Definition of Alkali Metal - Synthesis of Different Solutions

Definition of Alkali Metal - Synthesis of Different SolutionsAlkali metal is the term used to describe the chemical components of the elements sodium, potassium, and chlorine. All these elements are compounds of one element, which is hydrogen. Each element that is present in the world is derived from the hydrogen and then has undergone a chemical reaction with the base metal through an ionic transfer process. The separation of the ions has been accomplished by using a catalyst.Alkali metal definition is commonly used to describe the chemical elements that are used in various industry in the form of a compound. The majority of people know the chemical elements that are used in the chemical industry such as sodium, potassium, and chlorine. These chemical elements are used in industries such as steelmaking, electrical industry, and the chemical industry as a solution to specific metals.Alkali metal as defined above is not like many of the other components that are used in the mining ind ustries because the minerals that are used in the manufacturing of such metals are not found in nature. These metals are sourced from different places in the world. The minerals that are mined are mainly iron, cobalt, copper, and molybdenum.There are different elements that are known to be mineral derivatives of the metal. Among the best known of these minerals are silicon, phosphorus, aluminium, antimony, and bismuth. These minerals are then processed to make different kinds of metals that are used in industries. One of the popular components that are used in the industries are the nickel and copper.Nickel is a metal that is highly used in the manufacturing industry. It is highly used as an alloy that is used in the production of various components. These include the steels that are used in the automotive industry. Another component that is used in the industry is the copper that is used for a number of applications in industries. Some of the other common metals that are used in th e industry are aluminum, zinc, tin, and indium.Alkali metal definition can be taken up from other forms of chemistry. Chemical definition of the alkali metal is composed of sodium, potassium, chlorine, lead, and copper. The chemistry contains other ingredients such as water, oxygen, and a catalyst. This is done by adding the components to the reaction mixture that can result in the formation of different products. A catalytic metal is used in the reaction.This is not the only form of chemical definition but the natural metal definition also exists. This includes the other minerals which are used in the field of nature. These minerals include the molybdenum, aluminium, iron, cobalt, and lead.

Phylum Mollusca

Phylum Mollusca Mollusca is an ancient group of animals which have lived on earth since the last 500 million years . It is the second largest phylum and includes more than 600,000 species. They are soft bodied animals. General characters: 1. Mollusca are essentially aquatic, mostly marine, few fresh water and some terrestrial forms. 2. The body is soft, unsegmented, triploblastic, bilaterally symmetrical, and consist of head, foot, mantle, and visceral mass. 3. The body is clothed with a one layered often ciliated epidermis. 4. Body is commonly protected by an exoskeletal calcareous shell of one or more pieces, secreted by the mantle. 5. Head is distinct, bearing the mouth and provided with eyes, tentacles and other sense organs. 6. Ventral body wall is modified into a muscular flat or plough like surface, the foot which is variously modified for creeping,burrowing and swimming. 7. Mantle is a fold of body wall that leaves between itself and the main bod mass, the mantle cavity. 8. Visceral mass contains the vital organs of the body in a compact form taking the form of a dorsal hump or dome. 9. Body cavity is haemocoel; the true coelom is generally limited to the pericardial cavity and the lumen of the gonads and nephridia. 10. Digestive tract is simple with an anterior mouth and posterior anus. 11. Pharynx contains a rasping organ the radula. 12. Circulatory system is open except in cephalopods which show some tendency towards a closed system. 13. Respiratory system consists of numerous gills or ctenidia usually provided with osphradium at the base. Lung is developed in terrestrial forms. Respiratory pigment is haemocyanine. 14. Excretory system consists of a pair of metanephridia. 16. Sexes are separate but some are hermaphrodite. 17. Fertilization is external or internal. 16. Development is either direct or with metamorphosis.

Where to Find Yoga Classes in London

Where to Find Yoga Classes in London London Yoga Classes Near Me ChaptersWhat Can Yoga Do for You?What Types of Yoga Could you Practice?Where to Find Yoga Classes in LondonWhy Take Private Yoga LessonsWhat is London famous for? What is it not famous for?London is a leading global city for art, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion and finance. In fact, it is the world's largest financial centre.Besides those very necessary institutions of human concern, it is a major tourist destination: people from all over the world come to ride The Eye, gape at The Shard and at Buckingham Palace, and the medieval structures that make up Old Town.Visitors may not feel the pressure of life in The City but residents surely must. How to disconnect from all of the noise and activity?Roll out your yoga mat and assume the Warrior Pose; we're going to discover one of the best-kept secrets in London: the healing practice of yoga!alignment of chakras, or spiritual focal points along the energy channel in our bodies.Breathing techniques, or pranayama, are emphasized in yoga, as the proper flow of life force (prana) is vital to a balanced existence.Who feels like they are constantly off-centre? Who is tired of careening from one calamity to the next?Who would like to get a better night's sleep?We are not exaggerating when we say one of the benefits of yoga is deeper, more restful sleep. Other advantages yogis enjoy include:Improved flexibility: this may seem like a trivial by-product, but you won't think so when your aches and pains lessen!Perfect posture: your primary school teachers were quite right in telling you to stand up straight! Holding good posture not only eliminates several musculoskeletal disorders but gives you a boost in confidence!Better moods: raising your heart rate returns distinct rewards, among them less risk of a heart attack, and less anxiety and depressionImproved health: not only does yoga strengthen bone and muscle tone, but helps combat diabetes and high blood pressure, and boosts your immune system!Higher levels of c oncentration and creativity: if you work in London's entertainment industry or even the financial sector, you may find your yoga-enhanced mental powers a great asset!In fact, the list of how yoga could benefit you is so long, we'll have to stop at these five, so we can tell you where to get your yoga on!But first, we'll discuss various types of yoga, so that you might know which one to practice.Discover also where you can practice yoga in Manchester.What Types of Yoga Could you Practice?The type of yoga that is best for you depends on many factors: your current level of overall fitness, why you seek to practice yoga and what you might hope to get out of becoming a yogi.For example, expectant mothers might seek out prenatal yoga classes, while athletes preparing for competition might enjoy Vinyasa yoga, for its fast pace and constant movement.Conversely, seniors might find their balance in a restorative yoga class â€" known for reducing anxiety or Iyengar, wherein yoga teachers infor m class participants about the benefits of every asana or pose.Many people start out practising yoga with a certain objective in mind, but often come away with many different reasons to embark on this entirely new, healthy lifestyle.Most marvel that, from their first session, they feel more relaxed; in tune with themselves and harmonious with the world around them!What yoga type should you practise to reap these and other rewards?Hatha yoga, called the fundamental yoga: a class will generally call for 20-30 poses, or asanas.Kundalini yoga is a very spiritual experience; nevertheless physically and mentally challenging.These yogis perform kyrias rather than asanas. They are repetitive motions while doing intense breath work.Yin yoga is a meditative practice, especially good if your connective tissues and muscles need more elasticity.Ashtanga yoga is an orderly set of only 6 poses that flow into one another, done repeatedly.Vinyasa yoga is a very challenging type of yoga, great for ru nners and other athletesBikram yoga: 26 poses plus 2 breathing exercises, done in a hot room. A bit challenging for beginnersHot yoga is a tough workout. Unlike Bikram, it is not limited to 26 poses but is practised in a hot environment. Search for hot yoga near me.Power yoga emphasises strength and flexibility. It is somewhat akin to Vinyasa yoga, but more closely related to Ashtanga yoga.Couples' yoga, also called partner's yoga, is a set of poses practised together; a great way to build intimacy!Perhaps one of the best ways to get acquainted with yoga philosophy is through a retreat: a weekend-long getaway in which various aspects of yoga are expounded on, including a healthy diet.Discover what type of yoga people in Leeds like to practice!although not compulsory, many yoga retreats take place near water to harvest its power and energy Source Pixabay Credit: MBattyWhere to Find Yoga Classes in London“People are doing yoga, meditation... all kinds of different things” - Bill A cresIn analysing statistics on religion in London, that scholar postulated that more people are turning away from traditionally western concepts of religion and embracing so-called new age practices.The proliferation of yoga studios across the city seems to underscore his point.Here we offer a selection of some of the best studios to unroll your yoga mat in.Love Yoga, located on Burrell's Wharf Square, might just be the ideal studio to begin your journey to wellness.Their claim to fame is Vinyasa flow; a dynamic class designed to build flexibility and agility, incorporating breathing exercises throughout.In this evening class, you will flow from one pose to the next, leaving after 90 minutes both invigorated in body and calm of mind.Drop-ins only on Monday night; pricing is fair at £11 per session. Or, you could buy a 6 class pass, paying only for 5 classes.While you're there, you might inquire about regular lessons!What really sold us on this particular studio is their 5-week begi nner's class.New To Yoga accommodates only up to 10 students at a time â€" early booking is advised for this most popular class.Rather than teach a particular style of yoga in this introduction, you would be taught the merits each position, the area and aspect of wellness targeted by it, and essential breathing.This class is great if you are an absolute beginner to yoga, or if you've practised yoga in the past but somehow got away from it.The cost for the entire programme is £68, or £65 concession price.How much do people pay for yoga lessons in Birmingham?Yoga with Nita, in the Iyengar Yoga Studio located on Leicester Rd in East Finchley, also offers a course for beginners.Starting from a standing position, you would learn bends, turns and twists, then into postures executed in a sitting position, gradually lowering your body to your yoga mat.The course culminates in a shoulder stand, followed by a period of relaxation.This six-week course costs £10 per session.One aspect of the se and other beginners' course that may be off-putting: your yoga instructor will likely help you position yourself correctly. That means touching you, perhaps in ways, you are not wholly familiar or comfortable with.If that would be an issue for you, you should discuss it with your instructor prior to starting lessons.Besides this beginner's course, Nina teaches restorative yoga, ideal for recovering from injury or if your stress levels are such that help in managing them would be welcome.She also teaches private classes!You could also take private yoga lessons in Cardiff!Health care staff and other shift workers would benefit greatly from private yoga lessons Source: Pixabay Credit: SasintWhy Take Private Yoga LessonsImagine you are a nurse, working all hours of the day and night. Or maybe you work the off-shift in a factory...Such a schedule does not necessarily permit a routine life, let alone regular attendance in a yoga London class.Furthermore, studies have shown that such a timetable actually inhibits wellness, prevents quality sleep and damages health in the long term.One could say that such a situation is tailor-made for the remedies that yoga could provide!In the table below, we will feature an extended selection of studios that offer private yoga lessons, as well as workshops and retreats that you might participate in to get a jump start on your healing.For now, let us talk about a group of dedicated yoga practitioners who are available to you almost any time of the day or night, in your home, in a gym, or online.Yes, it is entirely possible to take yoga lessons by webcam!The cost for a Superprof yoga teacher in London is comparable to what you would pay for a class in a studio, but if you are willing to take lessons via webcam, you could shop around: some of these yogis offer lessons for as low as £20 per session!Do you want to find the best yoga lessons in Glasgow?Most Superprof yoga teachers offer their first lesson for free â€" an enticement y ou won't find in many yoga studios around town.If you were looking for free lessons, you could definitely find some in London. Their downside is that you would be expected to keep up; there is not much-individualised attention given.Bottom line: one size fits all classes would not be suitable for anyone who is disabled, recovering from injury, painfully shy, inexperienced, not of the same median age as the rest of the class...However, you can find a proper fit with your ideal yoga teacher on Superprof.yoga studios in Belfastyoga studios in NewcastleYou could also check out the studios in this table for your best yoga fit.Studio NameTypes of YogaPricesWorkshops? Retreats? Private lessons?AddressBattersea YogaHatha, Restorative, Yin £114/month for 12 months unlimited visits £15 for drop-insyes yes no2 Kite Yard Cambridge Rd SW11 4TAEast of EdenVinyasa flow, Pilates £135/calendar month £18 drop-in £95 personal lesson yoga/Pilatesyes no yes14 - 16 Betterton Street WC2H 9BUTriyogaAsht anga, Yin, Restorative, Hot yoga, Vinyasa flowIntroductory offer £54 for 30 daysyes no noChelsea 372 king’s road, london, sw3 5uzYoga on the LaneSlow flow, flow and restore, prenatal, PilatesUnlimited yoga £105/m Drop-in: £12yes no yes105 Shacklewell Lane, E8 2EBYou can now go on to find the best yoga classes in the country.Namaste!

Addictive Habits to Avoid If Youre Stressed at Work - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Addictive Habits to Avoid If Youre Stressed at Work - Introvert Whisperer Addictive Habits to Avoid If Youre Stressed at Work Many introverts struggle with how to deal with excessive workplace stress. Events like staff meetings, work parties, or retreats can leave you dreading work way more than your extroverted colleagues. Add in normal stressors like inadequate staffing, lack of time to complete work, and tense coworker relationships, and you can find yourself feeling downright frazzled.     All of this tension can cause you to turn to habits that you know aren’t good for your overall well-being. Here are three habits you should avoid and ways to counteract the urge when things get stressful at work: Heading to a Smoke Break It’s no secret that smoking causes negative effects on the body. Tobacco, nicotine, and other chemicals like tar and acetone in cigarettes can cause long-term lung problems such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchitis. But did you know that smoking can damage more than just your lungs?     Smoking increases your risk of other serious health conditions such as heart disease, erectile dysfunction, and infertility. It has also been proven to increase the risk of some cancers of the blood. Smoking even a few cigarettes each day can cause dependency, which makes it harder to quit. Many people turn to cigarettes to help them cope with negative emotions like stress and anxiety.   Pouring a Cold One Opening a beer or pouring a glass of wine after a long, stressful day at the office is a common practice in many homes across the nation. Having a limited amount of alcohol can help you relax, but when drinking becomes excessive, there can be many adverse consequences. For men, five or more drinks at one time are considered a binge, but drinking 15 or more drinks in a week is known as heavy drinking. Since women’s bodies are a bit different, it only takes four or more drinks to be considered binge drinking and just eight or more in a week constitute heavy drinking.   Too much alcohol can increase your risk of long-term health effects such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and liver disease. Many people think that having a binge from time to time isn’t as dangerous as heavy drinking. However, even occasional binge drinking can lead to liver disease, alcohol poisoning, and unintentional accidents. Dozens of people die each year because of crashes that involved a driver impaired by too much alcohol. Turning to drink as a way to cope with stressors at work can leave you with dangerous side-effects that can damage your health, relationships, and even your ability to hold down a job.   Making Poor Food Choices Sometimes a greasy hamburger just sounds good, especially when you’re stressed. During the day, you might tell yourself that you deserve a candy bar or chips from the snack machine to deal with workplace tensions. While treating yourself from time to time is okay, you may start to suffer consequences if poor food choices become the norm.       It’s critical to know that eating poorly deprives your body of nutrients and vitamins it needs to be healthy and work properly. The consequences of poor eating habits include damaged hair, dental problems, change in your bowel habits, and feeling tired all or most of the time. Of course, too much food or making excessively poor choices combined with no exercise can also lead to weight problems, including obesity.   Try This Instead Workplace stress can be challenging. Many introverts keep to themselves, which can be useful for things like steering clear of workplace drama. However, when it comes to coping with stress, it can leave you feeling alone and struggling to find healthy habits. Here are three healthy habits you can try the next time you’re tempted to reach for a cigarette, alcohol, or bad food choices: Rest Up Dealing with workplace stress can make it difficult to rest at night. Some experts feel that there is a connection between insomnia and increased levels of stress. If you’re looking for healthy ways to combat workplace tensions, try going to bed at the same time every night. Spend a little “winding down” in which you stop all work, phone calls, or other stressful activities. If you have trouble falling asleep, try playing relaxing music or diffusing essential oils that can help you relax. Manage Anxiety If you live with overwhelming feelings of anxiety at work, it might be easy to turn unhealthy lifestyle choices. Controlling stress can be done by creating healthy habits that give your body time to rest and restore after stressful situations. Try a few strategies for managing anxiety like eating well, practicing yoga, or making an appointment with a mental health professional.   Give Your Time Feeling stressed out can cause you to forget about the most important things in life. Reconnect with family and friends and ask them to volunteer with you at a local homeless shelter or charity event. Reminding yourself of all the good things you have in life can help ease the tension and put things back into perspective. If you’re looking for a place to volunteer your time, look for events or organizations close to you.   Kicking Bad Habits High-stress levels can make bad habits look good. Don’t beat yourself up over a few bad choices that happened after workplace stress. Come up with a plan to change your bad habits to get yourself back on track and then use these three strategies to kick your addictive habits to the curb. By: Frankie Wallace Frankie Wallace  is a blogger from Boise, Idaho and a recent graduate from the University of Montana. Wallace contributes to a variety of different blogs online and focuses on writing about career advice. Image Source: Unsplash Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.   Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Should I Graduate College Early

Should I Graduate College Early The decision to graduate early from college can be a pivotal one in your young adult life. There are many factors to consider before you can fully understand if this plan is the right fit for you. When asking yourself if you should graduate college early, examine if your college experience will still feel complete, if you will be prepared for the next steps, and if you are doing it for the right reasons. When deciding if you should graduate college early, its important to be honest with yourself on how the pros and cons will impact you. Keep reading to learn if you should graduate college early. Graduate college early if youre certain your college experience will still feel complete Yes, college is primarily about academic growth and earning your degree. But its also about more than that. The college experience is about learning to be independent and about finding your niche. Its important to take this time to explore any interests you may have and to learn where you may see yourself in five years or so. If you feel that you can gain this knowledge in three yearsgo for it. Graduate college early. This is a very personal decision; just because it takes someone else four or five years to get the full experience doesnt mean it will take you that long. Set aside some time to reflect on what you want to get out of your college experience, and then determine what timeframe will fit you best. [RELATED: 5 Myths About the Last Year of College] Graduate college early if you feel prepared for whats next A significant advantage to the time you spend in college is that its the perfect time to get experience in your desired field. You have resources and a network of professional connections right at your fingertips. While in college, its key to utilize these as best you cancomplete internships, develop engaging senior projects and portfolios, and build your network of connections. There will hardly be another time in your life when you have so many opportunities in a variety of fields and interests right in front of you. If you are planning on graduating after the fall semester as opposed to the spring, you could take advantage of the opportunity to interview for jobs in the off-season. Typically, the rush of new candidates comes in the spring; therefore, you may have a higher chance of getting the job you want if you have the ability to interview before the busy season arrives. If you feel you can take full advantage of all of these opportunities in three yearsgreat! On the other hand, if you are planning on going to graduate school once you finish your undergraduate degree, graduating early could be a good option as well. Its important to examine all requirements for whatever program or school you are interested in, to make sure you can meet them in three years. In order to be admitted, some may require that: Certain work requirements be met A specified number of internship hours be completed You maintain a particular GPA Dont rush through three years just to end up with a lower GPA than desired and less experience than required. If you can finish your undergraduate degree in three years and feel prepared to apply for graduate school, then graduating early may be right for you. [RELATED: A Guide to Weighted vs. Unweighted GPAs] Graduate college early if you transferred many credits from high school Oftentimes, high school students are able to take dual-credit courseshigh school classes that allow them to gain college credits. Some students are even able to start college with enough credits to technically make them sophomores or second-semester freshmen. What this means is that students who enter college with a substantial number of credits may be more likely to have the opportunity to graduate in three years, without the stress of fitting four years of classes into three. However, if you enter college in this situation, you may want to explore the option of double-majoring. This will depend on your interests and future career path, of course, but you may be able to double major without too much excess stress in the typical four years. Make sure to examine these options closely and to figure out what works best for you. Dont graduate college early if youre afraid of missing out on experiences As previously stated, your time in college is about more than just academics. If there are certain things you hope to experience or achieve before you walk across that stage, graduating early might not be the right fit for you. Examine what you hope to get out of college, and be honest with yourself on what you dont want to miss out on. If there is a dream internship you have always had your sights on, make every attempt to land it. If not graduating early is what will allow you to have a fulfilled experience, there is nothing wrong with that decision. Dont graduate college early if it causes you to feel overwhelmed Sometimes, fitting four years of schooling into three years can be overwhelmingespecially if you didnt transfer many credits from high school. If you are dedicated to graduating early, make a plan early on of how you can fit all your requirements into the timeframe you desire. Even then, though, things can quickly become overwhelming. You may have to take more classes per summer than you feel comfortable with, and not allowing yourself any breaks can have a negative impact elsewhere in your life. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, its not too late to add an extra semester and spread things out a bit. Know yourself, and be honest if your school work becomes too much. [RELATED: Stress Management Tips for Busy Students] Dont graduate college early due to impatience Most importantly, dont decide to graduate college early because you are ready to start adult life. College is a great time to try as many new experiences as possiblefrom studying abroad with your classmates, to playing an intramural sport you never thought you would like. You have the flexibility to pursue as many new interests as youd like and really learn where your place in the workforce will be. If you feel graduating college early is the right decision for you as an individual, then dont let anything stop you. Educate yourself on the pros and cons, and be honest about what you want to get out of college. If you do these things, the right decision will be easy to make. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Is Your 9-to-5 Draining Your Creativity

Is Your 9-to-5 Draining Your Creativity Suzy S. OK Go  is known for their creative music videos, and their most recent release is definitely on par.   After all, why stand on stage playing instruments (yawn!), when you can use a car with retractable arms to play the instruments for you?   These guys are either insane or genius decide for yourself.   (Click here to watch the video for Needing/Getting!) Musicians are usually creative by nature.   But sometimes especially if music is something you do in your spare time, instead of as your career it can be all too easy to get caught up with the routine of life.   Maybe you have to stay late at work, and the last thing you want to do is practice scales and etudes when you get home.   Maybe your goal is to write a song, but the lyrics just arent coming to you.   Maybe youve practiced your heart out, but the idea of performing in front of people makes you break out in hives.   But why give up on something you were once so passionate about? Being creative is something that needs to be exercised, just like a baseball player exercises certain muscles.   So if the daily grind is starting to get to you, its time to take action.   Shake up your routine and jump-start your creative mind.   Even if the initial activity doesnt involve music, it may awaken parts of your brain that will help you in music later on.   Need some ideas?   Here are 10 ways to rejuvenate your creativity, courtesy of Lifehack.com: 1. Surround yourself with creative people. Hang out with writers, musicians, poets and artists. Often, just being in a creative environment will inspire you and refresh your creative mind. 2. Start somewhere. Whether it’s creative writing in Word or sheet music, the brain will eventually loosen up and it will be easier to break through the barrier and come up with ideas. 3. Expose yourself. Expose yourself to new art â€" books, music, paintings â€" all the time. If you’re a rocker, listen to funk. If you’re a crime writer, read fantasy. If you’re a productivity writer, read something about slacking off. 4. Do something new. Play chess. Read a book if you usually watch television and watch television if you read. Go outside. Sing in the shower. 5. Meet new people from different walks of life. Gain insight into their perspectives on life. Strike up a conversation on the bus. 6. Shut out the world. Instead of sucking in new information, sit quietly, go to sleep or meditate. Stop thinking and clear your mind so that the clutter doesn’t get in the way of your thoughts. 7. Don’t be a workaholic â€" take breaks. Your mind needs a chance to wind down so it doesn’t overheat and crash. 8. Experiment randomly. What does a flanger sound like on a vocal track? Like Lenny Kravitz, of course. 9. Exercise every day, before you sit down to be creative. If you exercise afterward, you’ll get the creative burst â€" just too late. 10. Spend time with your children. Or someone else’s. What other ideas have you tried when you feel your creativity dragging?   Share your thoughts below! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. Photo by:  flattop341

SIX TIPS TO MAKE COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE!

SIX TIPS TO MAKE COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE! For many students and their parents, the arrival of a college acceptance letter is a time to celebrate the years of hard work that it took to prepare for higher education - and a cause for concern over how much it's going to cost. Year after year, at most colleges and universities across the nation, expenses for tuition, fees, books and lodging have increased, and according to most experts that trend will continue. Fortunately, the total amount of student aid available, including grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs and other sources has also increased, making college more affordable than many students and families realize. Here are some tips for tracking down the support that will put your child's dreams within reach. Step One: Talk with school counselors. Advising students on financial aid options is one of the most important roles of school counselors. They should know about the different types of aid available and guide you and your child through the application process, which can be daunting. Counselors can also provide information on grants and loans from your state government, and those offered by the colleges and universities you're considering. Step Two: Make sure your child is eligible for most types of available aid. To qualify for financial aid, your child must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen. If your son would like to receive federal aid, he'll need to register with the U.S. Selective Service when he turns 18 (Selective Service registration is in fact required for all men aged 18 to 25). All students must also graduate from high school or earn a GED before receiving aid. Step Three: Order the FAFSA. Most of the available aid comes from the federal government, and to acce ss it you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You'll use the information from your tax returns to complete the FAFSA, which you can submit by mail or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA site is a good source of information about all of the federal aid available, and it includes a link to the financial aid offices for most states as well. Step Four: Understand the full range of federal aid options available. Grant options include The Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, which are offered to students from families in the lowest income brackets. Loan options include the Federal Stafford Loan, which has a variable interest rate, and the Federal Perkins Loan, which has the lowest fixed rate of any federal student loans. You can also consider Federal Work-Study programs, which provide jobs that pay minimum wage or above. If you show significant financial need, your child might also qualify for a Subsidized Stafford Loan, which does not start accruing interest until after you graduate from college, saving you a considerable sum. If you don't show enough need, your child may be eligible for an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, which isn't based on need. Unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest as soon as the money is disbursed, which means the debt will grow while your child attends college, although interest rates on student loans are generally very low. You can learn more about Stafford Loans at www.staffordloan.com, and about many more loan and grant options at the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Web site, located at: studentaid.ed.gov. Step Five: Pursue the full range of available scholarships. Many scholarships are available to students interested in a particular field of study, which makes them perfect for students who already have careers in mind. Having an athletic or artistic talent can also open the door to scholarships for students who earn special recognition for thos e talents. Awards are also available for those in underrepresented groups, such as Hispanic and African-American students, and those who will be the first in their family to attend college. Many scholarships are based on academic merit, but others - from businesses, civic and religious groups and corporate and financial organizations - are awarded based on family income or demographic factors. Creating a checklist of your child's talents, interests, and demographic factors will help you both hone in on the various angles you can pursue. Step Six: Remember the value of high achievement. Many loans and grants are increasingly based more on academic merit than financial need. This is one more reason your child should develop good study skills and get extra help to address any issues that are impacting grades. It's also important to raise the bar as high as possible by taking Advanced Placement, honors or other advanced courses. Good performance in these courses is especially crucial i f your child is hoping to receive aid from colleges and universities because it shows decision-makers that he or she is well-qualified for college-level work - and well positioned to ensure the institution's financial investment pays off.