Everyone tells you that you should write a book, right? Well, it’s not quite as simple as that, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Writing the book is actually the easy part, it’s putting the required proposal together than often stumps the would-be author. Here are the basic elements to get you started:

1. The Overview: Why is your book concept, or ‘hook’, different from what’s already on the shelves? Does it offer a unique voice or methodology? Has something happened in the world or is there a trend that’s emerging that demands a new book on the subject?

2. The Table of Contents and Chapter Outline. Often the most difficult part of the entire process, putting together the table of contents proves to yourself (and ultimately, publishers) that you have enough ‘meat’ to flesh out your topic. Can you cover ten different chapters? Are the headlines for each chapter engaging? Do they give the reader a good idea of what their reading experience will be like? Once you are happy with your chapters and titles, write a lead paragraph for each. This will be your only chance to demonstrate your writing style or ‘voice’ until the actual writing is done.

3. The Introduction. Take a little time to look over this section in existing non-fiction books to get a feel for the purpose of the Introduction. They vary, but in general this is where the author explains what he or she is setting out to do in the chapters that follow. This is also where you can announce any caveats that may exist. For example, “My advice here can’t replace medical attention from a vet, but my twenty years of training stray dogs has taught me that”

4. Target Markets. This is where the preliminary work on the book itself is done and where you prove to publishers that you understand your intended audience. Convince publishers that there are 2.5 million dog owners in the United States and that most of them wish that their pets behaved better. Tell them that pet owners spend about $1000 a year on caring for their pets and that 2% of them are avid readers. Dig around to build a case for the publication of your book!

5. Competitive Titles. There are undoubtedly already several published titles on a similar subject to yours. Find them and write a paragraph or two about them. Then, explain how your book’s ‘hook’ offers something completely different to the shared audience.

6. Author Background. By this point in your proposal, you’ve done a great job of selling your concept, but why are you the person to write the book? Do you have a built-in audience? Generally publishers consider a first-time book by a non-published author a success if they sell 10,000 copies. If you have a large family, but your connections stop there, you might have a tough go of it. However, if you are writing a book for young women and were the president of your college sorority, that’s a built-in audience with an alumni magazine that might publish an excerpt. Do you have endorsements (direct quotes) from readers of your work in another format? Can you offer a unique perspective of the subject? This is where you position yourself as the only author who can bring this book to market and why.

7. Promotions. The days of book tours and marketing departments are all but gone for anyone but best sellers. As such, publishers want to know if the author has any ideas on how to get the word out about their book. Would you print up book marks for your cookbook and ask local supermarkets to put them in their shopping bags? Get creative here and let the publisher know that you will do your part to make the book a success after they publish it.

There is no doubt about it, earning a college degree requires a significan investment of time and money. For some students, it can be six years and $300,000. That is why selecting the right college is so important. And, that is why numerous magazines and college guides take the time to rank colleges and universities.

High ranking colleges may gain increased recognition in the corporate world, resulting in their graduates being in greater demand. And, students at highly ranked colleges may develop greater pride in their institutions and increased confidence in themselves.

Rankings may be based on several factors, including the average starting salaries of graduates, admissions selectivity, the level of alumni donations, and reputation among educational peers.

McGill University, often ranked very highly, is an example of what it takes to be seen as a leading institution of higher education. McGill offers over 300 fields of study, enrolls top students from around the world, and has produced eight Nobel Prize winners and 128 Rhodes scholarship grantees.

College rankings attempt to measure an institution’s ability to maintain high standards and deliver the kind of quality education which allows students to realize their full potential. To the extent that they are able to measure those characteristics, they can be very helpful to prospective students and their families.

Because students should learn as much as possible about the colleges and universities on their short list, it makes sense to review several ranking publications. Any one source might provide information which would make an individual institution a better choice for a particular student. Or, the reverse might be true…any source could provide a reason to rule out a college under consideration.

All too many students choose a college without doing the necessary research. As you might imagine, such students are far less likely to earn a degree than those whose searches are more focused and more diligent.

As I am certain you know, blindly accepting any publication’s opinions is not a good strategy. Evaluate the accuracy of everything you read and hear about colleges, and recognize that the answer to the question of which college is best for you can not be found inside of a magazine or a college guide. Making a good college choice requires a lot of research and a good deal of careful consideration. But, that does not mean that you should ignore rankings.

Last year, private college tuition rose to nearly $25,000. Public colleges, especially community colleges, charged far less, but costs there are rising as well.

In recent years, four-year college tuition has increased at about 6% a year, while two-year college costs have risen about 4% annually. In most instances, available aid has increased as well.

And, you should apply for some of that aid.

Approximately 2/3 of students receive federal aid each year. This aid comes in the form of grants and subsidized loans. The average student attending a two-year institution received $2,040 in such aid in 2007-2008. The average student at a four-year public institution received $3,600, and students attending four-year colleges were awarded, on average, $9,300 in federal aid.

The exact amount of federal grants and subsidized loans for which an individual student is eligible is determined by a formula which uses the information provided on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form all applicants for aid are required to complete.

Scholarships and grants available from states, colleges, universities, and civic organizations also require a student to complete the FAFSA, so be sure to do so prior to the deadlines.

Don’t forget that college financial aid counselors stand ready to assist you. And there are dozens of great websites to help you as well.

When filling out your FAFSA you will need to provide information which includes your social security number, your driver’s license number, and your W-2 forms from the previous year. If married, you’ll also need your spouse’s tax information. Or, if you are living with your parents or are listed as a dependent, you will need parental asset and earnings information.

Although you can fill out a paper version of the FAFSA, completing the online version offers several advantages, especially if updates or corrections become necessary.

Be accurate and be on time. There is nothing else to know. That’s not too hard, right?

College students are no longer constrained by having to take classes on a college campus. Recent technological advances have created the opportunity to earn online college degrees, and tens of thousands of students are taking advantage of this option.

Unfortunately, many people have put off earning a college degree because they have been unable to attend regularly scheduled classes on a college campus. The demands of work, family obligations, and the difficulty of commuting to campus can all be formidable obstacles to overcome.

That is because, in an online degree program, students can complete class work when they have time, without worrying about inflexible class schedules and deadlines.

Students in online degree programs often talk about the time and expense they save by “attending classes” in their homes rather than commuting to campus. They greatly appreciate both.

What about course scheduling conflicts? They do not exist for online students. And, online students are never “closed out” of a class because a classroom can not accommodate additional students.

Because online students can enroll in any courses they need, whenever they wish, they are frequently able to earn degrees much more quickly than their counterparts enrolled in campus-based degree programs. As a result, they have the potential to reach their professional career goals more quickly.

Discomfort with technology used to prevent some adults from earning online degrees, but those days are virtually gone. Because almost all jobs now require at least as much computer skill as are needed to take classes online, most adults now feel far more comfortable sitting at a computer than they do in a classroom.

With the increased use of webinars and discussion boards in online classes, the other concern some people had about online college programsabsence of interaction with faculty and classmateshas also nearly disappeared. No longer does online education mean that students are alone.

No responsible educator would suggest that students should not automatically rule out traditional, on-campus degree programs. In fact, for some, it is the best option. But, when most working adults weigh their educational choices, they will conclude that online education offers them the best chance to meet their educational goals without neglecting their professional and/or family responsibilities.

Almost every family in America, regardless of its economic status, is concerned about the current state of the U.S. economy.

And, families with children in college or children due to begin college in the next 4-5 years are especially concerned about one aspect of the economy; how to meet rising college costs in difficult economic times.

Even those who have planned ahead and spent years saving for college may come up short, particularly if their savings/investments have been in real estate or stocks. Not only are most investors sitting on portfolios worth at least 25% less than their value a few months ago, but many own a considerable number of individual stocks or funds that have declined in value by an even higher percentage.

College endowments, because they too are heavily invested in the stock market, are also down considerably. And, for all but the very wealthiest colleges, a decline in endowment value may well mean a decline in institutional scholarship funds available to students.

Institutional scholarships are a very important part of financial aid packages, especially at private colleges and universities. In fact, in normal times, private colleges offer students enough institutional-based scholarships to offset approximately 35% of tuition costs. Some colleges have so much money that their ability to provide institutional aid will not be impacted even if the economic downturn continues.

Others will have no choice except to maintain or even increase their scholarship expenditures in order to meet their enrollment goals. Some others, however, may be forced by lower endowments to reduce the number and/or size of institutional scholarships awarded.

Our sagging economy may bring serious changes to the way prospective students and colleges approach the admissions and selection process. Thus far, it has brought a great deal of uncertainty.

So, what should a student do in the face of so much uncertainty? Here are a few things to think about.

1. Do not panic. Your family, and the college(s) you are considering, may not be materially affected by the economy.

2. Talk to experts…high school and college counselors. Apply for all the funding sources they recommend.

3. See if your high school counseling office has a list of scholarships offered by organizations in or near your community.

4. Conduct Internet searches for free scholarship search sites. They’ll help “match” you to scholarships for which you might qualify.

5. Be extremely wary of organizations which want to charge you for scholarship or financial aid assistance. Most maybe allare outright scammers.

6. Look for bargain colleges. There are more than you may think.

7. Do not rule out student or parent loans. If you need them, they are a great investment. Just resist the temptation to borrow more than you absolutely need.

The unfortunate truth is that many families currently face serious economic problems. And not a single economic guru has predicted a fast solution to our economic malaise. However, the difficulties we are experiencing should not be an insurmountable obstacle to students who wish to pursue higher education in traditional or online degree programs. Historically, in times like this, colleges have held down tuition increases and/or boosted the availability of financial aid.

Students who do not give in to panic, explore their college financing options, and seek out affordable colleges and universities need not worry. What they do need to do is become as well informed as possible.

An online degree program can be a great way for you to earn your college degree. If you have never taken an online course before, there are many things that you can do to help out in your quest to earn an online degree.

Many people can not live without the internet, and you will have to become very familiar with the internet in order to earn your online degree. With this in mind, make sure that you are comfortable with using a computer and also with using the internet before taking online courses to earn your online degree.

Familiarize yourself with the instructors of your online courses before the courses begin. This can include figuring out how they have structured the course and reading through the course syllabus to get an idea of how heavy of a workload you can expect during the course.

Be sure to take note of all assignment deadlines. It can help to have a day planner to keep track of when assignments are due and when you should begin working on projects.

Don’t wait until the last minute to take the quizzes and tests for your online courses. This will help avoid the unlikely event that you have computer problems and end up missing the deadline given to have the exam completed.

Most online courses include discussion forums. If your course includes a discussion forum, be sure to take part in it even if your instructor does not require you to. If you are required to submit weekly discussions, be sure to stay on track by taking note of submission deadlines so as not to miss any.

Try making friends with other classmates in your course. Making friends with your classmates can help a great deal in making it through the course, as they can be a great resource if you have any questions on projects or need clarifications on course terms throughout the semester.

Don’t wait to ask your course instructor for any clarifications you need on projects throughout your course. Asking your teacher questions as they come up can help a great deal in staying on your track to earning your online degree.

College can be very expensive for students with limited resources. It can even be expensive for students that have been saving money for a while in order to attend college and earn their degree.

No matter how much your college tuition bill is, there are resources available to help with the cost. One great option available to help with the cost of college is the option of using college scholarships.

The good thing about college scholarships is that, unlike student loans, you won’t have to pay them back after graduation. Another good thing about scholarships is there are many available to apply for-which increases your chances of being awarded one or more.

While some college scholarships can be relatively easy to apply for, others have a more intense application process. For almost all scholarships, you will have to complete an application.

It is always a good idea to read the scholarship guidelines before applying for them. This is a good idea, because many scholarships have stipulations on who can apply for them, so you don’t want to apply for a scholarship that you have no chance of being awarded.

Always include all of your accomplishments and awards on your scholarship applications. The more accomplishments that you have listed, the better your chances of being awarded the scholarship will be.

If you are applying for multiple college scholarships, be sure to vary your application responses and application letters. The people that will be reviewing the scholarship applicants will likely have read many applications and will be able to spot a generic application letter that was used in several applications.

Take some time to think about what sets you apart from the other applicants and highlight this in your application letter. Think about what makes you unique and how you can showcase this. The application reviewers will be reviewing many applications and will be looking for a unique candidate that stands out from the others.