Category Archives: college planning

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Comprehensive List of College Info Websites

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college planning

Here’s a current comprehensive list of my picks for college info websites. Do you have any additional suggestions?

COLLEGE BLOGS

ParentingforCollege.com–You will find the MOST information ere olege news. Come here first to find the latest and bhest tools to hn our blog: college guidance, college planning, college coaching, and colelp you navigate the college maze.

TheCollegeSolutionBlog.com–An excellent resource for college-bound teens and their parents: admissions, testing, and financial aid.

UniversityLanguage.com/blog–Great blog articles about everything related to college admissions geared toward students.

GreatCollegeAdvice.com/blog–An excellent resource about the college admissions process providing expert advice helping students map their college journey.

USNews.com/Education–The education channel of U.S. News and World Reports providing the latest news and information related to college.

CollegeBasics.com–An excellent resource for information about college essays, college applications and high school resumes.

InsideHigherEd.com/blogs–Several different blogs related to higher education.

CollegeAdmissionsPartners.com/blog–An expert blog dedicated to helping students find the right college.

CollegeFocus.com/colleges–A virtual clearinghouse of blogs related to college life, parenting, college searches, etc.

Road2College.com–You can find just about any topic related to college prep at this site: financial aid, college planning, student loans, test prep, and more.

PARENT SITES

UniversityParent.com–A site where parents can ask questions, gather information, and download and view college guides and campus newsletters.

CollegeParentCentral.com–A blog created to give parents useful information about college and the college admissions process.

YourCollegeKid.com–A site with parent forums and other college prep tools.

CollegiateParent.com-A site dedicated to providing parents with information for their college students.

FINANCIAL AID

Fafsa.ed.gov–The official government website for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

SallieMae.com/plan–A FREE education investment planner that will help determine college costs, compare college costs, and provides information about student loan repayments.

SavingForCollege.com–Everything you need to know about financing a college education.

FinAid.org–An excellent resource for the answers to all your questions regarding college financial aid.

CollegeFinancialAidAdvisors.com–Help with the college financial aid process.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Fastweb.com–An extensive scholarship search website with a massive database of scholarships, along with articles and helps designed specifically for parents.

Chegg.com–A free service for students and parents where students can showcase themselves, connect with colleges, and search for scholarships.

Cappex.com–The place to go to find merit scholarships and academic scholarships from colleges across the country.

Scholarships.com–An extensive scholarship search engine that helps you search and schedule alerts for deadlines.

How2winscholarships.com–A guide for parents and students on how to effectively apply to and win scholarships.

COLLEGE VISITS

SmartCollegeVisit.com–Created to provide information about college visits, help parents and students plan, and view personal accounts from both parents and students.

CollegeWeekLive.com–A virtual college fair that sponsors free LIVE events with archived presentations, student chats, and college booths.

Youniversitytv.com–Learn about colleges by watching video tours, chat with students on campus forums, post questions and get answers.
CustomCollegeVisits.com–Offer custom tailored to your family’s needs, whether you’re visiting college & university campuses close to home, across the country or from overseas.

COLLEGE PLANNING

Cappex.com–A site created for students to help them simplify their college search, create a profile and search for scholarships.

CommonApp.org–The common application site used by 400 colleges and universities across the country.

PrincetonReview.com–The best value colleges list for public and private institutions across the country.

UPromise.com–UPromise partners return a portion of eligible purchase money back to you. Those earnings accumulate in your Upromise account until you decide to use it to invest in a 529 plan, help pay down eligible student loans or assist with college expenses—all tax-free!

CollegeBoard.com–It’s here you’ll find the CSS Profile application (required by many private colleges), register for the SAT, and read articles about planning for college.

CollegeXpress.com–A search site that groups colleges in categories and provides college “hot” lists (i.e. top college for late bloomers, colleges for students needing a second chance)

VolunteerMatch.org–Find local volunteer opportunities for your college-bound teen and teach them about the importance of giving back to their community with the added bonus of adding that service to their high school resume.

KnowHow2Go.com–A college planning site for college-bound students providing helps and aids from middle school to senior year: interactive and fun!

 BigFuture.collegeboard.org–A planning tool to help parents and students get ready for college.

TEST PREP / TUTORING

TutorsForTestPrep.com–An SAT expert and coach offering tips to help your college-bound teen improve their SAT/ACT scores.

FairTest.org–The site for the National Center for fair and open testing providing information about colleges who do not use the SAT/ACT for admissions decisions.

QuincyTutoring.com–A resource to find a tutor and schedule a tutoring session.

LaunchpadEducation.com–Tutoring to help students with learning disabilities and ADHD.

TEXTBOOKS

ECampus.com—Find textbooks, sell textbooks, search for college supplies and college apparel all on this one site.

Chegg.com–A hub for students to compare textbook prices, study for exams, and choose the right courses.

RECRUITING

NCSASports.org–The college recruiting site for athletes.

BeRecruited.com–If you have a teen that’s a student athlete, they can create an online profile here and help colleges and coaches find them and be recruited.

college guidance, college majors, college planning, community college

Should your teen attend community college first?

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community college

Higher education is a complicated issue for many students and parents today. College education is a necessity for finding success and prosperity in many career paths, but rising concerns about student loan debt and graduate unemployment are making the process of pursuing education more stressful and uncertain than ever before. Community colleges are becoming increasingly popular options for students everywhere, as a means of securing foundation credits before transferring to a university. Is this a path that your teen should be considering?

Community college gets a bad rap

Community colleges are often viewed as being stigmatized in many academic circles. Students and parents alike disdain the idea of a community college education because they believe that more prestigious institutions will look down upon them. Worries about how an employer will view community college education on a resume are disconcerting as well. However, you shouldn’t be concerned about such fallacies. Your teen can study at a community college before transferring to another school, and still have access to all the same opportunities as every other student.

Community college will save you money

Many students are uncertain about their futures, and the prospect of choosing a college can be very daunting for them. A college education is a very expensive investment, and students should be going into their college years with both high confidence and defined goals. Students entering college without a goal in mind tend to spend up to two years exploring different lines of study in an effort to find the right path. While this is a healthy process, college is not the best place to do it. If your teens go into college without goals, they will take longer to finish their degree programs and incur more debt. This is where community college can be very beneficial.

You’ll quickly find that community colleges are, with almost no exceptions, much less expensive than any other school. Community colleges draw on local populations for their student bodies, and they offer education with much lower tuition rates than even public universities. Studying at a community college allows your teen to gain important foundation education in key subject areas without spending full price on college tuition. This can be a life saver, especially for families with tight budgets.

Community college will help develop career interests

While studying key academic subjects like writing and mathematics at a community college, your teen will also have the opportunity to explore other lines of study through elective courses. This helps students to find the paths that will lead them to prosperous careers. Exposure to philosophy in community college could spur an interest in law studies for your teen. A course in the arts or writing could unlock a previously concealed passion for creative work that leads to a prosperous and fulfilling career. Community colleges give students the opportunity to explore a variety of subjects without the financial stress that comes from university study.

Your teen may have his or her heart set on a four-year university like Howard University, but attending a community college first is often a very smart choice. Give your teens the option of exploring several academic possibilities without incurring debt, and help them find the paths that will lead them to success in college and beyond.

college guidance, college majors, college planning

How to help your student set long-term goals

 

goalsMany students headed for college have never had to deal with long-term goals. You provide them with a roof over their heads, a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, and food on the table. They barely have to set short-term goals, much less those that take time and concentrated effort to accomplish. So when they leave home to pursue a college degree, they might not have the first idea how to go about creating and reaching goals that will take longer than a semester to complete. And this short-sighted attitude could make for some very serious problems.

Take a major, for example. Although students spend the majority of their freshman and sophomore years finishing general education credits, most also begin taking prerequisite courses for their major. If your student hasn’t decided on a major, any additional classes they take during this time could end up being a waste (of time and money). But you can give your teens the tools they need to make a solid, long-term plan. Here are a few tips to get them on track for setting and reaching overarching goals.

The first thing you’ll want to do is sit down with your teens to talk about a 5- or 10-year plan. This might sound like a long time to your teens, and it is. Throughout their late teens and twenties, most people develop and change in a variety of ways, which can make it extremely difficult to lay out a long-term life plan. But you don’t necessarily have to start with a college major and a career, which are extremely finite goals. You can begin by discussing more general plans. For example, you might ask your teens what they’re interested in and what they enjoy. Do they like helping others, working in groups, or being responsible for only themselves? Are they concerned about the environment, the economy, human rights, gun control, or any other current issues? Do they want to have a home, children, and money for vacations or are they happy having no commitments to tie them down?

Believe it or not, the answers to these questions can help your college-bound students to narrow their focus and come up with a major that will help them to reach certain life goals, rather than those that are simply career-oriented. Knowing what we want from life can help us to determine the types of jobs that will lead to happiness and fulfillment on a personal level. From there you can start to discuss more targeted issues like a career, a major, schools and programs, and even specific coursework. You can talk about which clubs and activities are going to contribute to successes in a chosen field. You can look into growth in particular job markets, types of jobs available, and even the prospect of benefits like health insurance and a retirement plan.

By starting with broad likes, interests, and desires you can begin to focus in on long-term professional goals. And when you make your teens consider their answers carefully, you are giving them the skills they need to objectively approach their goals in order to lay out a path to success on their own. Of course, they may still change their minds along the way, hopping from political science to arts and humanities to CNA certification training. Who knows how they will grow and change when they’re out on their own? But the hope is that they will eventually settle on something they love in order to enter a profession that is challenging and fulfilling, and that the process will teach them how to set and achieve long-term goals on their own.

college guidance, college planning, parenting

Exploring career options with your college-bound teen

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Kids either know what they want to do with their lives or they don’t. Some kids might even know what they want to do with their lives at an extremely early age, which makes it a lot easier for parents. However, a lot of kids have no idea. In this case, it is up to the parents to work with their teen to start exploring career options and even gauge what some of their interests might be. It is crucial for parents to start before the child enters their first year of college, because this will determine what classes they should be taking and even what major they should declare. Here are some ways to explore career options with your college bound teen.

Assess their strong points

First off, assess what some of their strong points are. If they are good at writing and they are interested in language, there are a plethora of jobs tailored for them. If they are good at writing, this doesn’t immediately mean that they have to become a novelist or English professor, but they can also land a job in communications, advertising and any other field where having a grasp of language makes them an asset. So make sure you find out what your teen’s strengths are in order to go through the list of available job positions within a certain field – some of which they might not even know about. Moreover, if they are interested in a specific field, it is important to make sure you dispel any myths or rumors about the field.

Determine their passion

Next, what is your teenager passionate about? If they are passionate about politics you should encourage them to pursue their studies towards this particular field. If they are interested in the healthcare field, there are a number of degrees they can acquire to have a sustainable and fulfilling career in the healthcare field. After getting their undergraduate degree, they can acquire a health care management MBA to land a position in careers ranging from finance, to biopharmaceuticals, to insurance and beyond. If they are interested in current events, they might pursue a career in journalism, television or radio media.

Analyze Job Market Trends

In addition to exploring personal interests and strengths, it’s vital to consider the demand in your teen’s chosen career field. A practical approach is to look at trends in job availability and growth projections in various industries. For example, unfilled residency positions 2024 is quite common, indicating a potentially high demand in certain healthcare specialties. This insight can guide your teen toward professions with greater long-term stability and opportunity. By analysing these market trends, you and your teen can make more informed decisions about selecting a major and planning their educational path, ensuring that they not only pursue a career aligned with their passions but also one with promising future prospects.

Take a career test

Another way to explore career options with your teen is to find out what they are good at by having them take a standardized test. There are a number of tests your teen can take that will determine what they have a natural inclination for. This option is usually best for those teens that are really struggling with what they want to do with their lives. For instance, a test in math will determine whether or not they are good with numbers and another test might be able to determine that they are more inclined towards abstract modes of thinking. Either way, this is a great way to get quantitative proof of your child’s strengths and weaknesses, which can motivate your teen to really start thinking about their career aspirations.

At the end of the day, it is important to not get frustrated with your child and let them come to their own conclusions, especially if they are going off to college. They might need a few years to think about it and in the meantime they might even go undeclared. However, after a few years of college, your teenager will eventually realize what they want to do with their lives, which can be an incredibly relieving moment for most parents and well worth the wait.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, websites

Choosing the right college

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choosing the right college
photo courtesy of esc1.net

Choosing which college to attend is an incredibly exciting, yet trying adventure.  With hundreds of universities to choose from, it can be frightening and overwhelming at times.  However, with proper planning and a great deal or research, choosing the right college is easier than you think .  Keep these tips in mind as you embark on this journey.

Identify what qualities you look for in a college

Incoming freshmen don’t necessarily need to have a specific major in mind, but it doesn’t hurt to have some ideas.  Knowing what major you want to pursue will help narrow down your college choices

Location and environment are two very important factors.  Do you want to attend a large university, or will you thrive better at a smaller university?  What environment are you looking for?  Is Greek Life an important part of the decision process?  Know what you’re looking for ahead of time.

Financial aid, tuition and other expenses are also an important consideration to keep in mind.  If you’re on a tight budget, it’s wise to consider an in-state university.  Another option is attending a community college for two years and then transferring to another university.  And don’t forget admission requirements.  Research the universities you’re interested in, and make sure that you meet their admissions requirements.

List, compare, and visit your college choices.

It’s important to do your research before applying to colleges.  Make sure the colleges you apply to cater towards your needs.  Don’t apply to a college that doesn’t offer the major you want to pursue simply because it’s been labeled as a party school or a cool school.  Go to as many college fairs as you can.  Most high schools will offer a few throughout the school year.  There are also college fairs in most major cities throughout the year that are often bigger than the ones put on by your high school, so make a point of attending at least one of these as well.

Make a pros and cons list of all your colleges, and then compare what each one has to offer.  This is an easy way to narrow down your selection.  Once you’ve weeded out the less appealing choices, it’s imperative that you visit as many of these colleges as possible.  College visits offer you a chance to experience campus life, tour the school, and learn more about what each college has to offer.

Make sure your grades are in check.

It never hurts to do well in school.  A high GPA will look a lot more impressive on your college applications than a mediocre one.  Remember, you want your application to stand out among the rest. A high GPA will also give you a better chance of receiving scholarships, so if tuition cost is a factor in your decision making process, picking up the books will work in your favor.

college culture
photo courtesy of youvisit.com

You’ll definitely want to take an SAT prep class, and, if your college choices require it, take an ACT prep course too.  Prep classes are known to increase your score by at least 200 points. The Princeton Review, Kaplan, and Sylvan Learning Center all offer a variety of SAT and ACT prep courses to students.  Whether you prefer a private tutor or a classroom setting, these programs offer a method for everyone, so research which classes are offered near you.

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when choosing a college.  Be thorough with each of your choices, and make sure that the college you pick fits your needs to a tee.  Having good grades and doing well on the SAT and ACT will go a long way, so remember to hit the books.

________________

You can follow CollegeFocus on Twitter at @CollegeFocus101 and Facebook at www.fb.com/collegefocus. Choosing which college to attend is an incredibly exciting, yet trying adventure.  With hundreds of universities to choose from, it can be frightening and overwhelming at times.  However, with proper planning and a great deal or research, it’s easier than you think to find the perfect college for you.  Keep these tips in mind as you embark on this journey.

collegefocusAbout the author: Kirstin Le Grice is a recent graduate of University of Colorado and a staff writer for CollegeFocus, a website dedicated to helping students deal with the challenges of college, including housing, finance, style, health, relationships, and transferring from a community college to a four-year university.

 

career colleges, college guidance, college majors, college planning

5 In-demand college degrees

 

college degree

Soon enough your son or daughter will be off to college so that they can pursue their dreams and professional lives. Job recruiters and college admission officers say that one of the best ways for your child to know what he or she wants to do with their life career-wise is to find out what some of the most in-demand jobs are. It just makes sense to pursue those degrees since jobs after graduation are often difficult to find; if your student has an in-demand college degree they are more likely to get hired.

Here are 5 in-demand degrees for your college kid to consider in 2013.

1. Computer Science

With the rise of digital technology, computer science is one of the most popular degrees in 2013 and will be for the foreseeable future. In fact, over 56% of students who are studying to acquire some sort of computer science degree already have jobs. The need for qualified and diligent programmers and application developers is widespread in almost every business sector. If you want to have a stable, long-term career, computer science is your answer to a satisfying professional life with job security and a potentially large income.

2. Business Administration

Business administration is another degree that is quickly becoming more and more in-demand. During 2013, business administration degrees are seeing a peak, because despite the sluggish economy, businesses need employees that see the big picture and have an overall knowledge of the business environment. Venture funded technology start-ups are popping up with open positions. Many of these companies need qualified business administrators.

3. Accounting

Because the economy is the way it is, accounting is another degree that is seeing a rapid rise in popularity. Either you start your own private accounting firm and work on people’s taxes to find ways for people to save money on their returns, or you work for a government agency to help crack our major multi-trillion dollar deficit. Wherever you end up, a strong knowledge of tax calculators will help. 

Accounting positions are always in demand because every business needs them. It’s also one of the best fields to pursue for continuing education; it’s fairly easy to obtain a bachelors of accounting for working adults.

4. Nursing

Next, nursing degrees are also hugely in-demand. However, it used to be that you could get by with a registered nursing degree or an RN, but now it is recommended that you get your BSN, or a Bachelor’s In Science and Nursing degree. It’s important that you enter an RN to BSN program. Many hospitals across the country are choosing nurses with a BSN over an RN degree. A bachelor’s degree communicates that the person has had more education and is better qualified.

5. Engineering

Lastly, engineering, will make you qualified for a host of jobs that span almost every business sector. If you get your civil engineering degree you can help plan your cities basic infrastructure, from highways to traffic lights and more. Other engineering jobs are widely available in the military, Silicone Valley, the medical field and anywhere else you can think of that needs the advanced thinking of an engineer. An engineer will also help build machines, creative devices, and devise solutions to help us live our lives more efficiently.

career colleges, college guidance, college majors, college planning, college transfer

Transferring colleges

 

transferring collegesIt can be very difficult for students to choose the school that is going to offer them the best chance for future happiness and career success. And even with the input of parents, counselors, and peers, students occasionally discover that they’ve made the wrong decision and ended up at a college that really can’t offer them the program or coursework they need to get where they want to go. Plenty of students also change their minds about what they want to do after they’ve had a chance to take a few classes and see what their dream job actually entails. Then there are issues like cost and location that may lead students to seek an education at another institution. And many students go from community college to a 4-year institution. There are any number of reasons why students might consider transferring colleges. Here are a few things to consider when helping them make the transition.

Search for acceptable alternatives

In truth, there is little difference between applying for college initially and transferring to a new school except that you’ll need to get more transcripts sent. So the first thing you and your student should do is start looking for acceptable alternatives. The nice thing is that you’ve been through the process once before so you should have a better idea of how to get started, such as by reading reviews and seeking out schools that offer the type of program your student is interested in. If the major study hasn’t changed, you may even be able to repurpose some research on schools that didn’t make the cut the first time around but came in as second- or third-place options. However, if your student is considering a new major, you’ll simply have to begin again with schools that meet the new criteria.

Determine if current credits will transfer

Of course, there may be a few snags to contend with. On the upside, your student has likely completed some credits, which means he/she should have an easier time gaining admittance to a new school. This is especially true of students entering a new institution as juniors with their general education units completed, not to mention those who have managed to earn a high GPA thus far. However, you could definitely face some problems when it comes to transferring those credits. Although most accredited institutions will accept college credit from other such schools, an apples-to-apple transfer is not always possible.

For example, students going from a semester to quarter system, or vice versa, can face problems based on the number of units granted per class. And certain courses may not have an equivalent at a new school, rendering them virtually useless. Plus, every school is bound to have different requirements concerning prerequisites for specific majors. So you should address this issue right off the bat in order to find a school that will offer your student the best opportunity to continue along an educational path rather than having to backpedal and make up units.

Take a look at financial aid

If your student is receiving financial aid via merit scholarships from their current college they will lose that money if they transfer. Transferring students rarely receive any type of merit aid. Do your research and determine whether or not the new college will provide merit aid to your student, even though they are transferring. This might be a strong case to reconsider staying at the current college and finding a way to make it work.

Whether your student is interested in Ivy League institutions like Duke or Brown, state schools like UCLA or the University of Cincinatti, or even technical colleges, transferring colleges can be a trial. But with proper planning and attention to detail you can help to ensure that your kids find that right schools for their wants and needs, even if they’re already on the collegiate path somewhere else.

college majors, college planning, parenting

To transfer or not to transfer-that is the question

 

transferring collegesParents often have to make tough decisions where their kids are concerned. And while you want the best for your child, and that desire influences your every choice, even you have to admit that you don’t always choose correctly – parents are just people trying to do the best they can! At some point you’re going to have to let your teen take the reins and make his own decisions, even if you think he’s making a huge mistake. But as a parent it’s still your job to help him in any way you can. While you might not exert the same influence over a teenager as you did over a toddler, your opinion still matters. So when it comes to ensuring that your child end up at the right institution of higher learning, the one that will help him to maximize his potential and prepare for a successful and fulfilling career, the onus is on you, to some degree, to make sure he has all the facts needed to make an informed decision about his future.

Even with all your input and exhaustive research, he could end up at the wrong college with the wrong major. Here are just a few things to consider when determining whether your kid is at the right college or if he’s in need of transfer to a more suitable school.

What are the reasons?

There are plenty of reasons why a college might not end up being the best choice for any given student, but when it comes to your child you want to be sure. After all, this can be a fairly costly mistake, what with the complications inherent in transferring to a new school. As a parent, your job in this situation is to determine whether your college student is truly miserable and misplaced at his current campus or if he is simply making a mountain out of a molehill when it comes to complaints about his current situation.

Have your student’s interests changed?

You and your student will no doubt put a lot of time, effort, and deliberation into selecting the appropriate college. But things don’t always turn out like you hope. Even with the help of a comprehensive ranking system, information from school advisors, and visits to college campuses, your student may eventually discover that the school he has settled on isn’t what he wants, for one reason or another. Perhaps he’s looking for practical studies and it turns out that the program for his major is largely theoretical, analytical, or historical in nature, just for example. He may decide partway through that he wants to change his major to something that his school of choice doesn’t specialize in or that it isn’t highly ranked in, at any rate (this is more common than you might imagine). So if it turns out that your student went for a major in contract law when what he really wanted was an urban planning career degree, discuss this change with him and determine the financial consequences of his change of interest and/or passion.

Is this a rash decision?

It could be that your student has selected a campus that is far away and the homesickness is too much for him to handle on top of all the other stresses of entering college. If your college student asks to transfer, tread lightly. It could be more than the wrong educational choice. It could be homesickness, not fitting in, or even the feeling that they are overwhelmed. Make sure it’s not a temporary response to stress. Encourage them to finish out the semester and then make a well-informed decision.

If he discovers that the courses offered aren’t going to help him to get the knowledge and skills needed for his career of choice, then perhaps you should consider supporting his move to another school that can meet his needs. A happy student is a successful student.

 

college guidance, college planning, essays

5 Topics to avoid in the college application essay

 

college application esayYou will no doubt play some role in helping your teens to select topics for their college application essays, and it’s never easy to determine what a selection committee will find compelling. There are fine lines that students must be careful not to cross. For example, they want to write an essay that is dramatic and engaging, but they don’t want to push it into the realm of the unbelievable. And they may want to discuss events in their lives that have helped to shape them into the young adults they are, but it can be difficult not only to choose such an event, but also to determine if it’s revealing enough, or for that matter, too much.

There’s a reason why schools require students to include essays, and it’s not just to see a sample of their writing ability. With thousands of applicants sporting similar qualifications and too few spots to accommodate them, something has to tip the scales, and it just might be the essay section. Picking the wrong one could mean getting a rejection letter. So here are just a few topics that students may want to steer clear of.

  1. Controversial subjects. It can be tempting to discuss attention-grabbing hot topics like gay marriage, abortion, war, drug use, and so on, but doing so can have consequences. If such topics have had a direct influence on your kids, helping to shape their lives and career goals in some way, then they might be relevant and compelling choices for an essay. But controversial topics are contentious for a reason. And while some on a review board may applaud such a choice of essay, others might not find it appropriate for students entering their institution, even if it catches their attention.
  2. Weaknesses. Overcoming one’s failings is noteworthy, to be sure, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it makes for a good essay topic. A “poor me” attitude will not appeal to those determining a student’s acceptance. If they have turned a weakness into a strength, or developed a strong sense of self and purpose through struggles, they could write about it. But they must find a way to make it sound positive and display some humility in the process.
  3. Depression and self-harm. Schools are extremely cognizant of the damage that can be done to their reputation by students that are unable to deal with the pressures and demands of college. So don’t let your kids supply them with any ammo that could make them think your students are unfit to study on their campus. Even an essay about overcoming such struggles could raise red flags.
  4. Short-term philanthropy. It’s great that the students in your household volunteered at a soup kitchen one Thanksgiving or went with the family to build a home for habitat for humanity, but if they’re going to do an essay about how they helped others and what it has done to change them on a personal level, they’re going to have to get a little more in-depth. A personal essay needs to be about the student, not a singular event. It needs to tell the application committee who they are and what they value. So if altruism is a cornerstone of their belief system and they’ve participated in ongoing efforts of some sort, then an essay on the topic may be appropriate. If not, it could come across as juvenile, immature, and unsympathetic.
  5. Generics. Whether your students are looking to attend a state college or NEC’s School of Graduate and Professional studies, they need to write an essay that conveys something unique about them. For this reason it’s best to stay away from topics that are too generic. What this means, in general, is that they need to write about something real and immediate. Any topic can be relevant if it tells readers something about the student. For example, two students could write about the death of a sibling, but one might merely relate events while the other discusses how the occurrence made him question his faith or retreat from his family and friends, only to realize how much he needed them. Admissions committees want to know something true about the character and core values of a student. So the topic is really of little consequence so long as the essay is honest, personal, and illuminating in some way.

The best tip: the college needs to know something about your student that isn’t included in the college application. Use this opportunity to shine.

 

career colleges, college guidance, college majors, college planning

College degrees for music enthusiasts

 

music degrees

When it comes to a particular career path that tends to get quite a bit of media attention, it would have to be the field of music—not just when it comes to famous performing artists, but also producers, arrangers, composers and so many other professions that help to keep everything (pardon the pun) right on beat.

If you consider yourself to be a music enthusiast and you would like to know what kind of college degrees are available that specifically cater to your love for the craft, we have a list of a few for you below. Depending on the kind of music career that you desire, one of these college degrees for music enthusiasts should be able to assist you with getting closer to reaching your goal.

Bachelor of Music. A four-year degree that many people who want a music education will enroll in college to get is a Bachelor of Music. One thing that attracts individuals to this degree is that there are many majors available in this department from performance and theory to music history and technology.

Bachelor of Arts. Those who would like to have a four-year degree in liberal arts with a concentration in music, may decide to go with a Bachelor of Arts. This is one that combines a series of music classes with some liberal arts courses as well. If you choose this particular option, two popular majors that are offered are music administration and music business.

Bachelor of Fine Arts. A lot of people who perform in stage plays and even go on to win Tony Awards have this particular four-year degree. Although a Bachelor of Fine Arts is quite similar to a Bachelor of Arts, the main thing that makes it unique is that the focus tends to be on music theatre. So, if you’re interested in earning a degree in how to perform on stage strictly in a theatre environment, this would be the one for you.

Bachelor of Music Education. If a musician uses a press kit template to create their press packet and they decide to list their college education, there’s another kind of degree that you might see listed. If you are someone who has a deep interest in not just music performance but you also want to be equipped with the kind of information that you will need in order to someday teach it to elementary, high school or college students, then a Bachelor of Music Education would be an ideal fit for you. As a matter of fact, many schools who are looking for teachers will require this degree in their list of qualifications. By having one, you can perform and also have the option of teaching too.

Master of Music. After you have completed your undergraduate education, if you want to get a masters, many colleges have what is known as a master of music degree. The focus in this program is many including commercial music, composition, music education, church music, pedagogy and performance. Some even graduate from that and get their doctorate in music so that they can perform or teach music on a collegiate level.

As you can see, there are many avenues to pursue of your student is a music enthusiast. Investigate all paths and follow the one that best fits your talent and future interest.