Category Archives: parenting

financial aid, parenting, student loans

How co-signing can get your children lower student loan rates

 

co-signingWhen it’s time for your children to start looking at colleges, you may be wondering how you are going to pay for tuition and other expenses. Private student loans for college may have lower interest rates than some federal loans and flexible repayment options which can help your student get the funding needed in a way that’s simpler to manage. However, your child may not have the income or credit score to qualify for student loans or lower student loan rates that are available.

Benefits of co-signing a student loan for college

Co-signing your student’s loan may open up private student loan options that would not have been available to him if he was applying on his own. Since income and credit score are important factors when banks approve private loans, and your student may not have a steady source of income or any credit score to speak of, co-signing may be the only way he can obtain a student loan for college. By co-signing, not only will you help his chances of loan approval, but your credit score could also contribute to lower student loan rates.  Plus, getting your student started with a loan that has his name on it can possibly help improve his credit score for future lending opportunities.

Information to consider before co-signing student loans for college

While lower student loan rates mean lower monthly payments for your student, you should understand the responsibility of co-signing before you make a commitment. Your child will be the primary borrower, but by co-signing you are responsible for loan payments if he defaults. Late payments could also negatively affect your credit score. Be sure your child fully understands the responsibility this puts on you, and the importance of making payments on time before you decide to co-sign. You may also want to draw up an agreement, stating he will eventually reimburse you for any loan payments you need to make on his behalf.

Look for private student loans with a release option

Since there are some cautions surrounding co-signing student loans for college, you may want to look into a private student loan that offers a co-signer release option. This allows you to co-sign, helping your child get approved and obtain lower student loan rates, but it also releases you of payment obligation after the student has made a certain amount of consecutive, timely payments. This shows the bank enough confidence in the borrower that you (as co-signer) no longer need to be included for security purposes. Make sure your child understands that once the co-signer is released from obligation, they will be solely responsible for the loan payments. Speak to a lender at your local bank today to learn more about private student loan options and how co-signing could help your child obtain financing for college.

Sponsored content was created and provided by RBS Citizens Financial Group.

parenting, social networks

The benefits of blogging in college

 

bloggingMost students have their hands full with attending class, completing homework, writing essays, and studying for tests. Some also have to contend with part-time jobs to support themselves, at least in part, during their time on campus, or they want to take on internships as a way to gain some experience and network with those in their industry of choice. And with any free time that’s left over, many want to pursue their social lives or get a few hours of much-needed rest.

But there is one other activity that students should consider adding to their roster if they want to do all they can during their time in college to prepare for a career–that task is writing a blog. As a parent you may wonder why you should encourage your students to tackle this seemingly non-essential undertaking, but there are a few reasons why spending a little time blogging in college is a great move for the future.

An online presence

Consider that in this day and age, hiring agents don’t stop at performing an interview and checking listed references before offering a job to an applicant (i.e. your student). Nearly everyone now goes online to see what they can find out about prospective candidates. This means they will review any public profiles on social networking sites like Facebook, Google+, and so on, not to mention running a Google search. What they’re looking for is an indication as to whether or not your student (or more likely, your recent grad) will make a good employee. For this reason you should warn your kids about the dangers of having public profiles (unless they are professional in nature). But you might also push them to create a blog related to the industry they’re interested in joining.

A virtual resume

A blog can become a virtual resume, one that demonstrates a student’s knowledge of and passion for the career they’re interested in. With careful planning it can serve to portray a student as an expert, exhibiting what they have learned and how they have applied that knowledge, showing their intuition and ability. It allows them to express insights and opinions in a constructive manner. And if they’re penning blog posts with the thought in the back of their mind that entries may one day be seen by prospective employers, they’re bound to put in their best effort and create something that showcases their writing skills, reason, and creativity. Of course, blogging can also help students to increase their knowledge base and solidify their own positions, both learning and teaching as they go. And it can show their skill with layout and design, as well as their ability to engage in optimization if they decide to use SEO for ranking purposes.

Beneficial for networking

However, a blog can also serve other useful purposes. It can help students to become part of an online community, and it doing so, to network with industry peers. This can offer not only the ability to seek advice in order to improve an online operation, but potentially the opportunity for collaborations and even employment down the line.

The average student is unlikely to hire a professional firm like FireBubble.co.uk to help them brand their blog and gain popularity, but any college kid can benefit from creating a basic blog and using it to demonstrate their talents. This is just one great way to prove to prospective employers that they have more to offer than other applicants.

college guidance, college planning, parenting

Preparing your kids for college this year

 

“You will ever remember that all the end of study is to make you a good man and a useful citizen.”
― John Adams

college prepWhen the kids go off to college it can be a stressful time – both for them and their parents. Despite the inevitable emotional wrench, managing the transition by making sure that everyone is well-informed and all the necessary preparations have been completed will ensure a smooth-running process that results in a lifetime of memorable experiences.

Academic preparations

Kids who have a specific career goal in mind will need to make sure that they choose the right type of college for them as well as the right course. Find out in advance what the academic requirements are for their chosen course and ensure that they are able to meet these requirements. A vocational career might require them to attend a technical college rather than an academic college to ensure that they are heading in the right direction.

Getting the right result for the SAT is also essential. SAT prep courses are a good way to ensure that the candidate is ready and there are plenty of different test prep program options, so it should be easy to find the right one.

When making college applications it is important to have all the right information in place. This includes high school transcripts, the college admissions test scores, any letters of recommendation and AP exam scores.

Financial preparations

Finances can be a minefield for both parent and student. There are so many expenses to be taken into consideration that it can be difficult to know where to begin. Tuition fees, living expenses, books, food and money in the pocket soon begin to add up. For many parents it will be necessary to begin saving early on in the child’s life, long before college is even considered by the child. Most states offer savings plans for colleges that come with tax benefits and it is a good idea to look into the possibility of scholarships. It is possible to file online for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Taxes will need to be prepared early to ensure that an application can be processed. These applications can be made any time between January 1st and June 30th.

Kids will need to learn how to manage their own finances while they are away at college. When they are still living at home it is a good idea for them to have a checking account and learn how to look at how they spend their money. Encouraging them to save during their teenage years will help them a great deal and teach them how important it is to look after their money.

Domestic preparations

Going off to college is not simply a question of packing a suitcase. These days, young people need all kinds of paraphernalia to see them through their time at college. Items such as a TV, DVD player, computer, microwave and even a refrigerator may all be needed. This is before daily essentials such as bedding and clothes are added into the equation. Working out a list in advance is a good idea as it means that nothing will be forgotten when the time comes to move to college.

college guidance, parenting

5 relaxing activities for college students

 

college-activities-580x385When you send your kids off to college, you know they’re going to have some fun. And you can’t blame them. After all, they are working hard to earn a degree, so it only makes sense that they would play hard in their off-time. Plus, they’re away from your supervision for the first time, and the thrill of making their own decisions (and having no curfew or rules) can lead to a lot of late nights out with their friends. At some point, though, their hard partying might get the best of them, leaving them fatigued, ill, and unable to perform their duties as a student. In this case, you might want to suggest some activities that could not only be fun for them, but also more relaxing. Here are just a few relaxing activities for college students that will ensure they have a great time without compromising their education in the process.

  1. Learn an instrument. Most students are already learning a lot thanks to their heavy course load, but taking up an instrument is an entirely different beast. Playing music forces the mind to switch gears, which can lead to increased focus and calm. It can drive away the clamor produced by cramming one’s head full of new facts and help students to release some tension, forget their worries, and get back to a healthy mental state.
  2. Host a movie night. Having fun with friends doesn’t have to include running around all night or getting crazy. Sometimes a night in the common room with popcorn or pizza and a few good movies is just what the doctor ordered.
  3. Play a team sport. This might not sound like a particularly relaxing activity, but the truth is that exercise can help to relieve stress and boost endorphins, making students feel great. This can be even more effective when playing a sport like baseball or doubles tennis, which can be relaxing and still boost endorphins. Think about whether or not you want to buy a new baseball bat or glove and join a team or maybe catch a doubles game of tennis. It can also help to induce a good night’s sleep, which pretty much any college kid could use. In addition, it allows students to spend quality time with their friends away from the books and the parties. In short, sports could be the most positive and beneficial activity your kids partake of on campus (well, aside from attending classes, studying, and ultimately earning a degree).
  4. Create online scrapbooks. Family and friends back home want to stay apprised of what students are up to when they go away to college, but most kids don’t have a ton of extra time to call and Skype with everyone they know. However, smartphones and tablets make it easy for students to keep photo journals of their campus experience, and all they have to do is upload them to a social networking account like Instagram or Facebook in order to share. Of course, they can also have a little more fun with the process by using Pinterest to create pinboards for specific events like spring break, sporting events, and clubs they’ve joined, just for example.
  5. Picnic on the quad. Students spend so much time running back and forth across campus to get to class that they might never take the time to enjoy the beauty of their surroundings. So instead of spending their study time indoors, they could load up a picnic basket for lunch on the quad. Or if they really want to relax, they could leave the books for an hour or two and enjoy a long lunch (and maybe some frisbee) with friends.

Relaxing is just as important for college students as it is for adults. Relaxation relieves stress and allows your student an opportunity to recharge.

college guidance, college planning, parenting

5 Great virtual jobs for college students

 

virtual jobsDespite the fact that education should be the main focus of students during their time in college, many wind up having to work in order to pay their way. Even with help from parents, federal financial aid, scholarships, and grants, the expenses associated with earning a degree can require students to work if they want the privilege of attaining a higher education. As a parent, you’re likely doing everything you can to ensure that the kids in your household are able to attend college, but you still have your own bills to pay and you might not be able to carry the whole financial load. However, you don’t necessarily want your kids wasting their time and talent at minimum-wage jobs. So here are five virtual jobs for college students that could net your kids a higher salary and offer a flexible schedule, to boot.

  1. Tutor. While college students can certainly offer assistance to peers on campus by tutoring at the learning center (often for pay), they might be better off providing younger students (K-12) with academic aid via the online arena. Websites like Tutor.com, TutorVista, and SmartThinking.com, just to name a few, can give your student the opportunity to provide tutoring services while working as much or as little as they want and probably earning a lot more than they’d make on campus.
  2. Freelance writer. Any student who is accepted into college can obviously write since the essay is a big part of the admission process. And sites like ODesk, Elance, and FreelanceWritingGigs.com offer all kinds of opportunities for writing and editing jobs. Students can also check out the job board at ProBlogger.net if their real interest lies in writing content for blogs.
  3. Social media consultant. Believe it or not, college students are a valuable commodity when it comes to social networking these days. Most have grown up with computers, cell phones, the internet, and mobile service, so they are familiar with both the hardware and the social landscape. And college kids in particular have their finger on the pulse of pop culture. Consider that Facebook started as a way for college students to connect with friends. The point is that corporations looking to utilize social media as a vehicle for marketing campaigns can use both the technical know-how and the social savvy that many students harbor, and in some cases they’re willing to pay for it.
  4. Game developer. For students that love to use their programming prowess to create mini-games for fun, turning their hobby into a paying gig is not that hard. With a $99/year developer license from Apple they can start posting their mobile games to iTunes. And if they want to offer free downloads in order to boost their popularity, they can still make money through advertising and in-app purchases (like the ability to pay a one-time fee for an ad-free experience). Over time, they could make a fair amount of money, especially if rival companies want to buy the rights to their games.
  5. Virtual assistant. Most students these days enjoy rapid typing speeds thanks to a childhood spent on the computer, and if they can handle screening phone calls, fielding email correspondence, and performing data entry, chances are good they could snag a job at a virtual office in New York, Los Angeles, or anywhere in the world. The remote workforce is growing by leaps and bounds, and even students with little skill or experience can become virtual assistants.

With so much of today’s business being conducted online, finding a virtual job during college will allow you to work around your own schedule and put some extra money in your pocket.

college costs, parenting

Cash management strategies for college-bound students

 

cash management strategiesParents hope the basic principles they instill on their kids – honesty, confidence, work ethic and compassion – will accompany them to college. After that, those life-enhancing habits that usually come through experience are just a bonus. Stable cash-management strategies are among the most elusive traits for high schoolers. While some work their first jobs in high school, college-bound students struggle with long-term budgets, disciplined spending and volunteer restraint.

Your child will learn money-management strategies one way or another. Why not start preaching disciplined financial values early? You could save her countless nights of eating ramen for dinner. Whether your pride and joy struggles with credit card spending, paying bills on time or maintaining a budget, these cash management strategies will enhance your child’s college experience.

Budgets Don’t Budge

According to Bankrate.com, 40 percent of American adults don’t have a budget. With the country drowning in debt, it’s time parents re-embrace the basics of sound personal finance. Rule number one: draft a budget. Structured spending is particularly important in college, where books, clothes, sporting events and parties threaten to suck the life out of any bank account. Whether on scholarship, working or receiving allowance from home, the ability to allot a set amount of money for life’s necessities is an invaluable skill.

Emergency Plastic

No parent wants their kids to be poor, hungry and alone at college. While such a scenario is unlikely, many react by shipping their scholars so-called “emergency” credit cards. By the time they reach their final year of college, 91 percent of students have at least one credit card, according to CBSnews.com. While you envision this card as a last resort, your child may see it as a remote portal into your wallet. If your child has a credit card, discuss the proper uses and potential consequences, such as a late-payment penalties, interest and a poor credit score.

If It’s Broke, Fix It

Experience is the best teacher. As your kid enters the next chapter of his life, maybe its time to cut off the allowance upon which he has depended. Working teaches the value of a dollar and instills a heightened sense of responsibility. According to Kansan.com, students who work part-time jobs get better grades than students who do not work. As they balance work and school, students develop time-management skills and build their resumes.

It Rains at College

The last thing a college student wants to think about is a financial safety net. After 18 years of living with parents, students relish the chance to break free of restraint, restriction and reality. Life happens in college and a savings account can be a vital safety net. Teach your child the merits of saving for a rainy day. You probably have every intention of supporting them financially in a time of need, but later in life, they’ll be on their own. Or, worse yet, they will “boomerang” home after college. Better to learn that lesson with room to fail.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, parenting

Helping your child choose the right college

 

prepare for college

As a parent, you may have fond memories of your college years. Perhaps you were not able to attend college and you are excited your child will have opportunities you didn’t have. You may also have strong opinions about where your child should attend college, what they should study and what type of study format the institution follows (for instance, online versus on-campus).

Ultimately, your child is the one who will have to register, attend classes, keep their grades up, graduate and translate their education into a rewarding and lucrative career. Find a balance between your opinions, and your child’s interests and goals when working together to choose a college.

Decide on a Basic Field of Study

If your child has no idea what they want to pursue for a career, then often the best choice is to locate a two-year college where your child can get their basic coursework out of the way. In the meantime, they can work with a career counselor to take skills tests and narrow down their choices to a field of study that will work for them. However, if your child knows what they want to study, then that can dictate the colleges you research.

Set Your Budget

Once you have narrowed down your child’s interest to a range of possible majors or one major, set your budget. This tells you how much you can contribute to your child’s college education and how much must be financed through loans, work-study programs, grant and bank-funding. Setting your budget means having an open and honest conversation with your child about what your budget will and won’t cover. You can discuss at this time whether your child may want to take the summers off to work and earn money toward their education, carry a part-time job while in school or other means of funding as well.

Discuss Learning Style

Another important aspect of helping your child choose the right college is to determine their learning style. Some people learn very well in a self-paced format, such as at an online institution where they can take classes around their work schedule. Other people have trouble learning unless they are in a “live” classroom setting surrounded by the interaction of others students and professors. Choosing the right learning environment will be key to your child’s college success.

Create a List of College Prospects

Once you have identified basic elements such as budget, learning style and field of study, create your list of college prospects to research. You and your child can make a spreadsheet to evaluate each college based on a series of factors important to you both. This makes it easy as well to track application and admission requirements, required fees, financial aid options and more — all will aid you in your child’s final selection.

Apply to Your Chosen Schools and Fill Out the FAFSA

Once you have narrowed down your choices to the top three to five schools, apply to each school. You will need to help your child fill out the FAFSA (Federal Application for Free Student Aid) to qualify for financial aid through the school’s financial aid office.

Visit Colleges Again

Once your child has been accepted at one or more colleges, visit these schools again if they plan to attend on campus. This way, your child can decide on the best fit in terms of school size, campus environment and other factors that will influence their decision.

By following this step-by-step process, you and your child can find the best college for their interests and budget. In the future, if they choose to apply to graduate school for a leadership degree or another program, they can use a similar process.

 __________

About the Author: Mary Wilde is mother to three college-aged kids. She has used the techniques in this article to help each child find the perfect college for their interests, needs and goals. 

campus security, college housing, parenting

5 College safety tips for women

2 Comments

 

college safety for womenCollege can be an adventurous, validating and exiting time in a young woman’s life. Unfortunately, there are predators out there that put many of these young women’s innocence and lives in danger. According to statistics, college women are most in danger of being sexually assaulted or raped – up to 20% more likely. The numbers are staggering and college women are far more susceptible than other women in our society. While this is a sad and heartbreaking truth, there are a number of ways that women can stay safe and protect themselves. One of the best ways to do this is to be less vulnerable as possible and to be completely aware at all times. Here are 5 college safety tips for women.

  1. Always be prepared. It might be smart to take classes in self-defense. In many communities there are basic combat training programs that can teach a young woman what to do in the frightening instance that someone is trying to attack them. They will learn how to preform chokeholds, assault prevention tactics, and even learn how to use certain common items, like car keys as weapons. It might also be smart for young women to carry pepper stray in their purses.
  2. Always travel with one or two other people. If you are at a party, make sure to walk home with a friend or two. Or ask someone that you can trust to take you home, either by walking or by car. Most incidents of attacks and sexual assaults happen to women who are walking home at night, alone.
  3. Always be alert. If you are walking home alone and it is getting dark, be extremely aware of your surroundings. If you hear a sound or if you think someone is following you, immediately call the police or have your phone ready to dial 911. If you do get attacked, at least the police will be on the way to protect you and apprehend the suspect.
  4. Always keep an eye on your drink if you are out at a party or a bar. There are too many instances where a young college woman will be at a party, goes to the restroom and leaves her drink unattended. This can make you highly susceptible to a date rape scenario, because there are people just waiting to drug your drink in order to render you incapacitated. It can be extremely frightening for a young woman to wake up in completely unfamiliar surroundings and not know how she got there or if she has been taken advantage of. Go to a hospital immediately if this happens so that you don’t destroy evidence that can be used against your attacker and be sure to mention you have Florida health insurance or health insurance from any other state and you believe you have been attacked,
  5. Lastly, don’t ever be afraid to call the campus police to escort you back to your apartment or dorm room. It is always better to be completely safe, than sorry in the instance that you are out late and need to walk home in the dark. You’ll thank yourself when you are safe and sound in your room.
college planning, parenting

5 Great discounts for college students

 

student discountsThere are many benefits to continuing academic studies, difficult as it may be. The long term payoffs are obvious, but there are several ways young adults can use their status as college students to make their lives easier in the present. Businesses everywhere understand the difficulties of managing finances during college, and many offer discounts to students. Discounts for college students like these can be a boon to any college student, especially in a rough economy where money is tight.

  1. Tech Benefits
    Going to school without a computer today is feasible, but some would consider it academic suicide. Students need access to current technology in order to get ahead in school, and computer manufacturers understand this fact as well as anyone else. Many leading companies offer competitive discounts on their computers and other tech products. Students can save hundreds of dollars on computers from Apple, Sony and other leading brands by inquiring about discounts. Students who purchase directly from Microsoft can get the Office Academic suite at a greatly discounted price. All students should take advantage of these offers.
  2. Cell Phone Contracts
    It can be difficult to keep up with cell phone bills, especially in an era of data plans that are driving up rates across the board. Luckily, student discounts can help alleviate this strain. Almost all major cell phone service providers offer a student discount, and many customers may be eligible for these benefits depending on their schools. T-Mobile offers discounted rates to students registered with StudentRate.com, and other companies offer discounts based on school affiliations. Everyone should be sure to inquire about student discounts on cell phone service.
  3. Auto Insurance
    The student driver has an especially difficult life. Dealing with campus parking and sky high gas prices would be enough, but insurance compounds the problem significantly for students and parents alike. However, doing well in school can be its own reward in this case. Most auto insurance providers offer a good student discount. By sending transcripts and reports of good academic performance to auto insurance providers, students and their parents can get greatly discounted monthly rates.
  4. Entertainment and Education
    Students can’t spend every waking moment of their lives in the libraries and lecture halls, but fortunately there are plenty of discounts available for experiences that can be both fun and educational. Almost all movie theaters offer a special discounted price for students. Museums usually have similar offers as well, often granting students free admission. Students who are interested in music, dance and theater can also get discounted prices on admission to exciting concerts and shows. Students should always inquire about discounts like these before paying full price.
  5. Shopping
    When shopping for school supplies, students can benefit from visiting local retailers and inquiring about discounts. Art students, for example, are often offered discounts on their expensive supplies when they visit shops and supply stores near their schools. Plenty more information about free items and student discounts can be found here and all over the web. No student should ever go shopping without this knowledge. Discounts like these can make any students life a whole lot easier.

 

parenting

How to help your student overcome body image issues

 

body imageNegative body image issues can lead to frightening pathological and psychological conditions like anorexia nervosa and bulimia, which can subsequently lead to a whole host of negative health effects. There are over 10 million female college students and over 8 million male college students with eating disorders. Due to the burdens of college, being away from home, stress and other factors, college students are even more susceptible to developing negative body issues. They might even put on weight from increased levels of stress, which can send students even further down a negative path and can effect both their grades and well-being. How can you help your college student overcome body image issues?

Determine the source of the problem

One of the best ways to help your student overcome their negative body issues is to find the source of the problem. Usually the source lies in a number of external circumstances contributed to the stresses of college, like waiting to the last minute to study for an exam or keeping a bad grade a secret. In most cases, these stresses can become internalized and will result in a negative self-image. However, by working with them to manage their stress, it can greatly reduce their body image issues.

Get them some help

You can also find them a psychologist near their school or perhaps even the college has a therapist they can speak to on a regular basis. Many young men and women need a therapist while they are in college to work through their stress. Because stress can cause students to gain weight, it can also make their body issues that much worse. Researchers say that students perform better in school if they have some sort of counselor to work with them through their stress while in college.

Take drastic measures if necessary

Next, if your child is showing signs of an eating disorder that is affecting their health, it is recommended that you admit them into an in-patient program at a hospital or a clinic. This can be the best way to save their lives, because eating disorders can be deadly. Usually, your college student will wait until it’s too late to share with friends and family that their body image issues have gotten so out of hand that they can barely take care of themselves and is effecting their health negatively. They might show signs that they are hording food, binging or not even eating at all, which can lead to a number of negative health effects and even death.

In the end, if your college student is always talking about their weight or asking about cosmetic surgery like cosmetic jaw surgery, because they have become obsessed with their appearance, these can be signs that they have developed some sort of pathological body image issue. You can get to the root of the problem before it gets out of hand, you can have them get help from a psychologist or a counselor at school, or even have them admitted to a clinic or in-patient program if their body image issues have turned into an eating disorder. Early intervention is the key to helping your student overcome this unhealthy behavior.