STUDENTS.GOV INFOSOURCE
Your Student Gateway to the US Government
ISSN 1536-559X

Volume IV, Issue 9 - September 2005

students.gov InfoSource provides useful tips and info for college
students and their
families.  Published periodically, students.gov InfoSource is sponsored
by the USDepartment of Education, Federal Student Aid office.
http://www.students.gov

• USAID Volunteer Student Internships - Learn about volunteer internships
  at theUS Agency for International Development, an independent government
  agency thatprovides global economic, development, and humanitarian assistance in
  support ofUS foreign policy goals. http://www.usaid.gov/careers/studentprograms.html
• Next Wave Online Magazine - Next Wave's articles cover scientific
  training,career development, and the science job market - great features and
  articles!From SCIENCE Magazine and the American Association for the Advancement
  of Science.  http://nextwave.sciencemag.org
• Exploratorium - Online Museum - The online Exploratorium Museum features
  a collection of more than 600 innovative, interactive exhibits about
  science, nature, art, technology, and human perception.  http://www.exploratorium.edu

Students.gov is always adding great sites. For more, visit www.students.gov

Featured Sites: Academic Resources


Great web resources from students.gov

Now that classes are in full swing, you might need some extra help to
get you along in your studies.  These sites on students.gov offer free resources that
other universities have developed for their students, and may be helpful to
you, as well.

• MIT OpenCourseWare (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) - MIT's OpenCourseWare program reflects the commitment of the MIT faculty to
  advancing education by openly sharing their academic materials with the public
  through the Internet. Self-learners can access course materials for hundreds of classes.
  http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html
• The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing - Nuts and Bolts is for anyone who
  wants to learn how to write more clearly, gracefully, and effectively,
  regardless of topic. Written by a college professor who created this guide to help his
  students, it's a great resource for students!  http://nutsandbolts.washcoll.edu
• The Writing Center (University of Wisconsin-Madison) - This useful web resource from The Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
  offers guidance on improving your writing style, avoiding common grammar and punctuation mistakes, and using proper citations.http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook
• Study Skills Self-Help Information (Virginia Tech) - Great tips for managing your time and studying more efficiently. Five online study skills workshops and 24 articles provide a comprehensive guide to getting the most from your study time.   http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html

Students.gov has more academic resources dedicated to helping students
excel in their classes:
http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/SG_Ctrl?Topic=1401

News Brief:

Teenagers & Young Adults Making Strong Academic Progress

Selected issues in our world

College Completion Rates Double in Past 3 Decades

US Department of Education News Release, July 29, 2005

America's young people have made substantial improvements academically over the last 3 decades, according to a new U.S. Department of Education report. Students have nearly doubled their college completion rates and demonstrate improved mathematics performance during the teenage years. Youth Indicators 2005, a report by the Department's National Center for
Education Statistics, presents important trends in the academic progress of
teenagers and young adults. It shows that the proportion of 25- to 29-year-olds completing college rose from 16 percent in 1970 to 29 percent in 2004.  And average mathematics
proficiency for both 13- and 17-year-olds was higher in 2004 than in 1973 for all
racial groups.The indicators also show that, despite improvements in many areas of
education, substantial gaps remain between white and minority students.  Highlights
from the report include:



*A smaller gap in reading proficiency exists between 13- and 17-year-old white students and their Hispanic peers in 2004 than in 1975.

* A smaller proportion of dropouts of all 16- and 24-year-olds in 2003 (10 percent) than in 1998 (12 percent).

*College enrollment rates of 18- to 24-year-olds increased from 26 percent in 1980 to 38 percent in 2003; the enrollment rate of females increased
more rapidly than that of males.

*While overall college attainment rates have increased, substantial gaps remain.  Among 25- to 29-year-olds in 2004, 11 percent of Hispanics had completed a bachelor's degree, compared with 17 percent of blacks, and 34 percent of whites.



Read the article at http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2005/07/07292005.html

Information for this News Brief provided by the US Department of
Education.

<http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/SG_Ctrl?Topic=0801>
<http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/SG_Ctrl?Topic=0801>

Term Tangle: Loan Deferment and Forbearance

Understanding Acronyms and Terms

Are you experiencing difficulties repaying your student loans? Under certain circumstances, you can receive periods of deferment or forbearance that allow you to postpone loan repayment. However, you can't get a deferment or a forbearance for a loan in default.

Deferment - A deferment is a period of time during which no payments are required.  Interest does not accrue (accumulate) unless you have an unsubsidized Stafford Loan, in which case you must pay the interest.  You must meet specific conditions to qualify for a deferment.  The most common loan deferment conditions are enrollment in school at least half time, inability to find full-time employment (for up to 3 years), and economic hardship (for up to 3 years).

Forbearance - If you temporarily can't meet your repayment schedule but you don't meet the requirements for a deferment, your lender might grant you forbearance.  During forbearance, your loan repayments are postponed or reduced. Interest continues to accrue (accumulate), however, and you are responsible for paying it, no matter what kind of loan you have.

Generally, you can receive forbearance for periods up to 12 months at a
time for a maximum of three years.  You'll have to provide documentation to the
holder of your loan to show why you should be granted forbearance.

You must apply to the holder of your loan for either deferment or
forbearance.

Note that you must continue to make payments until you're notified your
request has been granted.  If you don't, you might end up in default.

For more information on deferments and forbearances, start with these
resources:

The Student Guide - Deferment & Forbearance (US Department of Education)

The Student Guide to financial aid, from the U.S. Department of
Education, is the most complete resource on federal student aid.

http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2005-2006/e
nglish/loan-defermentandforbearance.htm

<http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2005-2006/
english/borrower-information.htm>

Student Aid on the Web - Repaying (US Department of Education) - The
official student gateway to federal financial aid, including eligibility,
application, repayment, and more, plus self-service tools to help you prepare, choose, and apply
for college.

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/repaying.jsp?tab
=repaying

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/loanentry.jsp?t
ab=attending

Information for this Term Tangle provided by the U.S. Department of
Education.

Career Spotlight: EMTs and Paramedics
Options and ideas for your future

Could you handle the stress of working irregular hours, the constant scream of sirens, and giving medical care to people in life-or-death situations? If you think so, you might find a career as an EMT or paramedic rewarding.

What do EMTs and Paramedics do? People's lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics.  Incidents as
varied as automobile accidents, heart attacks, drownings, childbirth, and gunshot
wounds all require immediate medical attention. EMTs and paramedics provide
this vital attention as they care for and transport the sick or injured to a
medical facility.

In an emergency, EMTs and paramedics typically are dispatched to the
scene by a 911 operator, and often work with police and fire department
personnel. Once they arrive, they determine the nature and extent of the patient's
condition while trying to ascertain whether the patient has preexisting medical
problems.

Following strict rules and guidelines, they give appropriate emergency
care and, when necessary, transport the patient. Some paramedics are trained to
treat patients with minor injuries on the scene of an accident or at their
home without transporting them to a medical facility. Emergency treatment for more complicated problems is carried out under the direction of medical doctors by radio preceding or during transport.

Beyond these general duties, the specific responsibilities of EMTs and paramedics depend on their level of qualification and training. To determine this, the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) registers emergency medical service (EMS) providers at four levels: First Responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, and EMT-Paramedic. Some States, however, do their own certification and use numeric ratings from 1 to 4 to distinguish levels of proficiency.

What are the working conditions like? EMTs and paramedics work both indoors and outdoors, in all types of weather.

The work is not only physically strenuous, but also stressful, involving life-or-death situations and suffering patients. Nonetheless, many people find the work exciting and challenging and enjoy the opportunity to help others.

EMTs and paramedics employed by fire departments work about 50 hours a week. Those employed by hospitals frequently work between 45 and 60 hours a week, and those in private ambulance services, between 45 and 50 hours.

Some of these workers, especially those in police and fire departments, are on call for extended periods. Because emergency services function 24 hours a day, EMTs and paramedics have irregular working hours that add to job stress. EMTs and paramedics held about 179,000 jobs in 2002. Most career EMTs and paramedics work in metropolitan areas. There are many more volunteer EMTs and paramedics, especially in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas.
These individuals volunteer for fire departments, emergency medical services
(EMS), or hospitals, and may respond to only a few calls for service per month or may
answer the majority of calls, especially in smaller communities. EMTs
and paramedics work closely with firefighters, who often are certified as
EMTs as well and act as first responders.

Earnings of EMTs and paramedics depend on the employment setting and geographic location as well as the individual's training and experience. Median annual earnings of EMTs and paramedics were $24,030 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $19,040 and $31,600. How do you become an EMT or Paramedic? Formal training and certification is needed to become an EMT or paramedic. All 50 States have a certification procedure. In most States and the
District of Columbia, registration with the NREMT is required at some or all levels of
certification. Other States administer their own certification examination or provide the option of taking the NREMT examination. To maintain certification, EMTs and paramedics must reregister, usually every 2 years. In order to reregister, an individual must be working as an EMT or paramedic and meet a continuing education requirement.

The most advanced level of training for this occupation is EMT-Paramedic. At this level, the caregiver receives additional training in body function and learns more advanced skills. The Technology program usually lasts up to 2 years and results in an associate degree in applied science. Such education prepares the graduate to take the NREMT examination and become certified as an EMT-Paramedic. Extensive related coursework and clinical and field
experience is required. Due to the longer training requirement, almost all
EMT-Paramedics are in paid positions, rather than being volunteers. Refresher courses and
continuing education are available for EMTs and paramedics at all levels.

Why become an EMT or Paramedic? Employment of emergency medical technicians and paramedics is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012.
Population growth and urbanization will increase the demand for full-time paid EMTs and
paramedics rather than for volunteers. In addition, a large segment of the population-the aging baby boomers-will further spur demand for EMT services as they become more likely to have medical emergencies. There will still be demand for part-time, volunteer EMTs and paramedics in rural areas and smaller metropolitan areas. In addition to those arising from job growth, openings will occur because of replacement needs; some workers leave the occupation because of stressful working conditions, limited potential for advancement, and the modest
pay and benefits in private-sector jobs.

Most opportunities for EMTs and paramedics are expected in private ambulance services. Competition will be greater for jobs in local government, including fire, police, and independent third-service rescue squad departments, in which salaries and benefits tend to be slightly better. Opportunities will be best for those who have advanced certifications, such as EMT-Intermediate and EMT-Paramedic, as clients and patients demand higher levels of care before arriving at
the hospital.

Fun Fact

The first paramedics began operating in 1970 and there has been a steady decrease in cardiac related deaths and traffic fatalities ever since. Occupational Outlook Handbook, EMTs and Paramedics (US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics) - Information on EMT and Paramedic careers. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos101.htm
Information for this Career Spotlight provided by the US Dept of Labor,
Occupational

Outlook Handbook.  http://www.bls.gov/oco

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