Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Look for schools with quality reputations. Factor in the amount of flexibility you need. Compare costs of attendance. Look for programs that let your transfer credits in or out.

Answer: Especially with the explosion in online universities, your options in choosing a bachelor’s program can seem endless. Don’t assume, however, that all bachelor’s degrees—whether earned on campus, online, or in hybrid form—are created equal.  Check well-known college rankings publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, for evaluations on institution’s that you’re considering. Talk to your employer, guidance counselor, or teachers about the general reputations of college programs in your area. In the case of online degrees offered by campus-based universities, look for online degrees that are conferred with equal status to on-campus ones. In the U.S., this is the case with Penn State University’s highly-ranked “World Campus,” for example. Under ideal circumstances, a bachelor’s degree is intended to take 4 years of full-time study to earn. However, in the real world, the average bachelor’s degree in the U.S. takes more than 5 years to complete. If you work, have kids, or have other commitments, prioritize flexibility in your program choice.  Online institutions can obviously provide a lot of flexibility, but many community colleges and larger colleges and universities offer part-time and hybrid online/on campus programs. Note that certain areas of study offer less flexibility and are available only at traditional campuses. The cost of earning a college degree, especially in the U.S., continues to increase rapidly—the median cost is now roughly $11,000 USD per year. These costs can be several times higher at elite universities, or substantially lower at community colleges or online institutions.  The quality of your education and the reputation of your institution are important factors, but putting yourself into heavy debt to earn a degree from a “name-brand” school may not necessarily be worth the investment. Leave no stone unturned when looking for financial aid options. You can get scholarships and grants from both federal and private agencies. Your school may also offer both need- and merit-based aid. There is money out there, but you have to put in the effort to get it! If you’ve attended college previously but didn’t earn a bachelor’s degree, ask about the credit transfer policies at any institutions you’re considering. The more credits you can transfer over, the further ahead you’ll be in completing your bachelor’s degree.  Also, if you know you’ll be moving on to a master’s or similar advanced degree program, see if it’s possible for you to take coursework that can transfer into the program. If you’re still in high school, find out if you can take classes that will earn you college credits. It never hurts to get a head start!


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Get one at the right age. Check the puppy’s cleanliness. Examine the coat. Check for a strong body. Examine the stool. Watch his energy level. Ask for past vet records. Ask about socialization.

Answer: In general, puppies should be kept with their mothers for at least the first 8 weeks of their lives. If the dog breed is small, such as a Yorkshire terrier, it is better for a puppy to live with its littermates or parents for the first 12 weeks so it can mature enough to live with other people and animals. If you find a breeder who is selling puppies younger than 8 weeks old, ask the breeder why, since it is too young. As you are looking for a puppy, you should look at how clean the puppy is. This is a good indicator of the puppy's health. When you meet a new puppy, look for clean:  Ears. Puppy ears that are dirty may cause ear infections or indicate ear mites. Avoid puppies with ear redness or foul odors. Nose. There should be no discharge from the nose and the puppy should not sneeze profusely or cough. Don’t think discharge is just saliva, because the nose may be wet from licking. Eyes. There should be no discharge around the puppy’s eyes. They should be bright and alert. When you are getting a new puppy, its fur should be fresh and clean. It should also be shiny and full. Avoid dogs with bald patches or skin issues. It may be a bit dusty or slightly dirty if the puppy is playing outside with other animals, but it should clean up easily. When you play with the puppy, part its fur and look at the skin. It should also be clean and smooth. Make sure there are no fleas and the puppy doesn’t scratch itself. When you pick up the puppy, check the muscle definition of the legs and arms. All puppy bodies should be strong even if the dog is a tiny breed. Make sure it isn’t thin with a protruding belly. This can be a sign of an untreated worm infestation or a serious health issues, such as a heart problem. If you have a chance, examine what the puppy’s stool looks like. It should be firm. Loose stools or a messy bottom may indicate diarrhea, which is a sign of larger health issues. You should also check where the other puppies in the litter go to the bathroom to make sure none of the other puppies are sick either. Also watch to see if the puppy licks its genital region a lot. This may be a sign of a urinary tract infection. In addition to the physical symptoms, you should evaluate the overall energy level of the puppy. Watch his interaction with other puppies and see how he interacts with you. It may take a little time for the puppy to warm up to you and your family, but it eventually will. Sit with it and make time to play with it when you visit. Puppies who are healthy are curious and want to play if they are awake. If at all possible, ask the shelter or breeder to see the past vet records for your puppy. This will ensure that she has been vaccinated and will let you know if the puppy has been fixed or not. If the breeder or seller won’t or can’t give you past vet records, seriously rethink getting that puppy. This is a warning sign that something could be wrong. Your puppy's health includes his mental health, and that means it should be properly socialized. Ask about what contact the puppy has had with other people and where the puppies are kept (home environment rather than an outside run). A puppy that is poorly socialized may have major behavioral problems down the road.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Familiarize yourself with the different types of risk. Understand systematic risk. Learn about non-systematic risk. Know the difference between asset classes. Understand asset-based financial risk.

Answer:
Most financial risk can be categorized as either systematic or non-systematic. Systematic risk affects an entire economy and all of the businesses within it; an example of systematic risk would be losses due to a recession. Non-systematic risks are those that vary between companies or industries. These risks can be minimized through careful planning.  Interest rates, wars, and economic recession may factor into systematic risk. Systematic risk can be buffered by  hedging. Non-systematic risk is also known as "unique risk" because it applies to one company. In general, the more risk you take on as a part of your financial investments, the more profit you stand to gain. Because you can't predict when these gains will occur, however, careful planning is required to know how much risk you can afford. There are several types of systematic risk, but the primary quality of systematic risk to consider is that diversifying your portfolio will have limited effect on systematic risk. This manner of risk is also known as "market risk" or "undiversifiable risk" due to its pervasiveness throughout the economic market.  Interest risk is the risk that changing interest rates will make your current investment's rate look unfavorable. Inflation risk is the risk that inflation will increase, making your current investment's return smaller in relation. Liquidity risk is associated with "tying up" your money in long-term assets that cannot be sold easily. Non-systematic risk refers to the hazards of investment within a given company or business. Some examples of non-systematic risk include product recall, management change, the growth of a new competitor or regulatory change. These are risks that can be managed by minimizing your exposure to any given business or business sector, because any loss will be contained.  Two examples of non-systematic risk categories include management risk and credit risk. Management risk is the possibility that bad management decisions will hurt a company in which you're invested. Credit risk is the chance that a debt instrument issuer (such as a bond issuer) will default on their repayments to you. Keeping different kinds of stocks from a variety of companies helps to defray the risks associated with non-systematic risk. Most financial assets can be categorized as stocks, bonds, real estate or cash. Each category comes with its own benefits and limitations.  Cash is the simplest asset, and its main risk is the rate of inflation. Bonds are relatively secure, but they are subject to interest rate as well as liquidity risks (systematic risk), meaning you may not be able to convert them to cash when you need to. Stocks are the most risky investment for a short time period — the fluctuation of the market is a considerable systematic risk — but they often provide a steady income over the long term. Real estate values are relatively stable, though may increase or decrease over time. You may not be able to sell as swiftly as you'd like — real estate is generally considered not to e liquid. Different kinds of risks apply to different asset classes. For example, in a home loan, the bank is essentially issuing a bond to the mortgage holder in the form of a loan. The bank's profit comes from the interest rate applied to the mortgage. If the mortgage is paid off early, the bank loses the expected income.  Interest risk rates can change over time, resulting in interest rate risk. If you have a variable interest rate on a loan, you take on the risk that an increased interest rate will change your prospective purchase price. Market risk is the chance that an asset will lose value over time. Liquidity risk is the risk that an asset or security won't be able to be converted into cash within a necessary time frame.