Category Archives: college news

admissions, college news, college planning

Colleges Still Accepting Applications

applications

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, timing can often be crucial. For many students, the college application process can be a whirlwind of deadlines, essays, and decisions. But what happens if you miss those deadlines or simply need more time to decide on your future path?

Fear not, as there are still opportunities available. Several colleges and universities understand that life doesn’t always adhere to strict deadlines, and they’re extending their application windows to accommodate prospective students. Let’s explore some of these institutions and the opportunities they offer.

Continue reading Colleges Still Accepting Applications →
college news, FAFSA, financial aid, financial planning

Changes Coming to the FAFSA in October

FAFSA CHANGES

This year’s FAFSA changes are mainly cosmetic. The online FAFSA form is receiving a visual update that gives it a similar look and feel that puts it more in line with other tools featured on StudentAid.gov. A new simplified form being released in October of 2022 also has just 36 questions to answer, down from the 108 of previous years.

Noticeable changes you may see if you fill out the FAFSA later this year include:

Continue reading Changes Coming to the FAFSA in October →
admissions, college news, college planning, parenting

Try Harder–Is This the Message We Want to Convey?

try harder

There’s a new documentary on PBS called “Try Harder!”. It chronicles the lives of some students at Lowell High School, a prestigious high school in California with predominantly Asian students. Their goal–get into the Ivies or the UC colleges. Why? Because according to them, anything else communicates failure.

I was struck by one young man who said, “If I don’t get into one of these schools, I won’t make a difference in the world or be successful.” How sad. What type of message are we conveying to our students? Try Harder.

Continue reading Try Harder–Is This the Message We Want to Convey? →
admissions, college costs, college news

Wednesday’s Parent: A Quick Look at the Updated College Scorecard

 

college scorecard

 

This past Saturday, President Obama unveiled his new College Scorecard. “You’ll be able to see how much each school’s graduates earn, how much debt they graduate with, and what percentage of a school’s students can pay back their loans,” the president said in his weekly address.

College Prep Expert and Long Island College Prep Examiner, Wendy David-Gaines, explains how the scorecard works:

Information about the performance of U.S. institutions was collected from over 7,000 colleges and universities over a period of 18 years. In addition to families using the College Scorecard to personalize their own college ranking list, the national and comprehensive data can be used by policymakers and researchers for their own analysis. “The old way of assessing college choices relied on static ratings lists compiled by someone who was deciding what value to place on different factors. The new way of assessing college choices, with the help of technology and open data, makes it possible for anyone – a student, a school, a policymaker, or a researcher – to decide what factors to evaluate,” according to the White House Fact Sheet.

Parents and students can use the scorecard to make more informed, wise decisions about the ROI of a college education. For further information on the college scorecard, read:

College scorecard revamp heavy on outcomes

 

college guidance, college news, college planning, parenting

Sink or Swim: A Guide to College Graduation Rates

 

College graduation usually conjures up images of black hats getting thrown into the air and refrains of pomp and circumstance. What you don’t see, however, is the swell who started at the same time as the robe-clad flock but aren’t graduating — a number that would triple the size of grads (and make the ceremony even longer). In fact, at four-year colleges only 31.3% of students actually graduate from the school. The other 68.7% might be sitting at home, working a job that doesn’t require a degree, or maybe they’re still chipping away at the books after switching majors or signing up for a lengthy program. The latter is evident: The number swells to 56% who graduate within six years of starting. On the surface, it might seem like today’s student is lazy or lacks follow-through, but a closer examination reveals steep costs of schooling and family responsibilities a bigger decision-maker for college dropouts. Of course, the numbers vary widely across colleges when looking at college graduation rates, with some earning gold stars for graduating their students and others earning the nickname “dropout factories.” We take a closer look at the best and worst of 2-year and 4-year schools to help degree-seekers navigate to a college that will help them stay afloat.

For the full story, click the image below!
Sink or Swim: A Guide to Buoyant Colleges

Courtesy of OnlineColleges.net

college news, college planning, social networks

5 Useful mobile apps for college students

 

mobile appsDid you know that over 75 percent of the world’s population owns a cell phone? As a matter of fact, according to one recent article, there are more people across the globe who actually have access to a mobile service than to a toilet. So, being that over 90 percent of individuals between the ages of 18-24 have cell phones and also being that they, on average, talk on the phone close to 22 hours each month, if they’re in college, they might as well use some of that time to upload some great mobile apps.

We feel the exact same way. That’s why we’ve provided you with a list of what we feel are the five most useful mobile apps for college students:

  1. Cheap Textbooks Price Search. It’s amazing how much a new textbook can run you. Depending on the amount of hours (and the kinds of courses) that you are taking, you can easily spend $500-1,000 each semester on books. However, if you have the Cheap Textbooks Price Search app, you can easily search where you can find the best deals for both new and used textbooks.
  2. BugMe! Notes and Alarms. Between classes and study sessions, games and parties, it can definitely be challenging to keep up with all that you have going on every day. Thanks to the Bug Me! app, you don’t have to totally rely on memory or scrap pieces of paper in your book bag to do your scheduling. You can program the app to send you messages about things you need to do and when you need to do them.
  3. CalorieSmart Calorie Tracker. When you’re not eating home-cooked meals all of the time and you find yourself relying on the campus cafeteria or the fast food restaurants around the area, it’s easy to pack on more pounds than you would like. But, with the CalorieSmart Calorie Tracker, you can keep record of how many calories you consume and burn. It also has an option for you to input your personal calorie and weight loss goals.
  4. Coupons for Shopping – MobiQpons. Being in college brings a whole new meaning to “penny pinching” and when you’re trying to stay on budget, the Coupons for Shopping app comes in very handy. Once you have downloaded this app, all you have to do is put in your location and you’ll receive all kinds of coupons in your area from grocery stores and restaurants to office supply stores and even things like Protect Your Bubble Insurance . It’s a convenient way to make your dollar stretch further.
  5. CollegeTracker. College is fun, but it’s also pretty expensive. Therefore, you want to make the absolute most of the time that you have there, especially when it comes to your classes. CollegeTracker is an app that gives you the ability to store everything from your courses and professors’ names to the grades that you get in each subject. The app is so exact that it even helps you to tabulate all of your scores at the end of the semester so that you can figure out your Grade Point Average (GPA) even before your grades are sent out to you. It definitely helps you to keep focused on being a responsible college student.

These are only a few of the apps out there for college students. If you have a favorite that’s not listed, please leave a comment.

 

admissions, college news, parenting

Student Cheating: An Epidemic?

The Washington Post published a blog article a few days ago, “The Cause of Standardized Test Cheating and How to Stop It” citing these disturbing statistics:

FairTest has documented confirmed cheating cases in 30 states and the District of Columbia in just the past three academic years. Hardly a week, or a day, goes by without a reminder that the mounting evidence of cheating in cities and states across the nation shows no signs of abating. Sadly, neither does the damage caused by the standardized testing mania that underlies the cheating scandal, as explained in a new FairTest fact sheet.

As parents, we need to look at the underlying cause BEHIND the cheating. Is there too much pressure to test well? Are students not taught throughout their lives that cheating is wrong? Has the invention of technology made it easier to cheat?

Here’s an infographic that outlines cheating and it just doesn’t happen in high school and college. Sobering–to say the least

Cheaters
Created by Online Masters Degrees

 

college news

America’s Best Colleges? Ask China what they think.

With all the talk this week about the latest U.S. News and World Reports rankings of America’s Best Colleges, I thought it might be nice to put it all into perspective. I’m afraid, as usual, we have gotten a little too big for our britches in this country and our higher education system is suffering. According to a recent article in the Washington Post, America’s global rank in college completion is slipping.

Wendy David-Gaines (POCS Mom) adds some additional insight into the college ranking craze with her recent post about global college rankings.

Here’s a look at how China compares and what they are doing to lead the globe in education:

 

America Meet China
Created by: Online University Rankings

college guidance, college news, parenting, Uncategorized

Top 10 Things every parent should know about “hooking up” in college

 

A recent article on CNN.com addressed the issue of hooking up and not hooking up on college campuses. While it’s not a subject that parents like to discuss, it is a reality. I know when my naïve 18 year old daughter headed off to college, it was one of my biggest fears. Knowing what it means, how to address it and what to do if it happens should help ease your mind a bit.

Here’s my Top 10 list of things every parent should know:

1. What is hooking up?

The term “hook up” is vague, but is usually defined as a no-commitment, physical encounter with a stranger or acquaintance. Hooking up can range from just a casual get-together to a make out session to sexual intercourse. Knowing this makes it difficult to discern just what it means when your college student tells you they “hooked up” with so and so.

2. Hooking up is today’s alternative to dating.

When we were in school, everyone dated. That meant going to the movies, out for pizza, and spending time together getting to know one another. In today’s culture, hooking up often precedes the dating.

3. Hooking up IS happening on campus.

According to the article on CNN.com, “various academic studies have cited at least 75 percent of women have engaged in hooking up on campus, and the number is usually higher for men.”  If your college-bound teen enters that culture, they are going to be confronted with this type of behavior.

4. Hooking up is every parent’s nightmare.

Yes. It brings terror into our hearts to think that our sweet little child would even consider hooking up with an absolute stranger. But the unfortunate reality is that it does happen and it’s your job as a parent to be informed and help your college-bound teen to be prepared.

5. Not EVERY college student is doing it.

This knowledge will help you in talking with your teen about his or her options. Many college campuses have groups that exist to offer alternatives to hooking up and give students the power to say no to that culture. (Check out the Love and Fidelity Network)

6. You need to have the sex talk with your college bound teen BEFORE they leave for college.

This means you need to open up the dialogue about hooking up, what it means, and the fact that they have choices. You are the most powerful influence on your child and now is the time to get them the information they need before they leave home. They may act like they aren’t listening, but they are. Look for opportunities to discuss the risks of hooking up and the alternatives.

7. Denial is NOT an option.

Hiding your head in the sand is not the way to address this issue. It’s your job as a Parent College Coach to accept the reality of this culture and prepare your teen for his or her first hooking up encounter on campus. When it happens (and it will) it won’t blind side them, giving them with options.

8. Peer pressure is a HUGE factor.

Peer pressure in college can be even greater than in high school. Your child is alone, surrounded by all types of behavior. You aren’t there to pull in the reins and they are free to go in any direction they choose. The hook up culture can be hard to avoid; and if your college student decides to go Greek, the pressure intensifies.

9. Hooking up is most often precipitated by alcohol.

The drinking culture on college campuses drives the hook up culture. Young, naïve students get drunk and lose control of their emotions. Hooking up becomes easier and it provides opportunities for your college student to be coerced into something they might not necessarily choose when sober.

10. It’s a choice your college-bound teen will make.

Your child will have the power to choose. They can choose to hook up or choose not to. They are free to make that choice and it’s a choice that they will be confronted with when they go off to college. Arming them with the knowledge of how to respond to this choice allows them to protect themselves.

Parenting, on the best day, is hard. It’s hard to let go. It’s hard to trust. It’s hard to believe that the child we raised has become independent and knows what they need to know to survive in the world. But it’s our goal as parents to provide them with the knowledge and the tools they need to survive.

Further reading:

No Hooking Up, No Sex for some Coeds

The Sociology of Hooking Up

Hook-Up Survey Presented at Sociology Conference

The hookup culture: Having casual relationships is the new dating