Archive for October, 2009
Top Five Universities In The Midwest
Picking a school can sometimes feel like picking a number on a roulette wheel. If somehow you can make the exact right choice everything will come out right for you and youll live happily ever after. But what is the right choice? Happily while there are only a few winning numbers on a roulette wheel there are many institutions of higher learning that deliver a high quality education one that can get you pointed in the right direction.
Not all universities are alike however. Some excel at pushing students with rigorous academic programs but offer next to nothing to help shape complete graduates. Extracurricular activities and social life are neglected on some campuses; just as some campuses can themselves seem neglected more like lowsecurity prisons than settings for digesting knowledge.
A wellrounded university mints wellrounded graduates. The schools featured on this list of the top five universities in the Midwest are each outstanding examples this principle in action. These universities make it their business not only to give students the opportunity to learn all they can in their chosen field but also create an atmosphere where unformed students are shaped over the course of their experience into fullfledged adults with everything that may entail.
1. University of Chicago Chicago IL
The number one school on the list is the University of Chicago an institution renowned not just as a great Midwestern university but as one of the very top universities in the nation if not the world. The University of Chicago has a history of offering students stellar faculty with a taste for the academic cutting edge. The Universitys urban setting gives students ample opportunity for cultural exploration and community service making graduates some of the most well rounded in the country.
2. Washington University St. Louis MO
Washington University in St. Louis holds the number two slot on this list with a powerful combination of challenging academics and a strong sense of community both within the walls of the university and within its host city. Washington University undergrads choose from courses in five divisions arts and sciences architecture art business and engineering. The graduate school adds law and medicine to the list. If what you are hoping to study is on this list you may have found the school for you.
3. Northwestern University Evanston IL
Third on the list is Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois just a half hour outside of Chicago. Northwestern offers seventy majors to undergrads with many students opting to design their own majors mixing and matching more traditional disciplines. Rigorous well located and competitive Northwestern is a strong choice whether you are looking exclusively in the Midwest or not.
4. University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI
The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is a great example of the big public research institution done right. Graduates from University of Michigan consistently report a topnotch experience across the board from challenging coursework to a satisfying experience socially. But be warned like all the schools on this top 5 list University of Michigan fields a lot of applications. Admission is by no means guaranteed.
5. University of Notre Dame Notre Dame IN
The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have earned this Indiana institution a place in the hearts of many a sports fan but it is only in combination with outstanding academics that Notre Dame takes the fifth place on this list. Loyal alumnae of this Catholic university have demonstrated the value of a Notre Dame education through varied and impressive achievement.
About the writer: Review more industry related articles by William Baum at CareersandEducation.com. William Baum is a CareersandEducation.com feature writer that often covers topics relating to Campus and online degree programs and Career planning.
The Value Of Higher Education
As the average yearly costbooks and living expenses includedof attending a public four year college nears 13000 a year some people question whether or not a college degree is worth it. Add to that the rising percentage of college students that leave school deeply in debt and an education begins to seem like a risky venture.
Typically individuals attend college in order to have access to greater employment opportunities. However due to the fastpast changes that are appearing in many job markets and the acutespecialization that some careers demand the idea of attending a college or a university in order to prepare for a specific career may be outdated. Along these lines Christopher Caldwell writes for the New York Times:
If youre not planning on becoming say a doctor the benefits of diligent study can be overstated. In recent decades the biggest rewards have gone to those whose intelligence is deployable in new directions on short notice not to those who are locked into a single marketable skill however thoroughly learned and accredited. Most of the employees who built up say Google in its early stages could never have been trained to do so because neither the company nor the idea of it existed when they were getting their educations.
That being said it is still very clear that individuals with a college education earn more money over the course of a lifetime than individuals without. In addition the BLS reports an increasing demand for a number of jobs that demand acute specialization from applicants.
The BLS reports that careers in healthcare education and finance will be among the fastest growing careers over the next 7 years. These careers all demand that applicants be specialized in a target area.
Summary
Although some speculate that the value of a degree will decrease as a greater and greater percentage of the American population obtains a collegelevel educationfor now the numbers still say a college education is worth the investment.
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About the writer: Patrick Sutton is the Marketing Director for Innovation Ads Inc. a company that helps colleges and universities to increase applications and enrollments by leveraging proprietary and affiliate internet portals and the second largest DRTV media buying capacities in the US.
Theres More Than One Way To Frost A Cake
by Mike Churchill
When you think of cake you automatically think of frosting. But do you realize there are at least half a dozen ways to frost a cake? Of course there is the traditional icing: thick creamy and oh so sweet due to its butter eggs and milk. However top chefs in popular cities such as Chicago or Miami teach culinary arts program students a wide range of ways to top their cakes and other sweets. Let’s look at a list of delicious and beautiful ways to frost a cake that students can learn at a Florida cooking school.
Icing/Frosting This is what grandma used to make. In her day making icing was a labor of love. With no electric mixers frosting had to be beaten by hand in order to combine all the ingredients and make it light and fluffy. Today a basic icing recipe includes milk powdered sugar butter flavorings and possibly eggs or egg whites. As with cakes you can take these fundamental ingredients add a little imagination and create concoctions so delightful your mouth will be in ecstasy!
Cream cheese frosting that’s whipped to perfection is just sinful. Coconut icing with a hint of vanilla and almond offers a delicious mix of textures as well as tropical flavor. Add orange rind to a basic frosting recipe for a light summery taste. Mix in finely chopped mint leaves to accent a chocolate cake. Almonds lime juice pecans oatmeal the possibilities are literally endless.
Royal Icing Students in Miami culinary arts programs can learn that one of the easiest icings to make is royal icing which simply consists of egg whites cream of tartar powdered sugar and food coloring. Royal icing is so popular because it dries in a hardened state making it wonderful for use with decorations or writing. It also dries smooth and holds fast so it can easily act as an edible cement when creating complicated pieces. The one thing royal icing is not recommended for is a base frosting for cakes. However it is exceptional for creating flowers lacetype accents and other decorations on top of cakes cookies or other treats.
Fondant Popular for use with cakes fondant is an exceptional frosting. It also makes excellent decorations. Pastry chefs in weddingoriented areas like Hawaii or Florida teach cooking school students specific techniques for working with fondant. More difficult than traditional frosting the art of making rolling and using fondant should be given special attention.
With only three ingredients sugar water and corn syrup fondant comes together in an unusual way. Start by combining the sugar and water and heating until all the sugar is dissolved. Add the corn syrup and cook until it reaches what’s referred to as the “softball stage.” Due to the fact that the mixture could be loosely formed into the shape of a ball not because it resembles a softball or baseball. Pour the liquid onto a marble slab and allow to cool. Working fondant involves turning the outside edges in and folding repeatedly until it becomes pliable. When the fondant turns hard kneed in any type of flavorings or colors you want.
Fondant can be rolled for use as a smooth cake frosting. This is typically used with wedding cakes because it offers an elegant finished appearance. However any type of cake can be iced or decorated with fondant. Before use with cakes you’ll want to smooth a thin layer of butter cream on the top and sides so the fondant has something to adhere to.
Glazes Another simple topping for cakes is the glaze. A mixture of confectioners sugar water or fruit juice and flavorings creates a thin translucent liquid. The glaze is then drizzled lightly over cakes breads pastries and other goodies. Unlike frosting or fondant glazes are designed to give a light accent of added sweetness. They dry smooth and can be used to create filigree patterns and other elegant designs.
Want others? Butter cream ganache marzipan and more can also be used for frosting cakes and other desserts. When you’re looking for something different break out of the icing box and finish your cake in a whole new way.
About the writer: Mike Churchill provides marketing support Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Miami. Cooking school applications are currently being accepted. If you love cooking are in Florida a culinary arts program could be your next step. Visit http://www.miamiculinary.com. 2007 All Rights Reserved
