In his last term of office, President Bush “blessed” our country with educational legislation designed to help American students keep pace with foreign degree students. But will “No Child Left Behind” actually help - or hurt future university degree program students?

One of the key goals of this legislation is to help offer students gain more access to educational programs. How? By advancing the right of any student to enroll in any degree course and to “learn” from that course. What this basically does, though, is to allow any student at any high school to decide that they want to enroll in any course - and be granted the right to take that class.

For example, even if Sally is one of the poorest math students in her high school, she can decide that she wants to take calculus, and enroll in that class. The teacher must teach the class so that Sally has a chance of succeeding in this class - no matter how much more every other student in the classroom understands about math.

The problem with “No Child Left Behind” is that it leaves every  student in every classroom in the United States at risk of being left behind. Because students like Sally can enroll in calculus, the professor has less opportunity to teach the other students, which means that they will learn less and do more poorly on entrance exams for college degree programs. Because American students do poorly on entrance exams, students from other countries have a greater opportunity to enroll in American degree programs.

Sure, other students from other countries have every right to enroll in American colleges and universities. Unfortunately, greater numbers of foreign students enrolling in top undergraduate and graduate degree programs throughout the country mean that fewer numbers of American students will benefit from the the nation’s best schools. This offers fewer educational and employment opportunities to American college graduates.

Congress wants to leave no child behind - instead every American student will be left behind. As the United States continues to lose ground in comparison to other countries with respect to education, perhaps one day government officials will wake up and take notice. This attempt to help more students get college degrees will actually help fewer students to succeed in the best traditional colleges, and possibly even the top online schools in the country.

Scholarship deadlines are fast approaching throughout the country. Many scholarships require several references, an essay, or a transcript. It’s time to start searching through the scholarship databases and see what funds might be available to help you offset the cost of your university degee program.

Many students don’t realize that many scholarship foundations now allow their free scholarships for college to be used for distance learning degree programs as well as traditional college degree programs. This is in part due to the increased credibility of online degree education. Even though these scholarships grants can be used for online degree universities, many students are not aware of this.

If you have never searched online for university scholarships, here are a few tips to help. First, never pay to search a scholarship database. This is a scam. Most scholarship sites, such as www.fastweb.com, allow students to search for free. Additionally, you should never have to pay a fee to apply for a scholarship.

Try searching for scholarships based on unique skills or characteristics that you have. For example, if you are interested in getting a degree in education, search for teaching scholarships. Also, don’t be afraid to search for scholarships based on your name, age, religion, or hobbies. Who knows what you will find - but you had better start looking now, before you miss the deadline for a scholarship that is out there waiting just for you!

If you are going to attend a university degree program after graduating from high school, you may be planning to attend a four-year traditional college degree program and earn your diploma. What if you’re not one of these students, though? Should you just try to find a good job and earn a steady income?

The latest research shows that people who complete a university degree program earn significantly more than those who do not.  If you think you have the discipline and motivation to succeed, you may be someone who would be able to successfully earn a degree online. Distance learning degree programs such as these are designed specifically to meet educational needs without all the extra distractions offered by traditional college campuses.

If you want to earn a college degree at home in computer science, many universities will allow you to do so without ever setting foot on a college campus. You can earn a degree in network security, computer forensics, website design, software development, or many other specialties. Take a moment to browse the distance degree programs listed here. You won’t be disappointed.

Don’t let your education be sidetracked by outside concerns that make attending traditional campus impractical or impossible. Get your distance learning degree now and start to enjoy a successful career - you’ll be glad you did!

If you are wondering whether Oscar Mayer has suddenly taken an interest in postsecondary education, don’t be alarmed. The Bologna Process has nothing to do with sandwiches, and everything to do with universities degree programs in foreign countries. Although this concept is primarily associated with European countries, many other nations have expressed interest or accord.

The Bologna Process is an attempt to standardize Bachelor Degree Programs and Master Degree Programs among European nations. If this becomes reality, this could open the door for other leading countries, including the United States, to follow suit. Evaluation of foreign degrees would become a very simple process, because everyone would have the same amount of education to get their degrees.

Currently, many European students attend high school for 13 years, instead of 12 years as American students do. They, however, are eligible to receive a Bachelor Degree after attending a postsecondary institution for only three years. Degrees from certain countries, such as the United Kingdom, France, and Spain, are recognized by the USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) as equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor Degree.

Other countries, however, have 3-year university degree programs that are not always recognized by the U.S. as equal. Countries in this category include India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Even though students who attend universities in these countries do not automatically have the equivalency of a U.S. Bachelor Degree, they may be awarded the U.S. equivalency of their degree in some cases.

Foreign degree programs are complex and often confusing. Finding a foreign credential evaluation agency that can give a good professional evaluation of your degree can be difficult. Do your research, and choose an agency that offers free pre-evaluations, and be sure to shop around for the lowest price. Make sure the agency is experienced, as well. Hint: If they have never heard of the Bologna Process, move on quickly to the next agency!