If you’re reading this, you’re probably seriously considering getting a college degree because of how it can benefit you in the long run. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher have 3% lower unemployment rates and 40% higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma. The job market is also getting more competitive: According to the US Census Bureau the percentage of Americans over 25 years old with a bachelor’s degree or higher rose from 29.9% to 36.0%.

But because of academic, financial, familial, or other reasons, maybe you don’t feel ready to go to a four-year university just yet. In these instances, it might be a good idea to study 2 years at community college then transfer to a four-year school later. In this article, we’re going to examine all the ins and outs of transferring from community college to university, including: 

• The benefits of transferring from community college to university
• When you should transfer community college credits to university 
• How to go about transferring from community college to university
• How to decide which university would be best for your needs

There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

It’s the roadmap to your essay, it’s the forecast for your argument, it’s...your introduction paragraph, and writing one can feel pretty intimidating. The introduction paragraph is a part of just about every kind of academic writing, from persuasive essays to research papers. But that doesn’t mean writing one is easy!

If trying to write an intro paragraph makes you feel like a Muggle trying to do magic, trust us: you aren’t alone. But there are some tips and tricks that can make the process easier—and that’s where we come in.

In this article, we’re going to explain how to write a captivating intro paragraph by covering the following info: 

• A discussion of what an introduction paragraph is and its purpose in an essay
• An overview of the most effective introduction paragraph format, with explanations of the three main parts of an intro paragraph
• An analysis of real intro paragraph examples, with a discussion of what works and what doesn’t
• A list of four top tips on how to write an introduction paragraph

Are you ready? Let’s begin!

Community college can be a great option for many students who are ready to step into higher education but aren’t ready to go to a four-year university for financial, academic, or a host of other reasons. 

But how do you know if going to a community college first is right for you? In this article, we’re going to give you an honest assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of going to community college before pursuing a four-year degree. So if you’re asking yourself, “Should I go to community college first? Is it bad to go to community college then transfer?” this article will help you out! We’ll cover the following in this article: 

• What a community college is
• Reasons for going to community college first, then university
• Reasons to go to vocational school first
• Reasons to start at a four-year college
• A visual comparison of community college vs vocational school vs 4-year college

Let’s get started!

Last names, also known as surnames, can tell us a lot about our family history and cultural identity. Our surnames can help us trace our family trees, but they can also tell us about the history of how people traveled across the world, built their communities, and contributed to society. 

It turns out that there’s actually a lot to know about last names...including why some last names are more popular than others. (There’s more to it than you might think!) We’ll go over: 

• The history of how last names came to be
• Why some last names are more common than others 
• The most common last names in the U.S. 
• The most common names in the world 

There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

If you're planning to take the AP Language (or AP Lang) exam, you might already know that 55% of your overall exam score will be based on three essays. The first of the three essays you'll have to write on the AP Language exam is called the "synthesis essay." If you want to earn full points on this portion of the AP Lang Exam, you need to know what a synthesis essay is and what skills are assessed by the AP Lang synthesis essay.

In this article, we'll explain the different aspects of the AP Lang synthesis essay, including what skills you need to demonstrate in your synthesis essay response in order to achieve a good score. We'll also give you a full breakdown of a real AP Lang Synthesis Essay prompt, provide an analysis of an AP Lang synthesis essay example, and give you four tips for how to write a synthesis essay.

Let's get started by taking a closer look at how the AP Lang synthesis essay works!

One great thing about the AP Physics 1 exam is that exam takers have access to a table of equations and formulas to reference during the exam (which is often referred to as the "AP Physics 1 equation sheet").

But the AP Physics 1 reference tables include a lot of information! If you aren't already familiar with the formula sheet before you take the exam, you might end up wasting valuable time trying to navigate the different equations and remember when and how to use them.

To help you out, we've developed a PrepScholar Physics 1 equation sheet. This sheet contains all the equations you'll see on the actual AP Physics 1 equation sheet plus additional explanations to help you use it as a study tool.

In the rest of this article, we're going to give you a detailed explanation of each table of information supplied on the AP Physics 1 equation sheet and explain how it can be used on the exam. We'll also give you three tips for using the formula sheet on the exam, and three tips for using the formula sheet to study for the exam.

Electrical energy is an important concept that helps run the world as we know it. In the U.S. alone, the average family uses 10,649 kilowatthours (kWh) per year, which is enough electrical energy to brew over 120,000 pots of coffee!

But understanding what electrical energy is and how it works can be tricky. That’s why we’ve put together this article to help enlighten you! (Pardon our dad joke.)

Keep reading to learn all about electrical energy, including:

• The definition of electrical energy
• How electrical energy works
• If electrical energy is potential or kinetic
• Electrical energy examples

 By the time you’re finished with this article, you’ll know the essentials of electrical energy and be able to see its influence all around you.

We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s dive in!

Robert Frost is arguably one of the most well-known American poets of all time, so it’s not surprising that his work is taught in high schools and colleges across the nation. Because he’s so famous, chances are you’ve encountered “The Road Not Taken” before.

We’re here to help you build a deeper understanding of “The Road Not Taken.” To help you learn what Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” poem is all about, we’ll cover the following in this article:

• A brief intro to the poet, Robert Frost
• Information about the poem’s background
• “The Road Not Taken” meaning
• “The Road Not Taken” analysis, including the top two themes in the poem
• The poetic devices in “The Road Not Taken” that you need to know

There’s a lot to talk about, so let’s get going!

Maya Angelou is one of the most important literary figures in twentieth century American history. Her poetry is often included on reading lists for high school English courses, and it may even make an appearance on the AP Literature exam.

In this article, we’ll give you a full introduction to Angelou and her engaging poetry so that you’ll be equipped to analyze it all on your own. To do this, we’re going to guide you through a close analysis of one of Angelou’s most famous poems, “Still I Rise.”

To help you learn what Angelou’s “Still I Rise” poem is all about, we’ll cover the following in this article: 

• A brief intro to the poet, Maya Angelou
• “Still I Rise” poem background
• The overarching meaning of “Still I Rise”
• The top three themes in the poem
• The top two poetic devices in the poem

Are you ready to dive in? Then let’s go!

Driven, excelling, adaptable. If these words describe you, then there’s a chance you might be an Enneagram Type 3. 

Enneagram Type 3s are known as achievers. They’re the success-oriented trailblazers of the Enneagram—the folks you’ll find out there getting things done (and doing them well). 

If you want to learn more about what makes Threes tick, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll go over:

• How to tell if you’re an Enneagram 3 (plus a quick quiz!) 
• The top five things to know about being an Enneagram 3
• What Enneagram Type 3 relationships are like  
• The best Enneagram Type 3 careers 
• The Enneagram Type 3 wings (Enneagram Type 3 wing 2 and Enneagram Type 3 wing 4)

Are you ready to learn about Enneagram 3? Then let’s begin!

If you don't have a high school diploma, you can still earn an equivalent credential by getting your General Education Diploma, or GED. Having a GED can open up many more opportunities for you, especially since most U.S. employers require employees to have a high school diploma or an equivalency.

If you don't have a high school diploma, you're a great candidate for taking the GED test and earning your GED. The exam is designed to determine whether you have the academic skills equivalent to those of a high school senior, so you'll be tested in four subject areas: math, language arts, social studies, and science.

That's a lot of information to know, which is why one of the best ways to study for the GED is by using a GED book. GED study books are designed to help you learn all the material you'll be tested on when you actually take the test.

In this article, we'll walk you through the best GED books on the market so you can choose the one that's right for you. Then we'll give you our top six study tips to help you ace your exam.

Let's get started!

Taking the AP Calc BC exam can feel like a lot of pressure: you want to earn college credit for your AP class, but the test is pretty tough! 

But there are a few things you can do to make the AP Calculus BC exam a little easier, like understanding the exam's format, the topics it covers, and how it's scored. Knowing what to expect before you take the AP Calc BC exam can help you earn a higher score!

To give you all the inside information you need about the AP Calculus BC Exam, we’ll explain the following in this article:

• What the AP Calculus BC Exam is, including who should take it
• The AP Calculus BC Exam format and topics
• How the exam is scored
• 5 tips for scoring well on the exam

The regularly scheduled date for the AP Calc BC exam is May 5th at 8:00 a.m., so you'll want to start preparing as early as possible. (Good thing this article has you covered, huh?) 

So let’s get started!

Since the AP Physics 2 exam is notoriously difficult, it should be comforting to know that your exam booklet will include a reference sheet that lists many of the conversion factors, formulas, and equations you’ll need to use during the exam. There’s a lot of information on the three page equations sheet provided on the AP Physics C exams, though, so it’s important to be familiar with the info included on the sheet and how to use it to your advantage during the AP test. 

That’s why we’ve developed the PrepScholar AP Physics 2 equation sheet. Our sheet contains all the formulas and information you’ll see on the official College Board Physics 2 equation sheet, plus explanations of the equations so you’ll know when to use them. This sheet is designed to be a study tool for you as you prepare for your AP Physics C exam.

In this article, we’ll help you gain a full understanding of what the AP Physics 2 equation sheet is, what formulas it includes, and how to use them on the AP exam. We’ll also give you 3 practical tips for using the AP Physics 2 formula sheet as a study guide, and a list of tips for using the equations sheet effectively on exam day.

Let’s dive in!

In your science class, you may have heard of chemical and physical changes. But do you know how to tell the difference between the two? The answer lies in whether or not a change to a substance results in its molecules being rearranged.

In this article, we will define chemical and physical and changes. Then we'll take a look at specific chemical change examples and physical change examples to better understand their differences and similarities.

So let's get started!

Are you loyal, trustworthy, and responsible...kind of like a modern-day Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings? Would your closest friends describe you somebody that everyone can count on to get the job done?

If you’re thinking, “Yep, I’d totally be the one to get the Ring to Mordor,” then there’s a chance you might be an Enneagram Type 6! Like Frodo, Sixes are loyal to their convictions and their people, which is why they’re known as “the Loyalist.”

There’s a lot more to being a Six than just loyalty, though. We’ve written this article to help you gain a deeper understanding of the Enneagram 6 personality type. We’ll cover:

• How to tell if you’re an Enneagram 6 (five question quiz included!) 
• The top five things you should know about being an Enneagram 6
• What Enneagram Type 6 romantic relationships are like  
• The best Enneagram Type 6 careers 
• The Enneagram Type 6 wings (Enneagram Type 6 wing 5 and Enneagram Type 6 wing 7)

Are you ready to learn all about The Loyalists? Then keep reading!