All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

tech gadgets, technology

Tips for Buying a Laptop for Your Student

 

buying a laptop

Access to computing power is an essential for any scholar heading to college. When those Black Friday sales begin to show up, then, you may be inspired to act quickly, and pick up a deal. It might work out well. There’s plenty of room for mistakes, however. It’s important to do your homework before you commit yourself to buying a laptop.

First, talk to the school

When a student uses a computer at college, he or she needs it to connect to the school’s network, and the network at the library. When there is a problem connecting, the tech support department at the college needs to be able to help.

With a view to keeping the tech support complexities involved to a minimum, educational institutions tend to limit themselves to providing support for one operating system. Should a student come in with an operating system that the school isn’t prepared for, there is little support likely to be available.

College courses can come with special computing requirements, as well. It’s important to keep those in mind.

Talking to the school can come with practical benefits, as well. You may learn that the school has a discount program for its students. You could get both the laptop and all the software needed, at low, negotiated prices. School-sourced computers come with easy-to use warranties, as well.

 If what the college supplies isn’t good, get your own

When colleges offer deals, they tend to be on good models. Sometimes, however, colleges do lose the plot. Whatever model the college offers, you want to look through the specifications, and make sure that there’s nothing wrong with them. If they seem less than adequate, there are always plenty of quality, cheap laptops available online. You only need to make sure that what you get is compatible with the school’s needs and abilities.

Here’s what you should look for

If the school asks for a Windows or Linux laptop, these come cheaper now than ever before, and you can get astounding quality and performance at no more than a few hundred dollars. If you can afford it, you want to choose nothing less than a 1080p, IPS LED screen that offers sharp resolution and wide viewing angles. An Intel Core i5 processor for processing power, 8 GB RAM for speed, a 2 GB graphics card that keeps up with moderate demands, a 1 TB hard drive for storage, and a backlit keyboard for nighttime work. A capacious battery is a great plus. If it’s a Mac that’s required, the choices tend to be clearly stated.

Ask the student that you’re buying for

The school’s recommendations may help you learn about the minimum requirements for the course. Such a computer may not meet the minimum requirements that the kid has in mind, however. If it’s a gaming enthusiast that you’re buying for, it’s a whole other ballgame.

Many students heading out to college decide to buy two computers: a light, inexpensive laptop for everyday work at college, and a powerful desktop for gaming purposes. Only a desktop can handle a gaming-level graphics card, after all. In some cases, a desktop maybe all a student wants.

Buying a fine laptop isn’t hard work. You only need to head in armed with information.

______________________

Today’s guest post is from Aimee Kirk. She has some extra time on her hands now the kids are grown, her youngest now at college. So she is spending that time writing articles and has taken up a new hobby in the form of digital art.

financial aid, scholarships

Crowdfunding to Pay for College

 

crowdfunding

Crowdfunding. It’s the new way to raise money for all kinds of worthwhile endeavors. But did you know that your student can use it to raise money for college? In the spirit of the famous quote, “It takes a village to raise a child”, crowdfunding takes college savings to a whole new level.

Though it might seem awkward asking for money for college, crowdfunding sites act as intermediaries. These sites allow students to submit a personal appeal for funds. Much like wedding registries that everyone is familiar with, crowdfunding sits act as a college registry to seek money to pay for college.

Is this something that interests you and your student? Here’s a list of crowdfunding sites to explore and help you get the ball rolling:

Acentive

Acentive, is a unique crowdfunding platform designed to help students raise money for college from their community, allows pledges to actually incentivize students to excel academically. Pledges from family, friends, and the community are tied to academic performance (such as $25 for every A earned); this means the better the grades, the better the payout.

Other crowdfunding platforms generically ask donors for money. Acentive provides a way for donors to set academic targets and reward students for success so they feel good knowing students had to work hard to earn those donations.

The company believes that monetary rewards are a great way to incentivize academic performance and have found that family and friends are excited to offer support when it gives students a goal. The short-term rewards help students focus on short-term performance, particularly during freshman year when the pressures of college are high. According to co-founder Jeremy Bolian, “Acentive is the best way to raise money for college because it leverages community support in a way that actually incentivizes students to excel in school.”

YouCaring

Is the cost of college standing in the way of your educational goals? Every year, the cost of education rises twice as fast as medical care costs! College costs show no signs of slowing. In your lifetime, the price of attending college has increased over 1100%. Student loan debt has doubled in the last 10 years. YouCaring makes raising money for college tuition fast, easy—and free. Students on our fundraising platform get the tools they need to offset the rising costs of getting a quality education, absolutely free.

Indiegogo

Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform that doesn’t decide who does or does not get funded – it’s all in the hands of the public. With it, you can raise money for college.

Gift of College

If you’re reluctant to solicit gifts for their children’s college funds, Gift of College would be an excellent crowdfunding source. With this unique offering, friends and relatives have an option to contribute to a 529 saving account by purchasing a gift card for special occasions and holidays.

The cards offer a tangible way to contribute to a college fund, rather than simply writing a check. You can purchase these gift cards online at their website or at various merchants to use as gifts.

GreenNote

You may not realize it, but there are lots of people out there rooting for you. Friends, family, friends of family and your community. Even people you may not know directly. People want you to get an education, they want you to graduate and they want you to have a successful career.

So why not consider asking them for help? Using the GreenNote online service, you can request donations from your social network and provide them with a really simple and convenient way to send funds just when you need them the most!

Go Fund Me

GoFundMe is a popular fundraising/crowdfunding site. Why not use it to raise money for college? College is expensive. Ease the financial burden by fundraising for higher education costs, including those not covered by financial aid or scholarships, such as room and board or study abroad trips.

PigIt

PigIt’s co-founder describes the site as “education’s entrepreneurial piggy bank.” On the site, students are able to offer their personal skills, abilities or products in exchange for financial contributions. It’s a great way for students to actively gain control of their current debt situation, without the temptation of spending the funding elsewhere.

Rally

Rally.org makes it easy for individuals, groups, social causes and non-profits to fundraise online with no tipping points or hassle. It’s easy to create a beautiful, inspiring, online-fundraising page with Rally.org. Simply upload a photo or video with your fundraising story and you’re ready to go! Their expert team has designed a fundraising website with your goals in mind.

Uncategorized

Don’t Be Afraid of College Prep

 

college prep

What lurks in the dark—the unknown? We have so many things to be afraid of these days. Parents live with fear every day. Who knew clowns would be at the top of the list? Can you believe the violence these once happy characters are responsible for? I long for the days of Ronald McDonald.

One thing you do not have to fear is college prep. As with any goal, it’s important to remember the only way to remove the fear and anxiety is to be prepared and organized, know the facts, and have the conversations. Once you do these things, you can enjoy the experience.

Be prepared

Stay organized and prepare for senior year. College prep begins early in high school and culminates with senior year college applications. Create a college landing zone early, set up files (either in a file cabinet or on a zip drive), and start collecting information on test prep dates, AP test dates, volunteer opportunities and any other aspects of college prep.

Know the facts

Get expert advice when you need it. Parents can take advantage of all the social media outlets to educate themselves about college prep. Experts abound on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest. Once you connect, sign up for their mailing lists and follow their blogs. If you have a question, just ask. Most will be willing to help. Need to know where to find them? Check out these lists from my blog:

50 College Info Websites

50 More College Prep Websites

56 College Info Websites

Have the conversations

Don’t let fear of the unknown cause you added stress during the process. Have conversations about money before they leave for college. Once your student knows what you can afford to pay and what you expect him to pay, the college search becomes more focused. This alleviates any surprises when the offers of admission arrive and it’s too expensive to attend. Discuss budgeting as well.

Don’t forget the conversations about risky behavior. This will be the first time your student is living on their own and there will be many temptations to participate in this behavior. Explain the consequences for each and devise a plan to avoid these dangers.

Enjoy the experience

Lurking in the shadows is the inevitable moment of saying goodbye. Focus on the positive and embrace each and every experience. This is a monumental moment in your child’s life (and yours). It’s the biggest “treat” of all. Don’t let fear and anxiety about the future rob you of the joy of the journey.

For many parents, college prep is scary. They wonder if their student will make the right decisions, be ready for this future step, and how they, as parents, will respond to all these emotions. But don’t be afraid. Get help, talk to other parents, and ask questions. We’re here to help!

financial aid

5 Ways to Save Money for College

2 Comments

 

save money

Saving money for school is getting more and more difficult as the prices of school tuition get higher and higher. While some students are given a free ride with an academic or athletic scholarship, others rely on their parents or grandparents to pay for school.

For the rest, it is becoming a common occurrence for students to live at home with their parents for the first year while living frugally and trying to save up for the following semesters. While these students may save a lot of money, it is still possible to get private alternative loans to help cover the expense. Here are five ways to frugally save money for school and contribute to paying for room and board, books and tuition.

1. Save change in a bucket at the finish of each day. Never take it out to spend. Roll the coins periodically with free wrappers from the bank. Do not use a coin conversion machine. It removes a small percentage. Every coin counts.

2. Enroll in a 529 tax deferment plan. The student may be able to shop at certain stores and use their coupons to save money. A percentage of the money will go into a college savings account.

3. Pick up a part-time job. Any earnings will be directly deposited into an individual bank account used only for school. If the student already has one, this could be a second income set aside only for higher learning.

4. Spend less money on fun activities. Rather than going out bowling or to a movie, go to a free concert at the local park or go for a bike ride. Rather than going out with friends, invite them over instead.

5. Use coupons. Clip or download coupons on food, auto repair, and restaurants. Do not spend more money to save more, simply spend less. Using coupons to save money on clothes such as stores like even Jet.com can be of great deal and also using coupons for stores like Target.com; You can save a lot of money.

Those looking to increase their financial well-being and savings should check out these money saving tips.

essays, Guest Posts

How to Write a Personal Statement

personal statement

If a private university or college is in your future, the Common App is your one-way ticket. You’ve got one shot at a winning application, and Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, is here to help!

How to Write a Personal Statement: A 3-Day Live Online Course is the ultimate course for students and counselors to help you knock out your Common App in one weekend.

Throughout the weekend, you’ll have access to:

  • Over 10 hours of LIVE sessions with Ethan, the College Essay Guy
  • Everything you need to write (or help a student write) a beautiful personal statement
  • Daily Q&A sessions to ask ANY questions you like
  • A chance to get feedback on your essay during Ethan’s live workshops
  • Links to recordings of the lessons so you can go back and watch them for a full year
  • The feeling of having completed your Common App essay. #nice
  • So much more goodness.

Click here for more info.

Can’t make a particular session? No worries: You’ll have video recordings of EVERYTHING.

Can’t afford it? Don’t worry, there’s a pay-what-you-can option.

Are you a counselor? You’re invited too!

Click here to reserve your spot.

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

October Is a Busy Scholarship Month

 

october

While you are thinking of fall colors and Halloween, there are so many opportunities to apply for scholarships. October is a busy deadline month for scholarship seekers. Take advantage of the many scholarships with October deadlines and score some free money for college.

According to Jessica Velasco of JLV College Conseling, “attending college can be quite expensive for students and their families. Luckily, there are many college scholarships and contests available to help pay for a college education. Students should seek out and apply for scholarships in which they meet the eligibility requirements.” Jessica provides a full list of scholarships with October deadlines.

Niche’s scholarship list of October scholarships allows you can choose a category and filter by states, majors, minorities and easy to apply. Or you can look at the entire list of scholarships with October deadlines.

Allen Grove, a college admissions expert for About Education says, “October is one of the busiest months of the college admissions process, and many applicants are so preoccupied with their college applications that scholarships aren’t on their radar. They should be. Many scholarship opportunities expire in October.” Allen provides a sampling of 42 scholarships with October deadlines.

Although October is full of frivolity, it’s also one of the best months for you to ‘carve out’ some time for scholarships. There are many fall programs available to high school and college students, but just like ghosts, they will evaporate soon. Unigo has compiled a list of “Spooktacular Scholarships with October Deadlines”.

DoSomething.org provides unique scholarship opportunities for you to make a difference in your community. After you participate in one of their campaigns you are entered to win a scholarship. These scholarships are great opportunities to blend community service with scholarship awards. Check out this list of DoSomething’s scholarship campaigns with October deadlines,

Scholarships.com has an extensive list of scholarships for students who need funding for college. They have provided a list of scholarships with deadlines in October. While you are there, check out their other lists of scholarships listing deadlines by the months.

Uncategorized

Supporting Your Child After College Graduation

 

college graduation

If you have children who will be graduating from college, you may be wondering how you can support them on their journey as they enter into the real world and make adjustments to their new lives.

It is a scary world out there and if your child is entering a completely new career field, he or she may be nervous and unsure of what to do.

When it boils down to it, many students face college graduation with an enormous amount of student loan debt and what this does is it sets them up for failure in the real world if they are unable to pay the debt down quickly.

Imagine if your child had $30,000 in student loan debt and could not transition out of their minimum wage job and into their chosen career even with a degree. That is tough to think about, right? Unfortunately, it is the real world and this happens all of the time.

You may be sitting back right now scratching your head and wondering what it is you can do to help support your child once they have graduated college. We do have some ways that we think are feasible for the both of you and will help you two form a closer bond in the process.

Let’s take a look at some of the ideas below.

  1. Cosign on Student Loan Refinancing

If you have never dealt with student loans before, then you may have never heard about student loan refinancing. This is okay.

Student loan refinancing is a way for your child’s student loans to be reworked and the interest rate to be lowered. This results in a lower monthly payment and lower overall interest that needs to be paid on the loan itself. Sometimes, students are able change their student loan term period as well.

When it comes time to refinance, your child will quickly realize that there are some strict requirements to do so and if they do not meet these requirements, they cannot refinance. Your child must have a good credit score, good credit history, and a stable job.

Many new graduates do not have the minimum requirements for a bank or private lender to refinance them and they are told they need a cosigner. If you want to help support your child, you may want to consider being a cosigner on the loan, so that they can refinance it. It is possible to have your name removed as the cosigner later on down the road too.

Let’s look at an example to show you how much your child could save. Let’s start out with a loan balance of $20,000 at an 8.6% interest rate with 10 years to pay on the loan. The current monthly payment on the loan is $249 and the total interest paid over 10 years is $9,885.

If we refinance that loan, so $20,000 at a 3.25% interest rate for a period of 10 years, the new monthly payment would be $195 and the total interest paid over 10 years is $3,453.

Simply helping your child refinance in the scenario above would save your child a total of $54 per month and a lifetime savings of $6,433 in interest payments alone.

  1. Make a Payment Agreement for Debt

Another way you can help you student is by helping them pay down some of their debt. For instance, if their debt totals $15,000 and you have the money to spare, maybe you can use the money to pay off their debt and then work out a payment plan with them to pay you back.

This will benefit them because they will save money on interest payments. If you wanted to, you could charge interest on the amount you pay off too, but your interest charge is not going to be anywhere near that of a bank.

In addition, you may be able to work something out with your child where you will help pay off a credit card bill and in return they can install new fencing around your home and so on.

It is important that you and your child lay out the terms of the deal BEFORE any money is paid out or BEFORE any benefits have been had. You want to make sure you have a commitment from them that they will pay you back.

  1. Help Your Child Budget and Build Credit

If you have never taught your child about personal finance, now is the time. It is important for your child to have a solid foundation to build upon. Finances are not easy to manage when you do not know what you are doing.

You can help your child budget with the money they have as well. For example, sit down with your child and determine how much money they make, how much their bills are, and their necessities. From there, work with them on how to create a budget and where they should be sending their money. The more you help them, the more they will learn.

Lastly, make sure you help them build their credit and teach them about credit. The worst thing you can do for your child is let them blindly get a credit card and treat it like cash or like it does not have to be paid back. This will only breed bad financial behavior and your child will be confused when his or her credit score is in the 400 or 500 range.

Final thoughts on supporting your children after college graduation

As your child enters into the real world, he or she will need your support and it would be helpful for them if you were there. If you are unable to help them financially, you can still support them by providing them with the guidance they need to make payments on time, build their credit score, and not allow their loans to go into default.

college costs

5 Ways To Get Your College Student Home on the Cheap

 

college studentOver 3 million college students will attend universities outside of their home state this year. With the yearly costs of a private or out-of-state education starting at $24,000, any added expenses beyond room and board, books and tuition can be a real burden. Yet, not having your kids home for the holidays is unimaginable for many parents, so they find a way to make it happen.

For those already thinking about how to get back home “from” school, here are five tips to help your college student get home on the cheap:

  • Rack up miles and earn free flights. While fares during peak season can cost hundreds, earning free flights is easier, and simpler, than many think. RewardExpert helps travelers create easy-to-follow strategies by developing customized earning plans and maximizing frequent flyer rewards. The service makes it easy to earn free tickets in just a few months, making now the perfect time to enroll.
  • Carpool with someone headed the same direction.  College Carpool is amongst a handful off services that allow students to connect with others driving the same direction through private pages for each college. Through forums, students can find available rides, or proactively request one.
  • Enroll in a car share. Many traditional rental car services have restrictions for those under 25, however ride car services like Zipcar andEnterprise CarShare are available to university students. Monthly fees are low, and once registered, students can reserve a car whenever they need one.
  • Hop on the bus… Sure, the bus might not be the most glamorous option, but Bolt Bus, Megabus and Greyhound are cheap options with surprising amenities. Most have free wifi, power outlets and even reclining seats. Smaller-scale regional buses also offer student discounts, such as Short Line.
  • … Or the train. Taking the train home is another great option, withAmtrak providing service from 500 destinations in 46 states. The company offers a 15% student discount, along with the opportunity to earn points towards free travel.

No matter how far away or son or daughter may be, there are some creative ways to get them home without breaking the bank.

college planning, college prep

Dear High School Junior

high school juniorDear High School Junior,

Your quest for college intensifies this year. Junior year is THE most important year in the college process. It’s the year you focus your energy on college preparation. All the years leading up to this year have prepared you to begin this journey and as an admissions officer once told me, “drive the car”.

Focus on these four tasks this year and enter your senior year prepared to apply to colleges.

Academics

Your junior year is THE most important year as far as college. It’s the junior year transcript that colleges will receive with your application. This is NOT the time to start coasting. Do your best in every class, especially the AP Honors classes. This level of commitment to academics will communicate to colleges that you capable of handling rigorous college courses and have fine-tuned your time management and study skills.

Test prep and study

First–the PSAT is NOT a practice test. It’s your ticket to some substantial scholarship money if you qualify as a finalist. You don’t have to win or be the best; you just have to qualify as a finalist. Most students don’t study for this test so that’s an advantage you will have going into it. If you study, you could be looking at a full-ride at one of the colleges you list on your test. Think carefully before you list a college. Once you do, it’s locked in.

The SAT and ACT are used by colleges to rate you among prospective students. Scoring high on these tests can mean the difference between an offer of admission and a rejection. Study before taking the test. Take advantage of some free test prep even if you feel you don’t need it. Take the practice tests, evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and adjust your study accordingly.

College lists and visits

It’s time to start your college lists. Is one college at the top of your radar? Do you want to stay in state or attend a college far from home? These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself when you start your list. Remember to look at all types of colleges: private, state, junior colleges, liberal arts colleges, technical colleges and even career specific colleges like a culinary school. One size college does not fit all. It’s time to explore.

Start visiting colleges–either on your list or nearby to get a feel for campus life. Make some preliminary visits before you start scheduling official visits with the colleges. Talk to students. Explore the area around the college. Once you have a tentative list made, start scheduling visits for tours, meeting with financial aid, and interviewing with admissions. Letting the college know you are coming shows interest in their school. Colleges keep track of these contacts; and when the application is received, they can look at their list and see you have expressed interest.

Finances

Talk with your parents about how they expect you to pay for college. If they are contributing, ask how much they have budgeted for your education. This will help you know what they are prepared to pay and what you will have to contribute to make up the difference. If it’s substantial you should intensify your scholarship search and start working to save money for expenses.

Don’t apply to colleges that are entirely out of your reach if you don’t receive financial aid. It will only lead to disappointment. Investigate how much financial aid the colleges usually provide incoming students. This will help you plan. Remember that the sticker price of a college is not usually what you will pay. Apply to colleges where you are at the top of the applicant pool. This will improve your chances of receiving merit aid.

It’s time to get serious because senior year is just around the corner. Once it hits, you will be writing essays, applying to colleges, and working hard to keep your grades up. If you prepare in advance by completing these four tasks, you will have less stress your senior year.

parenting

Walking the Helicopter Parenting Tightrope

 

parenting

Parenting has certainly changed.

In the 50’s, our parents let us have the run of the neighborhood. We rode our bikes everywhere, walked home from school alone, and rode the bus to the movies alone. In the summer, we left the house early in the morning and returned home in time for dinner. Our teachers terrified us and we knew if we misbehaved, our parents would back them up. There were no car seats or safety belts. You would never find anti-bacterial soap or even consider using it. When we turned 18, we either went to college or got a full-time job and moved out of the house.

In the 80’s, parenting styles began to change. Because of Adam Walsh, we watched our kids like a hawk. We weren’t quite ready to take away their freedom, but we worried. We worried about where they were, who they were with, and what dangers they might encounter when they were at school, outside, and at the mall. Parents began to question a teacher’s authority and loosened the grip on the discipline of their children. Spanking became taboo and “time out” emerged as a parenting technique.

At the beginning of the 21st century helicopter parenting emerged. It’s not like we planned for it to happen. It just did. We sheltered our children from any disappointment. Everyone on the team got a trophy. There were no winners or losers. We questioned all school authority. We would never consider letting them walk home alone or play outside without supervision. If they forgot their lunch, we took it to them. If they left their homework at home, we took it to school. We began to make every decision for them and protect them from every consequence. We began to feel the “parent peer pressure” for our children to be the best and the greatest. If they graduated from college and couldn’t find a job, they came home to live and thus the term “boomerang” generation was born.

How do you walk the tightrope of helicopter parenting?

How do we raise our children in this frightening world without overprotecting them from the disappointments and trials of life? What are the long-term risks of helicopter parenting? Combine a little of the 50’s parenting, some of the 80’s style of parenting, and a very small amount of the 21st century parenting for the perfect parenting balance. There’s a fine line between cautious parenting and being a helicopter mom.

Ask yourself this question–Do you want your children to be independent successful adults or do you want them living in your basement for years and years depending on you to pay their bills and take care of them? Is it conceivable they will be going off to college and surviving alone, or calling you every day crying for help, or needing assistance with every life task? Will they be running home because they simply can’t survive without you?

My guess–your answers to every one of these questions would be a resounding NO!