All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

financial aid, infographics

College Sticker Price

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Most parents are shocked when I tell them to ignore the college sticker price printed in the book, catalog, or college info site. Why do they “say” it costs X amount of dollars and not charge what the printed price states? Because while most can’t pay the price, some can. It’s the same with any commodity: houses, cars, airfare, vacations, and more. They post a price because many will pay that price; others who can’t will search for the bargain. Enter the college admissions process with the mind of a bargain hunter and you’ll be pleasantly surprised what you will pay.

Following is an infographic that makes it easy to comprehend:

Tuition Prices
Created by: Online University

admissions, college guidance, Guest Posts

Inside the mind of an admissions counselor

Getting inside the mind of an admissions counselor gives parents and students valuable information and insight. Parliament Tutors is conducting interviews with admissions counselors all across the country and they asked me to post one of them on my blog. I was happy to oblige because the answers to their questions give applicants an idea of what they consider to be important in the college application process.

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A special thanks to Jordan Hassell for participating in our Admissions Spotlight Series.  Mrs. Hassell is an admissions officer at Berry College in Rome, Georgia.  Joseph Fernandez from Parliament Tutors conducted this interview.


As an Admissions Counselor, what are your day-to-day responsibilities?

An Admissions Counselor works with prospective students from the time they first become interested in Berry College until they begin classes as a new student.  We attend college fairs and visit high schools to share information about Berry. We meet with students when they visit campus, we correspond with them throughout the admissions and financial aid processes and we read their applications to make recommendations on admission decisions.
What do you consider the most significant parts of an application, the parts which applicants should prepare the most carefully? 

At Berry, we are mostly concerned with a student’s academic record. Students should pay careful attention to their high school curriculum choices, maintain a strong GPA in core classes and maximize their SAT/ACT scores.

What common pitfalls should applicants be careful to avoid?

Avoid being lazy through the application process. Be sure to complete all required sections of the application, submit a thoughtful essay, use proper grammar and punctuation instead of text lingo and pay attention to deadlines.

Are there any myths about the application process which you would like to dispel?

While we do look for active and well-rounded students, extracurricular activities and multiple recommendation letters do not allow us to overlook deficiencies in the academic record.

What advice would you give to an applicant with below-average test scores but significant work experience?

Maximize your test scores by taking more than one exam. Take advantage of free test prep resources through your school or public library. Use your resume and essay to highlight how you are prepared for college coursework.

What do you look for in a letter of recommendation?

We like to see candid details about a student’s preparation for success in college. We also verify a student’s academic and disciplinary records.

How much faith do you have in the ability of the SAT or ACT to predict success in college?

While scores are not the only factor considered, combined with GPA and rigor of curriculum, exam scores do serve as an indicator of potential success in college coursework.

Suppose an applicant has little or no experience relevant to your program, but has significant experience in other fields.  What can that applicant do to distinguish himself or herself as a good candidate for your program?

Complete a solid high school curriculum, earn strong grades and maximize SAT/ACT scores by taking more than one exam. Share details in your college essay that may help us understand how your interests and experience will contribute to our college community.

This is interview was conducted by Joseph Fernandez, an SAT Tutor from Parliament Tutors — an Houston Tutoringcompany.

college planning, financial aid

10 Good reasons to file the FAFSA

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Parents of college-bound teens look forward to filing the FAFSA as much as they look forward to filing their income taxes. It’s a federal form and all federal forms aren’t exactly user friendly. Many parents are so intimidated by the form that they choose not to file, telling themselves that their student wouldn’t qualify for aid anyway because they make too much. But don’t fall into that trap.

Here are 10 good reasons to file the FAFSA:

1. College is expensive

Even if you’re rich and can afford to pay for your child’s education, it’s expensive. Why would you pass up an opportunity to help with some of the cost?

2. It’s FREE

That’s right. It’s completely free to complete the FAFSA. You’ll spend some of your time completing the FAFSA and you could get thousands of dollars of financial aid in return. So one could say, it’s BEYOND free–they pay you!

3. Getting help is easy and FREE

If you get stumped, help is available using the online help tool or by submitting a question at the FAFSA web site or calling the help number listed on the site. Many schools even host a FAFSA day where they offer help to parents and students on how to complete the free form.

4. FREE money could be waiting for you

According to a recent Reuters article, about 1.8 million lower income undergraduates who might have qualified for aid neglected to file the FAFSA and missed out on financial aid. No matter what your income level, you should file the FAFSA because there is more money out there to be awarded than just need-based aid.

5. Federal money

The federal government provides over $80 billion dollars in grants, loans and work-study programs every year. The only way to get pell grants, perkins loans, stafford loans and other federal aid is by submitting the FAFSA. Federal loans offer the best interest rates and repayment terms for student borrowers and are superior to private student loans.

6. State money

FAFSA is the gatekeeper for state financial aid programs. Each state’s programs are different but they all require the FAFSA to distribute the funds. Check with your state’s higher education agency for deadlines and requirements. In some states the financial eligibility ceilings are much higher.

7. School money

Colleges and private scholarship sponsors offer billions of dollars in financial aid. Even if you don’t have financial need, you may be eligible for these awards. Some school and private scholarship programs are specifically designed for students who were rejected by federal financial aid. Some schools will not award merit aid unless you complete the FAFSA.

8. You’re divorced

The FAFSA only asks about the income and assets of the custodial parent. For financial aid purposes, the custodial parent is the one who has cared for the student for the majority of 2011. If the custodial parent earns a modest income, a student could qualify for financial aid.

9. You have two or more children in college

With two in college, your expected family contribution (what the parents can afford to pay) drops by 50%. Even if you didn’t get financial aid with the first, file the FAFSA because having a second child in college can net you some financial aid.

10. You really don’t have a choice

Look at it this way: FAFSA is the ONLY way to be considered for federal, state and private financial aid. Even if you don’t NEED the aid you still want to get it. Who doesn’t want FREE money?

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For a different perspective, visit my colleague Wendy David-Gaines’ blog (POCSMom) for 10 Reasons NOT to file a FAFSA.

Wendy was a (POCSmom) Parent of a College Student and was once a pre-POCSmom as well. She likes to help parents de-stress during the college process and has written a book of stories and anecdotes to help parents see the lighter side of college.

college planning, social networks, Uncategorized

12 College Experts I would like to meet in 2012

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This past year I have met and established some wonderful friendships and collaborations on Twitter. I had the privilege of meeting Jenn Cohen of Sheldon Word Nerd this past summer. I thought it might be fun to list the college experts who I would love to meet IRL (in real life) in 2012. If you aren’t following them already, I’ve included the links so you can!

Akil Bello-This guy cracks me up and is the genuine article. His SAT advice is spot on and he’s quite a wordsmith. I would love to sit down with him and discuss the merits of Manilow’s music (and how he feels about internet shysters trying to rob parents of their hard-earned money).

Kelly Queijo-Kelly is my hero because she walked the 30 mile Komen walk for me and my mom. Not to mention she hosts #campuschat AND has the best go-to site for college visit information. She and I have been Twitter friends since her site launched.

Nancy Berk-Nancy is every parent’s friend and quite the comedian. Her book, “College Bound and Gagged” left me rolling on the floor laughing. I would love to be a guest on “Whine at 9”!

Eric Clark-Eric, my man. A great dad and an educator with a vision to help tutor EVERY student across the country with his Quincy Tutoring network. He’s been one of my biggest supporters and I him.

Wendy David-Gaines-The ultimate POCSMom and a colleague. She approaches the college journey with humor and ideas to reduce the stress while helping parents with support and encouragement throughout the journey.

Monica Matthews-Monica is a parent too but an absolute EXPERT on college scholarships. I wish I would have had her book when my kids went to college. She rocks helping parents and students find and apply for scholarships.

Elizabeth King-Elizabeth writes the most pithy articles about test prep and the value of education. She’s an all star in my book!

Paul Hemphill-My Boston buddy and good friend. Paul and I believe that parents are the customers and colleges should rise up and take notice! Plus, he’s the best at marketing students for college. He gets an A+++ for being a parent advocate.

Jane Kulow-Jane is on the college journey with her kids and visiting colleges as we speak. Her blog ROCKS for parents who are going through the process because you get a real-time parent’s perspective.

Jeff Sheely-Jeff’s common sense approach to financing a college education made me a fan from the first time I met him on Twitter. His College Money blog gives parents and students the BEST advice about debt, student loans and financing a college education.

Gil Rogers-Gil is the first admissions officer I met on Twitter and he helped me answer many a parent’s question. Now he works for Zinch (my fav college related company) and his stellar social media savvy makes him an all-around guru.

Fuji Fulgueras-Apart from teasing me about my Manilow fandom, Fuji is a college admissions counselor and a respected expert. He can answer any questions about college admissions and is always helpful to parents when asked.

admissions, parenting

What do you do when a college rejects your student?

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Colleges have been responding to the early decision/early action applications and students across the country have received those long awaited acceptance/rejection letters these past few weeks. Hip hip hoorays are easy to handle and a welcome addition to the holidays. Feelings of rejection can cloud the family’s holiday spirit and make it difficult to celebrate while facing the disappointment.

What do you do when that ill-fated letter arrives? How do you handle your feelings? How do you handle your student’s feelings? How to turn lemons into lemonade?

When the letter arrives

When the letter arrives and is opened you may want to try and spin it into a positive. Resist that temptation. It’s upsetting to both you and your student. Allow some time to display the emotions related to the disappointment and the feelings of rejection. It’s only natural to feel them and it certainly hasn’t been the first or the last time your student will be disappointed.

Your feelings

Parents take these letters personally. How dare they reject MY child! Our disappointment can often overshadow the feelings our student has. Be careful and don’t project your disappointment on to your student. He/she feels bad enough already; the last thing they need to feel is that they disappointed their parents by not getting accepted.

Your student’s feelings

Every student reacts differently. Some might shrug it off (to your surprise) and others might see this as the end of their world as they know it. The hardest part of this whole college process is dealing with disappointment and rejection. All the truisms in the world won’t help at this moment. Hold them, hug them, and let them know that you feel their pain. Don’t spout off truisms like “it will be ok” or “you don’t want to go there if they don’t want you.” Your student needs the time to deal with their disappointment and move on.

Embrace the life lesson

Once the time has passed and your student is able to be objective, use this as a life lesson. Remind them that there is a place for them and that there is a college where they will feel wanted and accepted. Point out that life is filled with disappointments that often turn into opportunities and you never know what lies ahead on the path you might not have originally chosen.

Every child faces disappointment and rejection throughout their life and a parent’s goal should be to help them face those hurtful times with love and perspective.

 

college planning, Guest Posts

FindTheBest helps parents with student resources

It’s no secret – sending your child away to college can be a difficult experience.  After years of making sure they completed their schoolwork on time, helping them with their homework, (or hiring a tutor as the homework got too hard), and helping organize and maintain their schedule, its hard to believe that your student is going to be on their own, braving the frontier that is a life at college.

Still, there are plenty of ways to assist your child in school, even from halfway across the country.  For one, help your child with their classes by hiring them a tutor.  The workload and structure of college classes can at first be overwhelming for many students, and having someone their to help ease through the material can be an unbelievable stress reducer.  There are even a plethora of great online tutors that help in every subject, from English and History to Math and Engineering.  An online tutor is a great way to ensure that you’re hiring a safe, reliable person to help teach your student, without having to worry about some random stranger spending physical time with your child.  There are even a number of great language learning programs that can aid your child through their foreign language courses, or even prep them for a semester abroad.

Secondly, if your student is in the midst of studying for a major test, think about helping out with some exam prep materials.  Tests like the SAT and ACT when applying to college, can bring a seemingly overwhelming amount of studying. Working with a tested program can help organize and structure the studying process, ensuring that students are not only keeping up with their studying, but also studying the right things.  Exam prep courses range in price from $15 to $3000, but many deem this a worthy investment as even registering for some of these exams can cost over $100.

Sending your student to college doesn’t have to mean abandoning the guidance you’ve provided them all through middle school and high school.  Research the options, and decide how you wish to help your child succeed in college.

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Today’s guest blog post was by Noah Greenberg for Find the Best, a resource for parents and students to compare colleges, tutors, test prep programs and more.

 

college guidance, college planning, parenting

10 Things High School students can do over holiday break

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Christmas is just around the corner and students will be out of school for the holidays. Instead of watching them veg out on the couch or listening to the usual “I’m bored” diatribe, suggest these alternatives instead:

Learning Opportunities

  1. Spend the break reading—It may not be on your list of “fun activities” (unless you are a bookworm) but reading will a)improve your vocabulary, b)enhance your knowledge of the world around them, and c)increase your reading comprehension ability.
  2. Do some SAT practice tests or bone up on vocabulary—In just a few minutes a day you can add to your SAT vocabulary and in just an afternoon you can take a practice test to get a feel for the SAT and discover your strengths and weaknesses.
  3. Work ahead—Even though you’re on break, there are future assignments looming ahead and now is your chance to work ahead and start the next semester with an edge.
  4. Watch the History Channel or the National Geographic Channel—You might be surprised at how much you will learn watching these channels. If you want to veg out on the couch in front of the television, at least choose some educational programming.
  5. Check out iTunes University—iTunes University is an excellent way for you to get an idea of what college courses might be like. It’s free and there is a wide array of subject matter to choose from. You can access it on your iPhone, iPad or iTouch or by downloading iTunes on your computer.

One thing high school students can’t afford to do waste is time. Those valuable minutes (even during holiday breaks) can add up to invaluable opportunities.

Working Opportunities

Visit my colleague Wendy David-Gaines’ blog (POCSMom) for the last five activities (6-10) your high school student can do over their holiday break.

Wendy was a (POCSmom) Parent of a College Student and was once a pre-POCSmom as well. She likes to help parents de-stress during the college process and has written a book of stories and anecdotes to help parents see the lighter side of college.

 

 

 

college majors, infographics

The STEM graduate shortage

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This week the discussion in higher education has revolved around early college prep and the importance of math in early curriculum. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (also known as STEM) has been on the forefront for education and career fields. But America failing to produce strong numbers of STEM graduates. This infographic depicts the importance of STEM and statistics showing the STEM graduate shortage. What can we do to guide our students in that direction?

 

STEM Shortage
Created by: Online Engineering Degree

college planning, parenting

Early college preparation pays off

I read two articles and a report today that underscored the importance of starting the college preparation process early:

Math in preschool

Is 6th grade the key to ending the dropout crisis?

The Forgotten Middle (A College Readiness Report)

While I don’t advocate pressuring students in grade school about college or applying undue stress related to college preparation, there are some things that parents can do to assure their students are prepared when the college decision-making time roles around. Here are a few suggestions:

  1. Encourage your student to read, read and read–a strong vocabulary that you can only get from reading will benefit them throughout high school and into college; not to mention it will help with SAT/ACT testing and essay preparation.
  2. Make sure your school’s math and science programs are up-to-par and that your student participates with a strong concentration in both subjects–these courses are crucial to your student’s critical thinking ability and their success with challenging college curriculum.
  3. Teach your student to set goals and follow steps to attain them–if you start early, you are preparing your student to be successful in high school, college and in life.
  4. Before entering high school, have a talk with your teen about the importance of grades and academic success over the next four years–their grades are more than just letters on a piece of paper; they will determine how colleges view them and the amount of merit aid they receive. Strong academic performance = admission and scholarships.
  5. Help your student find his passion–a non-academic activity/hobby/interest to pursue, grow and excel throughout school and beyond. This is fun, social and ego-building, and colleges want to see this, too. (Thanks to Wendy at POCSMom for this additional tip!)

 

These may sound like simple or even obvious suggestions, but these few suggestions, if followed, can put your student on the path to college readiness and even college success. Positive proactive parenting can play a huge role in the college admissions process.