Urban Views Weekly April 22, 2015

Apr. 22, 2015

Scholar of the Week – Jacqualyn Battle

Fathers

Strengthen Families

Samuel Jackson and son at Fathers’ Support Group graduation in 2014

NEW LOCATION!

The Deal

By Jason Alderman

Resetting Your Retirement After Divorce Retirement planning can face derailment after a divorce. Married, two-income couples have the advantage of splitting living expenses and pooling all their investment assets, including retirement accounts. Once the marriage is over, costs for separate households may limit the ability of ex-spouses to keep their retirement on track.

Bon Secours Heart Institute Forest Ave. & Glenside Dr.

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THURSDAY

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April 30, 2015 6:30pm-8:30pm

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Gather a personal finance team. It’s a good idea to hire a financial professional to offer advice on all relevant financial, investment, tax, estate and retirement details of a divorce negotiation. Afterward, individuals may continue with these advisors or interview new ones. Personal referrals are best, but the following resources may help:

To assure a comfortable retirement, many

The Certified Planner

Letter To The Editor

Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce Email: Info@CVAACC.org • Phone: 804-823-7745 Join the chamber by going online to www.CVAACC.org 2

Urban Views Weekly | April 22, 2015

continues on page 9

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Ervin B. Clarke, Publisher publisher@urbanviewsweekly.com

at Reynolds Crossing

Free Admission for CVAACC members • Non-members $20.00 Please RSVP via the www.CVAACC.org Event Calendar

Here are a few steps to reset one’s retirement goals after divorce.

After a divorce, individuals generally walk away with a share of joint retirement assets based on how they negotiate that split. However, returning to singlehood means the end of shared expenses with housing, food, transportation and related expenses now being paid out of one wallet, not two. This can mean considerably less money to direct toward retirement and other savings and investments.

Bon Secours Heart Institute 7001 Forest Ave, Richmond, VA 23230

experts advise individuals to save and invest over time so they can live annually on at least 70 percent of their pre-retirement income.

Divorcing couples should retain separate qualified financial experts to assure an equitable split of assets and a continuing plan to build a solid retirement in single life.

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ViewPoints

#BLACKLIVESMATTER In an interview, the award - winning playwright Lorraine Hansberry defended her singular focus on Black people and the lives they live by stating, “… in order to create the universal, you must pay very close attention to the specific.” Her plays and stories did not argue for all of humanity, or that #AllLivesMatter, because she considered that to be an obvious supposition. Her work was deeply steeped in social responsibility, critical analysis, and the specific issues surrounding equity and justice for Black people. Rather than speak broadly about ALL of humanity she chose to be intensely individual and specific, drawing her characters and stories from within the Black community, which never detracted from her sensitivity to the will and aspirations of all people. The intense and intimate focus on one part of the greater human race was what brought illumination to all of humanity.

The #BlackLivesMatter movement has brought a type of renewed attention and much needed scrutiny to the historic legacy of institutional racism, social injustice, and economic disparity in a nation that continues to be plagued by the contradiction of what it defines itself as, “…one nation, under God---indivisible with liberty and justice for all”, and what it continues to demonstrate itself to be. The #BlackLivesMatter movement and other national organizations, activists and community organizers have been laserfocused on the criminal justice system, law enforcement, abuse of power, use of deadly force, and the over-policing of communities of color.

other race. It should be noted that in 2015, thus far, of the 37 deaths of police officers killed in the line of duty, criminal perpetrators or alleged criminal perpetrators shot none.

Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D.

Founder and Artistic Director The Conciliation Project and Associate Professor Virginia Commonwealth University DrT@Margins2theCenter.com www.theconciliationproject.org

Since the beginning of 2015, police officers have killed at least 1 person every 8 hours sending on average 3 people per day to early graves, with 176 civilians killed so far this year. The uproar over the growing number of unarmed black men shot dead by police officers in recent months has put the public spotlight on a much bigger trend in the U.S. Not only are black people incarcerated at much higher percentages than whites, they are also more likely to receive much harsher penalties and sentencing for misdemeanor and non-violent crime. More insidious and disturbing is the indisputable fact that police officers are much more likely to shoot and kill black people than any

TanyaFree.com/ Urban Views Weekly Poll The Democrats and Republicans are already gearing up for the 2016 Presidential Election .Political party brand loyalty and the money behind those parties have made it difficult for many third party candidates to compete in the political process. Too often voters have voted for the perceived lesser of two evils rather than consider a third party candidate.

What’s Your Take? Is a vote for a third party candidate a wasted vote?

Check out the story and respond to this week’s poll at TanyaFree.com and the Urban Views Weekly FACEBOOK Page.

Listen to the Tanya Free and Friends Talk Show Wednesdays @ 2pm on WCLM1450AM streaming LIVE @ TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com.

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Urban Views Weekly | April 22, 2015

By Dr. T

Given the well-documented aforementioned facts, why is it that some well-meaning people must diminish the critical nature of these injustices and the loss of life in epidemic proportion with the need to remind us that #ALLLivesMatter? Clearly, the huge problem that we have right now is that some lives matter more than others and it is those “other” lives that we need to focus our energies on at this time. To make the focus of our protest on Black Lives and the #BlackLivesMatter movement is not a disregard of other people’s lives and it does not deny the sanctity of any life. If young white boys and men were being shot down in the streets in epidemic proportion, if they were being incarcerated disproportionally, over-charged and over-sentenced, even to life in prison for misdemeanor offenses, I dare say, it would be those lives on which all focus, energy, resources and attention would land. If it were white lives…. we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. That’s why the specificity of our struggle is focused, and we will not be turned around until #Black Lives DO Matter. In order to be universal…you must (FIRST) pay very close attention to the specific.

Up Next Week: Separation of Church & State

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Trees that grow communities.

One redbud seedling can change the way a child cares for the world. Project Plant It! is a hands-on educational program that uses trees to connect environmental awareness with science, technology, engineering and math—connections that can grow into a greener future for us all.

ProjectPlantIt.com Project Plant It! is a partnership between Dominion and the Arbor Day Foundation, and is offered at no charge to elementary schools in Dominion service regions.

www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

Urban Views Weekly | April 22, 2015

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Connecting Fath Strengthens C “Richmond is a city where children experience the benefits of fathers and mothers working cooperatively and responsibly to raise healthy children.”

This is the vision of the Richmond Family and Fatherhood Initiative, launched by the Richmond City Health District in 2008.

The initiative, often abbreviated RFFI, works in holistic, multilayered ways. Across the city of Richmond, across multiple agencies, organizations, community partners, faith communities, and individuals, RFFI staff and volunteers leverage as many kinds of resources as possible. They use social media to educate and influence culture.

They work to affect local, state, and national policy. RFFI commissions research into what stands in the way of strong families and what will most effectively support them. They pursue workforce development.

They are strategic in all of these areas in the service of their mission: to create community cultures connecting fathers to their families.

This mission is essential. In Virginia, 31 percent of babies are born to single mothers. In Richmond, that number spikes to 60 percent. In Richmond’s African American community, the number jumps again to 86 percent.

As program coordinator, Mingo regularly contacts religious and community groups, meets with city officials, and joins conference calls with state and national organizations who, he says, want to know more about RFFI. “Other jurisdictions are looking at us as a demonstration model,” he says.

RFFI stands out because they “work from an intervention and prevention perspective.” In intervention work, Mingo says, “We address those factors--many of them poverty-driven--that help to stabilize families now.” But they also work to prevent families from becoming destabilized in the first place, to “change the trajectories” of young men’s lives.

RFFI is also a model initiative because it works with the whole family. The programs Mingo runs include fathers’ support groups, a motherhood and co-parenting initiative, and a Boyhood to Manhood Rites of Passage program for boys as young as nine years old.

Anthony J. Mingo, Sr., Richmond Family & Fatherhood Initiative Coordinator and Tauchanna Gregory, Richmond Family & Fatherhood Initiative Special Projects Administrator

“That’s unsustainable,” said Anthony J. Mingo, Sr., RFFI’s program coordinator, when I spoke with him about the initiative’s work. “That’s why we are working diligently to help stabilize families in Richmond.”

Mingo commutes two hours each way, every day to do this work. “I’m a state employee, but I’m also a pastor,” he said. “This work is a personal calling on my life.” Mingo also grew up in a single-parent family, so the work, he says, is therapeutic. He quoted Malachi 6:4: “(The prophet’s) preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers.”

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“Those are the last words the Lord says in the Old Testament,” Mingo adds.

Urban Views Weekly | April 22, 2015

“Foundationally, we’re looking at healing the ills of our society,” Mingo said, “so our programming has to look at the entire family.”

RFFI’s value of the stability of the whole family affects how its individual programs are structured. The fathers’ support groups train fathers, at no cost, in five areas: personal development, life skills, responsible fatherhood (including parenting skills), relationship skills, and health and sexuality. It also provides them with any needed referrals for housing, employment, health, financial, or social service support.

Clarence Harris, one of RFFI’s top facilitators, leads several fatherhood groups at the Richmond City Justice Center. He recently led a smaller group of 13 men through RFFI’s 16-week curriculum. In March, the men participated in a father-daughter dance through the nonprofit Camp

Left to right: Phillip White, Taurus Rogers, Clancy Little, Samuel Anthony Mingo at the first Fathers Diva, which brought their program to the jail for the first time. This group, Harris said, was able to be intimate and vulnerable because of its small size.

Harris also works with two groups of 60 men at the jail. Most meetings consist of educational time followed by question and answer sessions. Though these groups are less intimate, Harris still sees results.

“Foundat we’re loo healing the society,” M “so our pro has to loo entire fa

“One of the more therapeutic, enlightening experiences happens when the men realize that being a father is so much more than just being a provider. While they thought they were being good fathers because they were providing for their families, they realize how much time they were not spending with their children. They realize they don’t know their child’s favorite color, or favorite food, or favorite subject at school.”

Other times, Harris said, the men have realizations about themselves, often as they reflect on their experiences with their own fathers. “They

hers to Families Communities

By Shea Tuttle

to do things differently, sometimes for the very first time in their lives.

They all intend to come out and be productive members of society.”

shouldn’t I call (home)?’ Instead, you have, ‘What should I talk about this time when I call?’”

“We who are in position to help these men out, we owe it to society to help them. Just as they owe it to society to become productive members, we owe it to society to help them do that.”

“We also are always preparing the men to leave. None of them have life sentences, so they will all leave these walls.”

This sense of shared responsibility also shows itself in Harris’ compassion, both for the incarcerated men and for their families.

“While they’re incarcerated, they both have it bad,” he said. “The men have it bad because they’re separated and isolated from their families, and it hurts. It hurts to miss your daughter’s fifth birthday.”

l Anderson, Mohammad Salam, Daimon Winstead, Wes Johnson, Support Group graduation in 2014.

tionally, oking at e ills of our Mingo said, ogramming ok at the amily.”

realize how much they are like their fathers even though they said they wouldn’t be. For instance, maybe their father was an alcoholic, and they swore they wouldn’t be, and they ended up addicted as well.”

Like Mingo, Harris’ passion for his work is both vocational and personal. He’s a substance abuse counselor, so he has particular ability to work with men who deal with addiction. He’s also a father, so he’s learning along with the men in the group.

Harris credits Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist who founded analytical psychology, with influencing his leadership style. “Jung had a theory about ‘the wounded healer,’ which says I must understand that I’m as wounded as you are so that we can build and grow together. I can’t heal from a pedestal. I’m no greater than the group. We’re all equal members.”

“These men aren’t bad men,” Harris elaborated. “They’ve made some bad decisions, but through education and exposure, they are learning how

“The families have it bad because, in many cases, the father is the provider and protector. So the family experiences trauma. Maybe they can’t afford to live in the same neighborhood or buy the same food as before.

Maybe they can’t keep their car and have to rely solely on public transportation. They are vulnerable to all sorts of societal ills.”

The motherhood and co-parenting initiative offers direct support to mothers in two broad areas: being a mother, and being a co-parent.

The women learn parenting skills, and they also learn skills for working with fathers of their children. “We help her navigate that relationship with Dad,” Mingo explains. In cases where the father’s behavior has hurt the mother, the program tries to help the mother move from a place of anger to a place of communication and cooperation.

Mingo told me that there are a couple of statements he finds himself making over and over again when talking with fathers and mothers. To fathers who have daughters, he says, “You must recognize that your daughter, one day, she’s going to marry someone who’s just like you.”

And to all parents, Mingo says, “This isn’t even just I asked Harris how he can tell about your child. Think about Tauchanna Gregory, RFFI Special Projects Administrator his work is making a difference. the generational impact. Your and Alexandria James, Executive Director of Trinity Family Life Center How can it change the lives of enhanced role in your child’s life present certificate to Motherhood Support Group graduate fathers and families when the men will show itself for generations. are still incarcerated?

If you become a better parent, your child is going to be a better parent to their child someday. Something that seems so little can impact He told me that the groups focus on the men as fathers inside--as well generations--multiple generations to come.” as outside--the walls of the jail. “We have to be the best fathers we can while we’re incarcerated; we have to learn ways to father from inside the Learn more about how you can get involved with the work of the institution.”

Richmond Family and Fatherhood Initiative by visiting their website, richmondfatherhood.org. RFFI is looking specifically for more faith “I can see the changes mostly in the quality of the questions that communities interested in becoming partners in their work. There are they’re asking, the quality of the problems that they’re having. When also opportunities for financial supporters, community organizations, the quality of the problems increase, that means that you’re recovering schools, and government agencies. Click on “Get Involved” on the from something. You no longer have the problems of, ‘Should I call, or website to learn more. www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

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Dominion’s Project Plant It! Grows by 20% in 2015 Each spring, school systems throughout Virginia use Dominion’s Project Plant It! program to provide third-graders with an enriching educational experience to connect children with the environment. More than 44,000 students in six states are enrolled this spring—a growth of 20 percent in participation over last year’s enrollment.

Project Plant It! was established in 2007 by Dominion Resources, parent company of Dominion Virginia Power, to teach students about the important role of trees in the ecosystem. In April, each participating student receives a redbud tree seedling in honor of Arbor Day. This culmination inspires children to plant their own tree and care for it over the years.

Richmond Public Schools has been involved in Project Plant It! since its inception, and several RPS schools have hosted Arbor Day events and tree celebrations. Oak Grove Elementary held an event in 2015, in which the children planted six trees and sang a special song about spring.

Students dig into the science of trees with Dominion’s Project Plant It!

Students enjoy the diverse array of lesson plans and activities provided by Project Plant It!, especially when they can go outdoors to practice their math and science skills in investigation, measurement and analysis. They also can write stories and poems about trees to boost their

Urban Views Weekly | April 22, 2015

Educators like Laura Marshall, third-grade teacher at Grange Hall Elementary School in Chesterfield County, appreciate the crosscurricular approach to environmental education that Project Plant It! provides. In addition to collaborative team research for science projects, students have created songs and artwork about trees.

“The program encourages students to take initiative and be proactive about planting the redbud seedling with their families,” she said. “Project Plant It! has been an important component of my spring curriculum for the past nine years.”

The free program from Dominion includes a special kit for teachers with innovative lesson plans, posters, certificates, stickers and more. All of the materials support state learning standards and knowledge skills in core curriculum subjects such as math, science, language arts and social studies. The website, www.projectplantit.com, has educational games and videos.

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proficiency in language arts.

New in 2015 is a contest to find Nature’s Greatest Educator—the teacher who most creatively incorporates the Project Plant It! lesson plans, instructional tools, and website activities into the classroom curriculum.

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, May 1. Contest details and prizes can be found on the website.

“Project Plant It! is one of the many ways that Dominion seeks to partner with the communities we serve,” said Irene Cimino Roberts, manager-corporate public relations for Dominion.

Since 2007, more than 300,000 tree seedlings have been distributed to elementary school students in areas where Dominion conducts business. According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, this equates to about 750 acres of new forest if all of the seedlings are planted and grow to maturity.

For more information about Project Plant It!, visit the website or Facebook page.

www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

Civic Beat

From The Deal: page 2

FUNdraising Good Times

Five Compelling Questions to Ask When Interviewing for a Fundraising Job Part two of a two-part series You’ve been selected to interview for a fundraising position. You’ve read the job description; researched the organization online; you’ve even talked with people who have been involved with the nonprofit over the years. You feel it inside: “this could be my dream job.” Yes, it could. But, it could also be a nightmare.

Careful interview preparation can help inform your career path and save you some frustration. Listen to your heart, but take the time to develop and ask a few specific questions. This is your opportunity to find out whether or not you will be able to succeed in the position you are interviewing for.

Reflect on past experiences – what made your positions exciting and which made going to work drudgery. Develop a few questions that you believe will uncover the information you need to make an informed decision.

Here are five to consider.

1. How is fundraising success measured within this organization? How do you intend to evaluate my work? Beyond meeting the fundraising goal, what are the factors that determine success or failure? If the interviewer doesn’t know these, it may be hard for you to “meet the mark.”

2. What resources will the organization provide to ensure my success? For example, what percentage of time does the executive director allocate to fundraising on a regular basis? How are board members involved in fundraising, beyond oversight and policy approval?

Will I be allowed to contact board

members directly? No matter how talented you are you already know that you cannot succeed without leadership’s full engagement.

3. Is the organization working from a fundraising plan? If selected for a second interview, can arrangements be made for me to review the plan before that interview? Is your current fundraising volunteer led or is it staff led? Again, if the interviewer doesn’t know, that should be a red flag.

4. Did the organization meet its annual fundraising goal last year? Were there any “extraordinary” gifts that impacted the final numbers? Related questions can include: what was the annual goal?

Was it meaningfully larger or smaller than the prior year? Was the annual goal met in the prior year? How is the annual goal determined, and by whom? These questions will reveal the extent to which the interviewer knows and understands fundraising.

5. Please share with me the specific fundraising skills and experience you expect from the person you hire.

Answers to this question can quickly reveal if your experience is a fit.

Here’s the bottom line: if you are reporting to someone who doesn’t know fundraising, it may be a challenge for you to be successful. It’s better to know before you start a new position.

Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your fundraising, visit www.saadandshaw. com or call (901) 522-8727.

t lk abou Let’s ta g your growin ess. busin www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

Ask us how: (804) 441-6255

Board of Standards The Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education The Financial Planning Association Your state CPA society Budget. Spending priorities can change after a divorce. Newly divorced spouses should track all new spending diligently so they can reset their budget for retirement. (http://www. practicalmoneyskills.com/retirementcalc) Qualified financial advisors can help review a divorcing individual’s budgeting strategy to make sure as much money goes to savings as possible.

Evaluate all retirement assets. When divorce is finalized, it is a wise idea to take inventory of all retirement assets to determine whether they still fit investment goals. If one’s 401(k) or employer plan administrator does not have a calculator to help estimate how accounts will grow under certain investment scenarios, refer to Bankrate.com’s various retirement calculators for help.

page (http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/delayret. htm) for a discussion of how and when to start taking payments. Also keep in mind that retirees married 10 years or longer who have stayed single may be entitled to Social Security benefits on their ex-spouse’s record if they meet certain requirements.

Be honest about new financial limitations.

If a serious retirement shortfall emerges after divorce, it’s important to reset financial priorities. That may mean speaking with family members about necessary cutbacks in certain expenses. It is important to have retirement in the best shape possible to avoid stress on family finances later.

Bottom line: The personal and financial disruption caused by divorce can make it easy for newly single individuals to neglect their retirement planning. It is important to seek advice and take all necessary steps to keep one’s retirement on track.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ PracticalMoney.

Review Social Security benefits. Most experts urge individuals to wait as close to age 70 as possible to start drawing their Social Security benefits. Check the Social Security Administration’s Delayed Retirement Benefits

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Urban Views Weekly | April 22, 2015

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Scholar of the Week

By Janeal Downs As her high school years come to a close, Jacqualyn Battle is preparing to go to college to pursue a degree in psychology.

Though she recently decided to pursue psychology as a major, she has always been interested in how the mind works. Jacqualyn grew up with her mother who has neurofibromatosis. She said psychology is one way she can better understand her mother and the human brain in general.

Jacqualyn Battle of

John Marshall High School

GPA: 4.4 College of Interest: Virginia Union University Major Community Service: Boys and Girls Club, Carytown Crunches Cancer Strong Interests: Psychology, criminal justice Favorite Activities: Working at the Boys and Girls Club, Fashion

One of the most influential people in Jacqualyn’s life is her grandmother. “She deals with a lot, like being with my mom,” Jacqualyn said. “She’s very strong and she can put up with a lot, and she’s taught me how to be able to put up with a lot.” Growing up, Jacqualyn did not always understand why her mom could not do certain things, but her grandmother helped her deal with it and become stronger. “She’s taught me that I can do anything if I really want to.”

or anything like that,” she said. She has a strong interest and talent for science and is currently taking a dual enrollment biology class at John Marshall with Virginia State University. With this class she has learned that “college is hard and it’s a lot of responsibility.”

Some of her other favorite activities include working at the Boys and Girls Club and working with fashion. Most of her extracurricular activities are outside of school and within the community.

At the Boys and Girls Club, Jacqualyn works with 6 and 7 year old children. She has also previously worked with Carytown Crunches Cancer and has continuously worked in childcare. While in high school she has been a part of the Art Club, DECA, and she helps out with the ™ cheerleading squad. In high school Week she has learned “to not procrastinate, to ask for help and to not be afraid to ask for help because it’s easy when you ask for help and just be mature about a lot of things.”

Scholar0 of the

As a senior at John Marshall High School, Jacqualyn currently has a 4.4 GPA. She hopes to eventually become a psychiatrist. For her Bachelor’s degree, she will be attending Virginia Union University this fall. Other than learning more about how the mind works, Jacqualyn is also interested in helping rehabilitate criminals. “I just like criminal justice, but I don’t quite want to be a police officer

Though she can be shy and serious, Jacqualyn said there is a fun and bubbly side to her. She said she is very mature and helpful. Just as she helps her mother now, by going to college and eventually becoming a psychiatrist, she hopes to help many other people in the future.

Watch for our Scholar of the Week segment, Wednesdays at 6:30 PM on 

$100 Scholarships Awarded Every Week

Encourage your scholar to apply!

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Urban Views Weekly | April 22, 2015

Do you know a High School Senior who can meet the following criteria?

1. Have a 3.0 grade point average or better 2. Participates in extracurricular community service activities 3. Attends public school in Central Virginia Go to UrbanViewsWeekly.com for application and details.

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How to Guide

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How to Choose a University

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The college or university you choose can help you achieve your goals or leave you lying in the dust with a huge tuition bill. Choosing the right college or university can feel overwhelming. After all, your decision will have long-term ramifications.

applying to a college, view a list of possible electives.

Alumni Connections Don’t forget to think of alumni connections in your family or circle of friends. A letter of recommendation or contact with others in your prospective field of study can advance your career. Colleges look kindly upon people with alumni connections.

These professionals could also give you insight into avoiding pitfalls and how to best use your degree after graduation.

Selecting a strong college with an excellent reputation will give you a firm foundation to pursue your dream life. Careful planning and thought will help you feel confident that you are making the right choices for your life.

Large or Small School?

Ask yourself if you learn better in an intimate setting or a large classroom. Some schools have a small student-to-teacher ratio while others have auditoriums filled with students listening to a lecture. As you begin your research, be sure to look for information on class sizes and student population.

Areas of Specialty The reputation of a university or college is very important. It can open or close doors in your career. Most colleges are renowned for a handful of majors.

Does the learning institution specialize in your area of interest? Attending a prestigious university or college will give you opportunities and resources. The possibility of employment after graduation also dramatically improves when your school has good name recognition.

Minors Once you have decided upon a major, think about your other areas of interest.

Many colleges offer students the choice of adding a double major or minor to their plan of study. Even if you are going to pursue only one major, you will likely need to have elective courses in your schedule. These classes allow you to study something that will be beneficial and meaningful. They can also add a dimension to your work and perhaps even give you another hobby. You might even enjoy your electives so much that you decide to switch majors. Before

Social Activities Extracurricular activities and social events are another element to consider when choosing a college. Connections you make outside of the classroom are very important. Some universities are famous for their sororities and fraternities. Other colleges have excellent sports programs. Any school activities can help you network and make new friends. Students even develop lifelong friendships this way. The culture of your prospective university should be a strong factor in your decision.

Online Classes When you have outside commitments or you prefer to learn at home, consider taking online courses. Internet classes can save you money, especially when it comes to transportation. Online courses may allow you to work at a faster pace than traditional university classes. Working at your own speed can assist you in graduating quickly or allow you to tend to your active life. If you are thinking about choosing an online school, be sure to check their academic credentials and reputation. Also pick an institution in good standing.

Choosing an institution for higher education can seem like a difficult, daunting decision. But once you understand your academic and lifestyle needs, you can find a school that is perfect for you.

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Call: (804) 441-6255 Urban Views Weekly | April 22, 2015

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