Although you may not be as comfortable with new technologies as others, in this generation of technology reliance it is important to be able to keep up. You don’t have to be a geek to utilize a computer. You can take advantage of the technology and learn some really great shortcuts to make your life little bit easier. Hopefully this list of essential keyboard shortcuts for Windows can help you do just that. Note: These keyboard shortcuts are specifically for computers with the Windows operating system.

The basics

These are the essential keyboard shortcuts for Windows you definitely can’t live without.

1. Copy selected item: Ctrl+C

Copy any line of text or photos to your clipboard, while keeping a copy of the text in its original location.

2. Cut selected item: Ctrl+X

Cut a selected line of text or photos. Caution: If done incorrectly, you can lose the item since you no longer have a copy of it in the original location.

3. Paste selected item: Ctrl+V

Paste a selected cut or copied item into a new location. Note: If you need the item pasted in different formats (e.g. text only), you might still need to paste it from the right-click of the mouse.

4. Undo action: Ctrl+Z

Reverses an action. For example, if you accidentally delete a line of text, this keyboard shortcut should bring it back.

5. Redo action: Ctrl+Y

This is the opposite to the ‘undo’ shortcut. Did you accidentally undo something you shouldn’t have? Don’t worry, this keyboard shortcut should redo it.

6. Select everything: Ctrl+A

Selects every item on the page. Useful for when you need to copy whole webpages into Word documents.

7. Print page(s): Ctrl+P

The quickest way to bring up the print options. Printing takes long enough as it is, why not save some time?

8. Take screenshot of current screen: PrntSc

Takes a screenshot of whatever you can see on your screen to the clipboard. You can then paste the image anywhere from Paint to Word documents.

9. Save file*: Ctrl+S

Using this keyboard shortcut every few minutes or so ensures a lowered chance of losing precious work progress.

10. Create new file*: Ctrl+N

Immediately brings up a new, blank page for you to start working on. It is definitely easier that going through the normal tedious process of creating a new blank document.

11. Open file*: Ctrl+O

Brings up a window where you can choose to open a previous saved file, image, video, etc. *Use for programs such as Microsoft Office, Paint, Adobe, etc. Does not work for everything, especially over the internet.

Changing Format of Selected Text

Especially useful in Word documents or notepads

12. Underline text: Ctrl+U

13. Bold text: Ctrl+B

14. Italic text: Ctrl+I

Highlight a selection of text and use any of these shortcuts to change the text format. It is much easier than having to look for the appropriate button on the toolbar. Note: These shortcuts don’t work in situations where you are unable to manipulate text (e.g. social networking)

15. Switch between open windows: Alt+Tab

Brings up all open windows onto the screen, including Internet Explorer, Word documents, media player, etc. Hold Alt and continue pressing Tab until you have reached the desired window.

16. Refresh the page: F5

You will often be required to reload/refresh your browser, and you can do so quite easily with the push of a single button.

17. Rename a file: F2

Select the file or files and press this key to rename. Note: To rename all files in a folder, use the shortcut Ctrl+A then press F2

18. Power down: Ctrl+Alt+Delete

This famous keyboard shortcut brings you to a page where you are able to select whether you want to put the computer on sleep, shut down, log out, lock the device, etc.

19. Move through tabs: Ctrl+Tab

In a browser, this shortcut will allow you to move through tabs which you can see at the very top of the page.

20. Close current window: Ctrl+W

If you are working with a lot of unnecessary windows open, this keyboard shortcut should close the window you are currently on.

21. Move to bottom of current page: End

There is often important information displayed at the bottom of a webpage. This key will bring you straight there.

22. Visit browser home page: Alt+Home

This keyboard shortcut brings you back to the default home page of your browser.

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Confucius is a wise Chinese philosopher, teacher, and political leader during 500-400 BC. His thoughts and teachings have influenced many people in the past, still inspire many people in present times, and will continue to contribute to many people’s thinking in the future.

Below are the top 50 quotes by Confucius in areas related to Life Lessons, Work, Inspiration, Communication, and Self-Reflection.

Life Lessons

1. “As the water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it, a wise man should adapt himself to circumstances.”

2. “When it is obvious that goals cannot be reached, do not adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”

3. “Give a man a fish, feed [his] home for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed [him] for a lifetime.”

4. “All good things are difficult to achieve, and all bad things are very easy to get.”

5. “A man who does not think and plan ahead will find trouble right at his door.”

6. “A fool despises good counsel, but a wise man takes it to heart.”

7. “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”

8. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”

9. “Return good for good; return evil with justice.”

10. “Time flows away like the water in a river.”

Work

11. “Not to discuss with a man worthy of conversation is to waste the man. To discuss with a man not worthy of conversation is to waste words. The wise waste neither men nor words.”

12. “The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns. The small man may not be entrusted with great concerns, but he may be known in little matters.”

13. “Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.”

14. “Learning without thought is labor lost. Thought without learning is perilous.”

15. “The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect [his] work must first sharpen [his] tools.”

16. “The essence of knowledge is, [if] having it, to apply it; [if] not having it, confess your ignorance.”

17. “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”

18. “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

19. “Do not worry about holding high position, worry about playing your proper role.”

20. “When anger rises, think of the consequences.”

Inspiration

21. “The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak which breaks in a storm.”

22. “The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them, they change and everyone looks up to them.”

23. “We have two lives, and the second [life] begins when we realize we only have one.”

24. “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”

25. “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.”

26. “Worry not that no one knows you; seek to be worth knowing.”

27. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”

28. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

29. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

30.  “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”

Communication

31. “Consideration for others is the basis of a good life.”

32. “Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean.”

33. “Humankind differs from the animals only by a little and most people throw that away.”

34. “Act with kindness but do not expect gratitude.”

35. “Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?”

36. “Things that are done, it is needless to speak about; things that are past, it is needless to blame.”

37. “If what one has to say is not better than silence, then one should keep silent.”

38. “The man who asks may be a fool for one day, but the man who never asks will be a fool for life.”

39. “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”

40. “Don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you.”

Self Reflection

41. “We take greater pains to persuade others we are happy than in trying to think so ourselves.”

42. “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”

43. “He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.”

44. “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”

45. “The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.”

46. “What the superior man seeks is in himself, what the small man seeks is in others.”

47. “When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.”

48. “To go too far is as bad as to fall short.”

49. “To see what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.”

50. “Respect yourself and others will respect you.”

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Why do you need to save earlier?

Each one of you must have had different thoughts after reading the title of this article. Also, each of you must be at a different stage of life; some are old, some are in their middle age and some are quite young. Saving is one aspect of our finances that is really important for each one of us, no matter what our stage of life is. The stage of life when we start saving, however, is absolutely important!

The earlier you start, the better it is. It is as simple as that. Time is such a great helper that if you start saving early then your money can even exceed those who save a lot more than you, but start later in life. This is all possible because of one major phenomenon that is called compounding! Compound interest can do wonders for your money.

Let’s look at a hypothetical example, person A and person B. Both invest the same amount of money but for a different tenure. But A started saving at a very young age. Thus her money had a very long time to multiply and exceeded that of B. A quick look at this chart from JP Morgan Asset Management would explain things better.

Now after a quick scan of this chart, I am sure you would be interested in knowing what compound interest is and what you should do with your own savings to get the most out of them.

“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world” ~ Albert Einstein

What it simply means is that you receive interest not only on your original investments, but also on any interest, dividends, and capital gains that accumulate so your money can grow faster and faster as the years roll on. Of course, the sooner you start saving and investing, the more time they will have to grow.

A very good example has been given by Robert T. Thompson regarding starting saving early. He says, “The simple truth is that the compounding of earnings in a retirement account creates the potential for an exponential increase in your retirement savings. And to harness the power of compounding to its full extent requires savings discipline, which is no different than exercise: It’s always better to do a little bit on a regular basis, rather than to postpone, hoping that a longer, more intense workout later on will get you back into shape.”

If you aren’t 25 right now, you might be regretting the lost time after reading this but don’t lose heart. No matter what your age is, the key to financial success is to act NOW rather than to delay things.  If you haven’t thought in this direction previously, you can remedy that situation by following our suggestions. Here, we have compiled some ways for you to make the most out of your savings.

• Start investing today. Now that you know what a powerful tool time is, you should not waste even a single day. Each day counts!
• Always put your money in an investment channel that offers the benefit of compounding. No matter how good the rater of return is, compound interest will always outweigh the benefits yielded by simple interest.
• Try to look for those investments where the frequency of compounding is more. For example, opt for those investments where compounding is done quarterly rather than half yearly or yearly. The more the frequency of compounding is, the more your money will grow!
• Save the maximum portion of your earnings. If you start early, you might be well within your targets by saving only a small percentage of your income. However, the later you start, the more you should be saving.
• Set a savings target and stick to it. Although goals don’t harm anyone at all, but the need to stick to your targets increases with age. If you start saving money later in life, you need to practice a lot of discipline with regard to your savings and financial goals. Tracking your income, savings and targets might be a good option for you.

The value of time and compounding cannot be stressed enough. So start saving today and be well on your way of becoming a millionaire by the age you retire!!

Featured photo credit: 401(K) 2012 by 401kcalculator.org via flickr.com

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Respect is one of the greatest expressions of love.

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Creaky knees and aching backs often come much earlier than we would like to admit. You may notice that you limp a bit after a competitive basketball game, or you may see swelling around your ankles after spending more time on your feet than normal.

These little warning signs are easy to dismiss.

Unfortunately, ignoring joint pain can mean big problems in the future. However, just a bit of prevention can mean you will keep your original joints long into your golden years. Whether you’re 28 or 82, here are 10 tips to keep your joints healthy and protected.

1. Surrender to Leg Day

To help ease joint pain, especially around the knees, build up your hamstrings and quadriceps. You can achieve this by working out the lower body by doing squats or leg curls. When you have stronger surrounding muscles, they can help support your joints and take the burden off of your knees.

2. Get Your Calcium

You’ve heard the expression, “You are what you eat.” Think about what you drink as well. Instead of reaching for a soda that is filled with empty calories, opt for a drink that is high in calcium.

Smoothies, milk, protein shakes and even calcium-fortified orange juice are all beneficial in making sure you get your daily dose of calcium.

3. Go Against Gravity

Just like our muscles, bone is living tissue that gets strong with exercise. Studies show that men and women who exercise regularly generally achieve greater peak bone mass (maximum bone density and strength) than those who do not. The best exercise to build up bone? Focus on weight-bearing exercises like weight training or resistance-type moves using your own body weight.

Also, don’t let that desk job be a deterrent to getting into shape and helping your bones stay strong. There are many exercises you can do at work. Some of these exercises include the chair stand, which builds up the leg muscles.

To try it, sit in a normal-height chair, stand up and then sit down; then repeat. You can also work your triceps by using the resistance against the arm rest, or as an assist if you need some support.

4. Go Low Impact

If you are feeling pain from too much high-impact exercise, and you need to find alternatives, try yoga, water aerobics or an elliptical trainer. Elliptical trainers are the ideal low-impact home workout machine if you don’t have a gym membership.

These trainers allow you to challenge your cardiovascular system and tone muscles without the high-impact shock on your joints from running or jumping.

5. Rest Up

Overuse or injury can break down the cartilage of joints, which can cause a narrowing of the joint space and bones which rub together. This can form bony growths known as bone spurs, which can then lead to possible osteoarthritis.

To stop this from happening, listen to your body and avoid overextending or overusing your joints when exercising. If you feel pain longer than two hours after exercising, your workout was probably too strenuous. If you have a burning sensation in your joints and muscles, rest.

Your body is like a vehicle. It can overheat and needs to slow down at times to cool down. This burning sensation could be a sign of a more serious condition. Always listen to your body and rest when you feel pain. If the pain continues, see a doctor.

6. Stretch it Out

If you are sore the next day after exercising, stretch! As much as you feel like that first cup of coffee is vital for waking up and becoming alert, so is increasing your flexibility and stretching. However, never stretch cold muscles. Do a light warm up before you stretch to make sure your joints, ligaments, and tendons are loosened up first.

7. Make Water Your Friend

Don’t be afraid to get wet. If you have access to a gym that has a pool, use it! Water helps to alleviate weight on the joints in so many ways. Doing your workout in the pool helps take off that extra weight that gravity naturally adds, while also building up muscle and cardiovascular health.

8. Avoid Taking the Stairs

If you have knee trouble, don’t always take the stairs to get those extra few minutes of exercise in each day. The constant use of the stairs can actually add to the breakdown of cartilage of the joints; so get your exercise in a low-impact way and avoid stairs when you can. When you do need to use stairs, try to engage your entire core to take the strain off of your lower body.

9. Get to the Core

To help strengthen your joints, strengthen your core. Building up the abdominal muscles can help ease the burden on joints. This is especially true of the joints in the neck, back, lower back and hips. By having better support all around, you will naturally maintain a healthier posture and put less pressure on those joints.

10. Drop Excess Pounds

If you want to reduce your risk of osteoarthritis and you are overweight, getting rid of excess fat can help to relieve the pressure on your joints. When you walk, go up and down stairs or get in or out of a chair, you can put up to one and a half times your body weight on your joints.

So, a 200-pound man will put 300 pounds of force on his joints with each step. All of that stress from the added weight can increase your risk for osteoarthritis. Once the osteoarthritis has occurred, extra weight will further aggravate the injury with increased pain and further breakdown of the joints.

Luckily, reducing that weight will also give you a huge benefit in relief for your knees. For every pound that you lose, you reduce the pressure on your joints by 1.5 pounds. That return on investment is definitely worth participating in a good weight-loss program.

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With more and more complains about the US education system and the meager job prospects offered to fresh grads, making the right educational choice has never seemed more challenging. Fret not! This list features the most cost effective colleges based one the report from

Fret not!

This list features the most cost effective colleges based one the report from Money Magazine and PayScale salary reports to help you make the right investment towards your future.

You will be surprised to know that 50-70% students of these colleges graduate completely debt-free.

1. Babson College, Babson Park, MA.

Babson College specialized in business and entrepreneurship and offers just one degree – a B.S. in Business. However, a better half of the course load includes subjects in liberal arts and science.

Seniors are offered to choose their concentration in various areas ranging from political science and visual arts to sustainable development.

What makes this college particularly worth its price is that freshmen can obtain practical experience beginning from day one.

They are set to work in teams, with extensive mentorship, to launch their first business and earn actual profits (which go to charity).

Hands-on experience brings its results fast. Babson College alumni are reported to earn $60,000 on average within five years of graduation. That is $13,000 more compared to recent grads of comparable schools!

Did you know that the Gerber (15$ million annual revenue) and Home Depot (78.8$ billion annual revenue) founders graduated from Babson?

That is $13,000 more compared to recent grads of comparable schools! Did you know that the Gerber (15$ million annual revenue) and Home Depot (78.8$ billion annual revenue) founders graduated from Babson?

Bottom line: if you plan to become a millionaire in a few years, consider a business degree from Babson as your first successful investment.

Net price of degree: $198,917

2. Webb Institute, Glen Cove, NY.

Though Webb Institute attracts only 80 undergraduates on average, do not underestimate it by the class size. The perks of getting double major in naval architecture and marine engineering are tremendous.

First of all, the degree will cost you zero. Yes, you read correct. If you are a U.S. citizen or green card holder, you receive a scholarship covering all tuition fees worth $44,000 this year, thanks to a considerable endowment.

Secondly, you are expected to have four internships during four years of studies, where you can gain a ton of practical knowledge and prospective connections with possible employers. Lastly, Webb grads tend to land pretty awesome work gigs right after graduation, boasting an annual income of $65,000.

Possible drawbacks – you have to enjoy guys’ company a lot as 80% of the students are male. Plus, you are required to live on campus.

Net price of degree: $77,606

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.

MIT is one of the world’s most renowned science schools and is an incredibly competitive place to get in to, with 25% of applicant having perfect scores on their math SAT. The school is famous for notorious workload in physics, biology, calculus and chemistry that are required subjects for all major.

The school is famous for notorious workload in physics, biology, calculus and chemistry that are required subjects for all major.

Yet the benefits of getting a degree from MIT are proportional. The academic staff reputation is impeccable and you will be able to attend classes taught by Nobel Prize laureates.

Straight after graduation students are reported to earn 22% more than graduates of similar elite institutions. While the price of a degree may slightly burn, MIT is still deemed to be one of the less expensive private schools.

It is also known for providing extensive tuition aid, covering up to 55% of the expenses, along with special financial aid for accredited online degrees and distance learning.  Alternatively, you can always sign up to

Alternatively, you can always sign up to MIT’s Open Courseware and gain access to loads of valuable courses and study materials for free.

Net price of degree: $154,676

4. Princeton University, Princeton, NJ.

Time Money named Princeton as the most affordable member of the Ivy League, as it is known to offer extremely generous tuition grants to 6 out of 10 families or no cost degrees to those making less than $60,000 annually. Ninety percent of students graduate from Princeton with no debt. However, the competition is tough with an undergraduate

However, the competition is tough with an undergraduate admission rate of 7.4% in 2014 and middle SAT scores of 700-800 in writing and 710-800 in Math.

If you got in, you are granted exclusive access to world-class professionals including Joyce Carol Oates – novelist, Pulitzer Price nominee, author of over 40 books, plays and novels; Paul Krugman – winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, author of over 20 books and numerous academic articles in New Trade Theory and New Economic Geography; Daniel Sigman – MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” awardee, with research published in Geological and Geophysical Sciences. The median pay of a recent Princeton grad is 56.000$ which is significantly premium over similar schools.

The median pay of a recent Princeton grad is $56,000, which is significantly higher than similar schools.

Net price of degree: $146,215

5. Stanford University, Stanford, CA.

The numbers say it: 22 Nobel laureates, 5 Pulitzer Prize winners and 27 MacArthur “genius” awardees are among Stanford’s staff. Among Standford alums are the founders of Google, Cisco, Yahoo and a great array of other successful companies.

As a student, be ready for entrepreneurial encouragement from day one, as one of the school’s main missions is to inspire and bring up future leaders and innovative thinkers.

Encouragements vary from special research grants offered to undergrads, to creative art projects and summer study camps. Students entering the workforce right after graduation are reported to earn $61,000, which is $12,000 more than similar universities.

Net price of degree: $168,780

6. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.

Harvard is the first school that pops into your mind when you think of the Ivy League and synonymous with a successful future, with a typical early career salary of $57,700 according to PayScale.

It’s quite unsurprising, as Harvard boasts one of the most impressive faculties including Nobel-prize winning economist Alvin Roth, prominent cognitive scientist Steven Pinker and Naill Ferguson, author of “The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World.”

You’d be surprised to know that Harvard can be affordable. Twenty per cent of students coming from families with an income of $65,000 a year receive full tuition aid. Enrollees from families with an income up to $150,000 end up paying less than 10% of their income. As a result, a vast majority of graduates are debt-free.

Net price of degree: $181,221

7. Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA.

It took Harvey Mudd College less than a decade to earn the reputation as the leading engineering and science school US. Ranking #1 on the Liberal Arts school list Mudd only offers BS degrees in the following fields: computer science, engineering, biology, math,

Ranking #1 on the Liberal Arts school list, Mudd only offers BS degrees in the following fields: computer science, engineering, biology, math, physics and chemistry. However, students in these programs are also required to study an array of subjects in the social sciences and humanities.

Harvey Mudd is the country’s second largest producer of PhD’s in engineering and science, according to National Science Foundation, with just 800 students!

The faculty is particularly well known for focusing more on teaching rather than research, and most professors have top scores and loads of flattering reviews on Rate My Professors.

Moreover, Mudders entering the labor market earn around $70,000 on average within the first five years after graduation. That’s a whopping 18% more than recent grads from other schools with similar specializations.

Net price of degree: $187,694

8. Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York, NY.

Cooper is located in the artsy neighborhood of East Village and perfectly represents the programs offered – art, architecture, and engineering. Notoriously famous for its low admission rate, even compared to top Ivy League schools, getting to Cooper is highly profitable.

The degree opens up secret doors to the top artistic and creative circles, along with a median pay of $61,000 within the first three years.

Famous alumni include Daniel Libeskind, designer of NYC’s new Freedom Tower and Whitfield Lovell, successful installation artist and recent MacArthur “genius” awardee.

Yet, one of the best things about Cooper are tuition costs – $19,800 per year introduced in 2014, making it one of the cheapest private-schools in the States.

Net price of degree: $146,797

9. Brigham Young University, Provo, UT.

BYU private school is most known for two things: providing education for the Church of Latter Day Saints members and  a high-acceptance rate compared to similar schools. Non-Mormons can get admitted as well. However, tuition costs are twice  as high for them. Also, you are expected to follow a certain code of conduct including a modest dress code and abstaining from coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco, and living a “virtuous life” on campus.

Yet these strict rules seem to bring amazing results. BYU graduates are reported to earn $50,000 a year in their early career stage which is $2,700 higher compared to students with similar test scores and economic background. Plus, the school is known to promote marriage and family values with an active dating scene. For instance, 56% of the graduation class in 2010 were already married.

Net price of degree: $82,037

10. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA

Getting admitted to Caltech is tough. You will have to compete with peers having a 1490 average on their SATs (higher than Harvard, Stanford and MIT). Expect no easy A’s if you get in either. CIT professors are known to be fair, but hard graders.

The opportunities you get in return, however, are pretty incredible. Think internships at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as one of the possible prospects. Or you may have a chance to conduct your research with one of the five Nobel Prize winners on the faculty. Moreover, if you plan to join the workforce straight after graduation, you can expect to earn over $68,000 within five years.

Moreover, if you plan to join the workforce straight after graduation, you can expect to earn over $68,000 within five years.

Net price of degree: $174,825

11. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Although having the largest first-year classes of up to 2,400 students, Penn State is still among the top selective schools with an acceptance rate of 13%. Business and economic departments are known to be particularly demanding. Expect to spend a bunch of over-nighters before midterms and a heavy workload through most of the courses.

However, Wharton business degrees literary pay off as graduates are reported to earn $67,000 within five years which is among top-5 incomes for undergraduate business programs. In general, Penn State graduates typically earn at least 20% more than the average with similar degrees.

Expect to spend a bunch of overnighters before midterms and a heavy workload through most of the courses. However, Wharton business degrees literary pay off as graduates are reported to earn $67,000 within five years which is among the top-5 incomes for undergraduate business programs. In general, Penn State graduates typically earn at least 20% more than the average with similar degrees.

In general, Penn State graduates typically earn at least 20% more than the average with similar degrees.

Net price of degree: $201,611

12. Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME

Maine Marine Academy attracts only a certain type of student with particular interest in engineering and marine science, thus boasting a high acceptance rate of 66%.

Well-known perks include loads of actual practical experience with trainings offered on actual ships and a solid career path afterwards with an estimated pay of $64,000 within five years after graduation.

However, there are certain drawbacks as well. Only 14% of the students are female and their is a lack of ethnic diversity, with just 3% of students being nonwhite.

You’ll have to get used to a military-style regiments including standing watch, wearing a uniform and other duties.

Net price of degree: $104,958

13. University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Berkley is known to be one of the most selective public colleges in the US, with an admission rate of 22%.

However, you get exclusive access to world-class research facilities and an outstanding faculty including a number of MacArthur “geniuses,” Pulitzer Prize winners and Nobel laureates.

Berkley is not all study and no play, as the school offers a huge variety of choices for non-academic pursuits – over 50 sororities and fraternities, plus hundreds of clubs featuring nearly any possible interest imaginable.

Moreover, sports are highly encouraged at Berkley with over 45 athletes sent to the 2012 Olympics.

Recent graduates can expect to earn $54,700 on average within five years. Steve Wozniak (Apple Co-founder) and Eric Schmidt (Google CEO) are among the most famous Cal alumni.

Net price of degree: $126,824

14. Williams College, Williamstown, MA

Williams College ranks #1 among liberal arts colleges according to Time Money. Having a huge faculty (the ratio is a low 7 to 1), students receive plenty of personalized attention and private consultations.

Williams is the only other college to adopt and enhance the Oxford tutoring system, which brings extra collaboration into the study process.

Students are usually paired in twos and are required to critique each other’s papers during the weekly sessions with their professor.

This method gives pretty solid results. Williams grads typically earn over $50,000 a year in the first five years.

Net price of degree: $168,573

15. Yale University,  New Haven, CT

Yale’s impeccable reputation was created by the master minds at the faculty – Robert Shiller (Nobel Prize laureate in Economy), Pulitzer price awardee in poetry Louise Glück and one of most influential historians of our times Paul Kennedy.

The school allows students to have extra academic freedom and does not set any specific course requirements. However, all undergrads are required to take courses in a wide range of general subjects, plus demonstrate strong writing skills. They are further expected to master a foreign language.

The more unknown fact about Yale, however, is that the school offers more than generous tuition aid and grants. As the board states, “we meet the full demonstrated financial need.” Therefore, over 50% of student’s graduate without any debt.

Net price of degree: $182,795

16. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

The University of Virginia receives high of praises like most of the Ivy League members, yet it offers one of the lowest tuition fees among the country’s public universities. Plus, getting to Virginia State University means four years of living and studying at a stunning UNESCO world heritage sight. The campus was designed by Thomas Jefferson, the university founder.

With a great array of courses to choose from, the programs in History, Business, Astronomy and English being particularly well regarded, the University of Virginia introduced the first highly popular course based on the Game of Thrones series.

Net price of degree: $94,139

17. Amherst College, Amherst, MA

Amhest College boasts that there are no required courses for undergraduates to take, except for a first-year seminar in writing and critical thinking which got excellent reviews among all students.

Further, Amhest encourages taking extra classes from the nearby colleges of Hampshire, Smith, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst at no cost.

The Generosity does not end there, as the school tries to meet nearly 100% of all students’ demonstrated financial need. As a result, 70% graduates have no loans to pay off for decades.

Employment prospects are rather lucrative too, with an average reported income of $53,000 within five years after graduation.

Net price of degree: $156,651

18. Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA

Virginia Military Institute boasts a long lasting reputation as the top military school in the country, as well as being the oldest state-supported military institution in the country.

VMI offers BA degrees in engineering, liberal arts and the sciences and charges affordable tuition fees. Also, the school does not require a military service commitment after graduation making it significantly stand out among other similar institutions that do.

The first semesters are reported to be really tough, as freshmen have to get used to wearing a tidy uniform all day long, undergo strict military-style training and get accustomed to the regimentation.

Those who make it until the end, however, are rewarded with luxurious salaries averaging about $54,000 within five years which is $16,000 more compared to grads from similar schools.

Net price of degree: $89,134

19. Brown University, Providence, RI

Brown gives great creative and academic freedom to the students, asking them to take just one required writing course by the end of their sophomore year.

Other than that, undergrads can choose any subjects they like and even design their own majors. G

Grades are optional as well! Any class may be taken with a pass-fail credit.

The system does produce results, as Brown grads are reported to earn $52,300 within 5 years of graduation. which is $8,000 per year more compared to grads with similar degrees from other institutions.

Net price of degree: $192,028

20. Rice University, Houston, TX

Last, but not least, comes Rice, one of the most exclusive private colleges at the Southwest.

Most praised majors include biology, engineering and economics due to small classes and prominent faculty staff, including world-renowned researches you will have a chance to work with side by side.

After graduation, Rice students are reported to earn about $55,700 within five years, 8% over the median pay offered to recent graduates with similar majors.

Net price of degree: $149,851

Featured photo credit: Clint Mickel via flickr.com

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Happiness is not a goal, but a state of being. People forget that though its true that you feel happiness when you reach your goals, DAILY happiness is an experience. Achieving your dreams does give happiness, but does not replace sadness. In fact, I would say that feeling happiness while reaching for your dreams is one of the most important keys in reaching your goals in the first place.

So if happiness begets more happiness AND success, how will someone get there if they don’t feel very happy right now? Luckily, there is a simple answer to this. All people would need to do, is give up on certain negative things that drag them down. There is a lot of baggage that people carry around and that prevents the experience of joy. Think of these things as blockages to the well of happiness that exists within everyone.

People can and have succeeded in their attempt to remove these harmful things from their lives. And everyone can do it. As long as he or she knows what baggage to give up, he will surely rediscover the happiness he always had.

To help out, I list here 10 common things to give up to be happy:

1. Give Up Jealousy

Some people think that comparing themselves to others is good. It could be, if the purpose of is to compete. To give oneself a goal to aspire to. But it starts being harmful when the achievements of others bring about envious feelings. Give this up, and you’ll have more time focusing on what you could achieve instead of what others achieve.

2. Give up the Fear of Change

Most of the time, even if the current situation is like hell, a lot of people just refuse to budge. They know that they aren’t comfortable where they are. It’s just that they fear new things more! Shedding this feeling from their lives would open up new worlds for them to discover. Being able to decide to change and facing it head on is the most exhilarating feeling someone could experience.

3. Giving up Control

Though many people want the power to control how their lives (and perhaps the lives of others) play out, not everything can be controlled. Sometimes, no matter how hard they try, not everything turns out the way they wanted it to. However, once people start recognizing that certain things and events are just really beyond their control, they can start to be more accepting of what life gives them.

4. Give up Overwork Time

Professional achievement drives a lot of businessmen and entrepreneurs to work long hours. I know it’s to achieve our dreams, but we need some balance in their lives in order to be happy. Achieving worthy goals is good, giving some time to other important parts of life (family, friends, hobbies) is better.

5. Give up Blaming

Sometimes, things go wrong. Whether its in the job or some other area of life, people feel the need to give blame to something or someone when this happens. It’s like a coping mechanism: people just don’t want to feel responsible for anything bad that happens. By giving this up, people can instead focus on finding solutions and getting out of a bad situation.

6. Give up Complaining

Constantly complaining people not only ruin their own happiness, but the happiness of others too. The one thing that people could surely control is their reaction to unhappy events. One of the best things people could do is to stop their complaining and start looking at problems in a new light.

7. Give up the Need to Be Right All the Time

No one is possessed with the power to know everything there is to know. So why do some people insist that they are right all the time? Even if they were, would it have been worth it to argue with others because of it? Sometimes its just better to put the relationships you have over being right.

8. Give up Limiting Beliefs

Still some others feel that they just can’t achieve their dreams, or even some form of it. The feeling of lack, the belief that their ability is limited, is one of the BIGGEST obstacles to happiness. By giving this up, the world will start revealing unlimited possibilities.

9. Give up Bad Friends

People are easily influenced by their peers. Humans are such social creatures that we adopt the habits and values of the people around us. Bad friends who influence people  to be less than what they could be will prevent them from experiencing the happiness they deserve. Instead, people should surround themselves with others who inspire them and drive them to live their lives to the fullest.

10. Give up the Past

Admittedly, the past is filled with experiences, good and bad. But these experiences are meant to build people up. The past should not be a recording of regrets that people look back to most of the time. The past should be a source of wisdom, to push people to become their better selves and continue to live the happy life they deserve to have.

Featured photo credit: Happiness/Farrukh via flickr.com

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