How to Finance a Phone with Bad Credit

How to Finance a Phone with Bad Credit How to Finance a Phone with Bad Credit How to Finance a Phone with Bad CreditBad credit means everything costs more, even cell phones. So what are your options?Remember when a cell phone was considered a big luxury, rather than a necessity? Back in the day, high-powered businessmen would pay thousands of dollars to carry around a brick that was slightly more effective than two tin cans tied to a string.Over the years, cell phones have become much more advanced, with internet access and apps for everything. Presumably, the call quality has gotten better, although only robocallers seem to actually make phone calls anymore so who really knows?Regardless, having a smartphone is practically essential these days, as so much of modern society is oriented around it. But how will your credit score impact your ability to get a phone? Is it possible to get a good deal on a phone contract even if you have bad credit?Wait, what’s a credit score again?Before we answer whether your credit score can affect your ability to get a phone, let’s go over what a credit score actually is.Basically, your credit score is a three-digit number that’s compiled from the credit reports created by the three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. The most common credit score is the FICO score, which is scored on a scale from 300 to 850.  The closer your score is to 850, the better the loans you’ll be able to getâ€"and with better interest rates too.If you have a credit score below about 650, then youre considered to have poor or bad credit. In this range, you wont be able to qualify for many traditional loans or credit cards. Instead, youll have to settle for bad credit loans or no credit check loans, some of which are fine, but many of which come with eye-popping fees and interest rates.But your credit score isnt all about loans. It can also be a necessary factor for getting a car or an insurance plan or, yes, a phone and phone plan.How much will your credit score impact your ability to get a phone?When you try to enter into a cell phone contract, many providers will perform a credit check.It makes sense. The reason for a credit score, generally, is to measure how reliable an applicant has been about paying down their debts and managing their credit. If you’ve generally been paying your bills on time, odds are greater that you’ll also pay your phone bill on time.On the other hand, if you’ve run into trouble paying your bills previously, a provider will likely think that you won’t treat their bills with any greater value and will offer you worse ratesâ€"if they’re willing to offer a contract at all.Obviously, a low credit score doesn’t necessarily mean that a person is irresponsible, but that is often the assumption a lender or service provider will make, at least when it comes to the subject’s likelihood to pay their bills.Hard credit checks will temporarily lower your score.Unfortunately, there’s a good chance this credit check will be a hard credit check. That mea ns it’ll cause temporary damage to your credit score. If you are given the option, a soft credit check is always going to be better, but depending who the provider is, it may not be able to be helped.Improving your credit score by paying off your debts, paying all your bills on time, and using credit cards responsibly, will allow you to get better options when it comes to phone plans.But it can take time to build up a good credit score, and you probably can’t go that long without a phone. So what are your options?You can pay more for your phone upfront.One option you’ll have is to pay more money upfront when purchasing a new phone. Your monthly payments might even be lower than a person with better credit who chooses to pay less upfront.Paying more upfront when you have bad credit is actually quite common. It can help you rent an apartment  and sign up for utilities. With some services, like dental work, you may be able to pay less overall if youre willing to pay for everythin g up front and in cash.Of course, this means you’ll need a larger amount of money saved up, and you’ll want to make sure that the phone you’re getting has a good warranty, as you don’t want to lose that upfront investment if the phone gets damaged.This won’t always be possible, however. If your credit is low enough, you may not be able to qualify for any financing plan at all. At least not with certain providers.Many companies will give you the option to prepay for your phone use, but this tends to be more expensive over time than a traditional phone financing plan.Unfortunately, it’s a recurring reality that the worse your credit, the more you’ll have to pay in the long run. If you do consider a prepayment plan, be sure to shop around at many different providers to see which ones specialize in these kinds of offers.Shop around for phones and  a cosigner.Obviously, it’s always a good idea to look at different providers to find the one whose plan is the most affordabl e for you, but the big providers may be less likely to offer good deals to people with worse credit.Some carriers, like T-Mobile, have started offering plans that don’t require a credit check. As tends to be the case, you may not get the same rates you’d get with good credit, but it’s worth looking into.You can also consider reaching out to friends or family. If you know someone who trusts you and has good credit, see if they are willing to be a cosigner on the account. You can also look into joining a relative’s family plan and just pay them back each month as necessary.Fixing your financial situation can feel like a Catch-22: You need a better job to get more money but you need a phone to get that job and you need more money to get a phone. But hopefully, this advice can help you on your journey to better credit and  a better phone plan!If you want to learn more about living with bad credit, check out these related posts and articles from OppLoans:Shopping for Furniture wi th a Bad Credit Score? Here’s What You Need to KnowHow to Buy an Engagement Ring With Bad CreditIf You Have Bad Credit, Should You Buy or Lease a Car?What are your best tips for buying a phone when you have bad credit?  We want to hear from you!  You can  email us  or you can find us on  Facebook  and  Twitter.

How Does Priestley Present the Change in Sheila During the...

An inspector calls is a morality play that challenges the ideas of an upper class Edwardian audience,preistley achieves this both through the attitudes of the play but also through his implementation of personal morals. Sheila is initially presented as the stereotypical Edwardian daughter but soon freely presents her emotions, without the need for approval from her parents. Sheila is first presented as the stereotypical daughter who conforms to the wishes of her parents, â€Å"you’re squiffy† shows Sheila being very respectful in the way she speaks, but in this still presenting her emotions without upsetting her parents.it would be expected of Sheila to be very well spoken, â€Å"yes, go on, mummy† uses formal address terms showing Sheila’s†¦show more content†¦Despite Gerald’s control over his fiancà © Sheila seems more interested in the ring.Preistley may have been attempting to present the shallowness of the upper class society. After questioning has started by the inspector we start to see a change in Sheilas attitudes towards the rest of her family. â€Å"Did you, dad† shows continued respect whilst still allowing Sheila to escape from the expectations she has to conform to, this is made easier due to the fact that Sheila has the inspector with her as the voice of the lower classes. Priestley is attempting to show that the lower classes are not given a voice so need the upper class to offer some level of protection. This progresses to a more obvious display of emotion â€Å"I think it was a mean thing to do† this openly criticizes her father, something which would have been heavily unexpected and seriously punished ,with the inspectors presence Sheila can present the change of attitudes of the younger generations. Priestley was attempting to show that the change in attitudes of the upper class will not be instant; the younger generation will be the catalyst for the change in attitudes towards the lower classes. Before the inspector entered the birling household Sheila presented herself as the perfect fiancà © to Gerald, despite knowing something happened during the summer she is still very reserved in what she says. With the inspector acting as a defence she begins to take on the role of theShow MoreRelatedSheilas Development; Inspector Calls930 Words   |  4 PagesHow does Priestley present the change in Sheila during the course of the play An Inspector Calls? How do you think this ch ange reflects some of Priestley’s ideas? Initially Sheila is thought of to be quite childish and immature at the start of the play as she teases and has a playful argument with her brother and with her mother telling her off saying ‘’Now stop it, you two’’. This resembles an ordinary family and so we can see that Sheila is treated as a child and behaves like one through the use

Athabasca Oil Sands Essay - 1394 Words

Introduction The Athabasca oil sands are the second largest producer of crude oil in the world, with a surface area of approximately 100 000 square kilometres (Anderson, Giesy Wiseman, 2010). The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board estimates that the oil sands contains approximately 1.7 trillion barrels of crude bitumen, however only 19% can be ultimately recovered (Raynolds, Severson-Baker Woynillowicz, 2005; Humphries, 2008). The availability of recoverable bitumen makes Canada’s oil sands deposit larger even than that of Saudi Arabia (Czarnecki, Hamza, Masliyah, Xu Zhou, 2004).The process of surface and in situ mining of the Athabasca oil sands is causing rapid and significant degradation of the regional environment surrounding†¦show more content†¦The steam acts as a separating agent to isolate the bitumen from the other constituents (Anderson et al., 2010). Bitumen that is extracted by in situ processes is upgraded into more valuable synthetic crude and then refined into fu el for gasoline or diesel. The remaining bitumen is directly processed as raw (Bergenson, Charpentier, MacLean, 2009). Water Resources and the Athabasca River The mining processes of the Athabasca oil sands directly affect water resources surrounding the mining pits, specifically the Athabasca River and its tributaries. Water use has been identified by the Alberta Chamber of Resources as a top four challenge of oil sands mining processes (Raynolds et al., 2005). The extraction of bitumen requires freshwater in large quantities, on a scale of 2-4 barrels of water for every barrel of oil produced (Anderson et al., 2010). Tailings is what becomes of the water used in the extraction of oil. It is a slurry of bitumen, water, sand, silt and clay particles. Tailings ponds, which are actually man-made structures, take up more than 50 square kilometres of land in northern Alberta (Raynolds et al., 2005). The water that is used in the extraction of oil separates from the other constituents in tailings ponds as the sediments settle on the bottom, and is pumped back to the extraction plant to be reused. Tailings ponds present environmental risks to freshwater resources due to theShow MoreRelatedCase Analysis : Enbridge Inc.1401 Words   |  6 Pagesenergy company intending to build two opposite flowing parallel pipelines, transporting crude oil westbound from the rich Athabasca tar sands, and natural gas condensate eastbound from the coast of British Columbia. The purpose of transporting bitumen to the west coast is in order to have an outlet to the Pacific Ocean and subsequently export to the growing Asian o il markets via oil tankers. Alberta’s tar sands are estimated to have 166 billion barrels of proven reserves as of 2014, and production capacityRead MoreThe World s Largest Proven Oil Reserves2495 Words   |  10 Pageslargest proven Oil reserves. The province of Alberta alone contains 98% of all these reserves, discovered in Canada (1). This is why Alberta holds the key position in Canadian economy as Canada is the fourth largest exporter of the oil and it makes up almost one-quarter of Canada s exports as well as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Almost 99% of Alberta oil reserves are contained in oil sands and the remaining 1% are present as conventional crude oil. According to an estimation, Oil sands contain up toRead MoreEnvironmental Assessment Of The Alberta Tar Sands1368 Words   |  6 Pagesgoing to talk about the Alberta tar sands development, and about how they are not effectively protecting their environment. This has already led to negative effects in the surround ing areas. These effects will only continue to worsen, if nothing is done to slow down, or further prevent them from happening. The Alberta tar sands, is currently the largest construction project taking place in the world, and as such is a very important development. The Alberta tar sands are a necessary evil, because theRead MoreThe Alberta Tar Sands Development1368 Words   |  6 Pagesgoing to talk about the Alberta tar sands development, and about how they are not effectively protecting their environment. This has already led to negative effects in the surrounding areas. These effects will only continue to worsen, if nothing is done to slow down, or further prevent them from happening. The Alberta tar sands, is currently the largest construction project taking place in the world, and as such is a very important development. The Alberta tar sands are a necessary evil, because theRead MoreStand Against Seal Hunt and Pipelines in Canada843 Words   |  3 PagesInuit in Nunavut The End of the Oil Boom in Alberta Oil is extracted from the oil sands in huge open-pit mines. The methods are often criticized by environmentalists. Many anti oilsands rallies occurred November 16, 2013 the most notable being the one in vancouver as hundreds of people gathered (paticularly first nations) A non-profit group called Defend Our Climate said demonstrations were held in about 130 communities to send their clear view on oil sands expansion and Enbridge pipeline implementationRead MoreHow Social Vulnerabilities Are Important Within Disaster Research2333 Words   |  10 Pagesdisasters that continue to develop is the Alberta tar sands. The Alberta tar sands also known as â€Å" Athabasca oil sands† have been expanding over the past decade being the third largest oil reserve in the world (â€Å"Energy Alberta†, n.d). It has been said that the tar sands are a fundamental element within the Canadian economy occupying approximately 142, 200 square kilometers in northern Alberta. (â€Å"Energy Alberta†, n.d). Considering that the tar sands are under constant developmental processes many individualsRead MoreThe Pioneer Development And Application Of Tar Sands Technology1145 Words   |  5 PagesThe pioneer in development and application of tar sands technol ogy is unquestionably Great Canadian Oil Sand LTD (GCOS). Which was primarily own by an American company. In 1964 GCOS began construction, in 1968 they began commercial production. – operated at a huge loss with â€Å"Even, so GCOS operated at a loss for 8 years... [They gained a] profit of $25 million the last 2 years, the company still has an operating deficit of 54 million. The companies need to worry constantly about replacing bucketsRead MoreAlberta Tar Sands Sustainability Report1264 Words   |  6 PagesAlberta Tar Sands Sustainability Report Introduction Tar sands are a combination of clay, sand, water, and bitumen. As a type of unconventional petroleum deposit, tar sands are found in many places worldwide, the largest deposits are found in Alberta, Canada. The Alberta tar sand deposits contain more than 70.8% of the world s reserves of natural bitumen which representing 40% of the world’s combined extra-heavy crude oil and crude bitumen reserves. It is the only bitumen deposits that are economicallyRead MoreCanada ´s Oil Sands Essay1875 Words   |  8 Pages Introduction The statement ‘Canada oil sands are much more of a blessing rather than a curse’ is not true because the disadvantages of oil sands outweigh the advantages. For this reason, this paper aims at indicating points against the statement. To understand the defects of oil sand exploration in Canada, one has to delve into the explanation of what oil sands are as well as how the entire process of mining and refining and thereafter, determine the disadvantages based on socioeconomic factorsRead MoreBenefits And Consequences Of Alberta Tar Sands1938 Words   |  8 PagesRunning head: The Benefits and Consequences of the Alberta Tar Sands 1 The Benefits and Consequences of the Alberta Tar Sands Darlene Kittleson Environmental Science 101

The Fall of West Rome Free Essays

The Roman Empire was attacked by the Goths and the Vandals during 190 AD which started the fall of Ancient Rome wherein different parts of the empire had civil wars that caused further deteriorating of Rome. Different tribes like Goths invaded the country since they want to move south to experienced better climate condition that is helpful to their farming. During this time Rome also has poor emperors that cannot handle the job properly. We will write a custom essay sample on The Fall of West Rome or any similar topic only for you Order Now When Emperor Diocletian ruled Rome, he decided that the Empire should be divided into two so that it will be easier to rule, the Western and Eastern Empire was established in which it has its own leader. The problem that Diocletian faced was that more military barrier had to be created in which the Empire cannot support its cost. The taxes were increased which leads to inflation causing the rise of the prices of commodity which causes the leaders to become unfavorable to the people. The Role of Constantine in the Fall of Rome Constantine became Emperor from AD 307 to AD 337 and he tolerated religion in the Roman Empire although he was not a Christian himself, he gave rights to the Christians. He did not taken into consideration that the new monotheistic religion was at odds with the pagan cults of the emperors. He also moved the capital to a new city Constantinople since he believed that Rome as a city was to far from the fundamental areas from a government level, this move was a bad one since it left the western empire vulnerable. The western empire was attacked by the Ostrogoths thru the eastern empire and the western Empire was attacked by the Goths, Franks, Visigoths and Burgundians. The Germanic Barbarians The Germans were exposed to the Roman world by border trade and serving as support to the Roman legions of the empire. The admittance of the barbarians in the army gave way for the complete â€Å"germanization† of the Roman army. The internal crisis of the Roman Empire makes the things worst and the barbarians realized it and defeated the Romans in the battle of Adrianople in 378 where the Roman Empire fell. The Franks, Angles, and Saxons which are all German tribes have established their agricultural life, the other tribes like the Goths, Vandals, and Lombards were nomadic but compared to the Romans they were less advanced. Romulus Augustulus was the last Roman emperor in the west and was replaced by the leader of Goths, Odoacer in AD 476 which was also the end of the Roman Empire. How to cite The Fall of West Rome, Papers

Serving in Florida free essay sample

She admires her, educated tongue, her graceful walk, her ability to swoon a listener when she reads, her success, her communication skills where she skillfully varies the way to she talks to depending on who she is talking to. 3. She is ashamed because she fails to use the proper verb and verbiage which in her eyes is disrespectful. When they talk with each other it is if they were paternal sisters separated only by education. 4. Their first meeting was not only at Mrs. Flowers house but that this meeting was filled with aromas of freshly cooked food (tea cookies), the cold taste of lemonade on the palate and an atmosphere laden and rich in success. â€Å"It was the equivalent of attending church â€Å" and attending church made her feel comfortable and so did Mrs. Flowers. This all influenced her because she learned that the person she liked, â€Å" liked â€Å" also liked her and this impressed her, and that coupled with all of the physical senses she now felt the emotional ones as well. We will write a custom essay sample on Serving in Florida or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page And this would develop her into her mentors â€Å"way† of life. Answer to questions 1-4 in the Close Reading and #2 in the Writers Craft. 1. Para. 4 The aftermath of an historical hurricane†¦. †the smell of a dead city†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦para. 6 †this new urban landscape†. 2. Urban floodplain depicts the initial encounter to what the author sees and of which is just the surface of what to come in the latter part of the essay and segways into the â€Å" Life after Katrina â€Å". 3. In â€Å" Starting Again â€Å" he depicts how the most basic necessities are being established and provided to re-ignite and revive the once normal daily activities by way of the Salvation Army bringing primordial needs to the workers who will then bring back residents which then bring back the businesses and so on. He includes this because he notes that after destruction comes the re-building†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Still, destruction on a biblical scale also offers Noah-like opportunities for restoration after the flood â€Å". 4. I would define it as a person who possesses this â€Å" eco-geek† title as someone who is ecologically friendly, and an environmentalist who is also a tech-savvy academic in the intellect society of foremost thinkers. Writer’s Craft. #2. â€Å" I get out of my car, half suspecting the sweet, rotting smell of death† , â€Å" the main sewage plant†, â€Å"reeking of mold and rotted cat food†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. He brings clarity and vividness which brings sympathy and association to the five senses to which the reader can identify with. Serving in Florida free essay sample When thinking of the United States one would[may? ] conjure up imagines of happy people, greener grass, freedom, and of course, opportunity. However an uncommon thing that one would think of America is a land of dumb people. [little confusing word choice] Yes, that’s right, Americans having less than average intelligence. In â€Å"Idiot Nation,† Michael Moore offers a convincing argument on America’s stupidity and inadequacy by employing logical as well as emotional appeals and harsh diction to drive his point home. Your thesis statement should probably be more specific regarding the individual components. ] Moore mesmerizes his audience by presenting horrifying facts about the â€Å"state of stupidity in this country†(156). The facts that Moore presents are very effective due to the shocking nature of them. Early in the text[,] Moore illustrates his point presenting, â€Å"There are forty-four million Americans who cannot read and write above a fourth-grade level—in other words, who are functional illiterates†. We will write a custom essay sample on Serving in Florida or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This stuns the reader, who would have ever thought that in a country like this, that many Americans could be, well stupid. He goes on to give another statistic that Americans, on average, read only 99 hours a year and watch television 1,460 hours a year. By throwing these astonishing facts at the reader early on, Moore builds up the trust of his readers and also holds their attention. [ Maybe say more in your last sentence regarding the attention of the reader, maybe even talk about specific audience or even talk that the entire paper is worded in such a way which holds people’s attention. Using facts, Moore unites all his readers by talking about former presidents in a less than flattering light. While attending the 2001 graduation at Yale University, Moore tells how President Bush proudly boasts about his mediocre performance at the University. He quotes President Bush on his commencement address to the students, â€Å"And to the C students, I say you, too, can be President of the United States. † Moore also gives an account of President Eisenhower’s disregard of the stupidity of his nominee as ambassador to Sri Lanka not knowing the country’s prime minister or capital. This dims the reader’s confidence in their leaders and almost angers them that they put the fate of their country is the hands of such ignorant men. [ how does this paragraph support thesis statement? ] Moore not only attacks the Presidents but also the educational system, another thing that unites all his readers. He tells [tells? Maybe a different word there]about a multiple choice test given to a group of seniors at 55 prestigious universities[,] including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. This test contained questions that were of a high school level. â€Å"These top students could only answer 53 percent of them correctly†. Fragment sentence, incorporate your quote into the last or next sentence. ] As[omit â€Å"as†] if this didn’t floor the readers, Moore gives a specific example of a question commonly missed. [no period needed]â€Å"A whopping 40 percent of these students did not know when the Civil War took place† (155). If these top students couldn’t answer this simple question and they were at universities that are supposed to be the best of the best, where is the fate of America headed? This further convinces the reader that America isn’t as smart of a nation as they thought. Moore combines logical and emotional appeals to pull at the heart strings of the reader when speaking on the devastating nature of the condition of some of America’s schools. [ the intro of the sentence is somewhat confusing] â€Å"Walk into any public school, and the odds are good that you’ll find overflowing classrooms, leaking ceilings, and demoralized teachers. In 1 out of 4 schools you’ll find students learning from textbooks published in the 1980s—or earlier† (156). This opens the reader’s eyes to the inability of the country to take care of its children. The confidence of the reader in the country declines and the reader also feels sad for the kids that have to attend these schools. They find themselves posed with the question, â€Å"If America can’t keep up with their schools, what else is the country neglecting? † Moore reminisces about his past in this text. He talks about high school describing the, â€Å"four brutal years of degrading comments, physical abuse, and the belief that you’re the only one not having sex† (159). Every reader can relate to this simple fact about high school. This brings Moore down to a level that doesn’t make him seems better than any of his readers. This paragraph needs more body or should be incorporated into another one] Throughout the text, Moore uses harsh diction to get his point across. To some readers this may be offensive but when combined with the facts that Moore presents it makes his argument[s] more convincing and powerful. For example to add to the issue of illiteracy, Moore inserts his own powerful statement, â€Å"A nation that not only churns out illiterate students BUT GOES OUT OF ITS WAY TO REMAIN IGNORANT AND STUPID is a nation that should not be running the world.. †(154). [ maybe merge the last two paragraphs into one. The techniques Moore uses to make his argument convincing are very effective. The logical and emotional appeals as well as his harsh diction persuade the reader to agree with Moore in his argument on the stupidity and ignorance of the nation. Some of his words may have been offensive to some readers but if they were not as harsh, Moore would not have come across as passionately has he did and it would have taken away from the argument. Moore did all the right things and accomplished in offering the reader something to think about.

Taking Community College Classes in High School A Guide

Taking Community College Classes in High School A Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you a high school student who is interested in taking classes at a community college? Community college classes can be a great way for high school studentsto take more challenging courses and prepare for college. Read on to learn everything you need to know about community college classes for high school students: the benefits of taking community college classes in high school, when totake them, and how you can start getting enrolled. How Can a High School Student Take Community College Classes? Aren’t community college classes justfor college students? Actually, no. While the primarypurpose of community collegeis to provide an education tocollege students, mostnow alsoofferclasses to people of varying ages and levels of education,from children to senior citizens. Many community colleges allow high school studentsto take certain classes. Sometimes high school studentsare only able to enroll in introductory classes, and they may also be required to submit their high school transcript or a teacher recommendation as proof that they can handle a college-level course. Some high schools have organized programs with community colleges that allow high schoolstudentsto take college classes as a replacement for one or more of their regular high school classes.This is especially common in smaller high schools or those with few advanced or AP course offerings because it lets high school students take challenging classes they wouldn’t have been able to take otherwise. These classes can help high school students strengthen their transcripts and prepare for college. Other times, high school studentschoose to take community college classes without receiving any high school credit; however; they may be able to receive college credit once they enroll in a college or university. What Are the Benefits of Taking Community College Classes inHigh School? Why would a high school studentbe interested in taking community college classes? There are several benefits. Benefit #1: You Can Take More Advanced Classes If your high school doesn’t offer certain advanced classes, taking them at a community college can be a great way to strengthen your transcript.If your high school doesn’t offer many or even any AP classes, you may be concerned that your school's lack of challenging classes will put you behind other students when applying to and starting college. You may also be particularly strong in a certain subject and want to take an advanced course in it, either because you have taken all your high school’s classes in that subject, or they are not challenging enough for you. At my high school, each year, several students who had taken AP Calculus as juniors would take Calculus III at the local community college to gain more math skills and be better prepared for college math classes. Taking these classes at a community college while you are still in high school can help prepare you for college classes and possibly allow you to skip some introductory classes once you get to college. GotCredit/Flickr Benefit #2: They Can Help Your College Application Stand Out Having college classes on your transcript is a great way to strengthen your transcript and your college applications.Your community college classes may be included on your high school transcript, labeledin such a way to show they are college-level classes, or, if not, you can include your community college transcript withyour applications. Taking community college classes in high school shows that you can take initiative, are hard working, and have strong academic skills, which are all qualities colleges like to see in applicants. Benefit #3: You'll Be Better Prepared for College If you are concerned about college or simply want to be better prepared when you set foot on campus, taking classes at a community college is a great way to introduce yourself to the rigor of college-level classes. College classes, even at community colleges, are usually more difficult and faster-paced than high school classes, and by taking one or more in high school, you can be better prepared for university classes. This will likely help you get better grades and feel less stressed as a college student. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. What Are the Drawbacks to Taking Community College Classes in High School? Though there are major benefits to community college classes for high school students, there are also some drawbacks. Drawback #1: They Can Be Challenging College classes can be quite different from high school classes; they are usually more challenging, faster-paced, and require more homework and studying. If you are not prepared for this, taking a community college class can be very stressful, and you may not get the grade you want. Drawback #2: They May Not Always Be Fulfilling Sometimes,community college classes aren't challenging, in fact, in some cases high school students feel that the community college classes they take are easy, especially when compared to AP or other advanced classes. If you are used to rigorous classes, there's a chance that you will find your community college classes too easy, especially if you are taking introductory classes. This may result in you not learning as much as you'd like to. A good way to reducethe chanceof this happening is to ask the school for asyllabusof the class or classes you are interested in taking. Syllabi will usually include the topics students learn and major assignments, and they can help you get a better idea of what the class will cover and how quickly itwill cover it. Drawback #3: They Can Be Expensive Most students do not have to pay for the classes they take in high school, and it can be difficult to afford the tuition required for college classes.Even though community college classes are typically less expensive than regular 4-year colleges, tuition is still usually at least $100 per credit hour, which means taking one community college class can cost several hundred dollars or more. Sometimes high schools will pay for their students to take community college classes, especiallyif they don't offer a particular class themselves. Ask your academic adviserwhat your school's policy is for covering the costs of community college classes. If they do help with costs, this can save you thousands of dollars! However, if your high school doesn't cover community college costs, be sure to choose your community college classes carefully so you know you are getting the best value for your money. Also, if your high school offers a similar course, such as an AP class, you may want to consider taking that instead. Taking community college classes may meanyou have to pay tuition fees and other expenses. (Tax Credits/Flickr) Read the sections below to learn more about how to make smart decisions when taking community college classes and minimize negative impacts. When Should You Take Community College Classes? You should think carefully about what semester and year you want to enroll in a community college class.It’s recommended that you don’t take community college classes until you are at least a junior in high school. By the time you are an upperclassman, you will likely have had more challenging courses and will be more prepared for college-level classes. If you take a community college class early on in high school, you may find it overwhelming or too challenging. This can cause you to get alow grade that won’t get you many of the benefits listed above. Another important decision is whether to take a community college class during the school year or over the summer. Most community colleges offer both options, though not all courses may be offered each semester.If you are getting high school credit or replacing a high school class, then you will likely take the community college class during the school year. If there are certain times of the year when you are less busy (for example, a semester when you don’t have a sport or have less challenging classes), you may want to take a community class then so that you can spend more time on it.However, if the community college class you are interested in isn’t earning you high school credit or replacing a high school class, it may be easier for you to take it during the summer.Taking a community college class during the summer gives you more time to concentrate on it because you won’t have to balancea full high school course loadat the same time. Don’t try to take a community college class if you are already busy with your high school classes and activities. Taking a college course when you don’t have enough time to put towards it can cause you to feel stressed and overwhelmed, and it may cause you to get a low grade in the class, which won’t do much to help your applications or prepare you for college. It’s also recommended that you start by enrolling inonly one community college class at a time, especially if you are taking it during the school year. This will give you a chance to get used to college classes withoutgetting in over your head. Don't sign up for too many community college classes at once, or else you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed, and your high school grades may drop. How Do You Decide Which Community College Classes to Take? You will want to think carefully about which community college classes to take in order to maximize their usefulness and how much you learn. Although high school students oftencan't sign up for classes until after full-time college students have, you will likely still have a lot of potential class options left to choose from. Read through your community college’s course catalog and think about the following questions to help you choose which courses to take: Consideration #1: Are There Classes YourHigh School Doesn't Offer That You'd Like to Take? Look at your high school’s course catalog and think about the classes you plan to take before you graduate. Is there a particular class you wish you could take but isn’t offered by your high school?This can include advanced classes such as upper-level math classes or AP classes, or it can simply be classes you are interested in but your school doesn’t offer, likecertainforeign language classes or a specialized history course. If so, look to see if your community college offers a course in that subject. Colleges, even community colleges, usually have a wider course selection than high schools, so you may be able to find a class you’re interested in.Often when you take a class you enjoy you’ll get a higher grade in it than a class you don’t find interesting because you are more motivated to study and do the homework. Consideration #2: Which Classes Will Be Useful for College? Another thing to consider when choosing community college classes is which classes will help best prepare you for college.If you already know what you plan on majoring in, then you may want to take classes related to that field of study. For example, if you know you want to be pre-med, check out your community college’s biology or human physiology classes. If you are not sure what you’d like to study in college, almost all majors are required to take at least one math and one writing class, so courses in those subjects will likely be useful later on. However, don’t assume that you will automatically get college credit for the community college classes you take because some colleges have very strict policies about transfer credit. Even if you don’t receive college credit, remember that taking community college classes is still useful because they strengthen your college applications and help you be better prepared for future college classes. Consideration #3: Which Subjects Does Your High School Recommend? Your school may already have a list of community college classes that previous students have taken and enjoyed, and they may also have a list of community college classes that they give credit for or accept as a substitute for a particular high school class. If your high school has recommendations, this can make choosing which coursesto take easier, because you will already have some idea of what classes other students have found useful.This information is also helpful if you are looking to get high school credit for your community college class. Consideration #4: What Prerequisites Are Required? When you see a class you find interesting, check the course description to see if there are any prerequisites or prior knowledge you need to have in order to takethe class.College classes are already more challenging than high school classes, and taking a class you aren’t prepared for on top of that can make it very difficult to get a good grade in the class. In addition to checking prerequisites, you may also want to start by taking introductory classes to ease yourself into college-level courses. These classes usually have the word â€Å"Introduction† or â€Å"Introductory† in their title or have a course number that begins with the number one (such as English 101). Consideration #5: When Are Certain Classes Offered? Logistics are also an important consideration when choosing classes. There may be certain days of the week or months of the year when you have more time to devote to your community college classes. As mentioned above, it’s important to make sure you have enough free time in your schedule before you enroll in a community college course.By choosing classes that fill well in your schedule, you will make your community college experience less stressful and more enjoyable. Looking through yourcalendar may help you decide which community college classes to take. How to Enroll in Community College Classes After you have decided which class you want to take, you need to begin the enrollment process.Before you enroll, talkto your academic adviserat your high school to learn if this class will be included on your transcript or if you will be able to use it to substitute for another course. You may need to provide them with a course description or syllabus to review. You should also ask them if your high school will cover the costs of the class, and, if so, how and when they will do so. Next you need to enroll in the community college. This process varies by school. Some only require you to fill out basic information about yourself, especially if you will only be taking a few classes. Others require the same enrollment process a full-time student attending the school goes through, which may mean filling out an application and submitting test scores. This process can take up to a few weeks, so give yourself enough time to complete it before classes start. Once you are enrolled, you can sign up for the class you want to take. Remember that, as mentioned above, oftentimes high school students have to wait until after current college students have had a chance to select their courses before they are able to sign up forclasses. Almost all community colleges have online enrollment, but you can also usuallysign up by mailing in a form or going to the campus office and selecting your classesin person. At this time, you will likely have to submit your tuition payment.After you sign up for a class, you will be sent information about it. This information usually includes where and when the class meets, what textbooks and other materials you need, and a course syllabus that tells you what topicsthe class will cover. Before the class starts, buy your textbooks and any other materials you need, and make sure you know how to get to the campus.On the first day of class, try to arrive a few minutes early so that you are ready and prepared when your first college class begins.Congratulations, you're now on your way to becoming a college student! Summary Many students have the option of enrolling in classes at a local community college as a way to take a more advanced class or help prepare them for college. You may be able to substitute a community college class for one of your high school classes or get credit for it once you start college. Even though they can be expensive and challenging, taking community college classes while in high school can strengthen your transcript and help you be more prepared for college classes. Wait to take community college classes until you are at least a junior and know you have enough time to devote to the class. To decide which class to take, look over the school’s course catalog, talk to your academic adviser, and think about which classes will be helpful when you go to college. What's Next? Want to know what classes you can take in high school?We have a complete list of high school classes so you can see what your options are. Struggling with a certain class and wondering if you should drop it? We have a guide that willhelp you decide whether to drop a class or notand explains how it will impact your college applications. Trying to decide between community college classes and AP classes?Which one looks better on college applications? Read our guide for a complete overview of both. 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:

Instructions for Registering as a Patent Agent

Instructions for Registering as a Patent Agent Filing a patent seems like a clerical job. On the face of it, it sounds like all you need is a little research, a little discovery and put a stamp on a patent and you are done. In reality, the role is a lot more involved than it seems, lets review how. What Is a Patent Agent or Patent Attorney? Whether you are a patent agent or patent attorney, you are generally performing the same roles. Patent agents and patent attorneys both have a degree in engineering or science, and they have to study the patent rules, patent laws and how the patent office works. The steps to becoming a patent agent or attorney are rigorous. The major difference between a patent agent and a patent attorney is that an attorney has additionally graduated from law school, passed the law bar and has the ability to practice law in one or more states in the U.S. The Patent Bar Both agents and attorneys have to take a very difficult examination with a pretty low pass rate to become admitted to the patent bar. The patent bar is officially called the  Examination for Registration to Practice in Patent Cases Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The exam is a 100-question, six-hour, multiple-choice test. The applicant is provided three hours to complete 50 questions in the morning, and another three hours to complete 50 questions in the afternoon. The exam contains 10 beta questions which do not count towards the exam takers final score,  but there is no way to know which of the 100 questions are among these 10 ungraded questions. The required score to pass is 70 percent or 63 correct out of the 90 graded questions. Someone who is admitted to the patent bar is permitted legally to represent patent clients in preparing and filing patent applications and then prosecuting them through the examination process in the patent’s office to obtain an issue to patent. Steps Involved Here are the basic steps on how to become a registered patent agent  that are recognized by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Step Action Description 1a. Get a "Category A" bachelor's degree Obtain a bachelor's degree in a field of science, technology or engineering that is recognized by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 1b. Or, get a "Category B or C" bachelor's degree You can apply if you have a bachelor's degree or foreign equivalency in a similarly related subject and it can be combined with course credits, alternative training, life experiences, military service, graduate degrees and other conditions. If applying with a foreign equivalency degree that is not in English, all documentation must have certified English translations. 2. Apply, study and pass the patent bar exam Apply and study for the patent bar exam and review previous patent bar exams online. This exam is now given by Thomson Prometric anytime, nationwide, and once a year via paper test at a physical location determined by the patent office. 3. Submit documents and fees Complete list of all the documents and submit the required fees and meet all filing deadlines. Disqualifications  From the Patent Bar Those individuals who are not eligible to apply for the patent bar or as a patent agent or attorney include those who have been convicted of a crime within two years or those individuals after two years of a completed sentence do not meet the burden of proof of reform and rehabilitation. Also, ineligible applicants include those who have been disbarred from practice or law or their profession due to a disciplinary hearing or those individuals who are found lacking in good moral character or standing.