Family Ever After Blog

Family Ever After Blog

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How Soon Can You Get Your Family To Live In Canada?

Canada is a great place that will provide families with a better quality of life. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising why so many residents want to bring their families to this country as soon as possible. As long as you meet the criteria to sponsor your family members, you can bring your family members to Canada through family sponsorship.

If you have yet to process your family sponsorship, you can always contact a professional lawyer at total.law to help you with your application. After all, a professional can help you sort out legal matters and other concerns regarding your family sponsorship.

Now, just in case you don’t know, here are the following requirements you need to meet to become an eligible sponsor. Here they are:

  • Must provide proof that you can give financial support to the family you’re sponsoring
  • Must be 18 years old and above
  • Must not be jailed or indicted with a serious offense
  • Must not be suffering from bankruptcy
  • Not assigned with a removal order (for permanent residents)
  • Must live in Canada and prove their intent to stay in the country once the sponsored family members enter the country
  • Must be willing to support the sponsored members until a particular period while also ensuring that these members also create efforts to support themselves

Now, this begs the question: how soon can you get your family to live in Canada? Here are a few factors that can affect family sponsorship processing times below.

Who are the Family Members You’re Sponsoring

Your processing date begins right after you turn in your complete application. From there, you simply have to wait for the embassy to make a decision about your application. Depending on the family member you’re sponsoring, the length of the processing can vary. Based on the relationship with the family member you’re sponsoring, the process can take longer or shorter.

In general, Canadian Immigration takes up to twelve months or more to process various applications. In addition, multiple factors can affect processing times for different applications. Here they are below:

Factors Affecting Processing Times for Applications

  • The total duration you require to hand out your biometrics
  • The evaluation is done for the sponsor and the family member being sponsored
  • The course needed to ensure that you meet all the stated criteria for sponsorship

Other than the following factors above, your application’s processing time can also be affected by the following factors:

  • The kind of application you sent
  • If the application you turned in is complete or incomplete
  • How fast applications get processed by the embassy
  • How quickly your details can get verified
  • How quickly you respond to matters related to your application
  • Other factors

Moreover, the Canadian embassy favors applications with complete documentation. Therefore, you must submit accurate information and include all the required documents. This will make sure that your application has better chances of getting approved.

Approximate Processing Times Per Family Member

You’re now aware of the following factors affecting specific application processing times. Next, let’s find out the approximate processing times per family member. As previously mentioned, the Canadian Embassy takes a minimum of twelve months to process each application. However, the time needed has taken much longer due to the pandemic.

  • Spouse or common-law partner residing within Canada: 12 months
  • Spouse or common-law partner residing outside of Canada: 12 months
  • Dependent children: Depends on the country where the dependent child/children are coming from
  • Grandparents and parents: 20 to 24 months
  • Adopted children or other relatives: 28 months

Again, these processing times are just an estimate and can still vary depending on your type of application. Furthermore, processing times are also affected based on the total number of people that apply for immigration to Canada. If this number ends up being higher than what the Canadian embassy can accommodate, then you can expect longer processing times.

Final Takeaways

In general, it will take at least twelve months or more before you can get your family to live with you in Canada. It also depends on the family members you’re sponsoring as well. If you’re having problems dealing with your application, you can always reach out to a professional lawyer. After all, they can significantly help you with all your application concerns.

Moreover, there are chances that your application might end up unsuccessful even with the most minimal errors. With that being said, getting legal help might be your best bet to ensure that your application is filled correctly and includes all the necessary documentation. Therefore, with the aid of legal professionals, you can ensure that your sponsorship application gets submitted with excellent chances for approval.

 

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The stress-free guide to eating out with the kids at Christmas

We’ve all been there. We’ve been sat in a restaurant, only for all hell to break loose as the kids run riot. Eating out was once one of life’s rewards. When the kids come along, it (can) be anything but.

Of course, all of the above is the very worst-case scenario. In truth, if everyone is on tip-top behaviour, dining out at a restaurant is another glorious family moment. There’s no doubt that things can get tricky in the peak periods, though, with the upcoming Christmas weeks being one of these.

Bearing this in mind, if you are plotting a Christmas restaurant trip with the family, read on for some top tips on how to manage it.

Pick your location extremely wisely

Put simply, some restaurants are more child-friendly than others. If you take to somewhere like Covent Garden, the options are endless. However, visit the other side of the city, and the situation can be very different.

So, what suggests that a restaurant is suitable for children? A kids menu is the obvious one, but if you’re wandering around the area and spot lots of little people heading in and out, it’s usually a good sign. Another one is high chairs; if a restaurant has a stack of them, you’re sure to be in good company, and things will be easier going!

Do you have to visit at rush hour?

There’s rush hour, and then there is Christmas rush hour. Neither is desirable, but the latter is something you should look to avoid at all costs. The last thing you want with busy stressed shoppers is to head into a restaurant in the thick of it.

The busy period tends to last between 12 pm and 1.30 pm. If you can visit outside of these hours, it will be a much more tolerable experience!

Assess the Christmas meal options beforehand

This again reverts back to the famous question of if a restaurant is child-friendly or not. As we all know, some children are fussier than others – and some festive menus (regardless of the cuisine) can get a bit too complicated.

This is where you should assess the menu beforehand. Sure, we’re all for being spontaneous, but if you can research where you’re going before heading out, it will make things a lot more seamless. You won’t be frantically trying to get everyone in order and finding out what everybody wants – it will all be arranged, and you can concentrate on the other finer details!

Book if you can

Finally, did we mention that this was the most chaotic time of the year in towns and cities? Taking kids into a hectic environment tends to be a recipe for chaos, so at least try to bring some organised factors to proceedings by reserving a table in advance. There are no wait times this time, and you’re at least taking control of the situation somewhat. Again, it might feel like it is excessively planned, but in truth, this is the best formula for Christmas dining with the family.

 

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5 Common Pests in Chicago and What to Do About Them

Chicago, Illinois, has a population of 2,693,976 and is one of the best places to reside in Illinois. Living in Chicago provides inhabitants with an urban vibe. In addition, Chicago is home to a large number of families and young professionals.

Like any other big city in the U.S., living in Chicago has its advantages and disadvantages. There are always good places to go, like their numerous pubs, coffee shops, restaurants, and parks in Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago is the city’s most well-known museum.

However, hidden under the different nooks and crannies of your homes lies potential problems. Common pests such as ants, cockroaches, and other pests may be hiding in your home without your knowledge. They can irritate your skin and cause significant medical problems, especially if they contaminate your food and water. So it’s critical to understand what these pests are and how to control them. The most common pests in Chicago include:

1. Ants

Ants are common pests in your home, with over 1,000 species found in North America alone. Although ants appear to be similar, they differ widely in behavior and appearance. Carpenter ants are the most common type of household ants.

Carpenter ants like chewing and burrowing inside damp wood to make their nests. They might be black, red, brown, or a combination of these colors. Inspect for signs of infestation, such as sawdust-like shaving.

Carpenter ants can damage your home’s wooden structure. Make sure to caulk any cracks around your windows and doors since they can allow ants in. Severe infestations can cause extensive property damage. If the infestation is severe, fumigation may be necessary.

2. Cockroaches

Cockroaches are nocturnal insects that prefer to hide in the dark, confined, and moist environments. For example, they can hide in cabinets, so getting them out is critical as soon as possible. Even if you see one cockroach, it can indicate hundreds more hidden in every dark and vacant crevice. Cockroaches are exceptionally hardy and resilient creatures. They have a robust immune system and enzymes that can break down poisons.

Inspect and clean common hiding areas such as large appliances and cupboards regularly. To dissuade cockroaches from hiding, inspect moist areas such as sinks, pipes, and bathrooms and make sure they are dry. Baking soda can help keep them at bay.

3. Rodents

The vast network of underground sewers in Chicago can serve as breeding habitat for rodents. They can spread disease, and they can chew through furniture, contaminate food, and wreak havoc on your home’s foundation. They can go inside your house through open windows, doors, or even the drainage system. Look for rodent droppings in concealed parts of your home as early symptoms of an infestation.

The first step in preventing rodent infestation is to eliminate any potential hiding places. Don’t pile rubbish near your house since rodents prefer to make a home out of it. Rodents like to climb through cracks in the foundation of a house, so seal them. It is important to take action right away so that the infestation does not worsen. Call in Chicago pest control services to eradicate the problem quickly.

4. Boxelder Bugs

Boxelder bugs are a nuisance that can infest your home in large numbers. They are black with red or orange markings and three stripes on the back of the skull. They usually do not cause property damage, but they can discolor surfaces. In addition, they can become a nuisance if they try to move inside your home during fall to search for a warm place to spend the winter.

Seal your home, especially during the summer when they aren’t as active. Replace or repair damaged screens in roof and soffit vents, as well as fans in bathrooms and kitchens. Once they’re inside, the only way to get them out is to remove them physically.

5. Opossums

There are several species of opossums, also known as possums. The most well-known is the common opossum, the only marsupial present in North America. Opossums are scavengers and will frequently visit your home to scavenge dumpsters, garbage cans, and other containers.

Maintain a tight cover on your garbage can and avoid leaving food out in the open so you do not attract opossums. To deal with opossums, it is essential to consult with a professional wildlife removal business.

Protect Your Family

Your house should be a safe and healthy sanctuary for your family. Do not allow pests to infiltrate your home and endanger your health and possessions. Instead, seek expert help to protect your family from these pests.

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5 Common Pests in Chicago and What to Do About Them

Chicago, Illinois, has a population of 2,693,976 and is one of the best places to reside in Illinois. Living in Chicago provides inhabitants with an urban vibe. In addition, Chicago is home to a large number of families and young professionals.

Like any other big city in the U.S., living in Chicago has its advantages and disadvantages. There are always good places to go, like their numerous pubs, coffee shops, restaurants, and parks in Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago is the city’s most well-known museum.

However, hidden under the different nooks and crannies of your homes lies potential problems. Common pests such as ants, cockroaches, and other pests may be hiding in your home without your knowledge. They can irritate your skin and cause significant medical problems, especially if they contaminate your food and water. So it’s critical to understand what these pests are and how to control them. The most common pests in Chicago include:

1. Ants

Ants are common pests in your home, with over 1,000 species found in North America alone. Although ants appear to be similar, they differ widely in behavior and appearance. Carpenter ants are the most common type of household ants.

Carpenter ants like chewing and burrowing inside damp wood to make their nests. They might be black, red, brown, or a combination of these colors. Inspect for signs of infestation, such as sawdust-like shaving.

Carpenter ants can damage your home’s wooden structure. Make sure to caulk any cracks around your windows and doors since they can allow ants in. Severe infestations can cause extensive property damage. If the infestation is severe, fumigation may be necessary.

2. Cockroaches

Cockroaches are nocturnal insects that prefer to hide in the dark, confined, and moist environments. For example, they can hide in cabinets, so getting them out is critical as soon as possible. Even if you see one cockroach, it can indicate hundreds more hidden in every dark and vacant crevice. Cockroaches are exceptionally hardy and resilient creatures. They have a robust immune system and enzymes that can break down poisons.

Inspect and clean common hiding areas such as large appliances and cupboards regularly. To dissuade cockroaches from hiding, inspect moist areas such as sinks, pipes, and bathrooms and make sure they are dry. Baking soda can help keep them at bay.

3. Rodents

The vast network of underground sewers in Chicago can serve as breeding habitat for rodents. They can spread disease, and they can chew through furniture, contaminate food, and wreak havoc on your home’s foundation. They can go inside your house through open windows, doors, or even the drainage system. Look for rodent droppings in concealed parts of your home as early symptoms of an infestation.

The first step in preventing rodent infestation is to eliminate any potential hiding places. Don’t pile rubbish near your house since rodents prefer to make a home out of it. Rodents like to climb through cracks in the foundation of a house, so seal them. It is important to take action right away so that the infestation does not worsen. Call in Chicago pest control services to eradicate the problem quickly.

4. Boxelder Bugs

Boxelder bugs are a nuisance that can infest your home in large numbers. They are black with red or orange markings and three stripes on the back of the skull. They usually do not cause property damage, but they can discolor surfaces. In addition, they can become a nuisance if they try to move inside your home during fall to search for a warm place to spend the winter.

Seal your home, especially during the summer when they aren’t as active. Replace or repair damaged screens in roof and soffit vents, as well as fans in bathrooms and kitchens. Once they’re inside, the only way to get them out is to remove them physically.

5. Opossums

There are several species of opossums, also known as possums. The most well-known is the common opossum, the only marsupial present in North America. Opossums are scavengers and will frequently visit your home to scavenge dumpsters, garbage cans, and other containers.

Maintain a tight cover on your garbage can and avoid leaving food out in the open so you do not attract opossums. To deal with opossums, it is essential to consult with a professional wildlife removal business.

Protect Your Family

Your house should be a safe and healthy sanctuary for your family. Do not allow pests to infiltrate your home and endanger your health and possessions. Instead, seek expert help to protect your family from these pests.

 

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A Review of Modern Jazz Artist Jakim Pearson

Modern jazz? What is it exactly? I never know how to define the genre. Thankfully, Jakim Pearson knows what he’s doing. His creativity on this album will make you think of artists like Jacob Collier and Snarky Puppy. But Jakim does it with electronic sounds only, using his keyboard as both drum and bass, and even his vocoder as a saxophone.

The album starts with “Clockwork.” A jazzy ballad that immediately shows you that you’re in for the unexpected. The opening track also has one of my favorite lyrics on this album:

“Why can’t we see through time? I guess because everything is in a circle.”

Jakim slowly builds melodies with his “mandolin” (a term I use loosely here because it’s a keyboard) while layering and mixing that bass and snare on top. It feels like this track never ends. The intro just grows and grows until it finally stops for the sake of transitioning into the next track.

“Time Lockers” is where it becomes clear that Jakim is not trying to mimic artists like Jacob Collier (though I think he’s better than him). Instead, he has his style, using some non-traditional melodies on top of pretty complex chord changes. There are some strong disco vibes on this song, with an almost Daft Punk-like beat. The use of the vocoder makes me think that he listened to Shai or Michael Jackson.

“To Borrow Time” is a “jazzy” jazz tune with fantastic piano work and melodies. This track takes its time to develop, but I’m fine with it because it’s just so pleasant to listen to. The chords have a lot of dissonances, but the melody is very tonal and “modern” sounding. Halfway through, a saxophone even comes in to accompany the piano. It ends with a long jam session from Jakim, who is clearly at home on the keyboard.

This song is so good I’m going to listen again.

“He Who Wants To Live Forever” starts with a groovy bassline, once again making me think of Daft Punk. The chords on the piano are simple but very effective in their simplicity while still having some unexpected turns. This song has more of a groove, and a few more elements come in as the song continues. The bass even becomes a lead!

“A Matter of Time” is my favorite track on this album. It’s funky and jazzy yet feels modern at the same time. I’m not sure how Jakim does it, but he seems to have found some sonic sweet spot in this track. The chord changes are complex, but the melody feels simple and lighthearted. The vocoder comes back for one more appearance here, playing an almost doo-wop melody that goes very well with the style of this song.

“North by North West” is a hauntingly beautiful ballad, which acts as a sort of album-prequel to “To Borrow Time.” The chords themselves are the same, and the structure is the same. It’s a great way to end this short but sweet album. Jakim’s music has that ability to make me feel emotions I’m not used to feeling from instrumental songs. Seriously, he can tap into feelings that I don’t even have a word for.

In conclusion, Jakim Pearson has made a great modern jazz album that goes beyond anything he’s done before using electronic instruments to make complex chord progressions and melodies. He seems to be constantly exploring new ways to make the music he wants to hear, which is refreshing in this day-and-age musical stagnation.

 

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Making Your Photographs Stand Out with Eugene Bernshtam

In the words of Henri Cartier-Bresson, “To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition that a special moment has arrived along with a certain potentiality for it to be that way. It’s an awareness of the possibilities and then seizing on one.” This quote perfectly describes what this photographer set out to do in his life.

The beauty of photography is that everyone has the potential to make stunning art. So we asked photographer Eugene Bernshtam for some tips on making your photos stand out, and he gave us some great advice.

Don’t be in a hurry to take photos

Take time to think about what you will shoot over the next few days or weeks, then go out there and do it. Think of your images as art, not snapshots.

Learn composition

Get a book on photography. Learn about shutter speed, aperture, exposure, lighting, and how to take portraits. The more you know, the better your photos will be.

Look at other people’s work

Try visiting Flickr or 500px so you can see what other photographers are doing with their cameras. Look at all types of photography, not just what you like. The more images you see, the better you will notice a good one when you come across it.

Learn the art of photo editing

When you take your images home or back to your studio, spend time editing them. Again, look at the colors and lighting and see how you can make each image stand out from the rest of your work.

Take a course in photography

Make sure that every photo you take is good by learning how to do it properly. You can learn this through self-study, taking a course in photography, or by looking at books.

Don’t be afraid to experiment

Play around with different angles, lighting, and shutter speeds until you find something new and interesting. Try using bright colors in your images instead of the same old dull tones everyone else uses. Have fun!

Take photos of strangers

Many people are afraid to ask strangers for permission to take their photographs, but you can learn about different cultures by taking photos of unusual people in the street.

Take your camera everywhere with you

When shooting images on digital platforms, take as many photographs as possible because even if they don’t turn out great, you will only have to delete them once.

How-tos on photography are not enough

To be a good photographer, you must dedicate your life to the art of taking photos, experiment with different techniques and styles until you find something that works for you. Spending time reading how-to books will help you understand what makes an image special, but only by testing out the different techniques yourself will you learn how to take a good photo.

Develop your own style

Don’t be afraid to try something new even if your friends and family members don’t like it. If you like what you do, that is all that matters, as long as it makes you happy. By taking the time to think about your next shot, trying out new techniques, and learning from others, you will get better every day.

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How Tremors Affect Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Patients with Joon Faii Ong

Dr. Joon Faii Ong is one of the world’s foremost authorities on essential tremors. He has published more than 100 scientific papers in journals around the world and is well known for his contributions to understanding what causes tremor, how it can be treated, and its impact on quality of life.

In this article, Dr. Ong discusses how tremors affect the quality of life in Parkinson’s patients.

Parkinson’s Disease is a “non,” “familial,” or “sporadic” degenerative disorder of the central nervous system.

It results from a deficiency or loss of nerve cells that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) in areas of the brain such as the Substantia Nigra. The presence of Lewy bodies and cytoplasmic inclusion in neurons and glial cells is pathognomonic for this disorder.

Parkinson’s manifests itself in four main ways: tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability.

Parkinson’s is a progressive disorder. It begins with a very subtle tremor, which the patient or others around them may not even notice. As the disease progresses, rigidity and bradykinesia become more dominant, coupled with postural instability that often makes patients fall without warning. Eventually, the induced loss of DA leads to depression and dementia.

How Tremors Affect Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Patients

Tremor is the most common motor symptom that occurs in Parkinson’s patients. It can occur at rest or during voluntary movement, but it does not equally affect all Parkinson’s patients. In addition, the severity of tremor in a Parkinson’s patient can vary from barely noticeable to disabling.

An Essential Tremor (ET) is a type of tremor that occurs when one or more body parts move and shake involuntarily and uncontrollably. ET has many different characteristics and degrees (severity). Some individuals exhibit Parkinsonian symptoms such as stiffness, bradykinesia, and a resting tremor.

In Parkinson’s, ET usually develops as the disease progresses. In contrast to Parkinsonian tremor, which occurs at rest and is temporarily relieved by movement, essential tremor persists during movement or maintenance of a posture. The tremors associated with ET can be quite disabling for those who have trouble speaking, walking, eating, and writing.

In Parkinson’s patients with ET, the tremors can cause significant stress on a person’s quality of life. In fact, in one study of Parkinsonian patients with tremors at rest, those who had ET experienced more severe disability scores than those who did not have tremors at rest.

One of the goals of Parkinson’s medication is to reduce tremors. Parkinson’s medications either block the dopamine receptors to increase the amount of dopamine available in the brain or make it more difficult for neurons to release dopamine by other mechanisms. In other words, Parkinson’s medications “replace” the lost neurotransmitter.

In Parkinson’s patients with ET, there are many Parkinson’s medications that can help reduce tremors. However, Parkinson’s medications do not affect ET directly; rather, they act on the tremulous abnormal oscillatory discharge patterns in the brain to exert their effects on movement and tremor. In addition, some Parkinson’s medications also improve rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability in some Parkinsonian patients with ET. To read more on topics like this, check out the blog category.

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Helping Adults Heal from Past Abuse – Robert Turner

Adults who suffer abuse as a child or are raised in dysfunctional or abusive families share many symptoms. By the time they reach adulthood, most adults have buried their symptoms because no one was willing to listen. Adults need help recognizing symptoms and healing them because symptoms often cause depression, anger outbursts, self-destructive behaviors, or codependent relationships. According to Robert Turner, recognizing symptoms of abuse is the first step to recovery.

All abuse, including emotional abuse, is a crime against a child’s humanity. The perpetrator of the abuse instills fear and shame in the victim through threats and actual violence or by withholding love and support. The emotional scars from this type of childhood torture often affect every aspect of a person’s life into adulthood.

When you were a child, did your parents:

  • Constantly tell you that you were stupid and make fun of everything you did?
  • Shame and humiliate you in front of the company or at the dinner table?
  • Call you fat and ugly or make fun of your looks?
  • Verbally abuse you by using cruel words that cut into your self-esteem?
  • Physically abuse you in any way? This includes shaking, pushing, slapping, pinching, or biting.
  • Isolate you from friends and family by yelling at them or threatening them?
  • Was he always angry with you so that even little things made him yell?
  • Did your father withhold love, support, or attention because you made him angry?
  • Did he criticize all of your friends?

If any of these questions ring true in your life, then you may have been abused. The abuse lived only one generation away from where you are now because the abuser was a child at one time. It is important to understand that all of these behaviors are learned over a lifetime by the perpetrator. This means the abuse could have stopped with you, but it did not.

These symptoms can be overcome through treatment, support, and hard work by you for years, if not decades to come. Counseling, family therapy, and peer groups are the best forms of treatment to resolve deep-rooted issues. Many people seek individual therapy or attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon meetings because they need help with their life issues. If you did not grow up in an abusive household but live with someone abusing you, get out and find a support group for battered women and their children.

Dealing with Past Trauma

Adults who were traumatized in childhood often re-enact the trauma with other people. The old feelings, unresolved from when they were young, surface when triggered by a current event, such as a breakup or loss of a job. And when those feelings are stimulated, it can bring on a flashback that is similar to what your body experienced when you were young.

The abused adult carries the past abuse in his mind and body through intrusive thoughts, night terrors, “flashbacks” of painful memories, or physical sensations that feel like they are happening again. These feelings can be so intrusive that the person does not realize she is safe, except for these moments when she is triggered by something in her current life. It is very hard for the person to stop thinking about the painful past and get back to present reality when this happens.

 

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How to Address the Rising Cost of Education – Victor Restis

Student loan debt is skyrocketing.

According to the nonprofit Project on Student Loan Debt, student loan debt has risen more than 165 percent in the past decade and is nearly $1 trillion. The average college graduate owes almost twice as much upon graduation compared with a decade ago. A large chunk of that money goes toward education expenses at for-profit colleges, which feed off the need of students to obtain a degree to land better jobs. For-profit colleges face federal scrutiny for allegedly exploiting students at their most vulnerable by luring them to courses with false promises and saddling them with tens of thousands of dollars in debt.

Freelance writer Victor Restis has some thoughts on how to address the rising cost of education. Not all college students take on student loan debt. However, since the early 2000s, the cost of college has been going up faster than inflation and faster than family incomes. Policymakers should address this problem as it creates a false sense of reality that one needs a degree to earn a living wage. It also creates an economic burden for those who do take on debt to obtain their degree. With fewer jobs available in today’s economy, it is unclear how debt-burdened graduates will repay the loans they take out for college.

What could be done to make higher education affordable again?

The solution lies not in finding ways for colleges to lower tuition but rather in helping students find other means to finance their education. There are several options given that student loans are not the only way to pay for one’s studies. For example, work-study programs could include paid internships. While there has been growth in these programs over the past decade, many of them remain small or underutilized by potential participants because of funding or bureaucratic barriers at the college level.

Another option is to use the student’s budget, i.e., a Pell grant, to attract private investment on campus once the student has been accepted on the sole basis of merit and ability. The government would increase funding for these grants, which would be partially bankrolled by investors who would see their money grow over time through simple interest payments, given that students do not stop attending class or flunk out. This is similar to how homeowner loans are funded — in this case, however, the borrower is the government rather than a private lender.

What about loan repayment?

A final proposal would involve changing the terms of existing federal loans to reduce monthly interest rates that can reach up to four percent per annum for recent graduates. The way to accomplish this would be to buy out existing loan holders at a fraction of the market value to clear the market. This would have the net effect of reducing interest rates for future classes of students, who would then afford more education options.

An important part of this final proposal hinges on the government’s ability to buy out existing student loan holders at a fraction of the market value to clear the market. This will allow future borrowers with debt obligations to lower their monthly payments by refinancing their loans at the new rate.

 

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How Northwestern Polytechnic University is Training the Next Generation of Silicon Valley Leaders

Tech is the fastest growing industry in the Bay Area, with an ecosystem of hardware and software start-ups, Fortune 500 companies, and research institutions. Driving this growth is a constant demand for talent.

To help meet this need, Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU) has created one of the most unique educational programs in the nation with a curriculum designed to blend engineering theory with real-world application.

Beginning with an 18-month master’s program, students have four years to complete a Ph.D. in engineering. The goal is to graduate students who will fill critical roles in Silicon Valley and beyond.

By bringing together professionals from academia, business, and industry, the “NPU-X” program provides students with world-class academic training that prepares them for leadership roles in technology companies and institutions. The program offers:

– A focus on the science and business of technology

– An interdisciplinary approach to learning and problem solving

– Opportunities to connect with industry leaders and scholars from around the world

NPU offers four engineering degrees: Master of Science in Engineering (MSE), Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Doctor of Engineering (DEng). There are also two business degrees: MBA and EMBA.

Pipeline to Silicon Valley Leadership

NPU’s Silicon Valley location provides students with many opportunities for internships and networking. In addition, graduates gain access to an extensive network of leaders in private industry, government agencies, military, educational institutions, and other universities.

Graduates can take positions as engineers or technologists for companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations, including:

– Apple

– Google

– Cisco Systems

– IBM

– Intel

– Applied Materials

NPU has more than 100 students in its graduate programs who can participate in the recruitment process. Over 90% of students receive a job offer before graduation from their program. Of those accepting offers, 95% accept offers from companies in the Bay Area.

The Skills Needed for Success

According to a recent study by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, the demand for skilled workers in the Bay Area is rising almost three times as fast as new job creation. There are now more than 300,000 unfilled jobs throughout Silicon Valley, and finding highly trained people who can meet the demands of companies looking to grow has become a challenge.

The study identified six critical skills needed to fill the jobs in highly technical, highly paid occupations over the next ten years: Software development and programming; Systems Analysis and Administration; Networking and Telecom Professionals; Engineering Managers; Computer Hardware Engineers; Mathematicians, Statisticians.

NPU’s graduate programs are designed to help prepare the next generation of leaders with the knowledge and skills that are in high demand by employers. Graduates have achieved 100% job placement within six months of graduation.

– 100% placement rate during first six months for engineering graduates

– 95% placement rate during the first six months for business graduates According to one student, being part of NPU’s program is “the best experience I’ve had in my life. It’s all about learning by doing.”