Using the Holidays to Complete College Tasks

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The holiday season is fast approaching—a chance to catch your breath, spend time with family, and recharge. But if you’re a parent of a high school junior or senior, you probably feel a familiar tug of responsibility, wondering how are you going to find the time for those college tasks.

While it’s important to enjoy the festivities, this season can also be a great time to help your teen finalize their college list and start applying for scholarships. With a little planning, you can work on these college tasks together, even during the holiday hustle.

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Helping Your Teen Deal with Election Trauma

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The landscape of politics can be complex and, at times, overwhelming—especially for our teens, who are trying to make sense of the world around them while dealing with their own personal and academic stresses. Election seasons often bring heightened emotions, and the outcomes can spark concerns or fears that are hard for young minds to process.

As a parent, you can play a vital role in helping your teen understand the impact of election results and navigate the emotional landscape that often follows. Here’s how to start these conversations with empathy and insight.

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Ensuring Your Child’s Academic Future

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Every parent wishes for their child to have the best opportunities in life, and a university education often forms a cornerstone of that journey. Finding your way there may feel exhausting at times, but hang in there. This article will give you some great tips and fun commentary to keep your child’s academic journey on track.

Plant the Seeds of Curiosity Early

Toddlers might not exactly pore over college brochures between episodes of their favorite shows. However, you can still form a love of learning from an early age by encouraging reading with books that are both captivating and educational, or sparking their natural curiosity with science kits or art supplies that grab their interest. Remember, universities love discovering young minds filled with knowledge and curiosity.

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Accredited Programs: Finding Your Path in College

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So, you’re about to embark on one of the biggest decisions of your life: choosing a college. It’s like stepping into a maze, filled with endless possibilities and a whole lot of unknowns. With so many factors to consider, it can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry, we’re here to guide you through the labyrinth.

Affordability is key. Let’s face it, cost is a major factor for most students. A recent survey showed that 53% of students ranked affordability as the most important factor in their college choice. And 67% rated the cost of attendance as “very important.” 

But here’s the thing: affordability shouldn’t come at the expense of quality. That’s where accreditation comes in. Accredited programs are held to high standards, ensuring you get a top-notch education.

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How Presidential Candidates Address Rising College Costs

As the 2024 presidential race heats up, one key issue weighing heavily on the minds of many Americans is the rising cost of higher education. With tuition rates and student loan debt continuing to skyrocket, families and students are eager to know where the candidates stand on making college more affordable. From proposals to cancel student debt to ideas for tuition-free college, each of the presidential candidates offers a unique vision for the future of higher education.

These policies will not only affect you, but your student who will most likely be voting in their first presidential election since turning 18.

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Navigating Your Teen’s Hesitations About College

Hearing your teen say, “I don’t want to go to college,” can be a heart-stopping moment for many parents. This is especially true if college has been a long-anticipated step in your child’s future. However, it’s important to approach this situation with patience and understanding. College may not be right for everyone.

Before the door to higher education closes entirely, there are several steps parents can take. These steps can help their teen reconsider college in a more thoughtful and informed way.

Here are five practical steps to guide you while navigating your teen’s hesitations about college:

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Understanding Hazing: What Parents Need to Know

When my daughter was in college, she pledged a sorority. I had my concerns. Turns out, they were valid. Even though it was against campus policy for any fraternity or sorority to use hazing on its members, it happened during “hell week”. The hazing not only affected her health but her first semester grades.

As a parent, I voiced my concerns and wanted to report the sorority. My daughter begged me not to get involved. In hindsight, I wish I had.

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How to Spot Changes in Your Student’s Mental Health

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Recently released numbers from the CDC show that the number of students suffering from persistent sadness or hopelessness fell from 42% to 40% between 2021 and 2023.

“This may seem like a small shift, but in terms of the numbers we’re talking about, that means roughly 840,000 fewer U.S. students are suffering now than they were in 2021,” says Dr. Michael Olla, a psychiatrist at Valley Spring Recovery, a premier addiction treatment center. 

“However, youth mental health is still an ongoing and major problem in the USA, so it’s important to spot the signs of mental health issues early to effectively intervene. Look out for these five signs of poor mental health in kids, and approach a health professional if you do spot them.”

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Is Your Teen Ready for College? Key Factors to Consider

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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

As your child approaches the end of high school, the question of whether they’re ready for college looms large. It’s natural to have mixed emotions—pride, excitement, and maybe even a bit of anxiety. College is a significant step toward adulthood, but how can you tell if your teen is prepared to take it? Here are a few key factors to consider when determining if your teen is ready for college.

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Are You Worried About Paying for College?

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As a parent, I would say paying for college was on my top 10 lists of worries as my children entered high school. We were caring for my elderly father and great aunt, along with battling with breast cancer. It was all we could do to stay afloat with medical and elder care expenses breathing down our necks every month.

My son was looking at a military career, but I knew he wanted to go to college. He also knew that we could not afford to contribute. My daughter was two years behind him, and I knew she had her heart set on Boston University, an expensive private college in the northeast. I worried day and night that her dreams would not materialize, and my son would have few options other than joining the military out of high school.

My children were not first generation students. However, I did not attend college, and my spouse attended a local college that basically accepted anyone who applied. I was lost. My circle of friends were not college graduates and were not encouraging their kids to apply to college. My parents did not encourage me to attend college, so I was clueless about the process. I had no idea where to turn for help and the school counselor was responsible for hundreds of students at a large public high school. She had little time to advise students about colleges and even less time to help with figuring out how to pay.

Dealing with all the family drama and concerned about finances, my son made the decision during his junior year to join the Marines. I was supportive but worried the decision was forced on him because he felt he had no other option. The day he signed a letter of intent, I decided to focus the next few years on my daughter’s dream—attending college.

I knew I had to research colleges, look at finances, and make sure she had a stellar academic and extracurricular record to back up her applications. When she entered her senior year, we had a plan. Here’s what we did:

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Helping parents navigate the college maze