endoscopy, 1100 ( 96.2 % ) of them were Persian and 44 ( 3.8 % ) were afghanian. The average age of the instances was 45.2 old ages old. BE was endoscopically diagnosed in 62 instances ( 5.4 % ) , and pathologically diagnosed in 42 ( 3.7 % ) of them. All these 42 instances were diagnosed with endoscopy as BE, but 20 instances ( 32.2 % ) that were endoscopically marked BE, were non confirmed as BE by pathology. Thus the sensitiveness of endoscopy for diagnosing of BE is 100 % but its specificity is 67.8 % . The average age of patients with confirmed BE was 53.2 old ages. 42.6 % of patients without BE were male and 57.4 % were female wh ereas 64.3 % of patients with BE were male and 35.7 were female ( p value=0.005 ) table1. Hiatus hernia was diagnosed in 10.2 % of all patients ( 117 out of 1144 ) . 9.1 % of patients without IM had Hiatus hernia, while 40.5 % of the patients with IM had Hiatus hernia ( p value & lt ; 00.1 ) ( table 2 ) . 54.8 % of the patients with BE had reflux esophagitis but merely 4.4 % of the patients without BE had reflux esophagitis ( p value=0.003 ) . The average continuance of dyspeptic symptoms in the 42 BE patients was 10.29 old ages ; 6 patients ( 14.3 % ) reported symptoms & lt ; 5 old ages in continuance and 1 ( 2.4 % ) reported symptoms & lt ; 1 twelvemonth in continuance. Comparision of patients with and without BE revealed that patients with BE have longer period of indigestion ( P value & lt ; 0.01 ) ( table 2 ) . Among 1144 patients 314 ( 27.4 % ) had acid regurgitation or pyrosis and 259 had these symptoms as their dominant symptom. Out of These 259, 34 ( 13.1 % ) had BE. 34 out of the 42 patients ( 81 % ) with confirmed BE reported either pyrosis or acerb regurgitation as their most bothersome ( dominant ) indigestion symptom, compared with 225 ( 20.4 % ) of the 1102 patients without BE ( p value & lt ; 0.001 ) ( table 2 ) . The average BMI among all 1140 patients was 28.8 and there were no important difference between patients with confirmed BE and patients without BE ( p value=0.995 ) . Discussion: The recognized method for naming BE is detecting IM in biopsies taken from the gorge. There is a argument whether presence of stomachic metaplasia ( without IM ) should sort a patient as holding BE or non. In this survey, presence of IM in pathology is the cardinal point to sort a patient to hold BE. In 1144 uninvestigated indigestion outpatients that undergone endoscopy, the prevalence of BE was 5.4 % if based on the endoscopic intuition of stomachic metaplasia in the distal gorge and 3.7 % when the diagnosing was histologically confirmed by the presence of IM. In one Single centre survey on 1248 Persian GERD patients, the prevalence of endoscopicaly suspected and pathologically confirmed BE was 8.3 % and 2.4 % severally ( 12 ) . But we investigated dyspeptic patients non GERD. The prevalence of BE among the patients that have acid regurgitation and pyrosis ( GERD symptoms ) as their dominant symptom is 13.1 % in our survey and is comparatively higher than old Persian probes ( 12, 13 ) . And is besides higher than 3-12 % in other surveies ( 8, 10, 11 ) . But our consequences are less than 24.1 % reported in a survey conducted in Japan ( 14 ) . As other surveies suggested ( 15 ) HH and esophagitis were more common in patients with BE and BE was more prevailing in males and older ages. In our survey people proposing pyrosis or acerb regurgitation tend to hold BE more than other surveies. In a survey by Breslin et Al. that reported on the findings of endoscopy in 3634 Canadian patients, the prevalence of BE suspected on endoscopy varied from 0.3 % to 2 % . And merely a minority ( 0.3 % ) was histologically confirmed ( 16 ) . This may be reflect the prevalence of BE in our country. In our survey 67 % of the endoscopically diagnosed BE were confirmed by histology. This rate is 11 % in another survey ( 17 ) Reflecting the function of endoscopist experience in naming BE. It has been shown that both longer continuance and badness of pyrosis are risk factors for the development of glandular cancer of the distal gorge. Patients with BE in the current survey reported dyspepsia symptoms of longer continuance and merely 14.3 % had symptoms for & lt ; 5 old ages. The fact that BE is a complication of longstanding GERD has been one of the chief grounds behind the recommendation for a ‘once in a life-time ‘ endoscopy in patients with GERD symptoms ( 10 ) . Decisions: In drumhead, the overall prevalence of histologically confirmed BE was 3.7 % in outpatients with indigestion. Patients with dominant symptoms of pyrosis, the prevalence of BE was 13.5 % . These informations should be used in the treatment about the demand for a one time in a life-time endoscopy in patients with dyspeptic symptoms. Our informations suggest that if endoscopy is recommended and should take topographic point at an older age ( such as age & gt ; 50 old ages ) and in patients with symptoms of & gt ; 5 old ages continuance as it will increase the output of diagnosing of BE.

Should You Really Trust College Ranking Lists

Should You Really Trust College Ranking Lists SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Since the U.S. News World Report college rankings list debuted in 1983, college-bound students and their parents have become quite enamored with college ranking lists. While the U.S. News list may be the most well-known, there are a plethora of college ranking lists out there. All use slightly different criteria to rank colleges and all claim to be the best and most reliable. However, should you trust any of these lists? Should you use them when deciding which college to attend? Do they provide any valuable information? In this article, I'll answer those questions. I'll let you know how much you can trust college ranking lists. Furthermore, I'll explain the pros and cons of these lists and how to use them to your benefit. How Are College Rankings Determined? Most ranking lists use a combination of objective statistics and subjective opinions based on survey responses to compile their rankings. Objective Numbers That Influence the Rankings These are the most common statistics used by the most popular college ranking lists that help determine the rankings. Retention: Some lists use the freshman retention rate, the percentage of students who return for their sophomore years, to help to determine their rankings. The logic behind using this statistic is that if a student is happy with a college and receiving the necessary support, then she will return for her second year. Also, lists use the 6-year graduation rate, the percentage of students who graduate within 6 years. If a college is providing quality instruction and nurturing its students, then the vast majority should be able to graduate within 6 years. Class Size: US News measures the proportion of classes with less than 20 students and the proportion with 50 or more. The idea here is that very small and large classes are indicative of having more resources. Also, students in smaller classes receive more attention and personalized instruction. Faculty Salary: The reasoning for using this metric is that schools that pay their faculty most generously are able to attract the best professors. Student-Faculty Ratio: If there is a low student-faculty ratio, then students can possibly get more attention and there will be more opportunities for students to interact with professors. SAT/ACT Scores: Schools with higher average standardized test scores are seen as being more selective and having more academically capable students. Percentage of Students That Graduated in the Top 10% and 25% of Their High School Classes: Colleges whose students all graduated near the top of their high school classes are judged positively for having the highest caliber of student. Acceptance Rate: The logic behind using this number is that if a college admits only a very small percentage of its applicants, then those that it does admit are likely to be the best and brightest. Average Spending Per Student: US News calculates spending per student by using the average spending per student on instruction, research, student services, and related educational expenditures in the most recent two fiscal years. Spending on sports, dorms, and hospitals doesn't count. If a college is spending more per student on education, then you may be able to assume that its students have more educational resources and quality instruction. Alumni Giving Rate:The alumni giving rate is the percentage of graduates who gave to the school, usually within the last year or two. According to various studies, the alumni giving rate is a measure of student satisfaction. However, I enjoyed my experience at Stanford, but I don't donate to my alma mater. Maybe somebody from Stanford will read this and I'll stop getting incessant letters and phone calls asking me for my money. Financial Aid: Some lists measure the average amount of financial aid awarded and others measure the percentage of financial need that is met. Better colleges should have the resources to enable all qualified students to attend regardless of financial need. US News also measures how satisfied students are with their financial aid, but that is a much more subjective rating. Salary of Alumni: The logic behind using average alumni salary in college rankings is that colleges that provide an excellent education and can offer good professional connections will have alumni with high salaries. Opinions That Influence The Rankings Academics US News World Report relies heavily on "undergraduate academic reputation" in its rankings. The academic reputation of a school is determined by how top academics and administrators at other colleges assess its academics. US News also surveys counselors from high schools to rate the academic programs of colleges to help determine "academic reputation." Princeton Review conducts a survey on how hard students work and how much they get back for their efforts to assess academics. Quality of Life Most college ranking lists assess the quality of life at a college through student surveys. Princeton Review grades quality of life through student assessments of "their overall happiness; the beauty, safety, and location of the campus; the comfort of dorms; the quality of food; the ease of getting around campus and dealing with administrators; the friendliness of fellow students; the interaction of different student types; and the quality of the school's relationship with the local community.† For the first time this year in its rankings, Forbes used a student satisfaction survey on Facebook where students were asked how satisfied they were with their school from 1-5. Obviously, the logic behind using quality of life measurements in rankings is that students should be happy if they're attending a good school. Pros of College Ranking Lists Discover New Colleges College ranking lists can introduce you to colleges that may be a good fit for you. I think this is probably the most valuable thing about these lists. Many students are not as familiar with smaller, well-ranked schools. Seeing these schools on ranking lists can provoke a student to research them, apply to them, and maybe even attend a school he would not have previously considered. For example, schools like Harvey Mudd and Williams are excellent schools that may not be as prestigious or have the same name recognition as Harvard or Yale, but they consistently rank very highly in college ranking lists. Provide Extensive Data for You to Compare Schools In one ranking list, you can see the average class size, high school GPA, or SAT/ACT score for many different colleges. These lists can offer you a resource for numerical comparisons. If you're considering a few different colleges, you can refer to a rankings list to compare the available statistics for each school and that may help you narrow down your list of colleges to apply to. Give You an Idea of What Others Think While the rankings can be disputed and these lists are subjective, college ranking lists do provide some insight into the reputations of different colleges. Graduate schools and employers often consider the reputations of different schools when they make decisions. Going to a #12 vs. a #20 school will probably have little impact on those decisions; however, going to a #12 vs. a #200 school could. Learn What You Need to Do to Be a Qualified Applicant Many of the ranking lists give you the average high school GPA, standardized test scores, and the percentage of students who graduate in the top 10% and 25% of their high school classes. From these numbers, you can determine what you need to do to make yourself competitive for admission to a specific school. If you want to have a decent shot at getting into a certain college, your numbers should compare favorably to those of the average student there. Cons of College Ranking Lists Some of the criteria used to evaluate colleges are highly subjective. For US News World Report, top academics and high school counselors answer survey questions about other schools' academic programs. Are they well-informed enough to have educated opinions on the academic programs of colleges they may have never worked at nor attended? Are they just relying on hearsay and the reputations of these schools to answer these questions? Similarly, some quality of life assessments may not account for natural variances in opinions. If the campus of a school in a rural environment is ranked as beautiful, that means little for the student who prefers urban environments and would find the rural campus unappealing. Some of the criteria used to rank schools may have no real impact on your educational experience. The rate of alumni giving and selectivity of a school will probably not impact the quality of instruction you'll receive at a particular college. Students can get too focused on the rankings instead of figuring out which school is the best fit for them. There's probably not much difference in the quality of education at a #5 school vs. a #10 school. The #10 school may be a much better fit for a student who could excel academically at both. Finally, colleges are very motivated by the rankings. They'll convince students who have little chance of getting accepted to apply to increase their selectivity rating. They'll spend countless hours and tremendous resources hitting up alumni for money to up their alumni giving percentages. Perhaps these schools could improve their academic programs or support services if they allocated their resources without regard to college rankings. College ranking lists can be both good and bad. What Do Some College Experts Think? Generally, in my research, the "experts" on record seem to have echoed some of my sentiments about college rankings. Jeffrey Brenzel, Dean of Admissions at Yale from 2005-2013, believes that college ranking lists are of limited value to students: The formulas used to rank schools are based on factors that in themselves are often irrelevant to individual students. Their composite scores reflect alumni giving rates, student-to-teacher ratios, median SAT scores, persistence to graduation, admissions selectivity and other data that provide little information about specific program strengths, honors programs or the general way in which the school lifts and supports student aspirations. The simplicity and clarity that ranking systems seem to offer are not only misleading, but can also be harmful. Rankings tend to ignore the very criteria that may be most important to an applicant, such as specific academic offerings, intellectual and social climate, ease of access to faculty, international opportunities and placement rates for careers or for graduate and professional school. Colin Diver, former Dean of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and former President of Reed College, also wrote of his dislike for ranking lists. He wrote positively of Reed's decision to not submit information to US News World Report for its rankings list: For ten years Reed has declined to fill out the annual peer evaluations and statistical surveys thatU.S. Newsuses to compile its rankings. It has three primary reasons for doing so. First, one-size-fits-all ranking schemes undermine the institutional diversity that characterizes American higher education. The urge to improve one's ranking creates an irresistible pressure toward homogeneity, and schools that, like Reed, strive to be different are almost inevitably penalized. Second, the rankings reinforce a view of education as strictly instrumental to extrinsic goals such as prestige or wealth; this is antithetical to Reed's philosophy that higher education should produce intrinsic rewards such as liberation and self-realization. Third, rankings create powerful incentives to manipulate data and distort institutional behavior for the sole or primary purpose of inflating one's score.Because the rankings depend heavily on unaudited, self-reported data, there is no way to ensure either t he accuracy of the information or the reliability of the resulting rankings. However, some college admissions experts do see some value in the ranking lists. Lynda McGee is a college counselor at Downtown Magnets High School, ranked as a gold medal high school by US News interestingly enough. Like I previously mentioned, she states that college ranking lists can help introduce you to excellent colleges: Many factors go into college rankings, including alumni donations and how other institutions perceive them. Take that into account when you start to think that school #1 must be much better than school #20. What the rankings can do is introduce you to great schools you may be unfamiliar with. So check out those rankings, but remember that you will find an excellent education up and down the list. Keep in mind that while you may not find many representatives from colleges to speak positively about ranking lists, in general, hundreds of colleges routinely brag about their rankings and prominently display them on their websites and in their brochures. Colleges tend to care about these rankings, and they know they matter to students, their parents, and influence popular opinion. Rankings matter to many people. Final Word on Whether You Should Trust College Ranking Lists Don't trust the exact ranking. The #5 school isn't necessarily better than the #10 school in any given list. Use ranking lists to find colleges you may have not previously considered. Focus on the factors that are important to you in a college when looking at a ranking list. You want to go to a college that is a good fit for you. Use the objective available statistics like average high school GPA and SAT/ACT score to compare colleges and determine what you need to do to be a qualified applicant. College ranking lists do provide a rough idea of how colleges are perceived in the academic and professional worlds. What's Next? College ranking lists should only be one of many resources you use in your college search. Make sure you know how to choose a college. Also, look at the best college search websites. Finally, as you're deciding which schools to apply to, learn about reach and safety schools. 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: