Category Archives: college guidance

admissions, college guidance, college planning, Guest Posts, test prep, websites

Compare Colleges side-by-side with FindTheBest.com

February 5, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer

Whether you are eagerly awaiting those acceptance letters or are still applying (or both), the fact remains that you need to pick the best school you can go to, and you need to find out which particular college that is.

FindTheBest is an unbiased, data driven comparison engine that allows students and parents to look at schools. Researching colleges and universities becomes so much simpler with filtered options such as location, tuition, average SAT score, size, religious affiliation and other important factors. And once those acceptance letters start rolling in, students can create custom comparison lists to see the differences between each school side-by-side.

Compare Colleges and
Universities

Parents should also look into college scholarships, fellowships, and grants to mitigate the financial burden that arrives when a child is sent off to college, and students should look into them to shorten the years that it will take to repay student loans. FindTheBest also has a comprehensive list and information including enrollment level, minimum GPA, gender and background specificity, and scholarships to particular schools.

If your student is still a junior in high school, then the SAT and ACT test prep class comparison tool will help you get that high composite score that colleges love to see. Test prep classes run all year-round, but the best times to take the tests are in the spring.

The college application process is fundamentally imperative to the success of a student’s academic career. These tools were developed with that in mind, and all of them are completely at your disposal to use in navigating the college maze.

admissions, college costs, college guidance, college planning, financial aid

University of savings: financial aid tips

February 1, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer

Big college dreams have a big price tag. Most students use some form of aid to pay for college. According to CollegeBoard, more than $207 billion in aid is available. From federal loans to scholarship contests, opportunities to knock down college costs appear to those who search. Leave no stone unturned and look into these college aid resources to cover the costs.

FAFSA

With the potential for grants, loans and work-study incentives, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is square one when it comes to paying for college. The FAFSA analyzes family financial information through the federal-need formula. Among other things, FAFSA takes tax information into account, so Collegeboard.org recommends filing tax returns before starting the application. However, if your taxes aren’t ready, file with estimated amounts from last year and update with correct amounts after filing.

Aimed at providing a path to college for any student, the FAFSA is particularly advantageous for disadvantaged students, who have a better chance to receive free grants and scholarships.

Students can fill out this lengthy application at Fafsa.ed.gov.

Scholarship Contests

Students with 4.0 GPAs and high SAT scores aren’t the only ones who can take advantage of scholarship money. Scholarship contests offer students an equal playing field to show their stuff. Whether it’s an essay, video or presentation, these performance-based contests highlight talent in any field.

Scholarships.com lists news opportunities in various categories, including minority scholarships, corporate scholarships and even non-academic scholarships. A quick Google News search for “scholarship contests” will return the latest contents and deadlines.

Ask your guidance counselor for additional local opportunities, and explore the internet for the latest scholarship offers.

Student Loans

Free money is preferable, but loans enable students to have a classic college experience even if they can’t pay for it up front. This growing trend in financial aid is putting thousands of students through college and collecting payments from millions. In early January, student loan debt in the U.S. surpassed $1 trillion, according to Foxbusiness.com, and that number is expected to grow even more.

The FAFSA provides opportunities for federal student loans. Sallie Mae bank offers a private option to compete with these government offerings.

Loans can provide a worry-free college experience, but don’t over-borrow and saddle yourself with too much debt. Once graduation comes, failing to make payments can compromise your financial stability. The rule of thumb with student loans–borrow wisely.

Unconventional Aid

Some scholarship opportunities don’t fit into traditional molds. Unique scholarships give students that may not otherwise stand out a chance at college aid. The vertically-challenged student, for example, can take advantage of the Little People of America Association’s scholarship for students 4’10” or shorter. Left-handed students that have had to deal with awkward desks and sloppy writing are in luck, too. The Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship Program offers money for southpaws who demonstrate leadership skills.

Every student has something unique about him or her. Search for the scholarships that separate you from the crowd.

Work and pay as you go

Many students are choosing to work and pay as they go. High school students work during the summers and save for textbooks and other essentials not covered in tuition. Some students choose the community college route, attending classes as they can afford to pay for them. Other students opt to use the work study program at their college to supplement tuition expenses.

Colleges are recognizing that tuition costs are rising the average family cannot afford to chunk down tens of thousands of dollars at the beginning of the school term. They offer payment plans which spread the tuition out over the school year to help parents budget and pay as they go.

College is in reach if you take the time to research the many opportunities available and use that information to make a college choice that best fits into your available budget. Don’t let financial barriers keep you from achieving your dreams; and don’t let financial barriers lure you into overwhelming debt just to pay for a high-priced college.

college costs, college guidance, college planning, financial aid, parenting

It’s FAFSA time!

January 24, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer

Here’s a great post from the College Board in honor of Financial Aid Awareness month for parents, reminding all of us of the importance of the FAFSA and how to get ready for submission.

It’s time.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is how millions of students apply for federal, state and most college-based financial aid. And because government grants compose 74 percent of this $185 billion pool, it’s understandable for families to feel anxious when filling out the FAFSA.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Susan McCrackin, Senior Director Financial Aid Methodology at the College Board, offers this eight-step map to help parents and students work through the FAFSA as efficiently and effectively as possible.

1. Gather Your Documents

It is much easier to fill out the FAFSA if you have all the needed forms in hand before you start. Here’s a list of documents to get you going. You should also get a U.S. Department of Education personal identification number (PIN.) Here’s the PIN application link.

2. Think About Taxes

Parents’ taxes are an important part in the FAFSA process. Getting taxes done by February 1^st may be unrealistic, so last year’s taxes and this year’s paystubs can help create estimates. After February 3^rd, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool becomes available, allowing students and parents to access the IRS tax return information needed to complete the FAFSA and transfer the data directly into their FAFSA from the IRS website. And if you owe the government money, take note: you can complete your taxes without actually filing and cutting a check to Uncle Sam.

3. Find Quiet Time

The FAFSA has a lot of sections. Breaking them into smaller pieces makes the FAFSA easier to navigate. Consider these do’s and don’ts.

Don’t sprint. Take questions one at a time and give yourself time to properly answer each question.
Do read each question carefully and out loud. It will help you understand the question better.
Don’t multi-task. Put your mobile phone away, and turn off the television.
Do find a quiet place where the FAFSA will have your full attention.

4. Stay Student Focused

Parents often forget that the student always provides information. Parents are required to provide their information if the student is dependent.

So when parents see a question that refers to “I,” remember that “I” is the student. “You” is also the student. When questions address parents, you will see questions that refer to “your parents.” This is where parental information goes.

5. Avoid Parent Traps

As families evolve, so do questions about who needs to provide information for the FAFSA. When you see “parents,” FAFSA is referring to the student’s biological or adoptive parents. When the parents are married, then the student and both parents complete the FAFSA.

If the parents are not together, things can get confusing. BigFuture by the College Board created a corresponding infographic to help address some commonly asked questions. That infographic will appear on this site tomorrow.

6. Keep Track of Deadlines

Every college has a different set of deadlines based on priority, merit, early decisions etc. BigFuture by the College Board helps families sort through these deadlines with detailed college profiles and a free, customized action plan. And, should you have specific questions about specific colleges or universities, don’t be afraid to call the college’s financial aid office and ask questions.

7. Profile CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®

The FAFSA opens the doors to federal aid. There’s also almost $50 billion in non-federal aid available – from colleges, states and private institutions. Some colleges and programs use the College Board’s CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE to help award these monies.

CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE is an online application that collects information used by almost 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award financial aid outside sources from the federal government. Families must complete the application and the College Board sends it to the colleges and scholarship programs they have chosen.

Here’s a list of colleges that use CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® and where you go to complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®. Sending your CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® report to one college or scholarship program costs $25. Additional reports are $16 each. There are fee waivers available for low-income families.

8. Gain Experience

The more you experience something, the better you do. This free FAFSA webinar walks you section by section through an actual application with the College Board’s Senior Director for Financial Aid Methodology, Susan McCrackin. Families can access the free FAFSA webinar 24/7.

It’s time. Go after your piece of the more than $185 billion in financial aid to help make college possible. Use BigFuture for advice and to help create a customized plan for your child. Then follow the map. Chances are it will lead to an investment that provides returns for the rest of your child’s life.

college guidance, college majors, Guest Posts

Is your student artistically inclined?

December 7, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

Finding the perfect career path is sometimes difficult. There are varied options available for pursuing careers that encourage your student’s creativity. If your student loves to cook, can draw really well or design games, these are all wonderful careers to be pursued that might “fit” outside of the box of higher education. Traditional college is not always the best choice for this type of student. The key to finding the right educational path is a) knowing their interests and b) finding the best educational path to take for their specific area of interest.

The culinary arts have become more appealing for high school graduates. There are numerous schools that provide the technical training to pursue a career as a chef. As you would imagine, the culinary arts are not just about cooking—they encompass all forms of creativity using edible ingredients. There are multiple job opportunities for a graduate of culinary arts: restaurant chef, pastry chef, personal chef, caterer, food stylist, nutritionist, and even cooking school instructor.

Another area of artistic talent would be in the photography field. This is an excellent career choice for students who enjoy shooting photos and learning ways of editing and developing. The industry is leaning toward more creative natural photo shoots outdoors as opposed to studio sittings. This helps to capture the personality of the subject. Community colleges, universities and even technical schools can help your student learn editing techniques and lighting: two important items that need to be perfected for successful photographers.

Many students have the mental aptitude and programming skills to design video games and/or apps. Check into game design colleges and discover the many areas of career pursuits in this field. Has your student ever had an idea for a game that would make it even better than it is now? Higher education can provide the necessary tools your student needs to pursue this type of career.

If your student has artistic talent, there is a good chance they will be able to turn that into a career. Remember to “think outside the box” with these type of career goals. The traditional 4-year college route might not be necessary. There are many technical schools, online colleges, and community colleges that offer 2-year degree plans with job placement opportunities. The key is to invest that college money properly so that your student will find a job that fosters their creativity while paying the bills

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Today’s guest post was contributed by Amanda Green, a freelance writer who normally writes on the topics of education, business, and personal finance. Amanda has been writing for multiple years on the web and enjoys writing on less serious topics like pets and crafting in her spare time! You can read more writing by Amanda at paidtwice.com

college guidance, college planning, essays, Guest Posts

10 Tips to write more competitive college application essays

November 1, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

With college admissions season in full swing, students nationwide are beginning to prepare their applications. While many of the academic elements like GPA, class rank and SAT score are set, one part of the application that students still exercise control over are the essays. To help students write competitive essays that will help get them noticed by admissions officers, Veritas Prep, the largest global provider of test prep and admissions consulting services, teamed up with Application Boot Camp®, America’s top college consulting firm, to offer ten tips students should follow as they draft their college application essays:

DO think of your essays as a collection – use each to explore a different layer of who you are and how you would enhance the student body.
DON’T discuss politics or religion, unless you’re coming from an academic perspective – the essays are not the place to take a stand on a personal issue.
DO show, DON’T tell – think hard before you overuse adjectives and adverbs; clearly communicate your strengths without using extraneous language.
DON’T focus on what you want to do, but rather on what you have already done – how have you gone above and beyond? What is your scholarly niche?
DO use an opening hook – start your college essay with something that will capture the admission officer’s attention and show why you stand out.
DON’T be a generalist, be a specialist – colleges and universities aren’t looking for well rounded students, they are looking for a well rounded student body. Show them where you stand out and how you complement the mix they are going for.
DO use details – unsubstantiated statements are quickly dismissed, so be sure to use supporting details to illustrate and elaborate on what you are saying.
DON’T use “SAT words” – admissions officers are unimpressed by those trying to show off their vocabulary, they much prefer clear, concise essays.
DO write “Why Paragraphs” – while they are not required, they are an excellent opportunity to show what you’ll bring and why you belong at a given school.
DON’T use clichés – clichés are the quickest way to come across as inauthentic and unexceptional.

“Each year admission at the top colleges and universities becomes more and more competitive and students need to maximize their applications to highlight the qualities and characteristics that admissions officers are looking for,” said Dr. Michele Hernández, former assistant director of admissions at Dartmouth College and one of the nation’s most sought after private admissions counselors. “Essays are the best way to become a 3D applicant, adding another dimension to what otherwise would be a profile made up of grades, activities and test scores, which are only part of the story. In their essays, students have an opportunity to jump off the page and showcase who they are as an applicant and a person.”

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Nearly a decade ago, Dr. Hernández and award winning author and parenting expert Mimi Doe co-founded Application Boot Camp®, a four-day workshop that provides students with step-by-step advice on their college applications. Recently they partnered with Veritas Prep to launch Application Boot Camp® On Demand, which captures the same guidance and advice from the $14,000 in-person workshop and makes it available as an interactive, online program for only $750.

In addition to twelve self-paced sessions led by Dr. Hernández and Ms. Doe, the program features a library of quizzes and interactive exercises. To learn more about Application Boot Camp® On Demand and Veritas Prep, visit http://www.veritasprep.com/sat/college-application-boot-camp/.

About Veritas Prep
Veritas Prep is the world’s largest provider of test prep and admissions consulting services. It offers industry-leading programs to help applicants improve standardized test scores and gain admission to the world’s most selective universities. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management, Veritas Prep offers its live classroom GMAT prep course in more than 90 cities worldwide and as an interactive online course available to students everywhere. Its Veritas Prep SAT 2400 course is available as a classroom course, live online, on demand or in private tutoring sessions and features the only zero risk, money back guarantee in the industry. In addition, Veritas Prep offers admissions consulting services for applicants seeking entry into competitive business schools, law schools, medical schools and other graduate programs. For more information, visit veritasprep.com.

college guidance, parenting

10 Scariest Mistakes Parents Make

October 31, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer 2 Comments

Halloween–the time for jack-o-lanterns, kids (and adults) dressed up in costumes, trick or treating and all around good fun. The holiday got me thinking about the scary things parents do to their college-bound teens. Some of them simply embarrass them, others destroy their confidence, and the worst ones squash their dreams.

Here’s my list of the 10 scariest mistakes parents make with their college-bound teens. Have you make any of them?

Constantly nagging them about deadlines–The last thing your student needs is for you to constantly nag them. Find other ways to remind them: wall calendars and text messages work much better than harping on them day in and day out.
Forcing them to attend your alma mater–Not every student wants to attend their parent’s college. Be sensitive to the fact that they might want to forge their own path.
Belittling their college choices–You might not think that culinary school is prestigious enough, or community college won’t give you bragging rights with your friends. But your student could be thinking logically and saving your thousands of dollars in the long run. After all, it’s their future–not yours.
Speaking for them during interviews, tours and counseling sessions–Let your student have a voice. Colleges look poorly on those students who can’t speak for themselves. Learning to speak up and self-advocating is an important part of becoming an adult.
Allowing them to attend a college that will put them in debt after graduation–Your student may want to attend an Ivy League college but if the money’s not there, don’t do it. Bragging rights aside, allowing your student to incur overwhelming debt to attend a high-priced college is just poor parental guidance.
Keeping them close to home–Allow them to spread their wings and go away to college if they express an interest. You may want them to attend a school close by and live at home; but living in a dorm and leaving the nest helps them learn to make their own choices and become independent.
Ignoring the signs of frustration–If you see your student faltering or becoming frustrated, give (or get) them some help. There is nothing wrong with coming alongside of them and helping them with the college application process, test prep or scholarship applications. If they are struggling in school, find a good tutor.
Hovering over their every move–Helicopter parents are always around to swoop in when their teens are struggling. Don’t be so quick to intervene. Let them solve the problems on their own; teach them to live with consequences and reap the benefits of wise decisions.
Talking and not listening–Take the time to listen to your teen; let them share their frustations, problems, hopes and dreams. Rather than asking questions and giving them the first degree, listen to them talk. You will be surprised how much you can learn about their lives from a simple conversation.
Not allowing them to dream–Whatever your college-bound teen may want for their future, allow them to dream (and dream big). Don’t squash those dreams by telling them it’s impossible or improbable. They will never know what they are capable of until they try.

Some of these mistakes may appear to be obvious, others you might not have even considered. Your college-bound teen is moving toward the most exciting time of their lives and you can either be a hindrance or a loving encouragement.

college guidance, college planning, organization, parenting

25 Twitter accounts every parent of a college-bound teen should follow

October 24, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer 19 Comments

If you have a college-bound teen, you should have a Twitter account. There is a wealth of information out there from scholarships, to admissions, to financial aid, to help with choosing a college. Here is my list of the MUST FOLLOW on Twitter. It’s easy to follow these if you make a list (college experts) and add these follows to the list. That makes it easier to read their feeds and find them as you are scanning through the multitude of information on Twitter.

@SuzanneShaffer https://twitter.com/SuzanneShaffer
@collegevisit https://twitter.com/collegevisit
@askjohnabout https://twitter.com/askjohnabout
@jodiokun https://twitter.com/JodiOkun
@payingforschool https://twitter.com/PayingForSchool
@zinch https://twitter.com/Zinch
@collegeblogs https://twitter.com/CollegeBlogs
@collegeboard https://twitter.com/CollegeBoard
@JaneKulow https://twitter.com/CVLKulow
@CPofAmerica https://twitter.com/CPofAmerica
@scholarshipscom https://twitter.com/Scholarshipscom
@AidScholarship https://twitter.com/AidScholarship
@collegeweeklive https://twitter.com/CollegeWeekLive
@NancyBerk https://twitter.com/nancyberk
@HappiestKid https://twitter.com/HappiestKid
@fujifulgueras https://twitter.com/fujifulgueras
@collegemoneyblg https://twitter.com/collegemoneyblg
@4collegeparents https://twitter.com/4collegeparents
@simpletuition https://twitter.com/SimpleTuition
@unigo https://twitter.com/Unigo
@studentadvisor https://twitter.com/StudentAdvisor
@preppedpolished https://twitter.com/PreppedPolished
@PeterVanBuskirk https://twitter.com/PeterVanBuskirk
@getcollege https://twitter.com/getcollege
@collegeadvice https://twitter.com/collegeadvice

In addition to these 25, do a search for the colleges your student is considering and add those feeds to the list.

You might also like:

Online College Resources for Parents

Smartphone Apps for Students

Your Parent Arsenal-strength for the journey

admissions, college guidance, college planning, tutoring

Alleyoop connects with Naviance to maximize student success

September 18, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

Earlier this year, I wrote a post about Alleyoop, a program designed to help students prepare for college by improving their math skills.

Today Alleyoop is partnering with Hobsons to create even more customized recommendations to keep students on track to reach their college and career goals through Naviance. With more than 5 million students in 5,500 schools around the globe, Naviance is the world’s largest college and career readiness platform. Through this partnership, students can use their Naviance Family Connection accounts to benefit from the collective intelligence of the Alleyoop Super Brain to improve their math and science skills.

“Alleyoop is about so much more than getting immediate math and science help — it’s about letting students take control of their education,” said Patrick Supanc, president of Alleyoop. “With this new partnership, Alleyoop becomes a destination for students and families on Naviance to get personalized academic resources that help make their dreams a reality.”

Alleyoop helps students succeed by connecting them with the right resources at the right time. Students will now get customized, tailored math and science help from Alleyoop based on the goals they set within the Naviance Family Connection portal.

According to The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, every year in the United States, nearly 60 percent of first-year college students discover that, despite being fully eligible to attend college, they are not academically ready for postsecondary studies. Alleyoop and Naviance are helping to bridge the gap between college eligibility and college readiness by providing a way for students to set academic and career goals, and map out a plan of action to achieve them.

“The combination of Naviance and Alleyoop makes it easier than ever for students to tie learning to life,” said Stephen M. Smith, President, Hobsons K-12. “At Hobsons, we strive to connect everything a student learns to a real-world objective. Our partnership with Alleyoop helps students tie their interests and skills to real college majors and careers, and preparing them academically and personally for a bright future.”

admissions, college guidance, college planning, Guest Posts

An interview with the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at UNC-Ashville

September 17, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

A special thanks to Dr. Patrice Mitchell for participating in The Parliament Tutors Admission Spotlight Series. Dr. Mitchell is the Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid at UNC – Asheville.

As the Dean of Admissions, what are your day-to-day responsibilities?
I can definitely say that no two days are ever the same, which is also what I love about working with students to help them navigate through what can often be a nerve-wracking experience. Depending on the time of the year, I spend a lot of time reviewing enrollment reports to ensure that admissions decisions are being made on a daily basis to ensure we will enroll the desired quality and quantity of new students. I also spend a lot of time responding to questions from prospective students and their families about the application process and requirements.

What do you consider the most significant parts of an application, the parts which applicants should prepare the most carefully?
In regards to UNC Asheville, the most significant component of the application is the high school record. Specifically, rigor of course work, grade point average, and class rank.

Is there anything you frequently see on an application that you hope to never see again?
There is nothing that jumps out at me. However, the one thing that I would caution students on is the tendency to reveal such personal and sometimes tragic information, but do not necessarily correlate those experiences to how they have prepared them to be successful at the institution.

What common pitfalls should applicants be careful to avoid?
I can not emphasis enough the importance of proofreading all of your supporting documentation that you submit as a part of the application – including having the correct name of the institution on the essay. (Yes, I have had read “It has been my dream to attend X college all of my life” when the college that I am reading the application for is actually college Y!
Students should also avoid missing deadlines or assuming they have plenty of time to submit information prior to the deadline. Time for technology glitches and mail delivery problems should always be accounted for when submitting application materials. Students should also follow up with their counselors and/or individuals submitting recommendations to give them friendly reminders regarding the deadlines.

Are there any myths about the application process which you would like to dispel?
One thing that I would share about the process is that Admissions Offices really do want to make an admissions decision based upon whether or not the individual student will be a good fit and for the institution. Therefore, it is important for you to take the time to write a good essay that gives some insight into who you really are that SAT and gpa averages won’t tell us. It is also important to have an individual that truly knows them and the institution the student is applying. These are the reasons that you sometimes here of a student with a stronger SAT and gpa not getting into a specific college when there classmate does.

What advice would you give to an applicant with below-average test scores but significant extra-curricular experience?
Please remember that there are literally thousands of college options available to you. You just have to be open to exploring a handful that you may not have initially had on the top of your list. The reality is that at some schools the admissions process is selective and not having all of the components may keep you from getting an offer. However, at those schools where the SAT is optional or the SAT being below average many not be as big of a problem, that may be the school where you end up deciding to attend and find yourself having a wonderful experience. However, you may still want to contact the prospective college and ask to speak to the admissions counselor responsible for your high school. Establishing a relationship with that individual can sometimes be helpful.

Do you frequently have to turn away applicants whom you wish you could admit? If so, what could those applicants do to be admitted?
Unfortunately, we are not in a positive to offer admission to every applicant. In that case, the transfer option is discussed. This option is also being used by students who are admissible but want to get started at a two-year college and transfer in. There are several universities with articulation agreements with two-year colleges. Therefore, the idea of transferring in as an upper-classmen has become more of a positive alternative for students who are not competitive for freshmen admission. The important thing to remember is that sometimes there are different paths to get to the same destination.

How much faith do you have in the ability of the SAT to predict success at in college?
Here at UNC Asheville we take a holistic approach to the admissions process in order to reduce the importance that one variable has on the application decision. This is particular important to us since the high school rank and grade point average has been shown to be more of a predictor of success here than the SAT. Having said that, we do have a selective process in place, and we are a part of the UNC system, which requires us to report the average SAT, so it is a factor.

What do you look for in a recommendation letter?
Students should ensure that the recommendation letter is from someone who knows them well enough to speak to the attributes and strengths that make the student a good fit with the college. It also helps if the letter is written to the specific college. Not everyone is going to be able provide such detailed information, or even has the time to do so if they wanted to, but I enjoy reading letters from teachers and/or counselors who have some type of story or anecdote to share about the student that I otherwise would not know about them.

Joseph Fernandez conducted this interview. Joseph is a Tutor with Parliament Tutors. He specializes in SAT Tutoring.

Parenting for College

Category Archives: college guidance

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