Latest Articles at The Aspiring Professional

Regarding the TAP Award

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:59:56 -0600

As this project has had a slower start than I originally anticipated, I feel I must make this announcement regarding the 2009 TAP Award. I announced the program, originally, in the hope that it would draw users to the site and help build our community while, at the same time, providing someone with a better chance of paying for his or her education. I still hope that this might be achieved.

However, in the interest of the community in general and -- I freely admit -- my own family's financial well-being, the 2009 TAP Award will not be granted unless a minimum of 50 qualified students apply for it. To the few who have begun the application process, I apologize if this means that your entries were without need. I will work without cease to make this not so. In accordance with such late changes, I have extended the deadline for application to June 30th, 2009.

Finally, I have revised the required GPA for an applicant which now stands at 3.5. I have made this adjustment because, on further consideration, feel that the previous requirement of 3.75 may be two high and unfairly exclusive of otherwise highly qualified applicants.

Good luck to those members of TAP who have applied, and I hope sincerely that the award may yet be given for this year. If you have questions or concerns regarding this decision, please let me know.

Sincerely,

John DeLancey
Owner, The Aspiring Professional

Linked: The Final Stimulus Bill

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:06:50 -0700

Inside Higher Ed examines the allotments made for higher education in the finalized version of the stimulus bill just passed by Congress.

Inside Higher Ed estimates between $50 billion and $75 billion for higher education. Approximately $53 billion will be marked for states to use in public colleges and state higher education agencies, while about $16 billion is slated for research grants and facilities.

Full text available here.

Linked: Tolls of Med School

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:15:07 -0700

Inside Higher Ed writer Jack Stripling discusses a study published in Academic Medicine examining rates of depression and suicidal thoughts among medical students.

See the full article at Inside Higher Ed.

Announcing the 2009 TAP Award Program

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:38:16 -0700

The 2009 TAP Award, a scholarship program and one-time grant opportunity for outstanding professionals and philanthropists, has now been announced! We are now accepting applications for the Fall 2009 award.

From the scholarship information page:

The TAP Award is a scholarship program and one-time award granted to one or more individuals based on academic excellence, community service, demonstrated professionalism, and dedication to post-secondary education and philanthropy.

The goal of this program is to assist future professionals and philanthropists in obtaining an undergraduate or graduate degree that will allow the winners to continue in pursuing these ideals.

Professionalism, as we will define it for the purpose of this award, is independent of career field. It is a mind-set, a way of thinking and behaving both in and out of the public eye that defines a person. A restaurant cook may be every bit as "professional" as a doctor or lawyer. Applicants must demonstrate, in their own words, why they consider themselves to be professionals.

Philanthropy, as we will define it, is not about writing a check to a charity. As considered for this award, philanthropy embodies a true spirit of giving and giving back. No money needs to have changed hands for the successful applicant. Rather, applicants must demonstrate how, through 100 hours or more of community or volunteer service, they have helped to enrich the lives of others. Again, applicants must prove to us how they have themselves lived as philanthropists and will continue to do so.

Undergraduate members of The Aspiring Professional may begin completing their 2009 Application immediately. Good luck!

Linked: Stimulus Plan Would Provide Flood of Aid to Education

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:35:13 -0700

From the NYT Article:

WASHINGTON — The economic stimulus plan that Congress has scheduled for a vote on Wednesday would shower the nation’s school districts, child care centers and university campuses with $150 billion in new federal spending, a vast two-year investment that would more than double the Department of Education’s current budget.

See full article at the New York Times Online

Female Professionals in MBA Programs

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:46:55 -0700

Alina Dizik at the Wall Street Journal reports on the low ratio of women in executive M.B.A. programs.

What follows is an examination of why women make up so small a percentage of part- and full-time MBA programs, what's being done to address the issue, and potential difficulties for the future.

See the Full Article at the Wall Street Journal

Congratulations to President Obama

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:41:33 -0700

On behalf of the ideal this community represents, congratulations, Mr. President. We look forward to seeing the realization of change long needed.

John DeLancey
The Aspiring Professional

Linked: Making Human Rights More Scientific

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:25:25 -0700

From InsideHigherEd.com:

Details on the formation of the new Science and Human Rights Coalition as announced by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Linked: Manna from Heaven (er, Washington)

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:13:25 -0700

From InsideHigherEd.com:

A look at proposed spending on higher education in President-elect Obama's economic stimulus plan.

TAP is now open to the public!

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:33:50 -0700

The Aspiring Professional has now opened its doors to the public for beta testing.

You may now register to become a member of TAP. All functionality should work as intended. Please remember, however, that this is a beta test of the site and its features.

What does it mean to be "open for beta testing?"

This is the initial release of The Aspiring Professional to the public for use. Internal testing has been extensive, but not every bug has been caught and not every feature has been streamlined.

For this reason, we ask that you be patient during this public use/testing period. As well, if you notice anything wrong with the site or simply something that could be improved, please use the "Report this page" link at the bottom of every page on the site to let us know about it.

That said, please sign up today and join a community of like-minded individuals intent on bettering ourselves and our society through continued education and philanthropy. We welcome your comments and suggestions which may be submitted by visiting the Contact Us link in the red navigation bar.

Thank you for being a part of The Aspiring Professional. Let's do great things, shall we?

Sincerely,

John DeLancey
Creator, The Aspiring Professional

About the Articles and Commentaries Section

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:08:41 -0700

This section at The Aspiring Professional will feature primarily articles written by those of the academic and professional communities. The goal is to provide insight and perspective from those that we hope to "be when we grow up" -- those that have succeeded and will continue to in their respective disciplines.

As well, we will post discussions pertinent to the community-at-large. These may come from any source at all, from a discussion that crops up in the forums to a suggestion by a member.

On the subject of content suggestions, we are happy to take suggestions or requests for articles from our members! If you have an idea, please post it in the Content Suggestions forum here at TAP and we'll try to get it written (or allow you to write and post it, should that be your desire). It's important that we know what our members want from the site.

We look forward to becoming and remaining a leading resource in the academic and professional worlds. Thank you for being a part of The Aspiring Professional!

Sincerely,
John DeLancey
The Aspiring Professional