UB Chronicle

The Upward Bound Programs at Morehead State University

January 2024 Volume 3 Issue 5

Types of Colleges: Sorting Out Colleges by Their Types

Taken from Big Future

Sorting Out Colleges by Their Types

Is a college the same thing as a university? What does "liberal arts" mean? Why are some colleges called public and others private? Knowing the basics in regard to different types of colleges is imperative to making the right decision.

Public and Private Colleges

Public colleges are funded by local and state governments and usually offer lower tuition rates than private colleges, especially for students who are residents of the state where a college is located.

Private colleges rely on tuition, fees, and non-government funding sources. Generous financial aid packages for students are often available thanks to private donations.

For-Profit Colleges

For-profit institutions are businesses that typically offer career training. Although these colleges offer a variety of degree programs, it's wise to exercise caution when applying to a for-profit school. The degree programs often come at a higher cost, meaning students graduate with more debt. Credits earned may not transfer to other colleges so be sure to check with the admissions office at each institution.

Four-year and two-year colleges

Four-year institutions are referred to as undergraduate colleges. Four-year colleges specifically offer bachelor's degree programs. These include universities and liberal arts colleges.

Two-year colleges offer certificate programs that can be completed in under two years. They also offer two-year associate degrees. These include community colleges, vocational-technical colleges, and career colleges.

Liberal Arts Colleges

These institutions offer numerous courses in liberal arts in areas such as literature, history, languages, mathematics, and life sciences. Most of these institutions are private and offer four-year bachelor's degree programs. These colleges prepare students for a multiplicity of careers as well as graduate studies.

Universities

Universities are larger institutions that offer a wider variety of academic majors and degree options. These schools provide bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Most universities contain several smaller colleges, such as colleges of education, engineering, or health sciences. These colleges can prepare you for a wide range of careers or for graduate study.

Community Colleges

Community colleges offer two-year associate degrees that prepare undergraduates for four-year institutions offering bachelor programs. They also provide career-specific associate degrees and certificates. Community colleges are an affordable option because of their low tuition costs.

Know someone who could benefit from Upward Bound or Upward Bound Math Science? Have them scan the QR Code below to get more information or to submit an application.

Apologizing (for Teens)

Taken from: kidshealth.org

Just about everyone has said or done something that hurts another person’s feelings. Sometimes you might hurt someone without meaning to. Or you say or do something unkind and regret it later.

When you realize you’ve broken someone’s trust in you or hurt them with your words or actions, it’s a good idea to apologize.

When to Apologize

Here are examples of when to apologize:

If you hurt, tease, insult, yell at, or disrespect someone.
If you lose or break something of theirs, even if you didn't mean to.
If you were unfair or harsh.
If you did something you knew was wrong, like telling a lie, posting hurtful comments, spreading a rumor, or breaking a rule on purpose.
If you didn't do something you were supposed to do, like keeping a promise or a curfew.

Do I Have to Apologize?

It can be hard to admit when you’ve done something you’re not proud of — even if you didn’t mean to do it. It can seem easier to act like it didn’t happen, say it wasn’t your fault, or hope the other person didn't notice or forgot about it. But it’s better to offer an apology.

How Apologizing Can Help

Apologies can help you build and keep good friendships. When you say, "I'm sorry" (and really mean it), you can repair trust. Saying you're sorry is more than just words. You're showing that you respect the other person’s feelings. You value their friendship.

Apologizing is a chance for you to be honest, humble, and act with integrity. It lets you find out that your words and actions can also have a positive effect on others — and on you.

How to Apologize

A good apology focuses on what you did, not on the other person’s reaction. When you apologize, it’s not a rehash of what happened. You can keep it simple. For example, you can:

Tell the person you're sorry for what you did, even if it wasn’t on purpose.
Own what you did without trying to explain it away. It takes away from an apology if you follow up with an excuse or explanation for why you did what you did.
Let them know you regret it. Say you know it affected them and you'll try to do better in future.

Does Apologizing Fix Everything?

It depends on what happened and on your relationship with the person. Sometimes saying "I'm sorry" fixes things right away. Other times, it might take a while for someone to get past feeling upset. You may need to give them some time. But when you apologize in a heartfelt way, you can feel good about trying to make things right again.

When Someone Apologizes to You

When someone apologizes to you, you may be ready to forgive what happened and move on. Or you might not feel like being friendly again right away. If someone keeps hurting you and apologizing without trying to change, you might not want to spend time with them anymore. That’s OK.

When you forgive someone or accept their apology, it doesn’t mean you’re OK with what they did. And just because someone apologizes doesn't mean you have to be friends. You can still accept their apology. But anything more is up to you.

Creating your FSA ID

Taken from: fafsafenzy

Don't wait to create the FSA ID for both yourself (Single family household) and your spouse if you are married or remarried as it can take up to 2-5 weeks for the FSA ID to be verified.

Everyone Needs an FSA ID To Complete the FAFSA Application

For the 2024-25 school year, anyone required to fill out part of a student’s FAFSA—including a spouse, parent or step-parent—must create their own FSA ID and password.

The FSA ID provides a digital signature on your application for security reasons. Application contributors can set up an FSA ID on the StudentAid.gov website by providing their birth date, Social Security number and full name.

Consent Is Required for Tax Data Transfers

You can digitally transfer much of the information required for the FAFSA from the IRS, but the transfer requires consent from each application contributor. So, if a spouse or parent needs to fill out part of your FAFSA, they must agree to provide their tax details.

Application contributors should get a FAFSA notification requesting their consent. If they don’t agree to have the IRS information transferred, students can still apply for aid, but may not qualify without consent.

How To Help your Student Prepare for Your FAFSA Application

The launch date of the new FAFSA for the 2024-25 school year is still several months away, but taking the steps below could help students and parents prepare before it opens.

Locate their Social Security card. If they are a high school student, they may not have their Social Security number committed to memory yet. Consider tracking down their Social Security card so you have it ready for the application. If it’s misplaced, you have time to request a copy from the Social Security Administration.
Set up an FSA ID. Students and application contributors can set up FSA IDs before the FAFSA opens, so that’s one less task to worry about when it’s time to apply.
Figure out your dependency status. Students answer questions during the FAFSA application to determine if they’re an independent or dependent student, but they can answer preliminary questions on the StudentAid.gov website to anticipate what the dependency status might be. This way, students can give parents and other application contributors a heads-up if they’ll need to fill out parts of the FAFSA.
Mark your calendar for a December launch date. Make a note to yourself to everything prepared by December 31st so you can start the application as soon as it opens. It is recommended to wait until January to complete the FAFSA as the launch may have some bugs to work out.

Links and Resources:

Tis the Tax Season

Don't file taxes?

It is important to also obtain a letter of non-filing if you have students who will be in college soon if you do not file taxes. This is especially helpful during FAFSA completion for Financial Aid because often times this holds up the verification process and can delay the processing of Financial Aid. Check out the link under "Links and Resources for more information on how to obtain this and other tax related transcripts.

Shelby Horn, Upward Bound Alum

Shelby Horn, Laboratory Scientist

What is your name and occupation?

My name is Shelby Horn and I work at UK Healthcare in Lexington, Kentucky as a Laboratory Scientist in the Immuno Molecular Pathology lab. My line of work is crucial to those who seek an organ transplant(s). I perform a variety of tests between an organ transplant donor and recipient to ensure compatibility.

What degree/ degrees did you get for that position?

I graduated from Morehead State University in 2020 with a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Sciences.

What are some key things you would share with others interested in pursuing this pathway?

My first suggestion is finding a good mentor. I was very fortunate to find that in one of my college professors who took me under his wing and showed me that this line of work existed and taught the basics of laboratory practice. I'd highly suggest looking into the different types of labs that exist. When I was searching for jobs, I didn't realize that there were a wide variety of labs available. My first job coming out of college was working in a client-based chemistry lab that performed banned substance testing on supplements like protein powder. Now I've shifted over into working in a hospital and the tests I perform are life-changing. Most hospital laboratory jobs require that a person obtain their MLS (Medical Laboratory Scientist) certification, which is done through a four year degree and sitting for an exam. My lab is a rare exception to this but I would still highly recommend looking MLS degrees if you want to work in a hospital setting.

Did you find your job easily/ what do you think the future for your career is?

Finding this job required a little bit of investigating but in my case, I knew that UK was somewhere I wanted to work so I took initiative and kept an eye out for any open positions. In December 2023, I will be sitting for an exam to become a Certified Histocompatibility Technologist and I plan to sit for another certification in 2024 that will give me the flexibility to work in other labs. Someday, I hope to become a Laboratory Manager.

What advice would you give high school students about college and pursuing a career?

While you're in college get involved in extracurriculars, make connections with people, and use your resources. My biggest piece of advice is never forget why you're there in the first place, to further your education and better yourself. In terms of searching for a career, make sure you choose something you will enjoy and can be proud of.

Share a bit of your perspective that correlates to being an Upward Bound alumni and how it helped with college/ career?

I had a really smooth transition into my freshman year of college thanks to my Bridge summer. I can't put into words how much Upward Bound means to me and I give so much of my success now to this program. UB provided me with a strong foundation for how college would be and with a great support system that always believes in me especially during the rough patches.

Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math & Science are 100% federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education and sponsored by Morehead State University.

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