Scholarships are financial assistance schemes offered to deserving students for the purpose of subsidizing their pursuit of a collegiate education. In today's educational scenario, the scholarships offered by individuals and organizations amount to billions of dollars and make it possible for intelligent students who may not possess the financial capabilities to receive a quality education. There are several types of scholarships available and some amount of research is necessary on the part of the students to understand what kind of a scholarship he/she would be eligible for. Student need-based scholarships are offered after careful consideration of a student's current financial status and ability to afford a college education. Such scholarships are commonly offered into the socially and economically underprivileged and also to members from under-recognized or marginalized communities. Merit-based scholarships are offered in recognition of a student's consistently high academic performance in high schools or on account of the student's achievement in athletics, music, dance, art or other similar extra-curricular activities. There are yet other scholarships that are offered to students who wish to pursue a specific field of study or research. Usually, such scholarships are supported by the relevant industry such as bio-medical research or soil chemistry, nursing and so on. In some colleges, the college itself may offer a scholarship to very competent students who qualify for the scholarship after an elaborate process of multi-pronged assessments. Obviously, students who wish to study only at a specific college of their choice, are the likely recipients of such scholarships. Bond scholarships is yet another popular kind of scholarship, where some institutes while offering the student a scholarship also require a commitment that the student will work with them for a stipulated time frame. Scholarships offered for students who wish to study medicine and then practice in rural areas and similar programs offered by the armed forces are examples. Another commonly used entry point by students for consideration for scholarships is athletic proficiency. Such scholarships are offered to exceptional athletes and sportspersons so that as they continue their education in the institute, they also play on the college team in league games of the respective sports. However, opinion on such scholarships is divided, for there are many who feel that offering such scholarships on the basis of merely athletic excellence may dilute the academic standards of an institute. Even within these broad classifications of scholarships, there are specific criteria set by each institute which the applicant has to meet in order to be considered eligible to receive the scholarship.

When considering Chevy Traverse lease deals, it is nice to know the features of the generation of cars a particular model belongs to. The first generation of Chevy Traverse falls in the years 2009 to 2017. Beginning with the year 2010, the early 2010 update on the LT models had the Chevy Traverse lose its Traverse badge from the front doors. Further, the General Motors logos too were removed from the front doors of the vehicle in the beginning 2010 models. In the year 2013, the vehicle under went a face lift that was unveiled during the 2012 New York Auto Show. With a front fascia, new grill, reworked Camaro-inspired tail lights, redesigned rear lift gate and improved transmission to up scale the timing and shift quality, the 2013 Chevy Traverse received a great face lift that was considered to be a top design during its time. On March 28, 2012, General Motors released pictures of Chevrolet’s new color touch-screen. Also, show cased were the standard My Link and a wood interior trim. Leather and cloth seating surfaces were also made available depending on the chosen model. The cloth covers are a standard feature on the LS and 1LT models, while the leather upholstery is standard on the LTZ, both of which are available on the 2LT model. Ranging from the base LS to the top-of-the-line LTZ models, front wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions are available along with some new wheels. The 2LT and LTZ models come with a standard Bose audio system while the base price of the 2013 Traverse LS stands at $30,510. These became popular when mentioning Chevy Traverse lease deals. In the year 2014, not too many cosmetic changes were made in the model. The notable changes included the addition of lane departure warning and forward collision alert by Chevrolet. The dual charge capable USB port was shifted to the rear of the center console as an update of the audio system. No notable changes were marked in the year 2015 model. The 2016 Traverse model received minor changes like the reduction in the trim level.

Choosing the right countertop for your kitchen needs to pass through several filters aesthetics, budget, ease of installation being some of them. Before you decide upon the right work surface in your kitchen, it is important that you understand the advantages and disadvantages that each material presents. Wood this classic countertop material presents several advantages: All-natural, beautiful and classy, durable and easy to maintain. However, it can get quite pricey! Good wood doesn't come cheap, and might not suit everyone's budget. Stone Stone surfaces are top choices for kitchen surfaces and are almost unmatched in their beauty and elegance. Several options exist granite, marble or soapstone. Their good looks and durability come at a considerable price but add to the overall value of your home. However, stone surfaces often are porous, and when not sealed properly, are likely to stain. Marble countertops are especially vulnerable to stains. Tile Ceramic tiles are vastly cheaper than other natural options, and come in a variety of colors and designs. You could even lay them yourself if you are confident about it. Tiles are durable and heat-resistant, but the gaps between the tiles are going to invariably present a problem, especially on a countertop. This is not impossible to manage, really, especially when you consider the price difference. Engineered stone These present all the advantages of stone great looks and strength while avoiding many of the disadvantages, such as porosity. While not as pricey as some of the high-end natural stones, engineered stones are not exactly cheap. Synthetic material laminate and solid-surface countertops are quite popular as well, and the best thing about them is that they are budget-friendly. While not exactly as strong as natural material Solid surfaces present better durability than laminates and are easy to maintain. However, their main disadvantage is that they are, well, synthetic, and can end up looking a bit plasticky. Metal steel, aluminum and copper countertops are a dream, and present unmatched strength and durability, which is why they are a standard feature in professional kitchens. On the flip side, metal requires maintenance, as corrosion and tarnishing is a problem. Moreover, they are almost always, very, very pricey. As you can see, synthetic materials come cheap, have some maintenance advantages, but are not exactly coveted. The more natural the material, the better it is valued, and the price increases proportionately. On the one hand, a kitchen countertop is where all the action happens, and is worth serious investment which pays off in long-term benefits. On the other hand, it is important to look at the value for money spent and choose something that fits the budget, while still being sensible and classy.

When doing laundry, the most common mistake that most people tend to make is just to take a random scoop of laundry detergent and get the washing machine started. People often make the detergent measurement too casually, which is not right. Putting too much or too little detergent will either harm the laundry or not clean it adequately. So, what is the ideal amount of detergent for a laundry load? Here is how you can measure it right but before that, let us take a quick look at what happens to your laundry if you do not use the right amount of laundry detergent. Why do you need to put the right amount of laundry detergent? Sometimes, you may be too generous with the use of your detergent. Well, you may have used some laundry detergent coupons and got some great deals. Nevertheless, when you got your detergent in the budget, you should use judiciously. Using more than the required quantity of laundry detergent can spoil the fabric of your favorite clothes. Similarly, too much of detergent can leave its residue on the clothes, and this can cause skin irritation when you use that fabric. This is particularly the case with clothes for babies and children. On the other hand, low quantity of detergent can cause the clothes to remain dirty leading to an unpleasant odor. How to measure the right amount of laundry detergent? Most categories of laundry detergent, whether powder or liquid, come with a measuring cup. The measuring cup has different measurements for a different quantity of laundry loads as well as various types of clothes. Follow the guide and use the measuring cup to measure the right amount of the detergent. If there is no measuring cup, check the washer for detergent space or cabin. The detergent unit is also marked to help you load the right amount. One more thing to keep in mind here is to use the right kind of laundry detergent based on your washing machine. There are separate detergents for top load washers and front load washers. This makes quite a difference in the measurement of the right quantity of detergent.

When buying a laptop that suits you best, you must select one on the basis of performance, ease of use, battery life, and screen resolution. Moreover, all these should come with a reasonable price tag. Laptops are powerful devices even in this age of smartphones. Business executives need to carry a laptop to work and for meetings that can be anywhere. A laptop should have good storage, a high-power processor, and a powerful graphics processor unit. It also needs to have a good battery and a screen with good resolution so that you can work on it even in dim light. Although there are many competitors in this category, to secure the best buys of laptops in this category all these should come with a reasonable price. Let us go through a lowdown on selecting the best laptop buys.

Operating system

Laptops come in three operating systems: Windows, Mac, and Chrome. Windows is the most popular, whereas Chrome is the least. There are many best buys among laptops in the Windows category. It is also the most flexible operating system and is available on various models compared to Chrome or Mac. You can get it for as little as $150 and as much as several thousand dollars. You can also get numerous features including touch screens, and fingerprint scanners. The latest Windows operating system, i.e., Windows 10, offers several improvements over its previous versions, including the digital assistant Cortana. Apple MacBooks are similar in function compared with Windows 10. Like Cortana in Windows 10, you can get Siri in MacBooks. Siri is a virtual assistant that can take calls, unlock laptops, etc. However, MacBooks are quite expensive compared to Windows and Chrome laptops. Chromebooks, on the other hand, are simpler and easier to handle. These are also quite secure, but their functionalities are limited. The main app is the Chrome browser and a host of web apps.

2-in-one or traditional

Laptops come in two varieties: 2-in-1s and traditional clamshells. The 2-in-1 laptops can be switched between traditional clamshell mode and tablet mode. These are also available in two varieties: bendable and detachable. In detachable laptops, the screen completely comes off, whereas in the bendable laptops, the screen can bend back 360 degrees to make a notebook. Traditional laptops are usually less expensive and come with better battery power. However, if you do go for a 2-in-1 laptop, then the bendable can be the best buy of laptops for you as they have better power.

Size matters

Screen size is something that you should choose wisely. The best buys among laptops need to have optimum screen size while being portable. The least screen size is 11-12 inches. These laptops weigh around 3 pounds. For clarity and ease of use, you should aim for a notch higher. The 13- and 14-inch laptops weigh around 4 pounds, whereas the 15-inch laptops weigh anywhere between 4.5 and 6.5 pounds. Usually, the 13- and 14-inch laptops are the most popular ones, and there are many best buys in this category of laptops.

Other specifications

When it comes to power, you need to select the processor wisely. If you are multitasking, then you should not settle for anything less than an Intel Core i7. However, this does not mean that there are no best buys of laptops in previous versions such as an Intel Core i5. These days, 8GB of RAM is standard, but you can also get 16GB. For the hard disc, choose a solid-state drive since it delivers much better performance. For display, an HD display is always a value for money option even though it is costly. It is better to have a separate graphics processor unit since you never know when the gamer in you will wake up and want to play.

Many popular cell phone carriers like T-mobile, Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon give great individual-oriented plans. These plans may vary according to the user type, device type and the location of usage. They may also change as per the data allotment and price distribution depending on the website or dealer you pick it from. It has been observed through careful research and analysis that Verizon and AT&T offer less data for more money while T-Mobile and Sprint offer more data for less money. But this is valid only for data plans, Each carrier offers different rates and discounts for other services, like calling and messaging. While both T-Mobile and Sprint carriers tout their unlimited data plans very extensively, the user should be beware of falling for these so called unlimited plans because the plans that really offer unlimited 4G LTE data at a high speed can come out to be pretty expensive, if you break down the overall costs carefully. Not to mention that these unlimited plans can cost upward of $75 per month to $95 per month. These charges may look like a lot, but the real deal is that they do not even begin to cover the device charges, over head fees or data access fees. That’s one thing to look out for before purchasing any thing that is prefixed with the word ‘unlimited’. Similarly, a lower priced unlimited plan comes with the caveat of lowered speeds that are morosely slow once the allocated data amount gets over. And this data does get over pretty quickly, especially if it is used to browse the internet on the phone or download apps. Apart from this, there is the consideration of traditional two-year contracts versus the no contract with an installment plan and the fast upgrade plans offered by various carriers. The traditional two-year contracts are now very limited in their scope and even their accessibility. Since T-Mobile was the first carrier to go ahead and entirely remove the two-year contract plans, Verizon and Sprint soon followed suit. Next to shut down the two-year contract model was AT&T. These plans are now available only for the existing customers.