All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

college health, student health

Your Student May Face These Common Health Issues in College

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health issues

You might think that it’s going to be easy to stay healthy in college. However, it’s possible that this won’t be the case. There are a lot of health problems that college students will commonly face throughout their time in higher education. It’s important to be aware of these problems and guarantee that they do not negatively impact your college career. 

Headaches 

You might find that you struggle with headaches in college. Believe it or not, this is quite common and there are numerous reasons why this might be the case. First, it’s important that you don’t rule out that these might be tension headaches brought on by stress. Tension headaches can usually be felt on the sides of the head. Some people claim that they feel like there is an elastic band tightening around your head. We’ll talk about stress a little further down but adding some time to relax and unwind into your busy college schedule is often not a bad idea at all. 

Headaches may also be caused by eyestrain. This will be the case if you are finding it difficult to read the board or even read your notes. You may also have this issue if you are spending too long staring at a computer screen and that’s often a major part of college. It’s common for everything to be typed up, even the notes in a lecture. If you think that you are suffering from eye strain, then it might be worth visiting an optician to see if you have a problem with low vision. You could be short or long-sighted. 

Something to watch out for is sudden severe headaches that you aren’t used to and which makes it difficult to concentrate or even function. On rare occasions this may be a sign of something more serious and it does need to be checked out. 

Stress

As mentioned, it’s possible that the headaches that you are experiencing are a sign of stress. But stress can have numerous impacts on your body. It can leave you with chronic pain as your body manifests stress into something it can tackle head-on. It can cause you to feel emotionally and physically drained long before the end of the day. It might also cause you to feel completely overwhelmed and unable to complete your college tasks. 

Stress is why it’s important to ensure that your time at college isn’t just all work and no play. Essentially, you do need to make sure that you have a healthy balance. You need to work to guarantee that you are not becoming overladen with issues and that can be a problem if you are not careful. You might even want to speak to a therapist on a regular basis. Some people assume that therapy is only for those with serious mental health issues. However, that’s just not true. Therapy can be beneficial for everyone and ensure that you are mental health is being taken care of.

Depression 

When considering the issue of mental health, it’s important that you don’t overlook the problem of depression. Depression is far more common than most people realize in college. It’s possible that you develop depression because you feel as though you are not able to stay on top of the heavy workload. Alternatively, you might find that depression creeps in because you are struggling to keep up with what can be a heavy workload. 

For instance, hell week often causes students to break down. If you don’t know hell week is often a planned part of the college schedule. It is one or two weeks that include numerous exams and essay dates all clustered together. Survive it and you pass through one of the most difficult parts of the college year. Unfortunately, a lot of people do end up dropping out during this time. 

To understand depression you need to be aware of the common signs. Depression is described as a deep sadness that lasts for an extended period. This could be several days, weeks or months. You may find that you struggle to find the energy or motivation to do anything. Even getting out of bed or getting something to eat can be difficult when you are in a deep state of depression. 

Insomnia 

Alternatively, you may find that you are struggling to get a good night of sleep. It’s possible that you are constantly up through the night unable to get the rest that you desperately require to function effectively in your college classes. If that’s the case, then it’s important that you don’t take this lightly. You should instead make sure that you are looking for the root cause of this issue. Again, it’s possible that this is going to be stressful. A lot of people will have trouble sleeping if they are overwhelmed by thoughts swirling around their heads.

Alternatively, you might find that insomnia has been caused by your schedule being thrown off course. During the time of the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of people are struggling to get a good night of sleep. Experts have suggested this is due to the fact that people are not following their typical schedule. This is why it’s important to make sure that you do have a schedule in college and stick to it as much as possible. That schedule should guarantee that you are staying quite active throughout the day. In doing so, you can guarantee that you do not find yourself filled with energy by the time your head hits the pillow. 

Weight Gain 

Finally, it’s quite common for your diet to take a hit when you enter college. Suddenly, you find yourself living on fast food or ready meals that are easy to prepare. If you do this, you could notice negative changes to your mental and physical health. Yes, a poor diet has been linked to everything from weight gain to depression. That’s why you need to make sure that you are getting a balanced diet and ensuring that you are getting the vitamins you need. If you are struggling here, natural supplements could be the answer. 


admissions, gap year

Colleges Contemplating Not Reopening in the Fall–What does that Mean?

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COLLEGES NOT REOPENING

Many of you are in this college limbo. Your student was accepted to college in the fall, you’ve accepted the offer, and now there’s talk of colleges not opening campus to students. The concern is that if one college does it, they will all follow suit–just as they did in March with the closings.

We are already seeing rumblings and articles in the news about colleges not reopening in the fall. Here are just a few:

Boston University Is First To Announce It May Postpone Opening Its Campus Until January 2021

Boston University appears to be the first American college or university to announce that it may not resume live classes until January 2021. If public health officials deem it unsafe for students to congregate, the campus could remain closed until the start of next year.

Richard Ekman, president of the non-profit Council of Independent Colleges, says that some of the 659 colleges in his group have begun quietly to consider whether they too will have to postpone campus openings. Some are discussing start date delays of a month. Others are looking at more extended closures. “They’re all waiting to get better health information,” he says.

Already, universities are planning for a fall without students on campus — just in case

“We’ve got to be prepared for 100 percent online and virtual and 100 percent on campus and everything in between,” said University of Massachusetts president Martin Meehan. The UMass system lost more than $100 million this school year due to COVID-19 and the refunding of student room and board fees.

Will Universities, Colleges, and Law Schools Campuses Reopen in Fall 2020?

Universities and law schools aren’t ready to make a decision because the pandemic is so fluid and there is so much uncertainty, nor do they have to yet. But the question is being discussed on a daily basis, and we have spent a good deal of time speaking with college presidents, provosts, and deans and trying our best to get the most recent and trust-worthy epidemiological modeling and medical community input.

Even if campuses reopen this fall, colleges worry many students won’t return

“This crisis is causing massive disruption to students, institutional operations and institutional finances. On some campuses, it is creating an existential threat, potentially resulting in closures,” Ted Mitchell, the group’s president, wrote in a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

Even colleges with deep reserves are expecting a painful financial blow from the pandemic. Brown University was among the first to announce a hiring freeze, citing “dramatic reductions in revenue.” Yale University followed on March 31, asking departments to update budgets in preparation of a “significant loss” in revenue.

‘We’re on the edge of the precipice’: How the pandemic could shatter college dreams

Early national surveys ocof high school seniors are showing those who initially were bound for four-year colleges changing their first-choice schools for something less expensive. Some of those surveyed say they are thinking of giving up on going to college in the fall entirely.

The financial stress for families was cited. About 63 percent of students said they would still enroll in college but were worried about whether they could attend the school of their choice, while 17 percent said their plans have changed, according to the education consultants Art and Science Group.

Students with changed plans said in the survey that they would take a gap year, enroll part time at a four-year institution, go to community college, work full time or enroll in a certificate program. Some still didn’t know what their plans would be. Other surveys have also found similar conclusions.

Already, universities are planning for a fall without students on campus — just in case

Colleges and universities in Massachusetts and across the country have begun planning for what was once an unthinkable scenario but now may be a real possibility: a fall semester without students on campus.

University officials said they are trying to figure out how to re-open safely, how much public health testing is needed for students and staff to be on campus even if there’s no coronavirus cure, whether large lecture classes should be held, how many staff to employ, whether to augment their online capabilities, even what to charge students for online classes.

What will your student decide to do? Will they decide to take a gap year? Will they choose to enroll close to home and save money while living at home? Will they enroll and be satisfied with taking classes online?

Hopefully, colleges will know more by July and be able to make a concrete decision. It’s certainly uncertain times we live in and it’s especially affecting college students and their families.

study abroad, Uncategorized

How Has the Global Pandemic Impacted Study Abroad?

global pandemic

Students of all ages around the world are currently facing a truly peculiar bump in the academic road. At what seems to be the pinnacle of the global COVID-19 pandemic, academic institutions are making large changes to their curriculums. Whether it be by moving to an online-administered program, cancelling events or classes, or shutting down entirely; students across the globe are coping with the changes of their school’s transitions during the pandemic. 

Study abroaders of all ages are facing the ramifications as well. What does the pandemic exactly mean for study abroad students? In the past month here between in Italy and Spain, I’ve witnessed students being sent, both willingly and unwillingly, back to their home countries, students being sent to other countries to carry out the remainder of their study abroad where the virus has not yet reached, and students who choose to stay in these countries despite the situation. I myself identify as an international student and professional abroad, studying and working in Italy and Spain. I chose to stay, in spite of the pandemic. It is my hope to share with students and parents alike the effect that COVID-19 is currently transmitting onto the study abroad community, from here in Southern Europe. 

To begin, we must remember that study abroad programs in both high school and college vary in style, teaching methods, topics, location, etc. Different students are facing extensively different situations as a result of the virus. 

Institutions and programs with study abroad and/or international students in attendance are adapting massively diverse approaches as to continuing the education and safety of these students in particular. In Italy and Spain, study abroaders are generally being given the option as to whether or not they want to return home or stay in these countries. Schools and universities have been closed entirely for safety measures, and most (including my own!) have moved to providing online lectures and activities for their students. 

While boarders have closed in several countries, nationals of these countries (including the USA) are able to return home from their study abroad programs if required/chosen. 

This means that study abroad students are indeed able to reenter their home country, regardless of the closed boarders. Self-quarantine, aka Staying home, is generally requested or required at this time when returning home from abroad. Some European countries are taking precautions such as providing quarantine institutions to groups of nationals who have returned from abroad, for a span of 14 days before they are reintegrated into their family homes. Ultimately, what this means is that study abroaders are indeed able to return home at this point, if they so choose or are required to do so. 

For those of us students who have chosen to stay in Europe during this period, life is continuing as normally as possible. 

Instead of leaving the house and going to school, we set up at our desks at home with a laptop, ready for class. Instead of having a coffee all together after the lecture, we step out onto the balcony to see if any neighbors are in sight for a well-distanced chat. Perhaps the most difficult reality we face during this time is that the experience we study abroaders had envisioned is not going to be entirely brought to life at this time. 

With that said, the community of international students and professionals is always unified, even more so in times of crisis. I’ve seen internet campaigns of support, tutors and teachers offering free language classes online so that we may continue to practice despite the consequences, and new forums for questions and concerns so that the international community may help each other. It’s not only extremely helpful, but also very uplifting. 

Finally, we keep spirits high by knowing that study abroad can and will continue as usual once the pandemic has passed. 

As the world changes, we must adapt with it. Study abroad professionals and academic leaders on this side of the ocean have already worked incredibly hard and quickly to make sure that students are safe, well-informed, and able to continue their education to the best of their ability. There are still, and will be, more opportunities to study abroad both in here in Southern Europe and beyond as we move forward in time. 

For high school students who are looking to join us this summer with Abbey Road Programs, here’s some cool news:

scholarship

Social Media Ambassador Scholarships are Abbey Road’s most popular Student Ambassador award. Designed to promote study abroad and cross-cultural awareness through student stories and images, scholarship recipients are asked to share their summer experiences with their peers by posting pictures, videos and blogs on their social media accounts. Outstanding contributors are profiled and their work is showcased on the Abbey Road website. We award 3-5 Social Media Ambassador Scholarships per summer program.

______________________________________________________

Today’s guest post is by Shannon O’Brien, European Coordinator at Abbey Road Programs.  

Shannon is an American expat whose career in Europe began with a study abroad experience in Spain when she was in high school. She is still active in the study abroad community in Italy and Spain, and works as European Coordinator for Abbey Road Programs, assisting other students in pursuing international educations. 




college visits

Virtual College Tours

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virtual college tours

Campus visits won’t be happening anytime soon. Those spring college visits you had planned have been postponed or cancelled. If you have a senior who is making a college decision (or a junior finalizing their college list), your student can visit from the comfort of their own home.

Here’s some great links to check out virtual college tours on campuses across the country.

YouVisit

Here you can visit 600+ colleges for free either viewing on your device in 360 mode or using a virtual reality device. Tour small or large private colleges and public universities. You can search for the college by name.

eCampusTours

View 360 degree virtual tours of over 1300 campuses. This site also provides helpful college planning tools and articles for parents and students.

YoUniversitytv

If you’re not sure where to go or just interested in a type of college to view (i.e. Coolest Dorms, Best Athletics, Safest Campus, etc.) this is the place to go for a virtual tour of the campus. Colleges are divided into categories for easy searching.

YouTube

Go to YouTube and type in the name of the college that interests you and check out all the videos. SMU, for instance, has an actual official campus tour posted. You won’t be there at the physical location, but you can gather any information your need and even post questions. You can even view student vlogs to get a better idea of what the campus is like from a student perspective.

CampusReel

CampusReel puts 15,000+ students together with community at the forefront of college search with video content. They offer authentic and honest insight with a lens into campus life by exploring different perspectives.

College Websites

Don’t forget to check the college websites for virtual tours. Their web pages are good ways to find information to questions you might ask on a regular campus tour. If you can’t find an answer there, look for ways to connect via email or social media. Odds are you can get your questions answered

college planning, college visits, parenting

Coping with the Coronavirus

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coronavirus

I am seriously tired or seeing “coronavirus” on every social media platform. I’m tired of seeing people panic and act like it’s the end of the world if they can’t find toilet paper. I’m tired of hearing about another college or event that has been cancelled. I guess I’m just tired.

If you have a college-bound junior or senior, you probably feel the same way I do. But along with the frustration comes some concern and disappointment. Senior events are being cancelled. Colleges aren’t allowing visits. Admitted student events are cancelled. Some schools are having extended spring breaks.

How will all of this affect you and how can you cope?

There is going to be disappointment

Your teen is going to experience some disappointment. They have been looking forward to this time since they started high school. It may not be the end of the world to you, but it is to them. Be patient with them. Support them. Give them tons of hugs. You know this will pass but they don’t.

There are options available to make this tolerable

Thankfully we live in a digital world. In person visits cannot occur but virtual visits are available. Most colleges have them on their websites and you can also view some on YoUniversityTV video tours. After that, chat online with some current students you can find on social media. Most students are happy to brag about their school.

Mom can help by asking friends on Facebook for help connecting with current students. Grown and Flown is a great resource for current college parents.

If you have questions that can’t be answered by either of these options, reach out to the college itself. They will be happy to help you and understand your frustration.

Take care of your family

It goes without saying that the number one priority is the health and safety of your family. That includes protecting their mental health. Fear and anxiety can take over when everything seems out of control. Have open conversations about what everyone is feeling and find ways to help everyone cope.

The admissions outlook will change

Sarah Harberson, a college counselor, points out these things to expect during these next few months:

  • Expect decisions to be released on time.
  • Admitted student programs are being canceled amid fears of the fast-spreading virus.
  • With great uncertainty, the waitlist will be in full effect.
  • Acceptance rates will rise.
  • Be ready for colleges to aggressively try to convince students to enroll even after they make a decision.
  • Campus tours and information sessions are being canceled for prospective students and families of younger grades.
  • ACT and SAT tests sites are being shut down not only abroad but here in the states as well.
  • Virtual classes are replacing face-to-face in-person classes for high schools and colleges.

We are already seeing many of these things occur. If you need more information on any of these, read the entire article here: How Coronavirus Could Impact College Admissions.

If you need questions answered or just need to vent, hop over to my Facebook page and commensurate with other parents who are going through the same things you are. In the meantime, take a deep breath and hang in there–this too shall pass.

academics, college guidance, college planning

Strategies for Academic Success

academic success

While there are no single shortcuts to academic success, there are fortunately a number of beneficial ways for students to actively increase the chances of it. Here are the best techniques to encourage your college-bound student to stay motivated and achieve.

Start Preparing Early

It’s widely known that successful students are often those who are forward thinkers. Before leaving for college and starting the first semester, encourage your student to research the syllabus of the course and learn what it entails, such as the deadlines and dates of any essays or exams they will have, as well as any academic books that they may require. Building forward thinking structures such as this can prepare them for the organisational skills that they will need at college.

Learn Effective Note-taking

Note taking is a valuable skill for college life and can make the difference between passing and failing an exam. Numerous studies surrounding students and note taking have proven that those who effectively take notes remember the material better than those who don’t. Students that write down everything that their professors say can prove to be inefficient. It’s best to encourage them to take time to actively listen and jot down the most significant points that can aid their study, and to review and organize their notes to ensure that they are coherent for when they need to refer back to them.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Extra Help

Most colleges offer an array of support services to make the student experience as helpful as possible. While it can be rewarding to feel academically challenged, it can sometimes cause unnecessary stress which can affect student’s overall work quality and performance. If applicable, encourage your college-bound student to attend workshops, one-to-one meetings with their professors, academic writing classes, or even online course training and exam preparation websites such as https://www.athomeprep.com.

Embrace New Opportunities

Keeping an eye out for academic opportunities such as societies and work experience through flyers or social media can greatly impact your student’s academic success. Getting involved can enable students to be recognized, network with others, and learn new invaluable skills that can be instrumental to their desired future careers. It can also be a great way to meet like-minded people and quickly make new friends!

Learn the Art of Balance

While putting effort in at college equates to success, it’s important to remind your college-bound student that their well being should remain a priority above all. Students who spend all their time studying may begin to neglect their sleep, nutritional habits, physical and mental health, as well as their social lives. This can result in the feeling of “burn-out” and can even induce feelings of anxiety. College life can easily be balanced through allowing well-deserved breaks from studying, and smart time management. For example, it can be useful to create daily reminders in digital calendars on their phones and laptops to outline their schedule and set goals, as well as know when to organize study days and rest days. 

organization, study tools

5 Tips for Soon-To-Be College Students

college students

As a college student, it’s an environment where you’re constantly learning, and when it comes to getting the most out of it, there are ways that you can help give yourself that extra boost. Here are some tips for soon-to-be college students to improve their skills.

Always Be Practicing

Practicing something is a sure-fire way to achieve the success of something quicker than you would normally do it if you weren’t. Getting yourself into the mindset of practicing can be tough, but if you have the drive to do so, it can get easier. Think about what skills you need to work on and how you can implement that practicing in some way, shape or form. For example, you could be building on your experience as a writer and so creating a blog might give you that opportunity you need in order to write something new every day. It could simply be using a word generator to help you find better ways of describing or saying something. Opening up your vocabulary is important, and there can be so much use in practicing.

Time Management

Being able to handle your time appropriately is important because you need to be able to attend any lectures you might have throughout the week, make time to study and to see your friends around campus. So time management is something that’s definitely important, yet it’s not something you can always achieve easily, to begin with. It might take a little trial and error to get right but trust yourself to make the right decisions when it comes to getting up and doing something. If you struggle with time management, work out what’s making you late to lectures or to other commitments and then work on the ways that you can help change this for the better.

Learn How To Deal With Stress

Dealing with stress is something that many of us will have issues with throughout our life. It can be an emotion that we all feel to some degree, and some of us can handle it better than others. Try not to panic or make anything seem like too big of a deal. As much as getting qualifications and degrees are important, they are not worth harming your body or your mental health. If you’re struggling, always ask for help.

Consider Money And Budgeting

Money is a big thing for students because you can easily spend it on rubbish that doesn’t benefit you in any way. There are lots of ways to help budget your money better if you’re having a hard time of it at the moment. Look at the ways you’re spending your money currently and how you might be able to cut down or make better choices when it comes to using your money around the college. Perhaps try to limit yourself to a certain amount each day.

Learn organization

With so many tests, deadlines, and social activities it’s crucial to learn some organizational skills. Use data keeping tools, calendar apps, and good old-fashioned note-taking to stay organized in your classes and in life.

Improving your skills as a college student is always going to help make this experience a lot better and fulfilling if you follow these tips.

study abroad, Uncategorized

The Value of High School Study Abroad

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study abroad

Studying abroad is an excellent way for students of all ages to enhance their foreign language skills, level of independence, and ability to think critically. These aspects fall within the heaps of knowledge and personality traits that are developed while embarking on a study abroad experience, unique to every student. Particularly for those individuals who have a certain interest in languages, international affairs, history or art, studying abroad is always a good idea for both personal growth and for the resume. 

The term study abroad is generally associated with college students. It is very popular at this day in age for college students, regardless of their major, to spend at least a semester outside of the US, if not more. Less common are those students who choose to embark on an international academic experience when they are still in high school. This is the case for numerous reasons, starting with the fact that opportunities to do so are less frequent and less discussed; though the powerful impact of such experiences on a younger mind is incredibly valuable. In this article, I will share why study abroad experiences during youth and adolescence are critical for young students, both on paper and in person.

I make this claim as both a former study abroad student and a recruiter. My high school study abroad experience opened me up to a world of invaluable relationships, heightened cultural awareness, and fluency in a foreign language. As our world gets smaller and smaller, these aspects become more useful to us as students, professionals, and people.

On paper – What value does study abroad in high school add to a resumee?

1. International experiences set you apart. 

In a world where test scores and athletic achievements are seemingly the most common ways a high school student can excel on paper, international academic experiences provide a curveball opportunity for standing out. It’s especially valuable for students who may not be interested in pursuing a future of college sports or strictly academic vigor, and want to contribute something more diverse to their profiles. Since study abroad experiences are more exclusive to college students or graduates, their presence on a high school student’s resumee is highly unique and telling of the student’s probable personality characteristics. Which brings me to our next point… 

2. Studying abroad at a young age shows initiative and ambition.

There’s a difference between the inferences made about a student who studied abroad in college versus in high school. As a former student recruiter, when I came across a profile of a student who had embarked on an academic experience abroad before starting college, I always wanted to know more. Due to its less prevalent nature, making the decision to study abroad before college shows a unique level of initiative and self-driven ambition in a young student. Taking the initiative to travel at length and put oneself out of their comfort zone to pursue a curiosity allows someone to infer that they are dealing with a notably brave, flexible, and self-starting person. Especially at a young age, when taking advantage of an opportunity to go abroad often entails application forms, collaboration and convincing of the parents, and time away from home, the experience is much more reflective of these strong personality traits. 

3. Fluency in a foreign language stands out.

This is not only because our world is getting smaller and therefore naturally, the more languages you know, the more value you may serve. Studying a foreign language is time consuming. It puts the student in embarrassing and confusing situations. It forces you to let your guard down and laugh at yourself. We can even put aside the valuable display of ambition and drive that study abroad creates; learning a foreign language takes it a step further. It shows wit, perseverance, and the ability to think critically about oneself. People are left impressed when a young person explains to them that, no, the reason I speak Spanish isn’t because I learned it at home. I studied it and went abroad to perfect it, and now I’m fluent. It’s a wow factor. 

In person – What valuable impact does study abroad in high school have on a young mind?

1. Being abroad heightens our sense of self-awareness and critical thinking. 

The ability to exhibit elevated self-awareness and think critically about oneself are hard to come by even in adulthood. By partaking in the experience of studying abroad, young people get a kickstart to growing in these crucial aspects of knowledge and emotional intelligence. Studying abroad in high school made me reconsider the way I think; it prompted questions about myself in relationship to my own culture and upbringing. Suddenly, my 17-year-old brain was actively exploring parts of my psyche, like why I was so afraid of failure, or why the Spaniards are not disgusted by jealousy whereas Americans are. These are thoughts that inhibit us to become more considerate, self-correcting people both in adolescence and adulthood. 

2. We are more impressionable when we are young. 

Young brains are highly impressionable when it comes to both knowledge and mindset. The fact that we absorb more information with less effort at a young age is a given; it’s why a five-year-old can learn a new language just by listening to it, whereas a 35-year-old must put in seemingly endless amounts of effort to reach the same fluency level. In youth and adolescence, it is easier for our brains to grasp foreign concepts like languages and diverse ways of thinking. That’s why the younger we are exposed to them and forced to make sense of them, the better they stick. I’m talking about languages, yes, but also the ability to keep an open mind. By facing foreign concepts when we are young – for example, eating dinner in Spain at 10pm instead of 6pm back home in Massachusetts – we train ourselves to be open to adaptability and to maintain a flexible outlook. 

3. Authentic exploration is more precious at a young age. 

International experiences that take place in that special time between childhood and adulthood are invaluable. In this phase of our lives, it is more likely that the experience abroad will be less centered around finding bars where other Americans hang out, and more about discovering oneself and the culture around us through meaningful friendships, letting our guards down, and getting to feel more independent. At this age, an authentic experience is longer lasting in the impressions it has on us.  Even in the age of social media and connectivity, it allows a deeper connection with the place we visit and the people we meet. That value is continuous into our college application process, during college, and beyond. 

___________________________________________________________________________

Today’s guest post is by Shannon O’Brien, European Coordinator at Abbey Road Programs

Author bio: Shannon is an American expat whose career in Europe began with a study abroad experience in Spain when she was in high shcool. She is still active in the study abroad community in Italy and Spain, and works as European Coordinator for Abbey Road Programs, assisting other students in pursuing international educations. 

college planning, parenting

Coaching Your College-Bound Teen

coaching

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

A recent article in Business Insider 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?  

I will give you 10 coaching steps to take for a positive college prep experience.

Step 1-Offer guidance and advice.

Parents are primarily coaches—coaching and directing their teenager during high school so that they will be prepared to apply to and eventually attend college. It’s natural to take this role in parenting and it works well in the area of college prep.

Your teenager may not always ask, but they will need advice during this stressful time. Listen to their concerns and offer guidance and advice. Listening is the key because teenagers don’t always communicate what they are feeling and don’t always ask for help.

The next thing parents need to do is…

Step 2-Establish boundaries.

Early during the college prep process, have a serious conversation with your student.

Because of the insurmountable number of tasks involved with college prep, your student will need your help. The key word here is, “help”. One admissions officer told me, “Let your student drive the car”. It won’t be easy to let your student take control of the process, but this is part of the training they will need to be successful in college.

Next, we will discuss exactly how you can help.

Step 3-Be an encourager and a helper.

Be an encourager by reminding your student of deadlines, from test registration to FAFSA and application submission. Encourage them to stay on top of every task and suggest creating a timeline for each task.

Parents can participate in just about every activity during college prep.

You can help with organization by establishing a college landing zone. A place where you and your student can keep track of all college-related information.

You can help with test prep—practicing vocabulary words, administering practice tests, and hiring a tutor if necessary. You can also help them create a study schedule to prepare for the tests.

You can help your student create a college list. What is at the top of their list? What are they interested in studying? What career interests them? What college activities outside of academics are important? Does location or size matter? Use these questions to begin crafting the list.

You can participate in college visits by planning the visits, traveling with them, and discussing the visits afterwards, Under no circumstances should you take control during any aspect of the campus visit, from the tour to the interviews.

Scholarship searching can be a daunting task for any busy student. Parents can help by searching for the scholarships, making sure all the components of the scholarship application are completed, proofreading any essays, and making sure they are submitted correctly and on time.

Once the applications have been submitted you can participate in the final decision. Weigh all the financial aid offers against one another and help your student choose the college that is the best fit: academically, socially and financially. This is an important part of coaching.

Step 4-Teach life skills.

Teenagers 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 effectively 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.

Step 5-Teach Academic skills.

Students should 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.

Step 6-Model behavior

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.

Step 7-Educate yourself about everything to do with college prep

In order to be the “wise sage”, you need to educate yourself about all aspects of college prep. And in today’s age of technology and social media, you have all the tools available to do this. Take advantage of all the college prep advice on social media (Twitter, Facebook, and even Pinterest) have all sorts of tips for parents to help with college prep. Subscribe to blogs that provide parents with advice and connect with other parents on Facebook who are going through the same process.

On my blog, I offer numerous lists of experts to follow on social media, along with advice from college counselors, test prep tutors, essay experts and admissions officers. These tips help parents stay on top of all the college prep tasks and stay educated about any changes in standardized tests, admissions or financial aid.

Step 8-Have the money talk

Parents should have a serious conversation with their student about money before even applying to colleges. Approach it as a collaborative discussion and use this as a start to helping your teen understand the importance of budgeting and “needs vs wants”. 

  • Start off by making sure your teen knows what a “need” is and what a “want” is in relation to college costs. For some teens, all wants are needs. This is the time to nail the definition down and clarify it in their minds.
  • Decide just who will be paying for each college expense. Every family is different but it’s important to make this clear from the very beginning so that there won’t be any surprises.
  • Use a budget worksheet and understand ALL college expenses. Don’t just assume that tuition, room and board will cover it. There will be additional costs as well like travel, entertainment, dorm furnishings, student fees and others. Be sure to budget for these additional expenses.

When your teens contribute to the costs of their education, they will be more invested in their success. They will also learn valuable budgeting lessons that will stick with them past college and into adulthood. You’re doing your teen a disservice if you don’t involve them in the college financial discussions. They need to be active participants in the decisions and also play an active part in paying for that high-cost college education.

Step 9-Make financial aid a priority.

Even if you can afford to pay for college, why would you use the money if your student can get some of the free money from scholarships and grants? It makes sense to apply for scholarships. Scholarships are available for all ages and students should start applying early, even before senior year. There are scholarships for students with average grades, and scholarships that don’t require a GPA or even an essay. Sign up for scholarship search engines to find scholarship matches. Leave no stone unturned: search locally, ask friends, talk to your student’s school counselor and listen to the media. Scholarships are literally everywhere, and many local ones go unclaimed every year.

When your student is a senior, complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA is the key to getting not only federal aid, but aid from the colleges themselves. Much of the college aid is merit based but your student won’t receive it if they don’t submit the FAFSA.

Next…

Step 10-Participate in the final decision.

Once your student is accepted to colleges, due your due diligence and compare all the financial aid awards. If one award is higher than another and your student wants to attend that college, appeal the lower award using the higher award as leverage. Find the college that is the best fit: academically, socially and financially. Don’t allow your student to take on high amounts of debt just because it’s the college he or she wants to attend. Be the voice of reason and explain the consequences of graduating with too much student loan debt…

Now, some final words of advice…

Nag less and listen more

You will be tempted to nag: write this, apply to this, study for this, and search for this. Nagging will only cause strife and stress for you and your student. Instead, listen to his concerns, his visions, and his dreams. Listen carefully to ascertain whether or not college is the best choice. Listen to him talk about how he feels about the entire college prep process. And once you’ve listened, guide him — don’t nag.

Do less and encourage more

Avoid the temptation to take over the process. As one admissions officer told me, “Let your student drive the car.” You can be a coach, an advisor, a mentor and an attentive listener. You can also help with data gathering, scholarship searching, and deadline reminders. But under no circumstances should this process be yours. Let your student own his own future.

Compare less and research more

Don’t listen to other parents who want you to compare your student to theirs. This is you and your student’s journey. Do your research. Ask the experts. Don’t rely on hearsay to make your decisions. Your student is unique, and his journey will be unique. Arm yourself with all the information and tools to help with the process. Then pass it along to your student.

Panic less and plan more

If there’s one piece of advice I give parents, it’s this: stay organized and don’t miss any deadlines. Make a plan throughout high school and follow the plan. Once your student enters senior year, you should be organized and ready to begin the application process.

college planning, college prep

5 Steps to the Perfect College List

college list

Whether your student is a freshman or entering the last semester of their junior year, you should be looking ahead towards graduation. The first, and obvious question, should be—what’s next? What will your student do after high school? Will they enter the job market, take a gap year off to decide, enter the military, or will college be their next step?

If college is in their future, the college list should be a priority. All decisions, goals and pursuits will be geared toward receiving an offer of admission from those colleges on that list. Those colleges should be chosen with much thought and planning. Your student’s goal is to first be offered admission, and secondly be awarded aid that will pay for the education.

In order to craft a great college list, you and your student must keep an open mind. With over 4000 institutions of higher learning in this country alone, the obvious choices are not necessarily the best ones. Before you haphazardly throw some names onto the list, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Look at the statistics and rise to the top

The best college is the college that fits your student’s academic and social needs, and at the same time is affordable. The last thing you want is for your student to graduate with debt; and the best way to guarantee the most merit aid is to apply to a college where your student is at the top of the applicant pool. If your student’s grades, scores, and extracurriculars exceed those of the average applicant, a college will be more likely to entice him with merit aid (scholarships and grants).

How do you know where your student falls in the applicant pool? Use sites like College Navigator and College Data to compare your student with current students. Look at the figures for admitted students: what is the average test score, what is the average GPA, how much weight do they place on extracurriculars? If your student’s statistics are above these average amounts, the college will consider them a highly desirable applicant.

Step 2: Consider the unknowns

Most students gravitate toward the known colleges—those with national or state recognition. But there are so many excellent colleges within each state that go unnoticed. These are often smaller private colleges offering excellent liberal arts educations. These colleges have alumni that support them and often provide continued support—translating into scholarships and grants to new students. The larger state university may appear cheaper based on tuition, but the smaller private college will often award more merit aid to entice students.

I recommend parents encourage their students to look into the College That Change Lives . These colleges are built on the premise of “building the knowledge, character and values of young people by introducing them to a personalized and transformative collegiate experience.” Also consider technical colleges like Penn College that combine a liberal arts education with hands-on career training.

Here are some other links to research:

13 of the Most Unique Colleges in America

50 Most Underrated Colleges in America

50 Underrated Colleges Doing Great Things

Step 3: It’s all about the numbers

You might be surprised to know that in addition to all the factors students use to choose a college, there is one they might overlook: statistics. While location, major, campus appeal, and others are certainly important statistics will help you and your student make a more informed college choice.

Why statistics? Statistics will help you determine some of the key factors involved in choosing a college. With statistics you increase the odds of your student being accepted, receiving more financial aid, and graduating on time. You can also determine the class sizes, the freshman retention rate and the odds of finding a job after graduation.

Two good sources for college statistics are College Navigator and College Data. These two resources will help you make an informed college choice. Numbers aren’t everything, but consider these eight important stats when you and your student are looking at schools:

  1. Rankings (simply as a baseline for comparison)
  2. Financial aid percentages
  3. Acceptance rates
  4. Student-to-professor ratios
  5. Freshman retention rates
  6. Graduation rates
  7. Student indebtedness
  8. Percentage of student who are employed after graduation

Step 4: Let the money do the talking

There’s no point in adding a college to the list if it’s unaffordable. Your student will be disappointed if offered admission and the cost makes it impossible for them to attend. Before applying, research the financial aid footprint of every single college on the list. How much aid do they typically give? How much debt does the average student graduate with? Use their net price calculator and determine what it will cost to attend there before applying. If your student is offered admission, there will be no surprises and disappointment if you do your due diligence before the application process begins.

Colleges offering small percentages of financial aid in the form of scholarships and grants should only be considered if you can pay or your student makes applying to scholarships a priority. You can’t count on scholarships or grants, but your student can certainly do everything to position themselves at the top of the applicant pool to receive them.

Step 5: Do a side-by-side comparison

How do you compare colleges once you have a solid list? Your student should develop their own rankings based on their personal choices and priorities. These items might include the obvious items like academics and location, to such unconventional items like Greek life and campus appearance. List all the items on a chart, giving each item a plus (+) or a minus (-) and tally up the scores. The colleges with the highest scores should make the final list. Colleges with lower scores might not make the list or need further evaluation.

By following these five steps, your student can create a strong college list of colleges that fit them academically, socially and financially. You might discover some hidden gems while navigating the search, just as my daughter did (and fell in love!).