All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

Exploring career options with your college-bound teen

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Kids either know what they want to do with their lives or they don’t. Some kids might even know what they want to do with their lives at an extremely early age, which makes it a lot easier for parents. However, a lot of kids have no idea. In this case, it is up to the parents to work with their teen to start exploring career options and even gauge what some of their interests might be. It is crucial for parents to start before the child enters their first year of college, because this will determine what classes they should be taking and even what major they should declare. Here are some ways to explore career options with your college bound teen.

Assess their strong points

First off, assess what some of their strong points are. If they are good at writing and they are interested in language, there are a plethora of jobs tailored for them. If they are good at writing, this doesn’t immediately mean that they have to become a novelist or English professor, but they can also land a job in communications, advertising and any other field where having a grasp of language makes them an asset. So make sure you find out what your teen’s strengths are in order to go through the list of available job positions within a certain field – some of which they might not even know about. Moreover, if they are interested in a specific field, it is important to make sure you dispel any myths or rumors about the field.

Determine their passion

Next, what is your teenager passionate about? If they are passionate about politics you should encourage them to pursue their studies towards this particular field. If they are interested in the healthcare field, there are a number of degrees they can acquire to have a sustainable and fulfilling career in the healthcare field. After getting their undergraduate degree, they can acquire a health care management MBA to land a position in careers ranging from finance, to biopharmaceuticals, to insurance and beyond. If they are interested in current events, they might pursue a career in journalism, television or radio media.

Analyze Job Market Trends

In addition to exploring personal interests and strengths, it’s vital to consider the demand in your teen’s chosen career field. A practical approach is to look at trends in job availability and growth projections in various industries. For example, unfilled residency positions 2024 is quite common, indicating a potentially high demand in certain healthcare specialties. This insight can guide your teen toward professions with greater long-term stability and opportunity. By analysing these market trends, you and your teen can make more informed decisions about selecting a major and planning their educational path, ensuring that they not only pursue a career aligned with their passions but also one with promising future prospects.

Take a career test

Another way to explore career options with your teen is to find out what they are good at by having them take a standardized test. There are a number of tests your teen can take that will determine what they have a natural inclination for. This option is usually best for those teens that are really struggling with what they want to do with their lives. For instance, a test in math will determine whether or not they are good with numbers and another test might be able to determine that they are more inclined towards abstract modes of thinking. Either way, this is a great way to get quantitative proof of your child’s strengths and weaknesses, which can motivate your teen to really start thinking about their career aspirations.

At the end of the day, it is important to not get frustrated with your child and let them come to their own conclusions, especially if they are going off to college. They might need a few years to think about it and in the meantime they might even go undeclared. However, after a few years of college, your teenager will eventually realize what they want to do with their lives, which can be an incredibly relieving moment for most parents and well worth the wait.

Packing for College?

 

college-bound studentThere are plenty of things your student will want to take to college, including a massive wardrobe, appliances, furniture, bedding, bath supplies, decorations, and so on. Of course, if you have any knowledge of the standard dorm room, you know that all their stuff is not going to fit in the shoebox-sized space they’re allotted, especially since they’ll have to share it with a roommate. For this reason you’re probably going to have to pare down what they pack, and you should do it long before you start loading up the car. Consider compiling a list of everything your college-bound student wants to take when packing for college and then go through and cross off the things they really don’t need. But don’t forget to include items that they really can’t live without. Here are a few you’ll certainly want to add to the list.

  1. Comfortable bedding. College students are notorious for burning the candle at both ends, so when they actually have time to catch a few zees, comfy bedding is a must. Now, you might not think it’s necessary to purchase quality sheets, not to mention pillows, blankets, a warm comforter, and perhaps even a cushy topper for the mattress. But the more rested your student is, the more sleep he’s likely to get, improving focus, grades, and more. When you weigh the cost of comfortable bedding against the cost of a semester of school down the drain thanks to insomnia, you should be able to see your way clear to shelling out a little dough for the linens.
  2. Portable devices. A computer is great, but these days a portable device can provide a lot more use value for the average student. For example, a laptop or tablet (with a keyboard) can not only act as a dorm-room PC, but it can also carry an entire library of books (and other media). And thanks to numerous apps designed for college students, it can also be a notebook, a recording device, a way to deliver class presentations, a schedule, and more. In short, it can provide for all kinds of academic needs in a lightweight and portable frame.
  3. College cookbook. The freshman fifteen is more than just a clever quip. Students living in dorms have limited options for food preparation. Often, they are granted a meal plan, which can definitely help them to eat regularly and observe a balanced diet should they so choose. But many dorms restrict students to items like a mini-fridge and microwave, making it extremely difficult to eat healthy. So think about packing a dorm-style cookbook (there are several options to choose from) so that your student can stay on track with healthy eating.
  4. Noise canceling headphones. Living with a roomie is not going to be easy, even for kids that have had to share a room with a sibling. But the worst part may be listening to other students snore all night, talk in their sleep, or blast music or the TV as they fall asleep. Noise cancelling headphones can not only help your student to fall asleep, but they can also work for study sessions when a roomie or students on the other side of a paper-thin wall are making noise.
  5. Storage. Dorm rooms are infamously small and cramped. Dorm rooms like you see in the movies simply don’t exist, whether your student is at Texas A&M or the University of Florida. Ample storage solutions are a must. Vacuum-sealed space bags are an option, as are stacking and under-bed bins. A shower caddy, drawer organizers, and perhaps even a small file cabinet could also work wonders when it comes to maximizing usable space and keeping the dorm room free of clutter.

Summer is a busy time for families of college-bound teens. These five tips might help you with your to-do list and help relieve some of the anxious, stressful days ahead.

 

FindTheBest offers test prep comparison

 

For seniors, the end of the college application process has come to an end.  Acceptance letters should be rolling in and they should now start gathering information and comparing different schools to see which one they want to spend the next four years.

But for juniors, the process has just begun (if it hasn’t already).  Spring is not just the season of flowers and birds; it is also the season of standardized testing.  And since it is generally advised to take the SAT or ACT two to three times in order to get your best composite score, students should start taking the tests now.

For those who have already taken their first SAT, taking it a second time is almost statistically guaranteed to improve your score.  But what can improve your score even more is doing test prep.  Compare test prep courses based on exam, class size, category, total cost, and total hours.  

Of course, there’s also always the option of buying one of those giant blue practice exam books and teaching yourself through discovery.  But it is usually worth it to just attend even a few hours of class, even if it is just to learn a few basic tips that will allow you to squeeze every point that you can out of the SATs and ACTs. Remember, however, that not all test prep companies are alike. Do the research, ask around and talk to some experts on Twitter before you drop some serious cash on test prep.

 

[findthebest container_style=”width:500px;margin:0 auto;” width=”500″ height=”300″ style=”vertical-align:top;” src=”http://test-prep.findthebest.com/w/srp?new=2&w=500&h=300&filter_by=class_size,cost” after_style=”text-align:center;” link_href=”http://test-prep.findthebest.com” link_style=”font:10px/14px arial;color:#3d3d3d;” link_text=”Compare Test Prep Courses”]

An app for parents and students from Edupath

 

edupathEdupath is like three apps in one. College Explorer lets you browse 1300 colleges to find the right fit. SAT Training is optimized for short sessions so you can use it anytime, anywhere. And Dashboard, an Edupath exclusive, allows parents to follow along in real-time.

Effective SAT prep starts with finding the right school. That’s why Edupath’s College Explorer helps students find the schools that fit them best, then train for the target SAT score of those schools. You can read what actual students say about their schools, and follow the schools that your Facebook friends are looking at.

Edupath offers SAT training designed for today’s students’ busy schedules. Students can develop their skills in short sessions that maximize information retention—and their time. The app has thousands of questions, written by PhDs from top universities, and tips and solutions for every question. Real-time analytics let you monitor your progress as you go.

The industry-first Dashboard for parents and counselors is the only solution for real-time tracking of students’ progress in the app and with any SAT class or tutor. You can track a student’s predicted SAT score, score improvement by section, time spent studying, and college choices.

Following are some screenshots of the app:

edupath-shots

Download Edupath at edupath.com/download

 

Direct Hits: SAT Vocabulary resource

 

direct hits booksEvery SAT coach and college professional will tell you that vocabulary is the key to every aspect of the college application process–from the SAT/ACT tests to writing the essay vocabulary plays an integral part. The Direct Hits SAT Vocabulary books address this issue by helping your student enrich their vocabulary. According to Direct Hits, “A rich and varied vocabulary enables us to speak more eloquently, describe more vividly, argue more compellingly, articulate more precisely, and write more convincingly.”

A powerful and extensive vocabulary has a correlation with success in school, business and of course, standardized tests. However, increasing  your vocabulary can be exhausting unless your have the right tools. Direct Hits have addressed the vocabulary study issue by providing a list of core vocabulary (1-225 words) and tough vocabulary (226-440). What’s unique about these books is that a) it’s a manageable list, b) word definitions, c) use in a sentence, and d) the Greek origins of suffixes and prefixes. At the end of the books, there is a simple list of all the words with quick definitions, along with a test to check out how much you have learned.

What I like about these books? They don’t overwhelm you. Your junior high school student can take both of them and in one summer, easily master these 440 vocabulary words. Or if your student is just beginning high school, they can take one word a day and master each one successfully before moving on to the next.

Direct Hits explains their approach: “We study the SAT, research trends of the test, and publish Direct Hits books … that have proven to increase student success.” Their group of educators works hard to improve the books (currently in the 5th Edition) as the SAT changes. To help you see how effective these books can be, they offer free downloads in PDF format to check the books out.

If you are looking for a good summer reading/study course of action for SAT vocabulary, these books will fit the bill.

Here’s a PDF excerpt from the SAT Vocabulary book about “Words with Multiple Meanings“.

Direct Hits vocabulary books are also available as e-books. They can be read on a computer or on mobile devices through the free Kindle app?

Direct Hits Core Vocabulary

Direct Hits Toughest Vocabulary

Free Kindle Reading apps for MAC, PC, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android Smartphone

You can also make contact with Direct Hits online:

DirectHits website

DirectHits Twitter

DirectHits Facebook

 

Getting the best college advice: POCSMom

 

One of the joys of posting on this blog is that I get to recommend other college prep professionals. Over the course of the last few years, I have gotten to know Wendy David-Gaines (aka ParentsOfCollegeStudentMom). She offers some of the best college advice from the parent community. I’ve read her book, Parents of College Students: Survival Stories, and I’ve collaborated with her on blog posts. Not only is she a wonderful person, but her knowledge of the college-prep process and issues that occur once your student enters college is second to none.

college survivalWendy is famous for exposing the cliches about college. After giving the cliche, she gives you the “POCS reality”. In her book, Wendy does this effectively by compiling actual parent stories. The stories (both from pre-POCS and POCS) are simple, light-hearted, often humorous and an easy read. But here’s the clincher–they provide parents with added insight into each individual situtation. For instance, Wendy has a story about college touring in her book. The cliche: different strokes for different folks. The POCS Reality: just because a parent likes a college does not mean his student will. The story tells about the often-experienced reality of a college-bound teen not “feeling” a campus like his parent does. If you haven’t experienced it yet, you will.

Here are just a few comments from parents who have read her book:

“The cliches used in this story don’t seem like cliches anymore. The way David-Gaines reinterprets them makes these cliches into lessons that may otherwise be overlooked for parents who are about to send their children off to college. The short stories are quick, easy reads. I read the book through from beginning to end, but you could start with any particular chapter or even open to a random page for a good lesson and laugh. I recommend this as a fun, enjoyable, helpful read for parents who are starting or already involved in the college process.”

“Being the Parent of a College Student (POCS) is hard work and can be very frustrating. I felt like Wendy had been with me on my journey through the college admission’s maze. Her book is very entertaining and packed with lots of helpful information whether you are just starting the process or have a student in college. I thought I would skim through it, but I was hooked after the first story. I wholeheartedly recommend it!”

Wendy doesn’t stop with her book, however. She authors a blog on her website, and she also writes for Examiner.com on a regular basis. Do yourself a favor and check her out on Twitter (@pocsmom) as well because she tweets great information for both pre-POCS and POCS.

Get your copy of her book, Parent of College Students: Survival Stories today!

 

Toward College Success: Is Your Teenager Ready, Willing and Able?

 

About a year ago, I received a copy of Toward College Success: Is Your Teenager Ready, Willing and Able? Although I didn’t have the time to review it then, or pass the resource along to parents, I have since been able to take a look at it and it is an invaluable resource–a must read for parents of college-bound teens. This book is more than a college prep book. It’s a book that helps you prepare your teenage for life. It’s a book that helps parents guide their students toward independence and help them find the right path in life–even if it means that something other than college is a better path.

toward college successToward College Success: Is Your Teenager Ready, Willing, and Able? is a book to help parents of middle and high school students. This book prods parents to ask if their teenager will be ready, willing, and able to handle self-management, personal safety, roommate conflicts, personal finances, interactions with teachers, academic responsibility, and much more.

Included in this book are numerous interviews with parents, college students, school counselors and advisors, law enforcement per- sonnel, teachers, medical personnel, and school administrators. At the end of each chapter are examples of how parents can prepare their teenagers for a successful college experience and turn their students into confident,reponsible young adults.

A workbook accompanies the text to give parents, school administrators, and counselors an opportunity to put this book into practical use. It will allow counselors, PTOs, parenting class facilitators, and others to work with par- ticipants to develop strategies to help their teenagers develop the skills needed to succeed in college and life beyond high school.

Here’s a short Q&A about the book:

Q: What is Toward College Success: Is Your Teenager Ready, Willing, and Able?

A: It is a book to spur parents to evaluate their teenager’s readiness for college, then actively prepare those teens for success.

Q: Who does the book target?

A: The book is for parents of middle and high school students because the skills their teenagers need to be successful in college need to be taught long before college begins.

Q: What kind of skills do teenagers need to be successful in college? A: They need both academic skills and life skills. What kind of life skills?

A: They need time and priority management skills, conflict management skills, and effective communication skills. They need to know when and how to ask for help, they need to ef- fectively maneuver the college bureaucracy, and they need to operate on a budget and manage their money. They need to self-advocate and have the self-discipline to stay safe.

Q: What kind of academic skills?

A: They need to start college with strong study skills. They need to be able to write a well-researched and documented, accurate, organized, and well-written paper. They need to start college prepared to attend all their classes, read the assigned materials, and know how to take notes. They need to be prepared to pursue study groups, additional review periods, or other options such as seeking out their teachers when they have questions and need help.

Q: What can parents do to help prepare their teenagers?

A: Model behavior they want to see—both for academics and life skills. Parents should be involved in their teenager’s school by participating in parent-teacher meetings and similar events, judging their student’s academic strengths and weaknesses, and pushing them to get help when they need it. Parents should make expectations and rules clear for both academics and behavior, and follow through on reasonable consequences. Parents should give their teenagers graduated responsibilities, teach them to budget, and make them responsible when they make mistakes.

Q: What does it mean to be ready, willing, and able?

A: Teenagers need to be ready with the maturity required to face life on their own, the will- ingness to go to college, and have the skills they will need to be able to succeed.

Q: What if a teenager isn’t ready or willing to go to college?

A: Parents should understand that college right after high school is not the best path for every teen. There are lots of alternatives, including organized gap time, apprenticeships, working full time, the military, or a combination that includes taking a course or two at a community college. The most important role for parents is to help their teenager find a path to success.

Q: How was this book conceived?

A: The late Patricia Wilkins-Wells was a professor of sociology at the University of Northern Colorado. She grew frustrated over the years as she watched too many of her students fail because they were not prepared for their new learning and living environments in college. Wilkins-Wells asked Carol Jones to join her in this effort because of Jones’ writing and editing ex- perience, and because she worked as a secondary school writing coach and compositional aide. Both Wilkins-Wells and Jones believed that parents needed a resource to help them start prepar- ing their children to be successful in what they would encounter after high school.

If you find yourself asking these questions and struggling with your teenager about their future, P. Carol Jones has the answers and the guidance to help.

Don’t delay–Order the Book NOW! 

Read P. Carol Jones’ post on Preparing your Teenager for College

Essay Starter iPad App

 

Is writing easy? Have you easy access and control of your sources in your documents? Can you easy setup footnotes and references in your essays and articles? Can you open and read multiple PDF files, and take notes at the same time?
This is a solution for you. Essay Starter. It is innovative educational App (compatible with iPad), from Activa Systems.

Be inspired! Writing is easy when you have easy access and control of your sources. Automatic footnotes let you stop worrying about references and just write. Split screen mode lets you open and read multiple PDF files, and take notes at the same time.

essay starter

You can find the Essay Starter app on the link below:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/essay-starter/id593023126?mt=8

Get your writing started quickly:

essay starter

  • Upload your research as PDF files
  • Automatic reference information for footnotes
  • Edit optional additional bibliographical information for footnotes
  • Read and highlight PDF files on the full screen or split screen
  • Easily navigate within PDF files with tile view
  • Create a new worksheet to make notes and start your essay
  • Use split screen to view the worksheet and PDFs at the same time
  • Select PDF text and send it to the worksheet, with an automatic footnote reference
  • Easy file management system
  • Left or right handed layout

We can’t write the essay for you, but we want to make it as pain free as possible. Please let us know if there is a feature you would like to see, or that you think would make writing essays in your subject easier.

Note: Your iPad must be in landscape mode to work in split screen mode. By default PDF files will open on the right, and the text file for your essay will open on the left.

The app is .99 at the app store where you can see multiple screen shots of the app and get an idea of how it works.

Our Social Media Sites:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Essay-Starter-Ipad-App/431185930305655

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EssayStarter

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=240931431&trk=tab_pro

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/essaystarter/

 

Care Packaging 101

 

Last week, I wrote about putting together care packages. After being contacted by Doteable.com about their care package service, I asked them to write a guest post.

Here at Doteable headquarters, we spend all of our waking hours thinking about how to package care and love. We know how much thought and effort our parents put into, well, everything. Allison Tate, mother of four, writes:

“People, including my children, … don’t know how I walk the grocery store aisles looking for treats that will thrill them for a special day.”

She continues, “I spend hours hunting the Internet and the local Targets for specially-requested Halloween costumes and birthday presents.”

It’s stressful and time-consuming. Four ways Doteable helps:

college care package

  1. Relevant. We’re recent college grads, we were there. My mom sent care packages sporadically, and after the third flashlight I received, I thanked her – but, please, Mom: cease and desist. I heard this story over and over when talking to other parents, aunts, and uncles: we want to send our students care packages, we just don’t know what to put in them. Our duffels receive great reviews from subscribers and always include healthy surprise treats.
  2. Value.  1) We don’t operate a brick-and-mortar store with sales and real estate costs, and 2) our subscription model minimizes the cost of holding unsold products. We pass on these savings to our subscribers: that’s why our dorm duffels have a retail value of over $70 (pre-shipping costs, which we also cover). If you don’t like an item in our duffel, you can pass it on to a friend, guilt-free.
  3. Time. Allison Tate spends “hours hunting the Internet” for gifts. We are expert Internet-hunters and are more than happy to help free up your hours.
  4. Lend a hand. For every duffel we ship, we donate a pair of socks to a family in need.

Ultimately, we’re here to simplify the transition to college – for both parents and students. Below are our top five resources for transitioning to and thriving in college:

  1. CollegeConfidential.com
    I pored over the College Confidential forums before and during my college application process – but these institution-specific discussion boards are just as useful after you’ve gotten in.
  1. Course reviews
    Picking your major, what courses to take, and what extracurricular activities to participate in can be a daunting task for someone with two dozen different interests and talents.
  1. Professors
    Professors are intimidating, but they’ve been at your institution much longer than you have – take advantage of that wisdom! They are intimately familiar with the resources that are available and how to best utilize them.
  1. On-campus advisors
    It’s part of their job to guide you and answer your questions. And trust me, they love to be helpful. They too are well-versed in the various opportunities your school has to offer.
  1. Upperclassmen
    At the end of the day, you trust the people closest to you. Ask your upperclassmen friends for guidance: What courses should I take? How do I do well in those courses? What fellowships or internships should I pursue, and what do I need to focus on to successfully pursue them?

Taking full advantage of the aforementioned resources requires asking the right questions. Articulate what you want to accomplish long-term (think five and ten years out) and write out what you want to get out of a conversation before seeking out mentorship. This will help you figure out what questions to ask. I think you’ll find that people love being helpful if you come to the table prepared.

And for parents and students transitioning out of college life? Well, there’s always this helpful guide from the New Yorker’s Simon Rich.

___________

Giselle Cheung is CEO at doteable.com. She is a 2010 graduate of Harvard College and a former Morgan Stanley research analyst. She tweets from @doteable and is on hand to answer your questions here.

Choosing the right college

 

choosing the right college
photo courtesy of esc1.net

Choosing which college to attend is an incredibly exciting, yet trying adventure.  With hundreds of universities to choose from, it can be frightening and overwhelming at times.  However, with proper planning and a great deal or research, choosing the right college is easier than you think .  Keep these tips in mind as you embark on this journey.

Identify what qualities you look for in a college

Incoming freshmen don’t necessarily need to have a specific major in mind, but it doesn’t hurt to have some ideas.  Knowing what major you want to pursue will help narrow down your college choices

Location and environment are two very important factors.  Do you want to attend a large university, or will you thrive better at a smaller university?  What environment are you looking for?  Is Greek Life an important part of the decision process?  Know what you’re looking for ahead of time.

Financial aid, tuition and other expenses are also an important consideration to keep in mind.  If you’re on a tight budget, it’s wise to consider an in-state university.  Another option is attending a community college for two years and then transferring to another university.  And don’t forget admission requirements.  Research the universities you’re interested in, and make sure that you meet their admissions requirements.

List, compare, and visit your college choices.

It’s important to do your research before applying to colleges.  Make sure the colleges you apply to cater towards your needs.  Don’t apply to a college that doesn’t offer the major you want to pursue simply because it’s been labeled as a party school or a cool school.  Go to as many college fairs as you can.  Most high schools will offer a few throughout the school year.  There are also college fairs in most major cities throughout the year that are often bigger than the ones put on by your high school, so make a point of attending at least one of these as well.

Make a pros and cons list of all your colleges, and then compare what each one has to offer.  This is an easy way to narrow down your selection.  Once you’ve weeded out the less appealing choices, it’s imperative that you visit as many of these colleges as possible.  College visits offer you a chance to experience campus life, tour the school, and learn more about what each college has to offer.

Make sure your grades are in check.

It never hurts to do well in school.  A high GPA will look a lot more impressive on your college applications than a mediocre one.  Remember, you want your application to stand out among the rest. A high GPA will also give you a better chance of receiving scholarships, so if tuition cost is a factor in your decision making process, picking up the books will work in your favor.

college culture
photo courtesy of youvisit.com

You’ll definitely want to take an SAT prep class, and, if your college choices require it, take an ACT prep course too.  Prep classes are known to increase your score by at least 200 points. The Princeton Review, Kaplan, and Sylvan Learning Center all offer a variety of SAT and ACT prep courses to students.  Whether you prefer a private tutor or a classroom setting, these programs offer a method for everyone, so research which classes are offered near you.

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when choosing a college.  Be thorough with each of your choices, and make sure that the college you pick fits your needs to a tee.  Having good grades and doing well on the SAT and ACT will go a long way, so remember to hit the books.

________________

You can follow CollegeFocus on Twitter at @CollegeFocus101 and Facebook at www.fb.com/collegefocus. Choosing which college to attend is an incredibly exciting, yet trying adventure.  With hundreds of universities to choose from, it can be frightening and overwhelming at times.  However, with proper planning and a great deal or research, it’s easier than you think to find the perfect college for you.  Keep these tips in mind as you embark on this journey.

collegefocusAbout the author: Kirstin Le Grice is a recent graduate of University of Colorado and a staff writer for CollegeFocus, a website dedicated to helping students deal with the challenges of college, including housing, finance, style, health, relationships, and transferring from a community college to a four-year university.