All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

college guidance, online learning

The Future of Learning is Here

learning

Traditional learning and teaching methods are no longer sufficient to meet the ever-increasing demands and challenges. As a result, the future of learning has been reshaped, ushering in a new era of educational practices, capabilities, and possibilities. From virtual reality and artificial intelligence to personalised learning and collaborative platforms, the future of education is here, and it promises to revolutionise the way we acquire knowledge, develop skills, and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. Join us on this exhilarating exploration of the educational frontiers, where students become active participants in their learning journeys and traditional classroom boundaries are transcended. The future of learning has arrived, brimming with opportunities and transformative potential.

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college planning, college prep, financial planning, parenting

What is the Parent’s Role in the College Prep Process?

parent's role

If you have a college-bound student, how do you help them will college prep while letting them own the process? What is the parent’s role?

With all the talk of helicopter parenting, over parenting, and parents refusing to allow their students to become independent adults, it’s important to understand how to coach your teenager without crossing the line.

An article in Forbes magazine quoted a study conducted by Florida State University focusing on some of the issues with today’s parenting:

Helicopter parents are “overly involved, protective parents who provide substantial support (e.g., financial, emotional, physical health advice) to their emerging adult children, often intervening in their affairs and making decisions for them.

Individuals with parents who engage in highly controlling, overprotective behaviors have been characterized as being overly needy in terms of seeking attention, approval and direction from others,” the authors wrote in summarizing past research. “In addition, they have been found to utilize more ineffective coping skills, express higher levels of narcissism and demonstrate lower self-efficacy.

In contrast…

“Developmentally appropriate parenting can promote healthy decision-making and a child’s development of autonomy, increasing the likelihood that their children will become independent, well-adjusted, problem-solving adults. They tend to cope better with stress, have more self-esteem and experience less depression.”

Knowing this…

What is a parent’s role during the college prep process?

How can you successfully coach your college bound student?  

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financial aid, Scholarship Friday, scholarships

What Are the Odds of Winning a Scholarship?

winning a scholarship

Over 1.7 million scholarships are awarded annually; however, only 7% of college students will receive a scholarship. On average, first-time undergraduates who receive government grants and scholarships at a 4-year college receive about $14,890 annually. On average, a student who receives a scholarship or grant at a private 4-year college will receive $8,005 more than a student in a public 4-year college.

That sounds depressing and you might ask what are my odds of winning a scholarship, but all hope is not lost. Many students and their families have applied for scholarships and used them to pay for college. But, you need to know the facts.

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organization, parenting

Planning a Celebration for Your Teen

celebration

Celebrating your teen’s sixteenth birthday party is an exciting yet potentially daunting task. This milestone is a big deal, and planning a party that they will love and remember requires thoughtful consideration. After hosting a few successful sweet sixteen parties myself, I’ve come to understand that the devil is in the details. Let’s explore these five expert tips that will help you throw an unforgettable celebration.

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Uncategorized

When and How to Start the College Search Process

college search

Where do you begin? If you have a teenager who is looking toward college, it’s a valid question. There is so much information out there and so many opinions, it’s hard to know where to start. But as they say, each journey begins with a first step!

If you’re a parent of a college-bound teen start the college search process with the following steps:

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5 Tips, extracurricular activities, parenting, scholarships, summer programs

5 College-Bound Tasks to Fight Summer Boredom

summer boredom

If you haven’t heard it yet, your student is most likely going to say those hated words, “I’m bored. What can I do?” If you need a laugh, check out this short Instagram post from my favorite “mom” comedienne, Heather Land: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cte8Yd7LDjH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Who knew we were all of those things she mentioned in her short video?

If your teen is looking for something to do over the summer, put them to work on college-related tasks to fight summer boredom. It’s never too early to start.

Here are five activities for the college bound to fight summer boredom:

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empty nest, organization, orientation, parenting, textbooks

Summer To-Do List for New College Parents

summer to-do list

Graduation is upon us and that means the future (college future) for many, lies ahead. While it’s tempting to take the summer off, and you want to spend as much time with your future college student as possible,

Get organized and set up a calendar

Preparing for a semester is a key part to ensure academic success!

College students find themselves juggling classes, homework, work, parties, clubs, organizations, dates, volunteering, and everything in between. With only 24 hours in the day, and only one mind to juggle it all, this can be a lot to manage.

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college guidance, college prep, empty nest, graduation, parenting

The Joy and Angst of Decision Day

decision day

May Decision Day has come and gone. Students have made those final decisions and committed to college in the fall. After all the stress of senior year and some of the conflict that arose within families, you can rest easy the hard work is done and it’s smooth sailing ahead.

But is it? Your student and you have worked hard for this day and you should certainly enjoy the accomplishment. Your student did the work and was accepted to college. You did the work and prepared your student for that next phase in their life: adulthood. You have been planning for this day ever since they entered high school. You looked forward to the day when they would finally leave your nest and go out on their own. But you probably weren’t expecting so many mixed feelings.

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extracurricular activities, high school, parenting

Finding the Parenting Balance

parenting

The term “helicopter parenting” can feel disparaging at first, after all, is it really a flaw to be active in your child’s education, to take an interest in their wellbeing at school, and to be involved in their development? Of course not. However, of course, constant hovering over your children, stifling independence and decision-making, and perhaps becoming too involved in the autonomy of your teacher’s guidance can be a problem.

Now, we’re not accusing you of this at all. Most parents strike a healthy balance, and being a little too interested is certainly miles better than being too uninvolved or uncaring. 

However, if you’re concerned, then it’s nice to know where the parameters are. In this post, we’re not going to tell you how much you can be involved in your own child’s education, or where to step away, or how to relate to your child’s school experience. That would be much too presumptuous. 

Instead, we’ll discuss some awesome measures new parents can take when supporting their children’s schooling and development:

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college costs, financial aid, Student debt, Uncategorized

Borrowing More for College Than You Can Repay

borrowing

I have had some serious conversations recently with a parent and student who applied to college, was accepted, and was shocked at the cost. The parent didn’t want to disappoint her daughter. The daughter wanted desperately to go to an out of state college that would cost over $50,000 per year with no financial aid.

After speaking with the daughter at length, she decided to defer for a year, work, save her money and apply for scholarships. Taking out loan was not appealing to either of them and I completely agreed.

Parents and students should consider college funding even before their student applies to college. The inevitable result is the parents and students borrowing to pay and usually borrowing more than they can repay after graduation.

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