Category Archives: college guidance

college guidance, college planning, parenting

5 Great virtual jobs for college students

 

virtual jobsDespite the fact that education should be the main focus of students during their time in college, many wind up having to work in order to pay their way. Even with help from parents, federal financial aid, scholarships, and grants, the expenses associated with earning a degree can require students to work if they want the privilege of attaining a higher education. As a parent, you’re likely doing everything you can to ensure that the kids in your household are able to attend college, but you still have your own bills to pay and you might not be able to carry the whole financial load. However, you don’t necessarily want your kids wasting their time and talent at minimum-wage jobs. So here are five virtual jobs for college students that could net your kids a higher salary and offer a flexible schedule, to boot.

  1. Tutor. While college students can certainly offer assistance to peers on campus by tutoring at the learning center (often for pay), they might be better off providing younger students (K-12) with academic aid via the online arena. Websites like Tutor.com, TutorVista, and SmartThinking.com, just to name a few, can give your student the opportunity to provide tutoring services while working as much or as little as they want and probably earning a lot more than they’d make on campus.
  2. Freelance writer. Any student who is accepted into college can obviously write since the essay is a big part of the admission process. And sites like ODesk, Elance, and FreelanceWritingGigs.com offer all kinds of opportunities for writing and editing jobs. Students can also check out the job board at ProBlogger.net if their real interest lies in writing content for blogs.
  3. Social media consultant. Believe it or not, college students are a valuable commodity when it comes to social networking these days. Most have grown up with computers, cell phones, the internet, and mobile service, so they are familiar with both the hardware and the social landscape. And college kids in particular have their finger on the pulse of pop culture. Consider that Facebook started as a way for college students to connect with friends. The point is that corporations looking to utilize social media as a vehicle for marketing campaigns can use both the technical know-how and the social savvy that many students harbor, and in some cases they’re willing to pay for it.
  4. Game developer. For students that love to use their programming prowess to create mini-games for fun, turning their hobby into a paying gig is not that hard. With a $99/year developer license from Apple they can start posting their mobile games to iTunes. And if they want to offer free downloads in order to boost their popularity, they can still make money through advertising and in-app purchases (like the ability to pay a one-time fee for an ad-free experience). Over time, they could make a fair amount of money, especially if rival companies want to buy the rights to their games.
  5. Virtual assistant. Most students these days enjoy rapid typing speeds thanks to a childhood spent on the computer, and if they can handle screening phone calls, fielding email correspondence, and performing data entry, chances are good they could snag a job at a virtual office in New York, Los Angeles, or anywhere in the world. The remote workforce is growing by leaps and bounds, and even students with little skill or experience can become virtual assistants.

With so much of today’s business being conducted online, finding a virtual job during college will allow you to work around your own schedule and put some extra money in your pocket.

admissions, college guidance, college majors, college planning

The 10 Most popular college degrees

 

college degreesCollege is meant to be one of the most important stepping stones in life. The education students receive is designed to give them knowledge, experience, and a considerable leg up on the competition. Students are expected to become masters at their professional pursuits. Yet it should be noted that not all degrees are created equal. Some of the most popular degrees create well rounded individuals that are fit for many different careers within their professional aspirations. The top ten most popular college degrees are largely proponents of this sort of developmental flexibility.

1. Business Administration:
Those who are versed in business administration are often very adept at performing a number of different tasks in the workplace. You learn how to budget, plan, direct, and manage a number of different organizations.

2. Psychology:
This degree is for the people who wonder about what makes them tick. Psychology majors learn about cognition, intelligence, emotion, and disorders. They can do everything from teaching or researching any of the incredible processes made in the human mind.

3. Nursing:
Nursing may be the strictest degree on the list. After all, if you’re looking to be a nurse, you have a good general idea of what you want to do. Helping people and assisting doctors are major draws to the job. But there is still wiggle room. There are different types of nurses (pediatric, geriatric, etc) that deal with different issues and environments.

4. Biological Science:
Biology is literally the study of life. Everything from microscopic organisms to the entire ecological landscape of the planet resides in this pursuit.

5. Education:
Those who become education majors often have creativity, patience, and compassion. Their goal is to teach and inspire the next generation. There are a number of different topics to become proficient in and teach. This major gives students the tools to become inspiring educators.

6. English Language and Literature:
Many people feel that English class was the bane of their pre-college existence. Many find themselves thoroughly enjoying this major that encourages communication and literary comprehension. This major creates new generations of writers, readers, reporters, and thinkers.

7. Economics:
Economics is the study of scarcity and choice. How and why people choose to spend their money and time. The major can deal with anything as small as the individual to as large as the entire planet’s economic structure.

8. Communications:
Communications majors are well sought out in business, public relations, and government. Why? Because they know how to spin an amazing tale and keep people enthralled. Through learning and understanding the different modes of communication, these majors prepare themselves for diverse career options down the road.

9. Political Sciences:
This isn’t just the study of a political structure. This is the study of current events and how it shapes the world. Political sciences prepare people for careers in a number of places: academia, government, and even in multinational corporations.

10. Computer and Information Sciences :

This is one of the fastest growing fields in the world today. As more and more businesses become technologically advanced, the number of people who require computer sciences majors will exponentially increase. What’s amazing is that this boom is expected in nearly every field.

Each of these degrees aim to foster a roundness in graduates that will promote overall success. After all, the aim of receiving a college education isn’t solely to become adept at retaining information. Teaching relevant knowledge isn’t the only important duty a college performs. It’s also about trying to create a student that is well versed and learned across the spectrum each degree represents. Choosing the degree that works best for you is the first action you take before leaping across to this great stepping stone of life.

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Author bio: Steve manages a college paper writing service at www.solidessay.com, which helps high school and college students with their homework assignments.

college guidance, college planning, financial aid

4 Often Overlooked Ways to Afford Higher Education

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piggy bankThese days, the cost of higher education can be close to the cost of a new house, so if you’re planning to send your child or if you intend to go back yourself, you’ll need to do plenty of saving and lots of planning. Keeping spending in check is a good strategy to help save money for school, but there are several other ideas for financing education. This post will cover four sometimes-forgotten ways to afford higher education, including scholarships for military dependents, getting certification in lieu of or before getting a degree, attending classes online so you can still work while in school and going for shorter programs, like those that take a year.

  • Scholarships are available for military dependents. If one or both parents served in the military, if your spouse serves or served, or if you are a military parent looking for ways to send your child to school, don’t overlook military dependent scholarships. Ranging from a few thousand dollars to full scholarships, these aid packages aim to assist families of servicemen and women in their pursuit of higher education. There may be additional requirements for eligibility; for example, some scholarships are for students attending specific colleges or universities. Others limit eligibility to certain branches of the military or to specific ranks. 
  • Will a certification course help you reach your goals? The way to your dream career might not be via university after all. Do some research into your chosen field and you may find that, depending on the profession you plan to pursue, a certificate is the only requirement to get an entry-level job in your area of expertise, and you’ll be able to work your way up from there. Even if you know you’ll need a bachelor degree or more at some point, perhaps a certificate now would allow you to earn more money at your current job and save up for your college tuition. Certification courses are much shorter than degree programs, can often be completed after working hours or on weekends, and generally cost much less than you’d pay for a semester at a university. Also, military veteran’s scholarships will apply to many certification courses, just as they will to university tuition and fees.
  • Attend classes online so you can work at the same time. Online learning is here to stay. Advanced e-learning software and methodology makes studying for your certificate or degree over the Internet a hassle-free, timesaving option for higher education. The nature of online classes allows you to fit learning into your schedule on your own terms. While you’ll still have to pay for a quality online course, the money you’ll save by being able to earn money while you study will help offset the total cost, and you’ll also save on transportation and student housing costs. If the courses you wish to take are relatable to your current job, have a discussion with your manager or human resources department to see if your employer will be able to offset (or even, pay for) your online studies. Even if your company’s budget doesn’t extend to helping fund your courses, your manager may be able to help you arrange your schedule so you have more time to complete course work for assignment deadlines, for example.
  • Choose a series of shorter programs. Slow and steady wins the race. If financial or time constraints make pursuing a degree unattractive or impractical at this time, talk to an academic counselor about following a series of shorter programs that would eventually lead you to the degree, or the level of demonstrated experience, that you’ll need to land your dream job and embark on the career you want. Depending on your individual goals, it could be wise to first complete some certification courses and then take a series of online or night classes that will count toward a two-year degree. From there you can go on to pursue a four-year degree.

 _________

About the Author: Kelly Novack is committed to educating individuals about the accessibility of education in the digital era. She is especially interested in distance learning tools and the growth and development of online courses in adult education.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, parenting

Helping your child choose the right college

 

prepare for college

As a parent, you may have fond memories of your college years. Perhaps you were not able to attend college and you are excited your child will have opportunities you didn’t have. You may also have strong opinions about where your child should attend college, what they should study and what type of study format the institution follows (for instance, online versus on-campus).

Ultimately, your child is the one who will have to register, attend classes, keep their grades up, graduate and translate their education into a rewarding and lucrative career. Find a balance between your opinions, and your child’s interests and goals when working together to choose a college.

Decide on a Basic Field of Study

If your child has no idea what they want to pursue for a career, then often the best choice is to locate a two-year college where your child can get their basic coursework out of the way. In the meantime, they can work with a career counselor to take skills tests and narrow down their choices to a field of study that will work for them. However, if your child knows what they want to study, then that can dictate the colleges you research.

Set Your Budget

Once you have narrowed down your child’s interest to a range of possible majors or one major, set your budget. This tells you how much you can contribute to your child’s college education and how much must be financed through loans, work-study programs, grant and bank-funding. Setting your budget means having an open and honest conversation with your child about what your budget will and won’t cover. You can discuss at this time whether your child may want to take the summers off to work and earn money toward their education, carry a part-time job while in school or other means of funding as well.

Discuss Learning Style

Another important aspect of helping your child choose the right college is to determine their learning style. Some people learn very well in a self-paced format, such as at an online institution where they can take classes around their work schedule. Other people have trouble learning unless they are in a “live” classroom setting surrounded by the interaction of others students and professors. Choosing the right learning environment will be key to your child’s college success.

Create a List of College Prospects

Once you have identified basic elements such as budget, learning style and field of study, create your list of college prospects to research. You and your child can make a spreadsheet to evaluate each college based on a series of factors important to you both. This makes it easy as well to track application and admission requirements, required fees, financial aid options and more — all will aid you in your child’s final selection.

Apply to Your Chosen Schools and Fill Out the FAFSA

Once you have narrowed down your choices to the top three to five schools, apply to each school. You will need to help your child fill out the FAFSA (Federal Application for Free Student Aid) to qualify for financial aid through the school’s financial aid office.

Visit Colleges Again

Once your child has been accepted at one or more colleges, visit these schools again if they plan to attend on campus. This way, your child can decide on the best fit in terms of school size, campus environment and other factors that will influence their decision.

By following this step-by-step process, you and your child can find the best college for their interests and budget. In the future, if they choose to apply to graduate school for a leadership degree or another program, they can use a similar process.

 __________

About the Author: Mary Wilde is mother to three college-aged kids. She has used the techniques in this article to help each child find the perfect college for their interests, needs and goals. 

college guidance, college planning, Uncategorized

High School Students Test Drive College

 

Here is an excellent program designed by the Columbus College of Art and Design that offers students the opportunity to test drive college courses related to their interests. Sounds like a great idea!

___________________

COLUMBUS, Ohio (February 25, 2013) – Deciding on a college is one of the most important decisions teenagers and their parents will make. This is especially true when considering an art and design school because of the focused curriculum.

college previewFortunately, before teens make this investment in their future, they can take a test drive of a potential college, career and often a new part of the country. Columbus College of Art & Design offers students entering grades 10 to 12 in the fall a three-week college emersion experience in art and design with the College PreView program.

“I knew I wanted to pursue art, but hadn’t chosen a college or area of study, “ said Lillie Templeton, who traveled hundreds of miles from her home in Wadesboro, N.C. to attend CCAD’s College PreView the summer before her high school junior year. “It was a great experience, helping confirm my desire for an fine arts education, exposing me to different majors and giving me ideas for possible career opportunities.”

Teens live in CCAD residence halls, take classes taught by college faculty, meet professional artists, exhibit their work, explore Columbus and its art scene and have an option of extending their experience with an excursion to New York art galleries. They learn about everything from fashion and interior design to advertising and graphic design and animation to photography. Students earn three college credits for participating in the program.

CCAD also offers a Discovery Club for those entering grades 7 through 10. Students explore their creative self in a fast-paced, weeklong residential art camp. Starting their artistic journey early allows them to make even better college and career choices.

Students and parents interested in learning more about College PreView or Discovery Club can visit www.ccad.edu/ce/cp. Photos from the programs can be viewed and downloaded at http://flickr.com/gp/77678141@N07/SDeuA2/

 ______________________

ABOUT CCAD

Columbus College of Art & Design, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest private art and design colleges in the United States with 1,350 undergraduate and graduate students. CCAD offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fine Arts. Undergraduate students choose from nine majors: photography, industrial design, advertising and graphic design, animation, illustration, fine arts, fashion design, interior design and cinematic arts. www.ccad.edu

admissions, college guidance, college planning, websites

Online college resources for parents

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Recently, I prepared a list of what I believe to be invaluable college resources for parents online. I’ve found these resources to be helpful during the college admissions process and can vouch for the quality of the information they provide. This is not an all-inclusive list, but some of my favorite go-to resources. After all…”we get by with a little help from our friends”.

Youtube

Researching Colleges
SAT Prep tips
90 second videos to help students and parents with admissions
College Auditions
Tips for students who will be auditioning for an arts (music, theater) college

Parent help sites

Student Advisor
Guides and an App to help parents with the admissions process
University Parent
A comprehensive site for parents with tips and guides

Blogs

Dr. Strange College
A parent’s perspective step by step through the college journey
The College Solution by Lynn O’Shaughnessy
Info on admissions, aid, and great advice on how to choose the right college
Admissions Game
Comprehensive info for parents and students with Q&A available
SAT Tutoring Blog
Tips from the writer of “Outsmarting the SAT”

Tutoring

ADHD tutoring-Jennifer Cohen
If your student is ADD/ADHD this is the BEST tutoring available
Quincy tutoring network
Network of tutors to help in school
Hoot.me
Use facebook to connect with other students and get help with homework

Sat prep

Bell Curves
Exceptional SAT/ACT prep company focusing on diversity with integrity
Word Nerd
The BEST way to study SAT vocabulary in preparation for the test
Revolution Prep
Hosts a tutoring season on Facebook–giving great tips

College searching

Student Advisor
Offers free guides for parents and students on all college topics
The College Board
Great site for students to begin their college search
College Prowler
by students for students–info on college campuses to help with the college search
College Application Wizard
Plan and organize your college search

College visits

Smart college visit
Plan your trip, book your travel, get insight about college visits
Join Parent Advocate program to get/give expert advice
Welcome to College
Find schools, review the school info, read and give peer reviews and even schedule and keep track of visits
College Week Live
A virtual college fair where students can talk to other students and admissions counselors online

Scholarships

Zinch
Cappex
Fastweb
How to win college scholarships
Scholarships 360

Admissions

CollegeData
Gives parents and students help with choices, admissions tracking, and percentages to gauge admissions
College Navigator
Stats on colleges for parents and students to compare cost, aid awarded, acceptance rates and export results into a spreadsheet
Ask a question about college
Type your question in the box and get answers from experts
Unigo
Advice from college experts and students with a Q&A platform

Financial Aid

College Affordability and Transparency Center
FinAid
College Money Insider
The best info on loans, repayment, and financial aid advice
College Financial Aid Advisor
Help for parents and students with the FAFSA and finding financial aid

College Recruiting

NCSA Sports
Learn about the college recruiting process and how it works
Be Recruited
Register and get in touch with coaches and recruiters

College Tax Tips

College Tax Guides
Bone up on all the tax information you need to know about college-related expenses.

College related chats on Twitter

#campuschat
#collegechat
#collegecash
#collegebound
admissions, college guidance, college planning

Top 10 Video Application Dos and Don’ts

 

college video application

With the mountain of applications colleges receive, the challenge is for students to find a way to stand out.  A video essay is a dynamic new way to make your application gleam.  It’s a chance to deliver a message via a video application about who you are, and to make an impact as your personal statement plays out on an admissions officer’s laptop.

1. Watch other students’ videos

What makes for a great application video?  To find out, spend some time viewing other students work.  You’ll see various video “genres,” songs and raps, poems and performances, animation and “slices of my life.”  Watch analytically. When you see a video you like, ask yourself what makes it work.  Think about the ones that don’t work too – you can learn as much from misses as from hits. Consider what an applicant communicates, and notice the camera work, music, editing and pacing.  You’ll see that some of the best videos are very simple, often shot in one place with a webcam.

2. Say something meaningful about yourself

This is a chance to transcend your numbers and to tell colleges something you feel is important about yourself.  Consider what abilities, qualities or talents you want to convey.  Be genuine. Follow your heart and your imagination.

3. Make it memorable

Find a hook, an angle, or something unique.  This doesn’t mean being fancy or gimmicky, but distinctive.  As with a written essay, you want your video to stick in an admissions officer’s head. Think about videos you’ve watched. Which do you remember a day or a week later?  Understanding what made them memorable can help you make yours stand out from the pack.

4. Have a script or shooting plan

Unless you’re doing a webcam rap, you will need a script or shooting plan. You can deviate from it on “the set” – sometimes great ideas come on the fly – but having a game plan will help you stay focused and on track.

5. Communicate clearly

If you are appearing on camera, rehearse what you are going to say.  Try to relax.  Doing a number of takes will help loosen you up, and will also give you more options when you edit.  Smile, take your time, and speak clearly and naturally.

6. Don’t have testimonials from people saying how wonderful you are

Not even President Obama!  Colleges are not interested in hearing your coach, teachers, or best friends sing your praises.  They want to hear from you.

7. Don’t make a “laundry list”

Some students think that they will sound interesting and impressive if they show off everything they’ve done since they were out of diapers.  The problem with this approach is that it can have an impersonal quality – by focusing on all the stuff you do, you the person gets lost.  Yes, “laundry list” videos often display an impressive range of activities and abilities, but they focus on the outer, not the inner self.  And colleges already know what you do from your transcript and brag sheet.

8. Don’t upload without getting feedback

Show drafts of your video to other people and get feedback. Is your voice clear over the music?  Does the pacing work?   Do people “get it?”  Your video will become stronger as you cut and fine tune.

9. Don’t forget to show your face

A common mistake is shooting too far from the subject (you).  If you’re small on screen, you’re harder to see and hear.  Being close on a person’s face helps convey their emotions.  Let them see into your eyes!  Close ups will help an admissions officer connect with you.

10. Don’t make a video longer than one or two minutes, max!

Admissions officers are far too busy to look at anything longer.  The last thing you want is for someone to get bored, glance at his watch, and turn you off in the middle of “Here’s what I plan to do with my life.”

As with your college essay, making a great video takes time and thought, but doing so may help give you that extra edge at Top Choice U.

Here are some great video essays to get your inspired:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLykpU6r2CI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgVOLepuVSU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJnf7zw_30Q     

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky52SUPUjPY

 ___________________

 Max Kiefer and Rosa Wolfe are filmmakers and authors of How to Make a Winning College Application Video Essay: Everything You Need to Know from Idea to Upload   Their website www.ThisIsMeVideo.com  is a place where students can learn about making application videos.  

college guidance, college planning, financial aid, parenting

Should you co-sign on a student loan?

 

student loans

As a parent, you probably want to do anything within your power to make your child’s dream of college come true. Hopefully you’ve saved up enough money to help them afford tuition, but that college fund may not stretch nearly as far as you once thought it would. Tuition rates continue to rise and finding grants and scholarships take some work on the part of your college-bound teen. For the vast majority of students and families, taking out loans is the only recourse. But some private loans will require you to co-sign on your child’s behalf. This complicates things, and could cause a host of problems. But, should you co-sign on a student loan?

It’s important to remember that any loan offered by the federal government will never require you to co-sign.

Those loans make up the bulk of the borrowed money for any student, and they come with low interest rates and controlled payback periods. In addition, some federal loans won’t accrue interest or require any payments to be made until after the student graduates. Federal subsidized Stafford loans do not charge interest until graduation. Unsubsidized Stafford loans begin charging interest on the day they are disbursed.

If you’re being asked to co-sign, that means it’s a private loan.

You must make sure that your child has looked for all government loans first before going this route.Repaying a private, co-signed loan is also far less flexible. You may have to start paying it off immediately, and the lenders don’t always offer the same deferment and forbearance options as the government. This makes it much harder to manage repayment, which also greatly increases the chance of a loan default. If your child does need some sort of deferment, they’ll often be charged a fee to do so. Overall, this option is far less favorable.

Co-signers are held responsible.

Keep in mind that as the co-signer you will be held responsible if your son or daughter fails to make payments. In fact, the lending institution will consider you 100% liable for this money, just as if you personally borrowed it. You don’t ever want to think about your child running into these sorts of problems, but it happens all too often to be ignored. Not only will they hold you responsible, but just as with those title loans in Arizona that went into default they will hit you with legal action if you fail to pay. That means action from the IRS, penalty payments and a massive dent in your credit score. This can bring about a whole host of emotional issues within the family, and the financial strain just isn’t worth it. All in all, consider co-signing to be an absolute last resort move.

Parents can co-sign on a student loan.

There are some positives to be found going this route. First of all, your student will be able to secure a lower interest rate, thanks to your involvement. Even if your college-bound child has been saving diligently, chances are he or she has not built up much credit to date, if any at all. If you have a solid credit history, you should be able to help your child secure a far lower interest rate by co-signing. And that means the cost of the loan will be lower over the life of the repayment period. In addition, by co-signing you are helping your child establish his or her own credit history. This process is crucial, as it will help them get future loans. Building credit often starts by opening up credit cards, and that comes with all sorts of other issues. By going this route you’ll work together to build your child’s credit.

Parents do have another option-PLUS loans (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students).

To qualify for PLUS Loans, parents must have children who are enrolled at least half-time at an approved educational institution. The maximum allowable amount that can be borrowed for a PLUS Loan is the difference between the cost of the student’s attendance and any other financial aid the student receives (a number set by the school’s financial aid office).Unlike Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans feature neither a grace period during which no payments are due nor any period during which interest doesn’t accrue. The upside of this choice is that you control the repayment and do not have to rely on your student’s job procurement after graduation, or their ability to repay their loans.

college guidance, college planning, parenting

5 Ways for students to avoid college sickness

 

college sicknessWith tons of college students crammed into dorms and classrooms, it’s not surprising that ailments spread like wildfire on campus, especially when you add sleepless nights, high stress, poor diet, and a general lack of physical fitness to the equation. And yet, the college students in your family need not succumb to the illnesses that plague their peers on campus, even if they are so caught up in their studies that they make health their last priority.To avoid college sickness, here are just a few pieces of advice you can instill in your kids  before they leave home:

  1. Prioritize R&R. Burning the midnight oil and letting anxiety rise without respite are two great ways to ensure that your body forces you to take a time out by contracting an illness. While students might not think that they have the time in their busy schedule to get the rest and relaxation they need, it often boils down to a matter of planning and prioritization. Sure they could stay out late with their friends, or they could choose to go out for a little while and then come home and hit the hay for a full night of rest. Taking time to relax with some yoga or even a couple chapters of fun reading (not related to a class) is possible when studying is done in a timely manner instead of put off until the last minute.
  2. Drink plenty of fluids. Proper nutrition is essential to good health, but one of the best lines of defense against illness is a large daily dose of fluids to keep a body hydrated and flush out toxins. Water is generally best, so let students know that soda and coffee don’t really figure into the eight-glasses-a-day rule.
  3. Use hand sanitizer. In general, the best way to keep kids from spreading germs is to have them wash their hands frequently throughout the day. But college-age kids might not be keen to run to the restroom between every class. For this reason, mini bottles of hand sanitizer are a great option. They can fit in a backpack or purse and keep hands that touch food and faces from transmitting the germs their classmates inadvertently share.
  4. Get a flu shot. Your teens have no doubt had all of their immunizations by the time they head off to college, but flu shots must be received annually in order to protect students from this virus. Shots may not be fun, but if they keep your student from spending a week in bed with a fever, body aches, and all manner of other symptoms they’re well worth a momentary sting.
  5. Keep regular doctor visits. Good health is an ongoing process, and it requires the help of professionals not only when something is wrong, but for regular checkups and preventive care. Since your teens will probably remain on your insurance during their time in college, find them a doctor in their area that’s on your plan and remind them when they’re due for a physical. And for times when they’re unable to avoid illness, put the number of the doctor or your policy provider’s premier patient line on speed dial.

 

college guidance, college planning, dorm life

Stocking up on college wardrobe essentials

 

Your teens would happily waltz off to college wearing the torn jeans and stained tees that saw them through high school. But as a parent you know the power of first impressions, and you want your kids to set their best foot forward when they enter the ivory tower of learning. They have all semester to prove that they’re bright, insightful, and motivated to work hard, but if they show up to class in clothes that you wouldn’t even donate to charity they will be making a bad first impression. It’s important that you take the time to help them find wardrobe essentials that are comfortable but appropriate.

Here are just a few suggestions of college wardrobe essentials for your college bound teen.

college wardrobe essentials

Get rid of the worn, ratted clothing

The first thing you should do is get rid of the raggedy old jeans and tees that seem to have become the staple of every teen wardrobe. Even if all you can get your teens to agree to is a brand new and cleaned up version of these outfits it will be an improvement over the gnarly threads they currently sport. But if at all possible, you may want to push them to expand their style borders and adopt a few pieces that will help them to appear like they’re serious about their education. It’s not as though they have to wear a prim and proper uniform, but wardrobe selections are not only important with college staff, they make  either positive or negative impressions with other students.

Take some professional attire

In truth, it’s not a bad idea to have at least one suit handy for situations like internship or job interviews, and a few business-casual pieces couldn’t hurt either. Slacks can provide a nice change from jeans for guys or girls, as can buttoned shirts, which can be just as comfortable as other options while looking a lot more put-together. A jacket can add finish to any outfit. Remind your teens that there are ways to make these pieces portray their personality by dressing them up with accessories (scarves, jewelry, cool kicks, etc.). They can work to make a wardrobe appear more polished while still showing off the style that they rank as a top priority when it comes to creating great outfits.

Don’t forget to pack climate appropriate clothing

Another thing to consider when selecting an appropriate college wardrobe is the climate your students will live in. If they’re used to the temperate climate of sunny southern California, they may have a rude awakening when they head off to college in Michigan or New York. So it’s important to outfit them with all the cold-weather clothing they’ll need to survive their jogs across campus in below-zero temps. This could include long Johns, wool socks, and an arctic parka, as well as gloves, hats, and scarves. Rather than letting them pack bikinis and gowns for prom that they’ll never use, store their less useful clothing at home so they can come back for it later and send them to college with a wardrobe that truly suits the needs of their new environment.