All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

financial planning, Scholarship Friday, scholarships

Scholarship Friday: $6000 for Black Women in Stem

When I come across a scholarship that can help students and their families pay for college, I like to share it. Today’s scholarship is from BestColleges and there are five of them available for $6000. If your student qualifies, make sure they apply.

scholarship

Scholarship Overview

On average, Black women in STEM earn salaries that are 45% lower than their highest-paid peers. BestColleges is committed to breaking down barriers for students in underrepresented communities, who desire careers in the most competitive fields. This year, we’ll be giving away five $6,000 scholarships to Black women who are currently pursuing careers in STEM.

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college planning, college visits, parenting

Making College Visits a Family Affair

college visits

College visits have become more important today than they ever were in the past. Competition for that coveted admission spot and the competitiveness of the colleges vying for students makes the college visit a key factor in a student’s decision and a college’s recruiting efforts. College visits are the “bread and butter” of the admissions process and if you have a college-bound tween or teen, it’s time to get into the game.

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Guest Posts, Student debt, student loans

Restoring Education’s Promise with Responsible Student Loan Borrowing

Today’s guest post is by Bob Collins, VP of Financial Aid at Western Governors University.

student loan borrowing

WGU students graduate with half the debt of their peers nationwide

Education is linked to the eradication of poverty and the promotion of prosperity, but evidence that college students graduate with excessive debt continues to pile up year after year. With student interest rates at their highest in the last decade, our current economy serves as a reminder that students should make informed decisions to borrow wisely.

Western Governors University (WGU) was established in 1997 with a mission to expand access to high-quality, online and affordable higher education. WGU serves more than 150,000 students nationwide and has more than 340,000 graduates in all 50 states.

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back to school, parenting

Helping Your Student With Back-to-School Anxiety

back-to-school anxiety

Some of the latest figures show that over a quarter of students have back-to-school anxiety issues. With the school year just starting, it could be worse right now. From making a morning routine to celebrating the little wins, here are some practical ways you can beat the stress of it all.

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admissions, college prep, common app

5 Ways to Look Uncommon on the Common App

Common App

The Common Application is used by over 500 colleges. It was created to save colleges and students time when submitting their college applications, hence called the Common App. The basic information you complete in the application will be used by every college you apply to: test scores, personal information, and extracurricular activity lists. You don’t have to resubmit that information to each individual college.

The Common App was set up in 1975 to simplify the application process, but the very name of the application suggests that there is no opportunity for students to stand out in this common app process. But there are opportunities for students to stand out, or look uncommon when using the Common App.

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admissions, college guidance, college planning, in the news, standardized tests

What Do Colleges Look for in an Applicant?

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colleges

The NACAC (National Association for College Admissions Counseling) surveyed their member four-year colleges and you might be interested to know what they found.

The responses indicated that the most important factors in admission decisions were grades and high school courses. According to their recent survey, 77 percent of colleges listed the student’s grades in college prep courses (AP and Honors) as considerably important. High school grades in all courses were considered important by 74 percent of colleges, and the strength of the high school curriculum by 64 percent of colleges surveyed.

Interestingly, the essay had considerable importance by only 19 percent of colleges, with demonstrated interest ranking important by 16 percent of colleges.

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admissions, college guidance, college planning, college prep

Less is More When Applying to College

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applying to college

There’s a theory among teens, and many parents, when applying to college: “The more colleges you apply to, the better your chances.” In theory, it makes sense, but there are other things to consider besides hedging your bets with numbers.

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academics, parenting

Top Tips for Educating Your Child

educating your child

It’s always important to find ways of educating your child outside of the classroom. Why? Well, there are often some things that aren’t covered in the classroom and it’s also a case that when your child is one of many in a classroom, they might not always get that 1-2-1 attention you feel they deserve.

That’s why it’s useful to do what you can as a parent to provide them with as many opportunities for educational resources as possible. 

Here are some top tips to educate your children at home in 2023.

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college planning, parenting, surviving college

The Transition from High School to College

transition

As your student makes the transition from high school to college, he enters a very different world. This is a world of freedom, but also responsibility. For the parents, it’s often the reality of an empty nest and the realization that their student is taking a huge step toward adulthood. This transition period offers its own set of challenges for parents, students and their families.

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Gift ideas, parenting, student products

Drink Cover Can Save Your Student’s Life

When I come across a product that helps parents and students, I’m happy to highlight it here on my blog, especially if it pertains to student safety. This drink cover, NightCap, is a must-have for any student.

drink cover

Shirah Benarde might be only 20 years old, but she has already helped keep over half a million people safe from drink spiking with her viral company NightCap. NightCap is a revolutionary brand that was featured on Shark Tank in 2021, resulting in a passionate partnership with the queen of QVC herself, Lori Greiner.

Shirah launched NightCap when she was just 16, after a close friend had her drink spiked during a night out, and worked tirelessly to ensure the product would be something her customers would feel comfortable bringing along on a night out with friends.

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