Avoiding the Freshman Fifteen

Rites of passage - graduating from high school, going off to college.. these are all milestones which mark our growth from children to adults. However, one rather unsavoury part of the typical growing up stages which most university students go through is the 'freshman fifteen'.

The term 'freshman fifteen' refers to the weight (15 pounds or 7 kilos) commonly stacked on by first year students (freshman). For the first time in their lives, students are moving out from home, away from parents and home-cooked meals, sharing a communal kitchen with other young students whose diet pyramid looks like this -

The college food pyramid

And let's not forget the booze.

What to do?

1. Be prepared. Some students (me) get taken by surprise when they start packing on the kilos because they had never gained weight quickly before. Know that it might happen, and -

2. Do like a Scout and be prepared. Have a game plan ready.

Part 1 of your game plan would be some no-cook dorm friendly healthy meals -

Oatmeal with fruits

• Oatmeal with fruits

Kickstart your day with rolled oats and milk, easily cooked in the microwave and topped with fruits for added fanciness.

PB&J + Banana sandwich

• Peanut butter and jelly + banana sandwiches.

For an easy, portable and delicious meal.

2-minute Quesadillas

• 2-minute quesadillas

Just layer your favourite quesadillas ingredients (beans / diced tomatoes / avocados / cheese etc.) on a tortilla and microwave for approximately 1 minute.

Part 2 involves activity!

Aim to go for a 15 minute power jog / swim daily, join a sports club (also great for meeting people) and/or try to walk instead of catching public transport if you can.

Recruit a friend to help you stay committed.

With a bit of common sense (not overdoing it with alcohol), you can stay fit and healthy throughout your uni days!

Multiple choice questions abolished at Central Queensland University

Multiple Choice Questions (often fondly referred to by students as MCQs) will no longer be used as an exam format at Central Queensland University (CQU).

Are multiple choice questions a thing of the past?

Is this good news or bad?

As a student, I personally loved MCQs - it gave me a 20-25% chance of getting the correct answer when I'm stumped by the questions. If desperate and given enough time, I can even sneakily reverse engineer answers.

Plus it's less stressful to pick from 5 options instead of having to sift through all the information in my brain to access the appropriate answer.

Because MCQ exams are usually marked by machines, students get their results quicker, and marking feels more objective.

Unfortunately, some of these reasons why I adore MCQs is what led to its abolishment from CQU, understandably -

CQU pro vice chancellor Professor Rob Reed has expressed that to be able to apply learnings in the real world, students must get used to forming answers with their own minds because it is highly unlikely students will get presented with a few neat alternatives to make a selection once they graduate. Students will have to come up with the alternatives themselves.

Also, by allowing students the flexibility of writing their own answers, it is believed that students will be better positioned to display their knowledge instead of losing out if they get confused by the sometimes deceptively similar MCQ answers.

Short answers - as short as a single word - will replace MCQ when CQU starts a new term next month.

Do you prefer MCQs or subjective answers?

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Source: The Australian

What makes Australian universities different?

Going to university is one of the most exciting times of a person's life, especially when one has the opportunity to study abroad. With seemingly endless university choices, here's what makes Australian universities stand out on the global arena.

The University of Sydney

1. Australia preserves the high quality of its universities relatively small - at 39 universities currently. To become a university in Australia, a higher education provider has to satisfy demanding requirements. Even a reputable university from another country cannot set up in Australia as a university without fulfilling these rigorous criteria.

In many countries, even the US, there are few restrictions to using the title 'university'. But in Australia the right to call an education provider a university is very valuable and jealously guarded.

2. The university sector in Australia is very stable. Australian universities are well managed with high levels of accountability and transparency. It is hard to even imagine circumstances which would lead to a university in Australia going into liquidation and closing down.

The Australia university sector is not based on a quota system - it is based on quality. As long as an education provider satisfies the legislated criteria for this title, it can be classified as a university. Quality is the underlying thread running through all Australian universities.

3. Students are eligible for post study work visas which allows them to work temporarily in Australia upon graduation, obtaining valuable work experience.

As a student agent, these factors would be good to know when helping your student select the most suitable higher education destination.

Sources: The Knight Review

Coping with deregulation

How will deregulation of the Australian education industry affect universities? International students? Education Agents?

There has been much discussion about the issue of deregulating the Australian education industry, ranging from support over universities' increased autonomy in deciding on curriculum and cost to students, to concerns that higher education will become even more inaccessible for students, as government funding continues to drop.

Universities may raise fees depending on the courses which they will offer and their popularity with students - hence courses with exorbitant pricing will find few students, if any, willing to shell out for them. Undergraduate studies in Australia will remain reasonably priced, but universities looking to control costs further can seek other ways to do it, such as reigning in administrative costs.

For education agents, universities can up the ratio of international intakes to stabilise school operations as local students may seek to pursue studies abroad with deregulation bringing local education expenses up to par with global standards - however it is worth noting that Australia offers income-contingent student loans, so local intakes may remain steady.

Nevertheless, should current trends continue, the number of international students would grow, and this means increased administrative efforts to bring international students into Australia and maintaining a positive experience for the student.

Australia remains a popular higher education destination because of its world class education standards, and also because of its attractive post-study work rights. Measures such as scaling back on administrative expenses are a way to improve operations, deregulation or no.

NexPay offers favourable exchange rates for students and a free reconciliation service for education providers and education agents in Australia. This helps keeps administrative effort minimal, as NexPay guarantees all payment receipts are in the full amount (no more short payments!).

Visit www.nexpay.com.au for more information on how we can help you and your students save now!

Source: The Australian

Every student needs this recipe: 30 minute no cream carbonara

Pasta Carbonara

Want to eat this for dinner?

Good news - it only takes 30 minutes, leaving you with ample time to study/kill off another couple of annoying characters in your online games/browse through ASOS.

Even better news - the sauce requires a grand total of 4 ingredients, which you probably already have in your larder. (Eggs, cheese, bacon, black pepper.)

Ingredients
3 - 4 bacon, sliced thinly

1/2 onion, chopped (for added fanciness)

3 - 5 cloves garlic, chopped (for added fanciness)

2 eggs

50g Parmesan cheese, grated

Black pepper to taste

Olive oil for cooking

Pasta for 2, your preference

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to instructions on packet.

2. While pasta is cooking, chop/slice garlic, bacon and onion.

3. In a bowl, mix eggs, cheese and black pepper.

4. Heat up oil in pan, cook bacon until nearly crispy, then add onion and garlic.

5. When pasta is cooked, drain and add to pan. Mix well with bacon.

6. Turn off the heat (remove from stove if you are using electric heat instead of gas - this prevents the eggs from scrambling)

7. Add egg mixture into pan. Coat pasta evenly.

8. Serve with black pepper and more cheese!

Source: www.suanie.net

What to do if your Australian student visa gets cancelled

As per the 2014 Federal Budget, a 'super tribunal' will be created - as a merger of the Migration Review Tribunal, the Administrative Reviews Tribunal, the Classification Review Board, Refugee Review Tribunal and Social Security Appeals Tribunal.

Visa application

For international students, this means that you will have to contact the 'super tribunal' instead of the Migration Review Tribunal (which is the point of contact to appeal visa cancellations) or the Administrative Reviews Tribunal (where visa cancellations due to character issues are appealed).

This change is expected to kick into effect on 1 July 2015, and it is expected to provide an 'accessible 'one-stop shop' ' to rectify visa issues and provide a fair and economical service which is also simpler and faster.

Faster Australian student visas

Since 22 March 2014, international students and education providers in Australia have enjoyed faster and simpler Australian student visas processing from changes introduced which includes

• a refined assessment level (AL) framework - in use NOW
• the extension of streamlined visa processing to certain non-university degree providers - to commence early 2015

Faster Australian student visas

What is the Assessment Levels Framework?

The AL framework manages immigration risk in the student visa programme by aligning minimum evidentiary requirements from student visa applications to the immigration risks posed by applicants of a particular country applying for a particular student visa subclass.

Assessments Levels

Simplifying the AL framework benefits students from China and India, and has assisted vocational education and training students. Assessments levels have been reduced from 5 to 3 (with AL4 and AL5 being grouped in AL3), and financial evidence for AL3 has been reduced from 18 months to 12 months. Note: AL1 is the lowest risk.

In addition, English language proficiency, financial capacity and previous study requirements have been lowered. This means that certain students can begin studying in Australia at a less advanced level now.

Extension of Streamlined Visa Processing

Streamlined visa processing allows eligible student visa applicants from participating universities and eligible non-university higher education providers are assessed as though they are a lower immigration risk, irrespective of country of origin.

The government has announced that it intends to further extend streamlined visa processing to low immigration risk education providers offering advanced diploma courses. This new arrangement is anticipated to start in early 2015.

Visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website for more information.

How you get cheated on bank exchange rates

International trade has became such as integral of daily life that most of us cannot remember the times when purchasing an item from abroad was not a common occurrence. However, how often do we pause to give thought to how much we're actually paying in foreign exchange?

Banks are always looking for creative ways to charge you extra fees, and one of their profit boosters is by cheating on foreign exchange rates. Let's see how the banks are doing this, and how you can avoid losing your hard-earned cash.

Bank of Evil

Dishonest bank foreign exchange fees

The inter-bank exchange rate is the foreign exchange rate that banks pay each other when exchanging money. Customers will not get this rate, as banks usually charge a fee on top.

Banks include this fee in the foreign exchange rate and don't break it down for customers. Hence customers never actually know the premium charged by banks. In addition, banks charge a transaction fee to process the exchange.

Major banks such as the Bank of New York Mellon have been sued over dodgy foreign exchange transactions. Moreover, 12 of the largest banks in the world were accused of rigging foreign exchange rates for profits in their favour.

No bank fees

What about banks which proclaim that they are not charging any fees? It is common for banks to not charge any fees but to skim a hefty percentage of the payment for profits. How can we tell? By comparing bank foreign exchange rates with mid market rates.

Mid market rates

The mid market rate is the mid-point between currency buy and sell rates, and the sweet spot which customer transactions should be based on. Banks and brokers will adjust their rates daily, and it will usually differ from the mid market rate.

Recipient charges

If you think being walloped by bank fees (hidden or otherwise) + transaction fee + unfavourable foreign exchange rate is bad enough, it gets worse - the receiver gets hit with bank fees for receiving payment as well.

When the payment arrives at the recipient's bank account, the amount may be less than expected due to the banks' skimming of fees. The recipient will then have to contact the sender to make another payment to correct the payment amount, wasting time, energy and money for both sides.

The average one way fee is 3.5%, meaning if you transfer $100,000 , you just paid the bank $3,500 for sending the money, and there may be additional fees awaiting the recipient. The math is easy - services which offer a better exchange rate and protect recipients from bank fees so that the quoted amount is always received, can save money senders a lot of hassle and headache, especially for regular senders or when sending a large amount.

Banking goes online

Thankfully, gone are the days when the only place you can conduct a foreign exchange transaction to make an international payment is at the bank.

A slew of mobile banking, online banking and specialised payment services have popped up, and there is a product out there to tailor to each and every specific need. Customers can also combine payment methods to ensure maximum savings.

NexPay is a payment service which makes international student payments (to Australia) simple and easy. We offer a lower exchange rate and ensures that recipients always receive the quoted amount by never charging bank fees in Australia.

If you're a service provider within the Australian education sector - agent, school or accommodation - you'll be happy to know NexPay also offers a free reconciliation service to ensure you always stay on top of your payment receipts.

Share this to ensure your mates never get ripped off by banks again!

Spring Festival Ideas

Spring break is just around the corner! After 3 months of cold - culminating in a week of rain - everybody is bound to be excited about planning a holiday with your friends!

Here's what's happening in Australia this month -

Perth
KOFFIA Korean Film Festival
When: 3 - 6 September 2014

Showcasing top 20 Korean films, this festival hosted by the Korean Cultural Office is in its 5th year. From rom-coms to dramas to action, the film selections will have you laughing and crying. In addition, there will be a raffle and photo ops. (All films are screen with English subtitles.)

Sydney
Sydney Fringe Festival
When: 1 - 30 September 2014

New South Wales' biggest independent arts festival is back for its 5th year! This spring, look beneath Sydney's glossy exterior and check out the city's emerging artists. There will be public forums, dynamic performances and an art e-tailer Art Pharmacy.

Melbourne
The Nutcracker
12 - 25 September 2014

Boasting the most expensive piece in the company's costume archive - at $10,000 for the tutu - Peter Wright's production of The Nutcracker is considered the most beautiful in the world. Expect traditional Nutcracker delights with additions such as a Rose Fairy!

Australia has amazing festivals year-round and is an ideal country to receive an education. To learn how you can save on school fees, visit us at www.nexpay.com.au

We also offer free reconciliation services for agents and schools.

Follow NexPay to get the latest news in Australian education.

5 of the most unusual journeys to school in the world

As Australia enters spring, it is easy to want to skip class - 'the weather is wonderful and I must go bask in the sunshine after a week of rain', or 'I can't leave my house with all that rain!' Whilst the journey from bed to class can sometimes feel like the longest trip ever, here are some pictures of what some people do just to get to school -

5. Gulu, China

The most remote school in the world

It takes 5 hours on a 1-ft track to get to the most remote school in the world.

4. Zhang Jiawan Village, Southern China

Students climbing unsecured wooden ladders

3. Lebak, Indonesia

Students crossing a damaged suspension bridge

India's largest steel producer PT Krakatau Steel, has built a new bridge, so students can cross the bridge safely.

2. Rizal Province, Philippines

Riding an inflated tyre tube to get to school

1. Delhi, India

Students riding a horse cart

To make the cost of study less painful, check out NexPay!

We also offer free reconciliation for agents and schools.

Follow us to get the latest news in Australian education!

Photo source: Bored Panda