Category Archives: college planning

college planning, parenting

3 New Years Resolutions You Should Keep

 

new years resolutions

 

I’m not, nor ever have been, a fan of New Years resolutions. I like the line from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, “I like the sound of deadlines as they go whooshing by.” That’s how I feel about resolutions. Not all resolutions are bad, however. Some (the ones that are logical and attainable) can and should be kept.

Here are three resolutions you should keep if you have a college-bound teen. They are simple goals and will help make the entire college prep process less stressful and overwhelming.

Stay organized

Resolve at the beginning of the new year to stay organized. The college prep process requires organization: test registration deadlines to meet, recommendation letters to pursue, college applications to complete, financial aid to apply for, scholarships to submit applications and the mounds of college information your student will receive during the process. Whew, that was a LONG list!

Without committing to stay organized, the process becomes stressful and overwhelming. Use separate email accounts, calendar programs, file folders, usb drives, and don’t forget to create a college landing zone for everything your student receives at school that is college related.

Work as a Team

It’s impossible to expect a teenager to handle this monumental task alone. I’m not suggesting you write the essay, fill out the applications, apply for the scholarships, or make the college choices. But I am encouraging you to help with the organization, remind about the deadlines, proofread the essays, help find the scholarships, and give advice when asked.

You should also make it perfectly clear that this is their decision, but they don’t have to make it alone. If you work as a team, not only will your teenager be less stressed, but you will feel like you’re part of the process and less likely to take over.

Focus on the big picture

In the end, it won’t matter much which college your student attends. Focus on the big picture. It won’t matter what their SAT scores were or if the college has a prestigious name. Concentrate on finding the perfect fit college (the one that socially, academically, and financially fits). Then your student will have the best four years of their lives, along with an education and tons of lifelong memories and friendships.

All the best to every parent who is navigating the college maze. May 2016 be a year of success, fulfillment and absolute joy for you and your college-bound teen.

college guidance, college planning, college prep, college visits, parenting

College Planning for 2016

 

2016

With the Christmas season upon us and students out of school, it’s a good time to look at what lies ahead and make some plans to hit the ground running in January 2016.

First things first, take a look at scholarships with January deadlines. These should be at the top of your list to begin 2016. Make scholarship searching and applying a priority in 2016. Say you don’t need money for college? Everyone likes free money! The more scholarship money your student earns the less you will have to pay. Save for retirement. Take a cruise. Remodel your home. Wouldn’t you rather keep the money you saved and use it for other family expenses? It’s a no-brainer–every student should apply for scholarships.

For seniors, it’s FAFSA time. Yes. It’s the dreaded FAFSA (much like the dreaded IRS forms). Don’t procrastinate. With the FAFSA, the early bird gets the worm (or in college terms, gets the money). School award aid on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once it’s available on January 1, get that puppy done. Even if you don’t want federal aid, fill it out. Colleges use this form when awarding other types of financial aid like grants and scholarships.

For juniors, it’s SAT/ACT prep time. If you’re taking the test in 2016, you’re going to be staring the new SAT in the face: it’s going to be available in March 2016. Use the next couple of months to prepare for the test. There are free tools on line to help you study and consider hiring a tutor if you think it will help your student focus and prepare.

Don’t wait to register for these tests at the last minute. If you plan to take the tests in January, REGISTER NOW! And it it’s in the spring, register now to avoid late registration fees. For a comprehensive guide on these registration and test dates, click here.

For sophomores and juniors, it’s time to start thinking about college visits. Sophomores should plan preliminary college visits (visit some colleges to get a feel for college life and prepare a list of wants and needs). Juniors will be making visits to show the college they are interested. Sign up for the tour and schedule and interview. Colleges keep tract of these visits and it will give you an edge when your application is received.

With a new year, comes new challenges and college-related tasks. Planning in December can help you hit the ground running in January and move forward in 2016.

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

Don’t Let the Wrong Things Stand in the Way of Your Child’s College Dreams

 

college dreams

What are your student’s college dreams?

There are many reasons your child may not get into a specific college—but you should never be one of them.

Sometimes it simply comes down to other applicants being more qualified—whether that be through grades or extracurriculars, maturity level or how admissions officers feel a student will jibe with the university, its mission and the makeup of its incoming class.

But there are many external roadblocks we put on our children that can limit them. Here are three of the most common—and the most detrimental.

  1. Show me… money!

Of course, tuition is astronomically expensive, and no one wants to saddle their child with the huge debts that have been the bane of the current generation of post-grads. That being said, there are always scholarships and fellowships available to people with the right skill level.

If your student has a high level of achievement and is looking toward a trajectory that seems like it will break your bank, start your research on these opportunities early—at least a year in advance of application dates. Many scholarship applications are hard work and require essays, financial statements and recommendation letters.   

College counselors may be able to help outline solutions too, and there are also a great many free college fairs around the country. Check out the calendars for these, because they not only have people there as representatives of major universities, they also have resources to help your student find the financial aid that is necessary for him or her to achieve a college dream.

In the end, if you have to go with loans, don’t fret… it’s possible that all will be forgiven sometime soon!

  1. But where in the world is it?

Many students (and parents) get hung up on staying close to home, with friends, or in a warmer clime. Encourage your student to look deeper into the kind of education they will receive, rather than whether it gets too far below zero (at say the University of Minnesota). What you know (that they likely do not) is that four years is not a long time. Your child can always return to the bosom of the family, or back to sunny California, once they have a solid degree in hand. But who knows—maybe ice fishing will become a favorite new hobby.

  1. I don’t know where I want to go!

Another common roadblock to finding the right university is too many choices when it comes to the future. It’s important to sit down with your child and have a conversation about what they want in a school, even if they keep saying “I dunno.” Keep in mind there is no perfect place and there are many “right” schools to choose from. I know it seems like a massive decision, but it’s one you can get wrong and not suffer too much—a student can always transfer if things don’t work out.

Here are some areas to focus on to help your child whittle down their list of potential schools:

  • Size of school: Would they be excited about the opportunities of a large campus or prefer the individualized instruction of a smaller school?
  • Faculty: Look up the achievements of the professors in certain areas that might interest your son or daughter. Keep in mind elite professors may be on sabbaticals, but it demonstrates a level of commitment to a specific subject at a university. Research opportunities are another part of this. Is the University participating in cutting-edge research in an area that is exciting to your young student?
  • Extracurriculars: Actively investigate where extracurriculars that interest your child are strongest. This will be part of finding the right fit. See if clubs, athletics or performance groups have a high level of achievement.
  • Study Abroad Possibilities: Is this something your student wants to pursue? Make sure the options are available.
  • Post-Graduate Opportunities: It’s much easier to get into grad school at the university where you receive your bachelor’s. If your child is on a path that requires this kind of education, see if this added criteria helps make a choice of where to apply.

Ultimately, it’s imperative to give students the latitude to make their own decisions based entirely on their qualifications for college rather than on any other factor. Everything else can be figured out. Remember, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

___________________________________________

About the Author

Ryan Hickey is the Managing Editor of Petersons and EssayEdge and is an expert in many aspects of college, graduate, and professional admissions. A graduate of Yale University, Ryan has worked in various admissions capacities for nearly a decade, including writing test-prep material for the SAT, AP exams, and TOEFL, editing essays and personal statements, and consulting directly with applicants.

college planning, college prep, podcasts

College Prep: A Podcast Interview with Prepped and Polished

 

 

college prep

A few weeks ago, Alexis Avila from Prepped and Polished interviewed me on his podcast about college prep. The jest of the interview: how did you get involved helping parents with college prep? Of course, this is my favorite topic.

Alexis and I talked about college prep and the obstacles I faced. We discussed what I learned along the way and the mistakes we made. You will learn about my “Ah ha” moments. And also how I started helping parents along with what parents need to know to be an effective college coach.

Take 15 minutes out of your day and listen to the interview. Have questions? Feel free to email me at suzannemshaffer@gmail.com.

Need MORE expert advice, check out my posts here:

50 College Info Websites

50 More College Info Websites

College Prep Resources

Here are the experts I recommended along with Alexis’ podcast links (apart from test prep recommending Prepped and Polished):

Financial Aid: Jodi Okun and my podcast with Jodi Okun

College Visits: Kelly Queijo and my podcast with Kelly Queijo

College Planning: Paul Hemphill

College Essays: College Essay Guy 

Check out the interview with interview notes and links:
The Prepped and Polished Podcast-Parents Countdown to College

college costs, college guidance, college planning

10 Tips to Help Cut College Costs

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cut college costs

During these tough economic times, everyone is finding ways to cut costs. Pinching pennies and forgoing that latte can add up, but what about paying less for those college expenses: tuition, room and board, books, and meals. Until our economy picks up and catches up with the rising cost of tuition, parents and students need to find creative ways to cut college costs. These ten tips might help you keep a little more money in your pocket and graduate with little or no debt.

1.Consider private college

Some people believe that if you forgo the high-priced private universities, you can save some bucks. But is that really the case? The simple truth is that many private colleges give great financial aid in the form of grants and scholarships. They can do this because of their generous alumni who reinvest in their alma maters. Many times, you could end up paying less at an expensive private university than you would at a local state college.

2. Choose EA or regular decision

If you apply early decision, letting colleges know that they are your first choice college, you lose your bargaining power. That bargaining power can mean huge dividends when it comes to financial aid. If your teen is accepted to several colleges and each offers them some grants and/or scholarships, you can use those offers to negotiate more aid with the college of your choice. Early decision robs you of that negotiation.

3. Take Dual Credit and/or AP Classes

If you take dual credit classes during high school, you can get college credit at the same time you receive high school credit. In many cases, you can get enough credit to enter college as a sophomore. Additionally, if you take AP classes, be sure to take the AP tests which many colleges count as credit if you test well. By choosing either option, you can save on the cost of tuition. For more information on how this works, you can order or download a free copy of the National Center for Education Statistics’ publication: Dual Credit and Exam Based Courses.

4. Work during college

Studies show that working during college helps you with time management and organization. If you work while you’re in college you can use that money for textbooks, living expenses, and even put some it toward tuition expense. It makes better sense to work than borrow and pile up your student loan debt.

5. Don’t buy new textbooks

With all the websites offering textbook options, think before you plunk down top dollar for those new textbooks. Consider buying used, renting, or even downloading e-textbooks. All these options will save you hundreds of dollars every semester. Barnes and Noble has made this easy by providing a link where you can search for new, used, rentals and e-textbooks all in one location.

6. Live at home or become an RA (Resident Assistant)

Room and board can be a huge portion of your college expense. One option is to live at home if the college is within driving distance. If you aren’t interested in living at home, here’s another option: apply to become an RA (Resident Assistant). Some colleges allow RA’s to live rent free (which means a huge cost saving on room and board). Others give substantial discounts.

7. Use your student ID card for discounts

That student ID is useful for more than just getting into your college dorm. Use it everywhere for substantial discounts at restaurants, on clothing, on books and even groceries. Ask local businesses if they honor the student ID if you don’t see a sign at the cash register or drive-thru.

8. Consider community college

Community college is considerably cheaper and can offer you an opportunity to get some of your core subjects out of the way. The difference between $3000 for a college credit at a university and $300 a credit at a community college can add up to substantial savings. Don’t forget to check with your college first and make sure they will accept credits from the community college.

9. Take a look at your meal plan

Most students don’t need the full meal plan (3 meals a day). If you knock your meal plan down to the minimal one meal a day you can save thousands of dollars per semester. Most college students roll out of bed in the morning, grab a red bull or coffee, snack during the day and often order out late at night. Why pay for three meals a day when you don’t eat them?

10.Graduate in three years

Imagine the money you can save if you graduate in three years instead of the 4-6 years required by most college students. How is that done? First, if you were wise and took those dual credit or AP classes it’s possible to chalk up 12-15 credit hours before you ever set foot on campus. For some excellent tips on why and how to graduate in three years, check out this amazing post by a guy who advises parents on how to pay less for college: How to Graduate in 3 Years! The economy has forced all of us to tighten those belts and eliminate wasteful spending. These 10 tips can potentially save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars on college costs.

college planning, college prep

3 College Connections You Need to Make

 

 

college connections

If you are considering college, or headed off to college in the fall, you should make friends with these people on campus: admissions counselors, financial aid officers, and current students. Why? Because these three groups of college connections can help you with all the aspects of navigating the college maze:

1. Admissions counselors

It’s not secret that making friends with the admissions department can go a long way in securing your eventual acceptance. Admission officers keep track of how often you visit their campus, contact them regarding information, and express an interest in their institution. If you application is marginal, contact with an admissions officer could give you that extra push needed for acceptance. Schedule an interview when you visit campus, secure a business
card with contact information, and follow up after the visit. Recognizing your name when those thousands of applications arrive can help get your application on the top of the pile.

2. Financial aid officers

These helpful people can provide you with the information you need to know about financing your college education. Ask them questions about the total cost of college. This not only includes tuition, room and board, but additional costs incurred to attend. Once you have applied, you might also need to clarify some financial information related to the FAFSA, write an appeal letter for additional aid, or contact them about your aid disbursements. Schedule an appointment when you visit campus, secure a business card, and file it for future reference when/if you need a contact in that office.

3. Current students

Students who are currently attending college (specifically the one you are interested in attending) can be a valuable resource for information. You can connect with them on your campus visit, follow them on Twitter, and find them on the college’s Facebook page. Do some navigating on the college website for bloggers and for individual sites that are set up through the college itself. Connecting with students will help you get a feel for the type of student who is attending, and can help you once you are accepted by answering questions related to moving in, getting settled, and making that transition on campus. Networking is just as important in college as it is in the job world. Making those essential connections will ease the college application process and simplify the transition to college once you are accepted.

college planning, college prep, social networks

10 Twitter Chats for College Prep Success

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twitter chatsWith today’s technology, information is everywhere–from blogs, to social media, to college websites. But when you’re looking for information wouldn’t it be great to actually SPEAK with the experts and ask questions for FREE?

That’s what Twitter chats can do for you. Experts in the area of college prep gather together on Twitter during Twitter chats to provide you with the most up-t0-date information on the college application process.

For those of you who are new to Twitter chats, #SEOChat has a very good explanation of how they work, how to participate and even some good resources to search for more chats. But here are a few simple instructions:

  • Mark the chat date on your calendar and set a reminder so you don’t forget
  • Follow the chat’s hashtag on Twitter by using programs like Hootsuite, Twitter Chat or TweetChat. These programs help you keep the conversation in one place and make it easier to respond.
  • Follow the feed and ask questions if you are unclear about something. If it isn’t answered in the chat, feel free to DM the moderator or guest after the chat is over. Sometimes chats can be a bit chaotic if there are many attendees.
  • Favorite any tweets with links or information you feel will be helpful to research after the chat.

Chat times and dates change, but if you follow their Twitter feed you will be notified of any date and time changes.

Still not convinced these chats are worth you time? Check out my post: Why you should attend Twitter chats.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, websites

Mother’s New Little (College Application) Helper

 

Today’s guest post is from Lisa Sloan of Portland, Oregon who is currently going through the admissions process with her son.

apply101

I am a master juggler. I don’t flip fire torches or bean bags, but as a parent, I am constantly keeping all of the balls in the air––meals, carpool, school project supplies, orthodontist appointments, etc. If you’re a parent, I’m sure you know I could add a hundred more things to the list.  At the time of maximum juggling, it’s time for my son to apply to college! Yay, more balls…

I was absolutely thrilled to learn about apply101. My son was able to select the schools he is interested in, and his calendar populated with all of the tasks and timelines he needed. I am able to monitor his progress through the app without having to constantly ask him if he’s done something, and having the timeline laid out for him makes it easier for him to stay on track. It’s not unlike keeping on top of homework or other assignments. I also appreciate that I can add as task that he will see without having to remember to talk to him about it. These days, those face-to-face opportunities can be hard to find, and then I have to remember what it was I needed to tell him when I do see him. Not always easy with everything else on my mind; apply101 to the rescue!

apply101

This past weekend is a great example. We had discussed letters of recommendation while we were in the car.  He was looking at university websites on his phone, and of course, each school wants things differently. One school wants the letters mailed to them, which means my son needs to address and stamp envelopes to give to the teachers he asks for recommendations. Another wants them submitted online, so that means emailing the teacher with the link. A third wants it through Naviance. While I drove, my son noted each task (and address) in apply101 so he didn’t have to waste time later figuring it out again. We also brainstormed about who he would ask for the recommendations, and he noted that too. When we got home, I gave him envelopes and stamps and I left the rest up to him.

At first I thought that since his high school uses Naviance that we didn’t need apply101, but then I learned that Naviance is a vehicle to request transcripts and sometimes, letters of recommendation, and although it has great college search tools, it doesn’t provide the calendaring of timelines and deadlines that apply101 does, so it’s not redundant. They work really well together.

I think it is important that the college process be something my son owns, not something that I drive. I honestly believe that his engagement at this point is indicative of his commitment, and it foreshadows how well he will on his own in college when I am not checking in on him all the time. I also know that senior year is crazy-busy for kids, so they need someone to have their back to make sure their balls stay in the air. That’s why I like apply101. It keeps him organized and lets me peek without hovering.

 

college planning, parenting

Words of Advice for Parents of College Bound Teens

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encourage your child
Image by Flickr

It can be a nervous time for any parent who is sending their child off to college. I know, I have done it all before myself. However, it is easy to get consumed by your own nerves that you forget to really encourage your child.

Going to college is a huge step, and if you are nervous, imagine how your child feels. As a parent, the best way you can be there for your child is to show them support. Here are some of the best ways to encourage your child throughout their college years.

Give them space

You might be dying to hear about all their activities, but your child is out to enjoy their time! Don’t pester them by constantly phoning and texting. With the occasional message you will show you are always there. Your child will then get in touch at the times when he or she needs you the most. The best thing you can do as a parent is to give them space but be there for them when they need you most.

Learn more about their course

There are so many college courses to choose from and it is hard to keep up with them all. Even if your child is studying a more traditional subject like English or History, take the time to understand their course. Find out what they are reading. Get to know what essay topics they have to write about. This way you will be able to hold an educated conversation with them about something that matters to them. You can also use this knowledge to be able to discuss their academic goals. Help them plan out the things they want to achieve during their college years and think about what sorts of grades they want.

Get to know their friends

When your child leaves home you will no longer have any control over who they hang out with. However, you can take the initiative to get to know your child’s friends. This way you understand what sort of personalities they are attracted to and what people they tend to like. Every time you visit, have a chat with their roommate. Maybe you could even take a few of their friends out for a meal or coffee. This is great too because when your child phones you to let you know what has been happening lately, you will be able to put a face to a name.

Encourage all opportunities

At college, your child is likely to be faced with an abundance of amazing opportunities. Just because you want them to stay nearby, doesn’t mean you should discourage them. Your child has to live their life in the way they want to. One of the options that may present itself could be the chance to study overseas. Many parents feel worried about sending their child off to a foreign place. But studying abroad is one of the best opportunities you can have. Your child will discover a new culture and possibly even a new language. They will find a new independence and have friends all across the globe.

Don’t voice your fears

If you are nervous about your child leaving home, don’t let it show. You might scare them more than you want to by letting your fears rub off on them. Be supportive and enthusiastic talking about all the great experiences they will find when they are away.

Teach them about money

If your child has never lived away from home, they will more than likely not have had to fend much for themselves. However, as a student you need to be able to manage a budget and know how to control your finances. Teach them how to do this. Let them understand the value of money. If you have any tips on how to save, make sure you let them know. If you help them with this, they will be able to avoid debt after graduation.