Monthly Archives: March 2011

43% of Graduate Students Experience Stress Beyond Ability to Handle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS – (April 4-8, 2011, National Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week) – A recent nationwide survey of graduate students at 26 major universities across America revealed key concerns that negatively affect the pursuit of advanced degrees. Grad Resources is taking this week to create awareness of stressors and resources for graduate students.

In an effort to identify resources that aid graduate students in dealing with pressures and completing their degree, Grad Resources commissioned a survey of students currently pursuing a Master’s or Ph.D. degree. 

According to the majority of survey respondents, primary areas of concern for graduate students include: maintaining balance between school and life, career success and financial pressures, followed closely by stress and burnout.

Of potential interest to campus health professionals, 43% of all graduate students reported experiencing more stress than they could handle. The percentage was significantly higher in particular areas of academic specialization – Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences. Nearly half of graduate students in these specialties reported more stress than they could handle. 45% of Ph.D. students also reported more stress than they could handle, versus 41% of Master’s level students. 

When faced with stress and other problems, relationships provided the greatest support with 90% of married graduate students finding help from their spouse, followed by 78% of students who sought support from peers and parents. More than two thirds of graduate students frequently turn inward when in need of insight or support. One third of graduate students turn to God or a higher power.

National Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week is April 4-8. There will be a variety of events and activities on various campuses across the country to bring attention to the influence of graduate students and the issues they face. It was begun by The National Association of Graduate and Professional Students. “What better time to talk about grad stresses than during Grad Week,” says Nick Repak, President of Grad Resources.

Grad Resources is a faith-based service organization based in Dallas, Texas that serves the overall needs of graduate students across the United States and around the world. Grad Resources offers students a wide variety of resources and support to manage the unique pressures of academia. For additional resources or for information about support communities on your campus for graduate students, contact your graduate council, your graduate Dean’s office or see: www.GradResources.org, www.NAGPS.org, www.HopeLine.com, and the National Grad Student Crisis-Line 800-GRAD-HLP (800-472-3457).

Contact:
Nick Repak, President
nick@gradresources.org
(972)-867-0188

Top Concerns of Graduate Students 

Percent of Graduate Students Reporting Issue as a “Major Concern” 

Issue %
Reaching an acceptable balance between school and life outside of school 59
Not being successful in your career 56
The financial pressures of being in graduate school 54
Stress or burnout 53
Your health 47
Failing to meet the expectations others have of you 43
Choosing the wrong career path 38
Not completing your degree 37
Your relationships with your professors 32
Your relationship with your peers 27
Feeling like an outsider, or that you do not belong 24
Growing your relationship with God or a higher power 24

Percent of Graduate Students Reporting Resources for Dealing with Stress “Somewhat Helpful” or “Very Helpful”

Resource %
Your spouse 90
Your peers 78
Your parents or other family members 78
Listening to or playing music 78
Entertainment media like TV or movies 73
Visiting a special place that renews you 69
Social events 68
Participating in sports 61
Praying 57
Eating 50
Your professors 43
Reading holy or sacred literature 40
Counselors 33
Drinking alcohol 33
Chaplains or ministers 28
Recreational drugs 14

Source: Grad Resources, ©2010

Free Pillows for College Students – for Scientific Study

A SleepBetter.org Study Aims to Find out What Gross Stuff Lives Inside The Old Pillows and Mattress Pads of College-Bound Pillows

RICHMOND, Virginia, March 28, 2011 – Dust mites, fungus and skin cells .. oh my! SleepBetter.org is conducting an ambitious scientific study of pillows and mattress pads belonging to enrolled college students, and they’re going to give away FREE bedding in the process.

The sleep tips, news, and information website is collecting 100 sample pillows and 20 mattress pads, all from students attending a U.S. college or university in the fall of 2011. The goal is to find out what’s inside the items on which these students would have been sleeping. A third-party testing lab will measure the amount of bacteria, molds, yeasts, fungi and dust-mites in the items, but will not test for any specific or personal human residues.

The individual results of the study will remain anonymous, unless the study participant agrees to share their info.

In order to conduct the study, SleepBetter needs bedding and they’re asking for help. Any college student with a pillow or mattress pad they want to donate to the cause should visit www.sleepbetter.org/home/back-to-college-pillowcollectform/ and sign up. Each individual whose pillow or mattress pad is chosen for the research will receive a brand new replacement, at no cost, from Carpenter Co. and will receive their individual results.

The deadline to sign up for the study is noon (EST) April 1st, 2011.

About Carpenter Co. / www.sleepbetter.org

SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the Web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep-related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit www.SleepBetter.org You can also connect to SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

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QTRAX LAUNCHES ITS FREE AND LEGAL MUSIC DOWNLOAD SERVICE

BRINGING MUSIC FANS ACCESS TO A VAST CATALOGUE OF HIGH QUALITY VIRUS-FREE MUSIC

NEW YORK – Mar. 23, 2011 – How do college students get accessibility to the music they love for free while on campus? With the restrictions and punishments that most American Universities have in place for those who attempt to visit illegal sites to download free music and share files its an unappealing option. Many students have taken to using free streaming music services but that could also soon present a major problem. Just last week Oxford University in the UK decided to ban the popular European streaming service Spotify because of the amount of bandwidth the service swallowed up. Thankfully there is now an option for students to be able to download and play as much free music as they like.

QTRAX has successfully launched its revolutionary, free and legal music download service in the United States, Canada and eight other countries and will continue to rollout all over the world.

QTRAX showcases an ad-supported delivery model that easily and accurately directs revenue back to artists and rights holders. Users who download and install the QTRAX player will be able to use it to search for, discover and download as much music as they like from a diverse catalog of high-quality digital music files. The QTRAX player can be used on either Mac or PC and portability will follow shortly.

About QTRAX (www.QTRAX.com)
QTRAX is a free and legal music downloading service with a revenue focused business model that directs money back to artists and rights holders. QTRAX has successfully signed a number of significant licensing deals and provides fans with access to a vast and diverse catalog of high-quality digital music files. QTRAX is currently live in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Fiji, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. Portability will follow shortly. Based in New York City, QTRAX is a subsidiary of Brilliant Technologies Corporation (OTC: BLLN. PK), a publicly traded technology holding company.

Both Founder and Co President Allan Klepfisz and Co President Lance Ford are available for interviews and comments.

In order to schedule please contact: Shamin Abas
shamin@shaminabaspr.com Office: 561.366.1226, Cell: 917.494.9288

Shannon Felder
Shannon@shaminabaspr.com or 561.366.1226

Survey Shows Students Growing Savvier About College Costs ROI

Maguire Associates/Fastweb Survey Reveals 91 Percent Consider Post-Graduation Employment Opportunities Important; Students Using Net Price Calculators, Social Media to Assess Affordability and Value

CONCORD, Mass. – Mar. 22, 2011 – With concerns about the economy remaining high despite the recovery, the Class of 2015 is choosing prospective colleges based on their “real” costs, as well as the return that they will provide after graduation, according to the latest research from Maguire Associates and Fastweb.com. The organizations surveyed over 21,000 high school seniors for insights into their college search and application behaviors, exploring everything from how they assess the affordability and value of a particular college to how they rely on social media when narrowing down their college options.

Families Focus on “Real” Costs and Return on Investment
“This is the third year in a row we’ve seen students’ concerns about the economy at an elevated level. As the fallout from the recession continues, institutions that want to attract quality students and engage their families need to be experts at communicating the lifetime return on an investment in their school,” said Tara Scholder, Senior Vice President, Maguire Associates. “That means focusing on the unique value proposition that they offer.”

This year, 68 percent of aspiring college freshmen surveyed report that the economy has “greatly” or “somewhat” influenced their college application choices, higher than in 2009 (60 percent), during the midst of the recession, and on a par with 2010 (64 percent). The characteristics students consider most important when choosing schools for their short lists reflect both what an investment in higher education means to them, as well as financial variables. They include:

  • Quality of major (94 percent)
  • “Value” of education (quality and cost) (92 percent)
  • Employment opportunities after graduation (91 percent)
  • Availability of need- or merit-based aid (87 percent)
  • Total costs (87 percent)

More than half of graduating seniors (57 percent) polled are interested in using net price calculators (NPCs) even though they haven’t already. NPCs are designed to help estimate the cost of attending individual schools, based on their financial situations and aid opportunities. Congress mandated that all colleges provide net price calculators on their websites by October 2011.

“The data show that providing an accurate, easy to use NPC will give colleges and universities a strategic advantage, especially as these tools drive home the concept of net cost,” added Ms. Scholder.

“With 68 percent of aspiring college freshman respondents reporting that the economy has ‘greatly’ or ‘somewhat’ influenced their college application choices, the ability for them to secure financial aid and scholarships has become more important than ever,” said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Fastweb and a nationally recognized expert on student financial aid. “Fortunately, there are opportunities to help make college more affordable for them through scholarships that match a variety of student interests and aspirations.”

Growing Impact of Social Media
The findings also indicate that, for colleges and universities seeking to reach students “where they live and breathe,” a compelling social media presence is a necessity. Not surprisingly, Facebook is the social networking site where they’re most likely to gather; nearly half (45 percent) say they visit several times each day. YouTube is the next most popular site for respondents.

Most of the students are also using these sites to research and evaluate schools, or find out about financial aid opportunities. More than half report that they have:

- Watched a YouTube video created by a school (57 percent)
- Searched for scholarships using social media or networking sites (56 percent)
- Read posts about a school on a social networking site (53 percent)

Interestingly, only 15 percent would be inclined to contact an admission counselor through a social network.

Among additional findings:

  • Health professions (22 percent), business (9 percent), biological and biomedical sciences (9 percent), engineering (8 percent), performing and visual arts (7 percent) and education (7 percent) are the majors respondents are most interested in pursuing.
  • Students generally prefer in-person instruction for their college classes (84 percent). Online instruction is preferred by only 2 percent of students, and a combination of online and classroom by 12 percent.

Data collection for the 2011 College Decision Impact Survey took place in January 2011, and all participants were Fastweb members at the time of the survey.

About Maguire Associates
Maguire Associates is a research-based consulting firm that exclusively serves educational clients – close to 400 of them – from colleges and universities to independent and public schools, consortia and government organizations focused on education. For 25 years, the firm has applied innovations in market research, analysis, and predictive modeling to help clients understand the dynamics of past performance, apply insightful knowledge to sound decision-making, and attain desired outcomes. For more information, visit www.maguireassoc.com.

About Fastweb
Fastweb is the nation’s recognized leader in helping students pay for school, by providing scholarship and financial aid information, as well as jobs and internships. One out of three college-bound seniors use the site, and more than 50 million* members have benefited from Fastweb’s information and services. Fastweb lets students create a personalized profile that can be matched against its expansive databases of colleges and scholarships. As the oldest and most popular free online scholarship matching service, the database has more than 1.5 million scholarships totaling over $3.4 billion. (*9 million are active users of the site.) For more information, visit www.fastweb.com.

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For media inquiries and to learn more about the survey please contact:
Zora Falkowski, Porter Novelli for Fastweb
617-897-8247 or zora.falkowski@porternovelli.com

Northwestern Mutual to Add 2500 Interns from Colleges and Universities

College Students Find Success in Nationally Acclaimed “Top 10 Internship”

MILWAUKEE – Mar. 18, 2011 – Due to increased demand from Americans who seek financial guidance, Northwestern Mutual – a leading financial security company – aims to add 2,500 financial representative interns from colleges and universities nationwide in 2011.

“This generation witnessed the impact of unprecedented financial turmoil and as a result, they appreciate the importance of financial planning and they’re taking action,” said Michael Van Grinsven, Northwestern Mutual field internship director. “Instead of waiting, more young adults are addressing their long-term financial futures — they picture themselves getting married, buying a home and starting a family or a business, and they want to be prepared.”

Northwestern Mutual offers one of the top 10 internships in the country, according to the 2011 Vault Guide to Internships. The annual Vault study measures mentorship and career advancement opportunities, number of active interns, compensation, intern feedback and unique appeal. For 15 straight years, Northwestern Mutual’s program has been recognized by Vault for providing interns with opportunities for personal and professional growth, valuable training and real-world experiences with a respected financial security company. More than 31,000 students across the country have participated in Northwestern Mutual’s internship program since its inception in 1967.

“Our internship program is one of the best nationwide, because our trained and licensed interns are able to test drive the same career as our full-time representatives,” said Van Grinsven. “In addition, they receive professional coaching and mentoring to help ensure success.”

Andres Baltazar, a 2007 DePaul University graduate and former Northwestern Mutual intern, now manages a successful financial practice in Skokie, Ill., helping hundreds of clients each year.

“When I attended DePaul, I wanted an internship where I could make an impact on people’s lives,” said Baltazar. “You don’t get people coffee; you help people achieve financial security, and that kind of opportunity to make a difference is so rare for students today.”

Interested applicants can visit Northwestern Mutual’s website or contact a nearby Northwestern Mutual office. To find a Northwestern Mutual office, visit: www.northwesternmutual.com/find-an-office.aspx

Watch Videos About Northwestern Mutual Careers on YouTube

1) MTV-U + Northwestern Mutual – The Financial Representative Career www.youtube.com/northwesternmutual#p/u/14/0BRrcHezrec

2) A Day in the Life – A Northwestern Mutual Financial Representative Intern: www.youtube.com/northwesternmutual#p/u/12/1RlQ4V3CV0Y

3) A Day in the Life – A Recent College Graduate Joining Northwestern Mutual
About Northwestern Mutual: www.youtube.com/northwesternmutual#p/u/11/SSH9wkDqKDI

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company – Milwaukee, WI (Northwestern Mutual) has helped clients achieve financial security for more than 150 years. As a mutual company with $1.2 trillion of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual shares, where possible, its gains with policyowners and delivers consistent and dependable value to clients over time. Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a holistic approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, annuities, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, limited purpose federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company; and Russell Investments.

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For further information, contact:
Jean Towell 1-800-323-7033
mediarelations@northwesternmutual.com
media.northwesternmutual.com
www.facebook.com/northwesternmutual
www.twitter.com/NM_News

 

Suite of TurboTax Mobile Apps Offer Easy Options at Tax Time

Suite of TurboTax Mobile Apps Offer Easy Options at Tax Time

New Tax Apps Help Students That Still Need to File

SAN DIEGO – Mar. 17, 2011 – While most students are focused on mid-terms and Spring Break, another deadline is quickly approaching tax day. Fast, easy mobile apps are changing the way that students can tackle this annual task and they don’t need to pay someone a bundle to do them.

TurboTax (turbotax.intuit.com/), the nation’s No. 1-rated tax software, has a suite of new apps for mobile phones and the iPad to help people save time and money:

  • SnapTax (turbotax.intuit.com/snaptax/mobile/?cid=int_pr_snptx): Designed for those filing a simple (1040 EZ) return, the SnapTax app allows them to prepare and file a federal and state return right from their iPhone or Android phone in minutes. With SnapTax, users can snap a photo of their W-2 with their smart phone and the app automatically enters the information into their tax return. Then they answer a few basic questions, review their return for accuracy and tap “File Now” to electronically file their federal and state tax returns in minutes. The app is free to download and customers pay when they are done. SnapTax is available through the Apple App Store (itunes.apple.com/us/app/turbotax-snaptax/id406364213?mt=8) and Android Market. To view a video and for more information, go to SnapTax.com.
  • TurboTax : TurboTax just released a new app for the iPad (turbotax.intuit.com/support/iq/Working-on-My-Return/What-is-TurboTax-for-iPad-/GEN81004.html) that is the first and only app that lets taxpayers prepare and e-file both their federal and state taxes completely from their iPad. The new app combines the unparalleled ease and accuracy of TurboTax with the portability and convenience of an iPad enabling people to work on their taxes anytime and anywhere. Taxpayers can download the app for free from the Apple App store and begin in TurboTax Deluxe for $29.99. State tax preparation is additional.
  • MyTaxRefund (itunes.apple.com/us/app/mytaxrefund/id365180396?mt=8): Getting a refund? About 75 percent of taxpayers do. After filing, taxpayers can check the status of their federal tax refund, based on Internal Revenue Service projections, with TurboTax MyTaxRefund. Available for iPhone or iPad, it’s free and easy to use.

For the latest information and helpful tax tips, visit Tax Break (blog.turbotax.intuit.com/), the TurboTax blog. Taxpayers can follow TurboTax on Twitter (www.twitter.com/turbotax) or become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/turbotax).

About TurboTax
TurboTax is the nation’s No. 1 rated, best-selling, do-it-yourself tax preparation software. Available on desktop, online and mobile, TurboTax helps more than 20 million people a year easily and accurately claim every deduction and credit they’re entitled to, so they get their biggest tax refund possible. For more information, visit the TurboTax press room.

About Intuit
Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses; financial institutions, including banks and credit unions; consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax®, simplify small business management and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit’s leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. Intuit Financial Services helps banks and credit unions grow by providing on-demand solutions and services that make it easier for consumers and businesses to manage their money.

Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $3.5 billion in its fiscal year 2010. The company has approximately 7,700 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com.

Intuit, the Intuit logo and TurboTax, among others, are registered trademarks and/or registered service marks of Intuit Inc. in the United States and other countries.

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Contacts:
Colleen Gatlin
Intuit Inc.
858-215-7487
colleen_gatlin@intuit.com

Stephanie Pettinati
The OutCast Agency
415-392-8282
TurboTax@theoutcastagency.com

Collegiate Inventors Competition Seeks Inventive Entries From Students

NORTH CANTON, Ohio (March 14, 2011) – The Invent Now Collegiate Inventors Competition is now accepting entries for the 2011 Competition

For the past twenty-one years the Collegiate Inventors Competition has recognized and honored student inventors whose inventions could one day make significant contributions to society. This year over $75,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the winning undergraduate and graduate students and their advisors.

The deadline for the 2011 Competition is June 24. Entries are judged on their originality, their potential impact on society, and the level of student initiative. Expert judges select up to 12 finalists who receive an all-expense paid trip to the final judging round and awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., held in the fall. National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees participate in the final round of judging and have included Thomas Fogarty, inventor of the balloon embolectomy catheter; George Smith, 2009 Nobel Prize recipient and inventor of the charge-coupled device; and James West, inventor of the electret microphone.

Alice Chen a Harvard/MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program student and the 2010 Graduate division winner of the Competition says that “participating in the Collegiate Inventors Competition was a phenomenal experience from beginning to end… it was a chance to get real-time feedback from engaged scientific and patent experts on both technical and commercial aspects of my work and above all, it was an opportunity to share my mutual passion for invention with other equally passionate students.”

Sponsors of the 2011 Competition include the Abbott Fund and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Entry forms and more information on the program are available at www.invent.org/collegiate.

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Release Contact:
Rini Paiva
rpaiva@invent.org
330.849.6916