Category Archives: how to

Guest Posts, how to

How to take a working holiday abroad

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  • As the economic crisis continues to affect countries across the world, the option to work abroad is becoming increasingly popular amongst young people
  • Education, work and sports are the most sought after activities by temporary foreign workers

working holiday abroadAs a result of the economic crisis, one of the words that we have incorporated into our language is ‘emigration’. Tens of thousands of young people have already crossed the border in search of a better future, from neighboring countries to even as far as the Asian market.

In this case, one of things that is influencing those deciding to work abroad more and more is the Work and Travel Program (PVT in Spanish or French) or the Working Holiday Visa, which allows those under 35 to work and holiday at the same time in a foreign country for between 6 and 12 months.

Also called the Holiday-Work Visa (VVT in Spanish) or the Working Holiday Program, it is the result of mutual agreements that seek to encourage young people to travel to all parts of the world, with the possibility of finding part time work to finance their stay there. Australia, Canada and New Zealand are considered the best destinations by those embarking on such an adventure.

Working while on holiday or during the summer

There are two categories within the Holiday and Work Program. The first of these provides the opportunity for students to work during the summer months. This is designed for younger students who want to take advantage of their summer break and experience working abroad, with a maximum period of 3 months. For this option it is essential that the student is enrolled in post-secondary education or at a training centre and carries the requested travel insurance.

working abroadThe other option concerns working while holidaying, designed for travellers who want to sightsee, get to the know the culture and work at the same time. The maximum duration is 12 months. This is the option that is becoming increasingly more popular amongst Spaniards, as it offers a clear solution to the problem of unemployment that is affecting many countries, with the added attraction of possibly learning a new language.

Beatriz Valiente, in charge of customers relations at AVI International, highlights “the significant increase in the number of calls and contact we have received regarding our Working Holiday insurance for 2012, especially insurance for general covers”. Other issues of particular interest for applicants are that this visa has “the option of integrating sports and leisure  or manual work into the insurance, and that it includes the possibility to visit neighbouring countries, which it does include, but only for a maximum of two weeks.”

And what destinations do people choose? There are dozens of countries that you can travel to with a Working Holiday visa. China and Taiwan are recent additions, although they are not yet in high demand. “100% of those Spanish people insured have chosen Canada to carry out their Working Holiday”, Beatriz Valiente points out, “while the majority of French insured go to Australia, followed by New Zealand and then Canada. Very few opt to travel and work in other countries such as such as Argentina, South Korea, Japan or Singapore and the new destination: Hong Kong.”

5 pieces of advice for the Working Holiday Visa

When it comes to applying for a Working Holiday visa, often there are limitations attached to the criteria that the applicant must meet, which in many cases are restrictive:

  • It is essential to be between 18 and 35 years old, with both these ages included.
  • For some destinations it is necessary to carry with you a large sum of money as costs can escalate at the beginning of your stay.
  • One of the key requirements is that your medical insurance covers you for the entire duration of your stay. When it comes to confirming it, Beatriz Valiente adds that this criterion is “absolutely essential for the Working Holiday visa to be accepted.”
  • It is important to know what limitations exist when it comes to studying and working. In the case of New Zealand and Canada, the Working Holiday visa only allows you to study for a period of 6 months, and to work for up to 1 year. As for Australia, a certain level of accredited English is also required. Your country of origin can also play a part in what countries you can travel to.
  • Analysing the possible destinations and their economic and unemployment rates, with the aim of choosing a country that offers the best employment opportunities.

Therefore it is important to know in detail the necessary requirements and characteristics for each country, so that you can plan in advance on how to make the most of your trip and have the best experience possible. Looking ahead, it is one of the options being considered more and more: “I believe that it is a product that will work really well in the next few years; many Spaniards leaving the country in search of work, prices are economical and conditions are very good”, concludes our contact at AVI International.

___________________________

Today’s post is from AVI International, a leading provider of travel insurance for tourists and those who holiday abroad.

 

 

extracurricular activities, how to

How to be a high school entrepreneur (and wow colleges)

 

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Back in the day, in order to get accepted into a great school, all you needed to do was make excellent grades and do really well on the standardized tests. Kind of makes you chuckle doesn’t it, because you can easily imagine your own grandparents saying something like that (“Back in my day…”) before they told your parents to do what they did and get a job? Gramps wasn’t trying to be mean or unsupportive; he was just conveying the reality of his time: that going to college wasn’t a given or even a possibility for the majority of the country back then.

entrepreneurFortunately, the opportunities to receive a higher education are more available to many more people in this day and age. At the same time, that hopeful picture from yesterday of simply doing well in high school is no longer the case because colleges and universities have such a pool of superlative candidates from which to pull that they are much more selective to whom they choose to extend acceptance letters.

Maybe the old timers were on to something: in order to separate themselves from the pack of wannabe college students, your kid may need to take a lesson from the past…and show his or her vision for the future. But merely getting a job isn’t going to cut it, because lots of kids have to work through high school and have jobs on their resumes. What most of them don’t have, however, is a successful entrepreneurial endeavor and legit business experience under their belts.

Here are some creative ideas for starting an entrepreneurial business in high school that can improve your student’s impression on college admissions officers and have a profound positive impact on their lives from this point forward.

Think Green

Evolving yet another ‘oldie but goodie’ involves starting a landscaping or lawn care business. And with the rising costs of education, starting a “green” business in high school can prove extremely helpful for providing some of the green to pay for college.

Remember that businesses do not need to be large, complicated, or full of employees in order to be successful. All you need is the upper hand in supply and demand: identify a product that you can offer to the consumers at a profit.

Yards and residential lawns abound and someone has to maintain them. And since the largest aspect of yard work is the labor, as long as your kid can invest the time – without the grades suffering, that is – the majority of the income is straight profit.

And to address the grades issue, by developing a self-sustaining repeat business model, once the initial legwork of generating a clientele base is over, your entrepreneur can spend more time making sure their academics are in order.

Finally, an outdoor business involves the purchase of tools and machinery that are a one-time investment but can be reused over and over on each client’s property. And here’s a plus–they can continue the business while attending college.

Smart start ups for entrepreneurs

Some ideas for smart start-ups include products like:fence

  • Gardens: Whether they build raised bed gardens with lengths of lumber or improve an existing garden’s curb appeal with a lattice surround, the basics are the same. They’ll need a truck for hauling supplies and a creative eye to set their designs apart from other professional landscapers.
  • Fences: If they don’t necessarily have green thumbs, they can still make green by investing sweat equity in putting up fences for residential properties. Another option for “staff” that can cut down the project time exponentially is hiring their friends to help put up the fences.
  • Paint: If the inside world is more their speed, beginning entrepreneurs can still make bank by starting a painting company. And they can further narrow down their focus by deciding whether they want to specialize in residential or commercial buildings and basic surface painting or artistic detailing with painted murals.

*Tip: Develop a website to drum up business and convey to a prospective college an awareness of technology’s ever-increasing role in modern business practices.

Notes for Newbies

Make sure your kid keeps meticulous records related to:

  • Business Plan: This will speak volumes to an admissions officer in terms of your candidate’s ability to conceptualize a workable business model.
  • Financial Records: In addition to keeping money issues straight with clients, keeping detailed records with finances makes it easy to convey the financial success of your entrepreneur’s business.
  • Portfolio: A picture is worth a thousand words, and since an admissions representative can’t do site visits, being able to present them with a professional looking portfolio will give them a visual of what your kid is capable of.

What are some other creative ideas for starting an entrepreneurial business in high school?

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Today’s guest blogger, Chris Long, is a store associate at a Chicago-area Home Depot. Chris is a frequent contributor on lumber and wood topics for the Home Depot website. He also writes on fencing, garden and other outdoor project tips to homeowners.

financial aid, how to, scholarships, Uncategorized

How to apply for scholarships

 

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scholarship application
Photo courtesy of FastWeb

There are many scholarship opportunities that anyone can apply for. Some are merit based, meaning you need to meet particular standards, some are based on financial need, and there are many for having a certain background. They can be awards of a few hundred dollars or can cover all of your tuition costs, but whatever the amount, they will decrease the price of your education. How do you apply for scholarships?

Search for scholarship information

Scholarship information can be found many ways. You can contact your college, your high school counselor, the U.S. Department of Labor’s website, state agencies, or nonprofit or private organizations. When searching for scholarships, be sure that everything is legitimate; you will never have to pay to find any financial aid opportunities. Moreover, be sure to only apply for awards you meet the requirements for; the last thing you want to do is waste your time on scholarships you don’t meet the criteria for.

Make note of the deadlines

The deadline for each scholarship can vary. Some may have deadlines as early as a year before you start college so you will need to start searching for scholarships during the summer before your senior year of high school. However, even if you have missed out on a few scholarships with early deadlines, there are still plenty with later dates. Once you have compiled a list of scholarships you meet the requirements for, prioritize those with the earliest deadlines and those you are most confident about getting.

Start the application process

Start the application process as early as possible and follow all of the directions. Most scholarships require high school transcripts, standardized test scores, your parents’ financial information, financial aid forms like the FAFSA or CSS, essays, and letters of recommendation.

If the scholarship is because you are part of a certain group, you will also have to prove your eligibility. Only submit what is mandatory, do not submit extra supporting materials or go over the word limit on the essays. Some applications might be similar and you may be able to submit the same work, or slightly edit your work for other scholarships. Keep the essay directions in mind, however, as the judges will use them to narrow the applicant pool. Once you have finished any essays or portfolio materials, have a teacher, parent, or anyone you trust for advice go over them for honest feedback; you really want to put your best foot forward here.

Applying for a scholarship is not difficult; it can be a pretty easy process! Once you have finished one application, it gets easier to complete the rest. Prevent getting overwhelmed by being organized and recording all the application deadlines and by starting early. You may feel unprepared, but after a little research, you will be on your way to completing scholarships and earning financial aid.

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About the author: Priya Sudendra is a junior at the 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.

You can follow CollegeFocus on Twitter and Facebook.

college planning, financial aid, how to

College Savings Plans

 

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college savingsNo matter where you are in the college prep process, saving, and knowing how and what to save can be difficult to understand. Depending on your situation and the amount of time you have to save, here are some excellent resources that will help you understand college savings plans.

SavingforCollege.com

SavingforCollege.com offers a free Family Guide to College Savings available in either Kindle, Nook, or PDF format. The guide advises parents on when to start saving, how to start saving, and college savings alternatives. It also gives a brief explanation of the tax savings you can expect and how to maximize savings. There are also numerous links on the site itself related to 529 savings plans, college expenses, and a tool to use to view the list of state specific plans. There is also a college cost calculator that helps you determine the cost of college based on your child’s age and the amount you wish to contribute along with a monthly savings estimate.

AffordableCollegesOnline.org

AffordableCollegesOnline.org has created a 529 Savings Plan Guidebook which can be easily printed from your browser. In the guidebook you will gain a better understanding of:

By using this guide, you will gain a better understanding of:

  • How 529 savings plans work and how to establish one
  • Who is eligible to establish and contribute to a 529 savings plan
  • The pros and cons of other types of college savings vehicles
  • How much may be contributed to a 529 plan
  • The tax advantages associated with 529 plans
  • The best time to set up a plan
  • How to take the next step in obtaining some – or all – of the funds that are needed to fulfill the dream of a higher education.

U.S. News Education

On U.S. News Education: Saving for College you can read articles like:

  • 4 Steps to Choosing Age-Based 529 Plans
  • 5 Steps for Utilizing 529 College Savings Plan Funds
  • 12 Questions to Ask Before Investing in a Prepaid College Savings Plan
  • 4 Costly Mistakes Parents Make When Saving Money for College

Manilla.com

Manilla.com offers a free downloadable Financial Literacy toolkit that helps parents and students through the process of deciding how to pay for college, deciding who will pay for what, and some good pointers on establishing good financial habits.

Fidelty.com

Fidelity offers information you will need to plan your child’s educational future. On this site you can compare your savings options, find a 529 savings plan that meets your needs, learn about financial aid, and how much you will need to save.

MorningStar

Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Morningstar provides data on approximately 433,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on nearly 10 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in addition to foreign exchange and Treasury markets.

In a recent article, MorningStar rated the nation’s Best 529 Savings Plans for 2013 and also lists the negative rated 529 plans.

University Parent

University Parent, an online resource for parents of college students and college bound teens, recently published an article:  What is a 529 Savings Plan? How it Helps. The article gives an overview of the plans and what you need to know once you have one and how to use it.

If your college-bound teen is young, you have plenty of time to start saving. If you have a student in high school, you should read the information about aggressive portfolios and how to maximize your investment. The above resources should help you decide how much and where to invest your savings.

 

Guest Posts, how to

How to Prepare an Art or Design Portfolio: Top 5 Tips

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animationPerhaps your son or daughter has always been good with a brush and a pen or with video art, and now as a high school junior or senior they’re talking about majoring in an art or design field. That means they need to compile samples of their work into an art or design portfolio.

A portfolio is required for admission to many art and design programs and for consideration in nearly all scholarship programs. It should be thoughtfully put together and include pieces that represent your child’s overall artistic strengths and interests. So, you can’t just mail a few favorite pieces. The portfolio tells the admissions counselors about who your child is and what sets your child apart from other candidates.

If a college application deadline is looming and neither you nor your child has even thought about a portfolio, don’t feel bad. You’re not alone. Here are five things to remember as your student compiles their portfolio.

  1. Find 10 to 20 pieces that highlight all-around abilities and work as a group. Include a variety of pieces that show your child’s personality and willingness to dedicate time to a project. All pieces must be original ideas, not “borrowed” or copied from others’ works. For example, consider including a sketchbook that demonstrates creative thinking. Be sure to include specific school requirements, or your portfolio will be tossed out.
  2. Make sure the works make sense as a group and are arranged well.  fashion designWhen deciding which pieces to include, look at your work as a group: What can each contribute to the portfolio? What does each communicate to the reviewer? Does the piece showcase a skill-set? Order also is important. The first piece in the portfolio should make a strong statement and set the tone for the rest of the presentation. The following pieces should show ability, with the most expressive works placed in the middle.
  3. Ensure that all portfolio items are professionally presented. Once the pieces have been selected and arranged, make sure everything is labeled properly and easy to read (toss out those Post It Notes!). For example, to best present 3-D pieces, photograph them against a backdrop for a professional presentation. Remember, admissions offices will be reviewing thousands of applications, so you want your child’s to stand out (not because it’s sloppy, but because it’s well thought out and put together).pottery group
  4. Ask for help and be open to the advice.The portfolio should only include your child’sbest work, yet it’s tough to critique a loved ones work. Ask teachers, colleagues and friends for their opinion on the portfolio before it’s submitted. Also, most colleges encourage in-person preliminary portfolio reviews during junior and senior year. Take a few samples to the visit, and college admission staff will guide your child on pieces that are worth editing and further developing for their portfolio. Fortunately, plenty of resources exist for students to create a portfolio that will boost confidence in current skills and pave the way to a life in art and design.
  5. Follow submission guidelines and never miss a deadline. Read and re-read the submission guidelines to make sure proper steps are taken to prepare and submit the portfolio. For example, the college may have specific digital submission requirements if you submit your portfolio electronically. And, be aware of all deadlines for submission. Even if you’re in a time crunch, staying up late to ensure the pieces selected represent your child’s work is arranged well, and professionally presented may mean the difference between the application being accepted or rejected.

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Today’s guest blogger, Densil R. R. Porteous II is the Director of Admissions for CCAD. Prior to joining CCAD he was an assistant dean of admission for marketing and outreach at Sanford University and an associate dean/director of college counseling at the Drew School in San Francisco. He is a graduate of Kenyon College. Densil can be reached at Dporteous@ccad.edu. CCAD is one of the oldest and largest private art and design colleges offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fine Arts in the United States. www.ccad.edu

college guidance, how to, Uncategorized

How to find the best college advice

 

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adviceAdvice. Everyone gives it. Most of us don’t ask for it. Sometimes we need it.

The nature of the college beast is that we all need advice. Advice from other parents. Advice from college experts. Advice from the colleges. Advice from the high school counselor. For some it’s freely given, for others it’s withheld until asked. But there’s one underlying truth—everyone needs help and direction now and then, especially when navigating the college maze. But before you set out on this adventure to find the best college advice, beware-it’s a jungle out there!

Books

I gravitate towards books; probably because I’m old fashioned. I assimilate information easier if I can read it and stew on it for a bit. Books are excellent resources for information about college. There are the “big” books that many parents use which contain all the colleges in the United States and extensive lists of scholarships. But the books that seem to help parents the most are ones written to guide them through the college process and answer all of their questions.

My advice? Check out these 10 books that I believe will help you navigate the college maze with confidence and ease.

Blogs

There are websites and there are blogs. You can’t beat blogs for some good parent to parent advice and support. Subscribe to their blog or RSS feed so you will receive an email every time they post. This is the easiest way to stay on top of recent posts.

My advice? Subscribe to these: Dr. Strange College, PocsMom, The College Solution, Smart College Visit, More than a Test Score, Perfect Score Project and Best College Fit. There are hundreds more, but these are my fav picks. I find them to be filled with information and encouragement.

Social media

Believe it or not, you can get advice on social media. With social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ it’s easy to have information overload.

My advice? Follow me on Twitter and you will see I’ve made some lists of the accounts with good college advice: collegeinfo, tutoring, and scholarship info. Facebook is a good way to connect with colleges, other students and parents. Do a little research and find experts like me, University Parent, The College Solution, How to Win Scholarships and more. Pinterest is also quickly becoming another social media source for college advice. Follow me on Pinterest and you can follow my boards: college prep and scholarships. Look for colleges and follow their parent boards as well.

Websites

The world wide web is cluttered with college-related websites. Navigating them can be just a bit overwhelming. You can do Google searches and hope you find good advice and information, or you can trust the experts to steer you in the right direction.

My advice? Narrowing down the field should help a bit and keep you from pulling out your hair over hundreds of search results. Focus on a handful of websites that you consider to be most helpful.

It truly is a jungle out there, littered with all kinds of advice and opinions. Pick the ones who come recommended with an extensive network of experts who endorse them. The best way to find the best is to ask the best—it works every time.

 

admissions, how to, Uncategorized

How to Understand EA and ED

 

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ea pr ed

EA (Early Action) and ED (Early Decision) have confused parents for years. Applying to college has become more competitive and more complicated. Years ago (long before my time), all you did was apply and everyone applied at the same time. But times have changed and so have college applications. If you break the terms down it’s easier to understand. I’ve turned to some experts to help you decipher the differences and understand the benefits and/or the downsides of applying EA or ED.

What is EA and ED?

The first comes from Patrick O’Connor, Associate Dean of College Counseling, Cranbrook-Kingswood School, and author of College is Yours 2.0:

Early Action: Also known as EA, colleges that offer this option promise a quick response if you submit a completed application by their early deadline. Students admitted EA don’t have to promise to attend the college; they just want to hear back sooner than usual. Students can apply as EA candidates to several colleges at the same time, as long as they are submitting a quality application that didn’t get thrown together at the last minute.

Restricted Early Action: Sometimes known as Early Action Single Choice, REA works much like Early Action, but the student is limited in the number of other colleges where they can submit early applications — and that number is often zero. Colleges do this for a number of reasons, but they most often want the student to show a special commitment to their college without having to promise to go there. This can reduce the number of students who apply early who aren’t really thinking about why the college is right for them , and still reward the students who feel a special bond to the school.

Early Decision: ED applications require a little more from students than EA applications. The process is the same — students submit a completed application by an early deadline — but if a student is admitted as an ED student, they promise to withdraw all other college applications at attend the college that admitted them ED. If this sounds like serious business, it is. Students should only apply ED to a college they absolutely, positively love, and cannot live without.

Read Patrick’s entire article on Huffington Post about how to determine if either of these is best for your student.

Tips for Potential ED/EA Applicants

Peter Van Buskirk, an acclaimed author and motivational speaker, excels at simplifying and demystifying what is often perceived as a complex and mysterious process—college admission. His creative programming, including his signature presentation of “The Admission Game®,” has informs parents and students about the ins and outs of the college admissions process.

Peter gives several tips for college applicants seeking EA/ED:

  • Read the fine print for each institutional offering and understand your commitments before initiating an early application of any sort.
  • Rather than looking for an “ED school,” focus on finding colleges that fit you well as you arrive at your short list of schools. If one of them becomes your absolute first choice, then ED should be a considered option.
  • Do not apply ED unless you are dead certain of your commitment to enroll if accepted.
  • Do not apply ED if you have not visited the campus first! Ideally, your visit will have included an overnight stay that enabled you to also attend classes and experience the campus culture.
  • Resist the temptation to act on impulse. The feelings you have for a college now might change greatly over time leaving you committed to a place that is no longer where you want to be. Give yourself at least a month to reflect on your intended application before applying ED.
  • Remember the ED Round II option. Many schools will give you the opportunity to “convert” your Regular Decision application during a second round of ED in January. The conditions are the same as with ED Round I, but you might be better prepared to make a commitment later in the year.
  • Resolve all $$ questions and concerns before applying ED. Once you are admitted, there can be no contingencies. Ask the school’s financial aid office to provide an “early estimate” of your expected family contribution (EFC) before you submit your ED application. Apply ED only if you are completely satisfied with the information you receive regarding your EFC.
  • Sprint to the finish! Even though you might hold an EA or ED acceptance letter, it is likely to be conditional on your completion of the senior at the same level of achievement that earned you the offer of admission. More than a few colleges are known to rescind offers of admission when final transcripts show performances that drop measurably after offers of admission are secured.

Read Peter’s entire article, Making Sense of ED/EA Options. for a look at the numbers, options and who benefits.

What is “rolling admissions”?

Schools with rolling admissions offer important options and opportunities that static deadlines don’t. Rolling admissions schools will accept and examine applications as they are sent in, instead of waiting to judge all applications concurrently. Schools with rolling admissions can be great for late admissions, or for finding out early on whether or not you are accepted, so you can change your plan accordingly.

Peterson’s provides an article about the Advantages and Disadvantages of Rolling Admissions.

What is regular admissions?

A discussion of EA and ED needs to include a discussion on regular admissions as well. Regular admissions require that the student submit their application before the application deadline (which is later than EA and ED). The advantage of this being that students have more time to prepare and have no restrictions on the number of schools they can apply to.

This pool of applicants is much larger and the competition for these slots will be more competitive. Colleges typically have lower admission rates for regular admission applicants.

College 101 provides a comparison table, which includes EA, ED, Rolling Admissions, and Regular Decision, to help decide which application deadline is right for you.