How To Write A Pitch Email That Will Get Your Guest Post Accepted

How To Write A Pitch Email That Will Get Your Guest Post Accepted Content marketers know guest blogging is important. It helps us build topical authority, reach new audiences, and increase brand exposure. However, even expert writers sometimes struggle to write strong outreach emails. This results in  guest post pitches getting rejected. Even worse, writers sometimes  fail to recognize their own missteps. This leads to frustration for over-pitched editors  and prospective writers  alike. Pitching guest posts doesn’t have to be a painful experience. It just takes practice and patience to get it right. Once you know how to pitch effectively, you can dramatically increase your success rates. The key is to take the time and care to do things right.  In this post, we’ll help you do just that while covering the following points: Generating  strong guest post ideas blog editors will want to publish. Understanding how  to  properly write and format pitch emails. Knowing which steps to take  once your pitch is accepted. By the time youve finished reading, youll know how to write a pitch email an editor will actually want to read. Download Your Guest Blogger Email  Pitching Kit We’ve put together three free downloadable resources to make writing successful pitches easier. This kit includes: An Email Pitch Template to ensure every email you send is properly structured. A Guest Blogging Target Spreadsheet to track your pitches and store blog contact information. A Guest Blogging Checklist to ensure you don’t miss a step when pitching posts to editors. Each of these pieces will help you apply the tips in this post. Pretty sweet, right? These three free resources will help you find greater guest blogging success:Start By Selecting Prospective Outlets  For Your Guest Posts Determining where you'd like to be published is the  first step. Figure this out before you do anything  else. Five Ways To Find Relevant Guest Blogging Outlets There are probably some big-name blogs you’d like to see your name on. However, if you’re not already a big-name brand, it may be tough to get their attention. This is where you need to get strategic. 1. Start with industry-leading blogs you already know.  It’s likely you’re already reading these blogs and interacting with their writers on social media. It might take time to get the attention of these outlets. However, it's good to keep them in mind, setting your long-term goals high. 2. Search Google and social media.  Use  industry-related keywords for Google and social media searches (start with Facebook and Twitter). This may help surface more blogs you can target. 3. Consider using BuzzSumo to research other blogs.  BuzzSumo is a helpful tool for finding top-performing content. Try a few searches for topics you’d like to write about. Then, see which outlets appear to get shared the most. These may be good targets to pitch. Use @BuzzSumo to research your guest blogging targets:4. Think about your partners and the products you use for professional purposes.  Are there any companies you work with? Do you (or your company) use any products or services to do your job? If so, check to see if those brands have active blogs. This can be a great way to leverage existing relationships to find guest blogging outlets. 5. Find overlap between your expertise and publications outside your industry.  Spend a little bit of time thinking of blogs and publications outside your niche that might be interested in what you write about. For example, general business publications can be a great fit for nearly any company (if you’re interested in sharing business tips). Recommended Reading:  25 Lessons From Guest Blogging For The Top Blogs In The World Next, Create A Guest Blogging Target Spreadsheet You’ll need a way to store editorial contact information and URLs for each prospective guest blogging target. That’s why we’ve included a Guest Blogging Target Template in this post. It includes the following fields: Blog / Publication Title Name Of Editor Contact Email Address / Contact Page URL Link To Editorial Guidelines Page (if available) Date Contacted Pitch Accepted / Declined Notes Here's what it looks like (it isn't fancy, but it works): Research Each Prospective Outlet Now it’s time to research each prospective target you’d like to pitch. The goal is to understand the following points: What does this blog cover? What types of content do they publish (informative, how-to, feature articles, etc.) How frequently do they publish new blog posts? How does their writing voice sound? Are they serious and professional? Fun and lighthearted? Something else completely? How long  are their posts, typically? Pro Tip: Many blogs have editorial guidelines they expect guest posts to follow. If they provide this information, it should help answer the above questions. These are often found in footer links or "Write For Us" sections. Prioritize Guest Blog Targets Based On Authority Now you have a long list of guest blog post targets. How do you prioritize which ones to target first? This can be challenging, especially if you haven’t had any guest posts previously published. One way to start is by looking at each blog’s Domain Authority. This is a metric generated by Moz (a popular SEO software platform). It measures the authority of blogs and websites based on how many backlinks they have (along with other considerations). This video from Barry Feldman helps explain why this is important: Install the Moz toolbar for Chrome. Here's what it looks like: Next, look for this DA score (the blue bar labelled DA). It measures a site's authoritativeness  on a 100-point scale. You can also use this tool to gauge your own Domain Authority. If you’ve never published a guest post, it may be best to start with blogs near or below your own level. Keep in mind that blogs with low DA scores may still be good guest blogging targets.  They may have low scores simply because they’re new (DA tends to build over time). Take a look at their site, and if they appear legitimate, give them fair consideration. If a blog or site looks like junk, however, don’t hesitate to cross them off your list. Next, list your targets in the order you’ll pitch to them. Start with blogs that offer the best mix of the following factors: Realistic Domain Authority score. This means blogs with a score comparable to your own. Strong topical alignment with what you’d like to write about. Once you have a few posts under your belt, you can start pitching more high authority outlets. Sometimes, slow and steady wins the race. How to Generate Strong Post Ideas We’ve done a lot of work, and we haven’t even started coming up with ideas. There’s a reason for that. You need to know your targets and understand their needs before you can start aligning ideas with their interests. Our 30-minute blog brainstorming process  is a great way to get lots of ideas fast (it’s technically not our own original concept, but one we’ve put our own spin on). Read this if you haven't yet. However, when it comes to pitching guest post ideas, there are some additional points to consider: Make sure your guest pitch addresses the interests of your target publication. Self-serving ideas get  trashed. Choose topics you can write about like a true authority. It’s okay if they’ll require some research on your part. Most blog posts should  require research anyway, even if you're an expert on your topic. Check to see if your targeted publication has already covered your topic. If they have, try to think of a unique angle. Approaching the  topic from a different perspective may still help add value. How To Develop An Interesting Angle Once you have an idea, you’ll need an angle. This means finding a specific, unique perspective on  your chosen topic. Let’s say you’re pitching a blog post about dog training techniques. This is a topic that has been covered countless times. Another run-of-the-mill post isn't going to cut it. In order to get your pitch accepted, you determine you’ll need an angle to make this topic feel fresh. Here are three simple techniques for refining your angle. 1. Find an aspect of your topic no one has covered yet. Do some research. Read as many existing articles on your topic you can find. Try to find a gap or perspective that hasn’t been covered yet. 2. Connect your topic to something that (at first) seems unrelated. This works best if you draw a connection between two topics that share similar audiences. For example, someone interested in dog training may also be interested in cleaning products (to sweep up dog hair and other messes). In this case, something like 8 Cleaning Products That Make Dog Training Easier may be something to consider. This is an unpolished hypothetical example, of course. However, you get the idea. 3. Tackle something timely. Identify trending topics. Then, find a perspective that’s missing. If every other post is talking about a given topic the same way, then differentiate your pitch. Pitches that are timely, relevant, and unique  are likely to appeal to an editor. Not sure if a topic is timely? Try entering related keywords into Google Trends. This  shows how popular your topic is based on actual data from Google. Are your guest post pitches getting rejected? You might just need a better angle: Recommended Reading: 150+ Blog Ideas That Will Absolutely Kill Writer's Block How to Construct a Pitch Email This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. We’re now ready to write a pitch email. Get ready to craft your masterpiece. A strong pitch email should include each of these items: Catchy subject line Unique angle Introductory hook High-level body summary Your proposed format (List, Feature, etc.) References to research In addition, your pitch email should clearly convey why your post will be interesting to readers. It should include, in detailed terms, exactly what value an editor’s audience will get from your piece. Are you formatting your guest blogging outreach emails  correctly? Find out here:Step 1: Write A Strong Subject Line Editors are busy. Give them a reason to read your email. Start with a good subject line. Don’t just write â€Å"Pitch† or â€Å"Guest Blog Submission† in the subject line field without context. Include a hypothetical headline or something to hook an editor’s interest. Strong Example: Pitch: 8 Ways To Train A New Puppy Weak Example: Guest Post For Your Consideration Step 2: Include An Introductory Hook Your opening paragraph should hook an  editor's interest right away. Here are a few different ways to do this: Establish a problem your post will solve. Pose a question your post will answer. Describe a scenario your post will discuss. Here are some theoretical examples: Example 1: Establish A Problem Puppies are lots of fun. However, training one can be a challenge. From wetting the floor to tearing up furniture, your new furry friend may leave you tearing your hair out. Example 2: Pose A Question Rawhide bones are a popular dog treat. However, how were they first invented? The history of rawhide dog bones is one filled with mystery and intrigue. Example 3: Describe A Scenario You’ve just gotten home from work. When you walk in the kitchen, you discover your new puppy has knocked over your garbage can. This is just one of many common complaints amongst new pup parents. These are just a few ideas to get you thinking. How do you get a blog editor to read your pitch? Start with a strong intro hook:Step 3: Incorporate At Least One Detailed Body Paragraph This is where you dig into the meat of your post. Include key details and references to outside research (if applicable). However, keep it clear and simple. Don’t make an editor struggle to understand what your pitch is about. Here is an example (incorporating one of the intro examples above): Puppies are lots of fun. However, training one can be a challenge. From wetting the floor to tearing up furniture, your new furry friend may leave you tearing your hair out. Fortunately, even the worst puppies can be perfect angels with the right training. In fact, top animal trainers at the University of Dog Studies suggest following these five steps  (note: underline intended to indicate link to outside research): Positive reinforcement Crate training Loose-leash walking Proper socialization Plenty of nap time This post will explain how to apply each of these tips. This will help exasperated readers train their dogs better and faster with less stress. You’ll notice this paragraph accomplishes a few key goals: It tells the editor specifically what this post will be about. It clearly conveys benefits to the reader. It supports its claims by referencing external research. Step 4: Tie It Together With A Short Conclusion The conclusion offers one more opportunity to reiterate the value of your pitch. Keep it short and sweet. Example: Please let me know if your readers would be interested in learning about these scientifically-proven puppy training tips. That’s all it takes. Step 5: Include An Appropriate Salutation And Email Signature This is simple enough. Typically, "Best Regards" (or its shorter cousin, "Best"), is appropriate. Be sure to include each of the following too: Name Job title Organization Phone number (optional) Portfolio or blog author page link (optional) Social media links (optional) Step 6: Ensure Your Email Is Properly Formatted There is nothing worse than embarrassing yourself with simple formatting mistakes. Follow these tips to make a good impression: Use a single font all the way through your email. Clearly break out paragraphs. Don’t send an editor a wall of text. Use short, clear paragraphs to make your point. Include a personalized greeting. A simple Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. [INSERT EDITOR’S LAST NAME] works. Make sure your email signature is clearly formatted. Here's what your final pitch might look like: How To Deliver  Your Outreach Email You’re now ready to send your pitch. Sending an email may  seem simple enough. However, there are  some best practices to follow to increase your odds for success. Find The Right Contact Information For The Right Editor Browse your target blog's Contact Us page. This will help ensure you have the right email address for your pitch. Some blogs may also have a form to complete. Make sure you figure out which is the case. In some situations, a blog may have multiple editors. Each editor might have their own focus area. Do some research to see which editor covers topics most closely related to your pitch. Some blogs may even have a catch-all submission form. In this case, simply copy and paste your message where appropriate. Know When To Send Your Pitch Email The best time to send a pitch email is typically on a weekday morning. This shows you’re up and working hard early in the morning. It’s also the time editors are most likely checking their email. Avoid pitching late at night or on weekends. This is likely to annoy an editor. Don't  send an email late at night, thinking they’ll see it first thing in the morning. Nobody wants their phone to buzz because of a new email when they're trying to sleep. When Should You Follow Up After Pitching? If you don’t get a prompt response, wait at least a week to follow up. Editors get a lot of email, and it may take them time to see yours. One follow-up email is usually enough to get their attention in case they missed your first message. Anything more than that is annoying. They’re likely either too busy to accept your pitch, or they’re simply not interested. Either way, you’re better off moving on (and maybe trying your pitch somewhere else). How to Write Your Post To Match An Editor’s Style Standards Once an editor accepts your pitch, it’s time to write your post. Different blogs have different style standards and expectations. Failing to meet an editor’s expectations can result in posts being rejected or requiring heavy editing. Get it right the first time. Follow these tips: Tip 1: Ask The Editor For Their Style Guide They will probably provide this to you before you need to ask. However, if they don’t, then do ask. Be sure to check their website for contributor guidelines. Tip 2: Remember, You’re Writing For Someone Else What’s acceptable on your blog might  not be  on another. If in doubt, ask. Tip 3: Avoid Excessively Linking Back To Yourself Most blogs frown on this. It’s self-serving and may even have negative SEO implications. Instead, find other relevant blog posts to link to on your host’s blog. The editor and their readers will appreciate it. Follow these best practices before pitching your next guest blog post:What To Do After Your Post Publishes Your work isn't done once your  blog post is published. Go the extra mile with these simple steps: Post-Publish Step 1: Promote The Post On Your Own Social Channels Your host blog will likely promote your post on social media. Don’t make them do all the work though. Share it through your own channels too. Consider including it in your email newsletter as well. Post-Publish Step 2: Respond To Comments On The Host Blog Engage with readers. Respond to every comment you receive. This is a best practice for blogging in general. It’s also a good way to show appreciation for the opportunity to write on someone else’s blog. Post-Publish Step 3: Thank Your Editor A short  "thank you" email can go a long way. A short email or social media message will do. Recommended Reading: This Is The Ultimate Blog Writing Process To Create Killer Posts What To Do If Your Email Pitch Gets Rejected Rejection is part of pitching to editors. Not every guest post you pitch will be accepted (unless you’re superhuman). Use rejections as a learning experience so you can do better next time. Tip 1: Accept Constructive Feedback If an editor offers feedback, take it to heart. Listen to what they didn’t like about your pitch, and remember it for next time. It doesn’t necessarily mean your idea sucks. It just means it wasn’t the right fit for that particular blog. Tip 2: Ask Yourself What You Could Have Done Better Take a step back and honestly analyze your pitching process. Was your pitch missing key details? Was your topic misaligned with your prospective audience? Did you just straight up get the editor’s name wrong? There are an endless number of things that can go wrong when pitching. Make note of your mistakes so you won’t make them again. Tip 3: Keep Pitching Guest Posts Pitching guest posts is an art form. It takes practice to get it right. Don't let  failure today stop you from succeeding tomorrow. Don't let failure today stop you from succeeding tomorrow. Now Write  Better Guest Blog Post Pitch Emails Pitching successful guest posts isn’t easy. However, you now have the knowledge and tools to succeed. Best of luck!

Poor employee motivation and compensation at Walmart Stores Inc Research Paper

Poor employee motivation and compensation at Walmart Stores Inc - Research Paper Example Formerly Wal-Mart Stores Incorporation, the multinational was rebranded Walmart Stores, Incorporation since 2008. The organization is an American multinational corporation in the retail industry, owning and managing thousands of large discount department outlets in form of stores and warehouses. Currently, the corporation occupies the third position globally in the private sector. Walmart is also the biggest private organization employing more than two million workers across the world. The organization occupies the first position within the retail industry in the world. The organization is owned by Walton family, who control 48 percent of the shares. Additionally, Walmart is apparently one of the most profitable corporations in the world. Barely a decade after being founded by Sam Walton in 1962, Walmart was incorporated in late 1969 and later traded publicly at the New York Stock Exchange. With its headquarters situated in Bentonville, Arkansas, the multinational is also the biggest retailer of grocery in America. Three years ago, the corporation generated more than half of its income from grocery sales in the United States market. The Corporation also owns and manages the Sam's Club warehouses situated in North America; the store falls within Walmart’s retail business. Walmart boasts more than 8,500 outlets in 15 countries.These branches are, however, existing under different names. The organization operates under the popular Walmart name in the native United States and Canadian market, and also in Latin American states. such as Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Argentina (Agren, Ogier, & Bamrud, 2011). The organization serves Mexicans under Walmex name, Britons as

3.1 Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

3.1 Assignment - Essay Example His purpose is to elaborate what are the actual factors that are hidden behind these acquisitions. In order to accomplish his purpose he appeals to his readers to realize that it is actually the decentralized personality of an individual that is the actual reason behind his violent acts and not mainly the association or training silently provided by the violence in computer games. He also appeals to computer games’ manufacturers and internet gurus not to pull out computer and video games from the markets but rather to make flexible internet rules guarding youngsters’ activities. In his essay, the author addresses the main idea against his thesis, the idea that it is only because of increasing influence of violent computer and video games that youngsters are getting violent in their practical lives as well. He refutes the argument by saying that all this hype is because video and computer games are being considered as escape goats for more serious reasons. Finally he con cludes by making the point that much more serious clauses are required to be discussed in order to explore the relationship between youngsters’ personalities and video

Computer & application reseach paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Computer & application reseach paper - Essay Example These octopus cards can be recharged at a later stage in over the counter stores as well as through the facilitation of credit cards and not to forget the bank accounts as well. The historical significance of the octopus cards stems from the year 1979 when the MTR network put forward a system which brought different magnetic plastic cards into circulation. These cards were employed for single journey tickets and at times as stored value ones. The Kowloon Canton Railway Corporation made use of these magnetic cards in much the same way in the year 1984 and later on these were renamed as the Common Stored Value Tickets. The Octopus system was employed in the year 1997 after three trials had been done on it. Other transport services also made use of it in the coming times and in the year 2003; a major breakthrough was achieved when the Government of Hong Kong began using it. After this, there was the deployment of these octopus cards within the different faculties of the government which has remained like that to date. The usage of octopus cards is that they be purchased just about anywhere and for doing so, no identification process is deemed necessary. This suggests that the ease of usage is pretty much there so to speak. If the owner misplaces his/her octopus card then the stored value within the octopus card is lost and the anonymous basis of the octopus card makes it so much more easy to use as there is not a bit of personal information or bank account and similar details on the octopus card itself. The use of the octopus card has increased with the passage of time and nearly all forms of purchases with Hong Kong are taking place courtesy the octopus cards. The application of the octopus cards can be studied from the fact that they do not require any form of physical contact with the octopus card readers and can be easily read within a distance of a few centimeters. There are the

The concept and definition of leisure

The concept and definition of leisure The word leisure is normally attributed to an individuals free time and what they choose to do during that time. Every individual at some stage in their life will participate in some form of leisure, whether it be shopping, travelling, playing sport or just relaxing. Participation must be by choice in order to be considered leisure. Throughout this essay I am going to identify and explain the different types of leisure and why individuals participate with reference to relevant academic literature. Leisure as a concept is not new, throughout history there has always been examples of leisure. If you think back to the time of ancient Rome, people enjoyed watching and in some cases taking part in the activities held within the Coliseum. Furthermore as you move through history the examples continue; Jousting and banquets in the middle ages, all the way up to what we define as leisure activities today, shopping, participating in sport etc (Pearson, 2008). Whats important to point out is the change in perception of what leisure actually is now, compared to what it was before. During the late eighteenth and nineteenth century Britain went through a massive economic change. Otherwise known as the industrial revolution, this period changed what we would define leisure as today (Bull et al, 2003). For so many people, their nature of worked changed drastically, both in terms of what they did and where. This change enabled social class to be born, and with it increased wealth. This new fou nd wealth enabled new technologies which in turn would allow new forms of leisure (2003). Trying to define leisure is often difficult; this is due to the many different forms leisure can take. Bull, Hoose and Weed, (2003) propose four approaches to define leisure. These are leisure as time, leisure as an activity, quality of leisure and personal attitude (p32). Most people work long stressful hours during the day, leisure time is often dictated by the time we are left with after working and earning money. However necessities such as sleeping, eating and personal hygiene all eat into what we define as leisure time. Under the leisure as time approach, work and leisure can be perceived as being in opposition, with one (usually work) limiting the other (p33). When it comes to activity based approaches, as the name suggests, this approach sees leisure as engaging in activities that one would do in their free time, such as shopping, playing recreational sport etc. The quality of leisure and personal attitude go hand in hand with the previous approaches. If the participant is ha ving fun their quality of leisure is improved, the opposite can be said if their attitude is negative. Its important when looking at why people participate in leisure, that these 4 approaches are taken into account. As mentioned above, leisure and work are often seen to be in opposition with each other; however that is not always the case. More and more businesses are seeing the benefits leisure can have on staff productivity and happiness. This year alone an estimated  £1.67 billion was spent on leisure activities for staff at work (Groom, 2010). That equates to 20% of all spending on expenses last year. This view is reinforced by companies partnering with leisure based businesses such as activity day planners and health clubs to offer staff a range of benefits and discounts in order to increase their leisure quality. In addition to investing in leisure for staff, businesses as a whole take part in leisure also. Sponsorship for leisure events was estimated to be around $45.2 billion last year (IEG Global Sponsorship Expenditure Reports, Cited in Sponsormap, 2009). The main concept to explore when asking why people participate in leisure is what motivates them to do so. Under ideal circumstances, the benefits from participating in leisure are numerous. As it covers such a broad range of activities, leisure allows an individual to do what they want. Linda Nazareth (Cited in Alboher,2008) provides an example of a woman who works a stressful 6 day week. By incorporating a small amount of leisure into her routine, she felt happier at work, and felt her interactions with others outside work also greatly improved. Further to this studies show that physical based leisure, such as exercise or recreational sport have a positive effect on ones wellbeing. This is due to a combination of psychological factors as well as raised endorphin levels (The Reality of the Runners High, 2008). However, an individuals leisure can often be impacted by numerous external factors such as age, race, income and gender. William R. Burch, Jr. (2009) highlights how social class (income) has an effect on what activities an individual can take part in. Activities such as going sailing, although not exclusive to upper class, is more likely to be available to than someone who is lower class. In addition an individuals gender can also affect their free time. Roberts (2010) cites a recent international survey that shows men have half an hour more leisure time every day than women. In addition, geography also plays a key role. In the same study, figures showed that the half an hour advantage men have over women in the UK, compared to 38 minutes in the US, 33 in France, 50 in Belgium, 22 in Germany and 80 in Italy. Persons surroundings similarly can limit their participation in leisure. One could argue someone who is retired will have the most leisure time out of all socio economic groups. This however is not always the case. Just as before, location has a major role on leisure, not just internationally but also locally. As Bull et al (2003) describes behavioral norms and expectations of what someone who is retired is able to do, can in fact limit what it is available to them. Further to this, social expectation can encourage social isolation and disengagement. All of these things contribute to having a negative effect on an individuals participation. Government funding can also have an effect. If the facilities arent available, what an individual may want to do as activity based leisure may not be possible. In addition if pricing of facilities is too high, what an individual has access to will be limited. On the flip side, if funding is there the quality of leisure available to individuals is greatly improved and in general so is participation. This highlights how; at least in terms of activity based leisure, opportunities can sometimes be better for some more than others. As shown, although leisure is subjective, external factors often have a role to play in the choices an individual makes. When answering why people participate in leisure, the answer is obvious. As William H. Davies said What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare? (Cited in, Khurana 2009). Life is too short to have nothing but worry. People participate in leisure to escape from the hectic lives they have to live. Although many extrinsic factors can have an effect on leisure, there is no denying the benefits of even a little a day.

The Sin of Hypocrisy in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Sin of Hypocrisy in The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is about the trials and tribulations of Hester Prynne, a woman living in colonial Boston.   Found guilty of adultery,   Hester's punishment is to wear a visible symbol of her sin: the scarlet letter "A."   Through the book, the reader comes to know Hester, the adulteress; Dimmesdale, the holy man Hester had the affair with; and Chillingworth, the estranged husband of Hester who is out for revenge.   The Scarlet Letter examines the interaction of these characters and the reaction of these characters to Hester's sin.   However, the greater sin that Hawthorne deals with in The Scarlet Letter is hypocrisy.   Hypocrisy is the practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess.   All three main characters, Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth, commit the sin of hypocrisy. Hawthorne shows that hypocrisy is indeed a sin by punishing the offenders. Hester Prynne is a strong, independent woman who deals with her sin of adultery very well.   Instead of running away from it, she lives with it and accepts her punishment.   However, while succumbing to the will of the court, she does not for an instant truly believe that she sinned.   Hester thinks that she has not committed adultery because in her mind she wasn't really married to Chillingworth.   Hester believes that marriage is only valid when there is love, and there is no love between Hester and Chillingworth.   In the prison, defending her actions against him, she declares, "Thou knowest, thou knowest that I was frank with thee.   I felt no love, nor feigned any" (74). Then, later, speaking to Dimmesdale, Hester further imparts her belief that she has not sinned, saying, "What we did had a consecration of its own.   We felt it so" (192).   Therefore, Hester, in her mind, has not committed a sin. The fact that she accepts the courts decision so meekly and wears the scarlet letter denoting her as an adulteress is the first way in which she is hypocritical.   Hester, although she does not believe she has sinned, portrays herself as a sinner by wearing the scarlet letter without complaint.   Over the ensuing years, Hester endures the shame and ridicule brought about by the scarlet letter.   However, the true source of

Problems Facing University Students

Financial Challenges Facing University Students FA120-Skills to succeed Group Creative problem solving assignment By Megan Sweeney (12522637) Anna Heffernan (12743239) And Ross Swords (12344681) Word Count: two thousand two hundred and eight. Contents Page Section 1: Summary | Pages 3 and 4| Section II: Details of the students challenge| Pages 4 and 5| Section III: Findings| Pages 5 and 6| Section IV: Possible solutions and recommendations| Page 6| Section V: Recommendations| Page 6| References | Page 7| Section I: Summary. IntroductionAfter discussing our assignment as a group we recognised what problems and challenges may be relevant to university students. We felt the topic most relevant to ourselves as a group and the majority of university students, was the financial challenges faced by university students. For most students as they start university it is their first time living away from home which can create problems for both the student and their families financially with bot h the high costs involved in sending a student to university and the difficulties the student faces themselves in budgeting their weekly allowance.Many students struggle to prioritise their money correctly and often spend more money on socialising weekly than on the essentials such as food, and often there is little or no money left to put towards books and curriculum based activities. For the purpose of this assignment and to help ourselves as students manage our money in a more economical manner we have researched the problems and solutions which occur in the everyday life of an Irish university student. Statement of the student challengeThe financial difficulties faced by a university scholar are brought about by the high cost of tuition fees which are constantly increasing as a result of poor management by our previous governments, the high cost of student accommodation for those students who have to move away from home to attend university. Students living away from home also h ave to have a weekly allowance for essentials, heating and electricity bills, and college equipment such as books, calculators, laptops and stationary.Many students that don’t move away from home face high travelling expenses each week with the cost of public transport constantly increasing as the government hike up the prices in order to attempt to get the country out of recession. The significance of the challenge We chose this topic as there is currently so much hype being created in regard to the economic crisis and the effect it is having on the cost of attending university which is creating huge financial problems for students and their families attending university.The government has majorly reduced the amount of financial aid available for undergraduates, many students no longer receive the grant payment which has resulted in many young people not being able to finish their degrees. Due to the current economic climate students are rarely able to secure a stable job so that they can support themselves, which forces many students to be dependent on government allowances. Again this causes financial problems for the students as the allowances available to third level students are minimal.We wanted to explore the different supports available to university students to help students overcome their financial problem’s. Section II: Details of the student challenge. For each student attending university the average cost can vary significantly depending on whether they have to move away from home, travel a long distance to college daily or travel a short distance from their home to college each day. The following table gives an indication of the monthly cost of living in Galway as a student. These costs are an approximation only as monthly costs will depend on each person’s individual needs (NUIG Student-Life 2012).Accommodation| 340 euro| Food| 260 euro| Books/academic requisites| 60 euro| Clothes, laundry| 60 euro| Recreation| 180 euro| Ot her| 100 euro| Monthly Total| 1,000 euro| Nine month academic year| 9,000 euro| As the average Irish yearly income is â‚ ¬24,316 (Irishexaminer. ie), the cost of sending a student to university is over one third of the average Irish yearly wage and this is before the tuition fees have to be paid for which in itself presents a huge challenge for a family to be able to support both the student and the rest of the family.With this in mind most students need as much help as possible to budget, manage their money and make use of the discount and financial schemes available through the university. The university provides a range of support systems to help students overcome financial challenges they may face. For students living away from home medical expenses can be a huge challenge as unfamiliar doctors can overcharge students, students can also be faced with the difficulty of budgeting for medical expenses as students can’t predict when they will become ill.The National Univer sity of Ireland Galway has relived thousands of students from the worries and challenges they face in regard to medical fees as they provide a full medical centre with Doctors, Nurses and physiatrist free of charge to all students in the university. â€Å"Only 10% of the student body is entitled to a medical card (GMS). A medical card entitles the holder to free consultation, free prescriptions and free hospitalisation. Students are not entitled to a medical card unless their parents have such a card or unless they are on a grant. Mature students i. e. ver 24 years of age could be entitled to a card in their own right depending on income. † (NUIG Student-Life 2012). This is a brilliant support service available to all NUI Galway students no matter what financial background the student comes from. The monthly food expense for a university student is two hundred and sixty euro, this can vary hugely depending on whether the student is economical about where they shop and what th ey buy. Students can greatly reduce their shopping expenses by shopping in the cheaper supermarkets such as Lidl, Aldi and Tesco rather than smaller convenience stores which tend be much more expensive. And the key to good shopping is lists – lists you stick to. Never shop hungry and don’t rely on the big name retailers that your folks have shopped in for years, turn your back on brand names and only buy own-brand foods – you will save yourself a packet. A litre of milk from Avonmore costs â‚ ¬1. 14, a litre of Tesco milk costs 75 cents. † (The Irish Times, September 2012). The University also provides hot meals daily at only â‚ ¬5 in the university restaurant which can be very helpful to student who do not have time to return home to eat during the day.As well as the academic side to college students also have to have a social life, which can become very costly and makes it harder for students to budget their money. The titanium ents company put a d iscount card scheme in place to help students save money while socialising. â€Å"Galway Student Discount Card is estimated to save an average student â‚ ¬400 per semester / an average of â‚ ¬5 per night out ( â‚ ¬2 off a taxi, â‚ ¬2 off club admin & â‚ ¬1 off food after). On sale for only â‚ ¬4† (Titaniuments. ie). This is a huge help to students in budgeting for the social side to their time in university.A huge financial problem faced by students is the price of textbooks required for the curriculum many of these books can cost up to â‚ ¬100 each and have to be bought brand new as they all contain individual access codes for course work that has to be completed online. Many students have to buy up to five books per semester which is a huge expense and creates a serious financial problem for students. Bank of Ireland is currently putting schemes in place to allow students to take out loans to pay for books. Section III: Findings Currently at NUI Galway there are several procedures in place to help students live off a small budget and save money.Loyalty cards such as the student union card can get students various discounts at numerous shops and restaurants run by the students union throughout the college. The student union card can also earn students money, by purchasing items at any shop or restaurant run by the SU. Students can build up credit over-time on their purchases and eventually this credit can be turned into cash. NUI Galway also promote the titanium ents card which promotes social discounts for students such as free entry into nightclubs, discounts on taxis, and discounts on fast-food take aways.In University College Dublin they offer many scholarships to students which can be found on www. smurfitschool. ie which is the business school in UCD. An example of one is ‘GMAT MBA Scholarship’ ‘Open to all applicants scoring above 700 on the GMAT. All scholarship applicants must already have been admitted to (have applied for, been interviewed and offered a place on) the full-time MBA Programme before they can be considered for any of the above scholarships. Open to Irish residents and international applicants. ( UCD-2012) in a university aboard such as Harvard, the offer financial aid also such as ‘Harvard College has provided assistance to students who need help in meeting their education expenses for over 350 years, enabling us to seek out the most outstanding scholars in the world and open our doors to students of exceptional ability and promise, regardless of their financial circumstances. Over 60% of undergraduates will receive an estimated $172 million in need-based Harvard Scholarship aid in 2012-13.Just in the past five years we have increased our financial aid by over 70 percent, enhancing our program to ensure the affordability of a Harvard education even in these challenging economic times. We understand that the thought of financing four years of college can be a d aunting prospect for anyone, and we are eager to help you and your family understand our financial aid programs and assist you in finding ways to meet your college costs’ (Harvard-2012) Section IV: Possible solutions and recommendations.After applying the creative problem solving process we as a group began to look at the different ways a problem such as this can be solved. While looking for solutions to the problem we researched numerous websites that offered advice on how students can budget and save money. (Schweitzer 2010) suggests numerous ways for students to save money such as avoiding impulse buying, hiding the credit card and finding bargains. While undertaking more xtensive research into the problem and after reading several articles, another common suggestion on how to budget efficiently was to invest in a student travel card; which can give up to a third off the price of all rail prices (Warnes 2012). Another area that may affect a student budget is clothes shoppi ng. Many students can be fooled into buying expensive brand name clothes that they can’t afford. (Waldron 2012) suggests students should shop at local charity shops such as Oxfam where they can buy a lot of these brand name clothes second hand for a fraction of the price.Although many students may not have been accustomed to shopping in charity shops previously Waldron insists the value for students in this market is a â€Å"no brainer†. Section 5: Recommendations After investigating the possible solutions we as a group discussed the various methods NUIG could undertake to help students tackle their budgeting issues. We looked at the offers that are already available to help students save money such as the SU loyalty card, the titanium ents card, the second hand book scheme etc. We then held numerous brain storming session where we thought of ideas that might help solve the problem.We considered various ideas such as opening a second hand clothes shop in the college or a grocery store where students could buy their weekly shopping at a discount price. We then concluded that projects such as this would incur too much of an expense that may not be affordable for the college. Another idea that we came up with was a student discount guide that could be published by the students union on a weekly basis containing information on where students could find the best discounts in Galway on a weekly basis.The leaflet could advise students on what supermarkets have the best food discounts on this week, what nightclubs are offering discounts, how students could save money on travel etc. Referencing nui galway. (2012). financial matters. Available: http://www. nuigalway. ie/student-life/financial-matters/. Last accessed 14th nov 2012. Titanium Ents and subsidiary groups. (2012). Galway Student Discount Card. Available: http://www. titaniuments. com/galway-student-discount-card/. Last accessed 14th nov 2012 . C O'Doherty. (2012). Dublin â‚ ¬3k ahead of avera ge income. Available: http://www. rishexaminer. com/ireland/dublin-3k-ahead-of-average-income-181644. html. Last accessed 14th nov 2012. nui galway. (2012). medical services. Available: http://www. nuigalway. ie/student-life/student-support/medical-services. html. Last accessed 14th nov 2012 . C Pope. (2012). Cheap and cheerful way through college. Available: http://www. irishtimes. com/newspaper/finance/2012/0911/1224323839157. html. Last accessed 14th nov 2012 . UCD. (2012). Scolarships. Available: http://www. smurfitschool. ie/scholarships/gmatmbascholarships/. Last accessed 14th nov 2012 . Harvard University. (2012).WELCOME TO THE HARVARD COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE. Available: http://www. fao. fas. harvard. edu/icb/icb. do. Last accessed 14th nov 2012. Schweitzer. (2010). 10 Easy Ways for Students to Save Money. About. com Guide. 10 (4), 33-34. Warnes, S. (2012). Top 10 brilliant student money saving tips. Available: http://www. neilstoolbox. com/bibliography-creator/reference -website. htm. Last accessed 10/Nov/2012. Waldron,C. (2012). Charity shops: getting too big for their Pradas?. Available: http://campus. ie/college-life/money-matters/charity-shops-getting-too-big-for-their-pradas. Last accessed 12/nov/2012.