Category Archives: parenting

college planning, parenting

And the un-college revolution begins

2 Comments

This weekend on Twitter I caught the tail end of a conversation related to a post that appeared on UnCollege.org. UnCollege.org says they are “a social movement empowering you to create tomorrow–with or without letters after you name.” They also state that their movement is found on three principles:

  1. Introspection is essential. It is vitally important that you know yourself before you pursue higher education.
  2. Passionate action outweighs school. Real-world success proves more than homework.
  3. Self-motivation is requisite for success. Taking initiative is more valuable than completing assignments.

I have anticipated this movement would start for a long time. I saw it coming based on high tuition costs and high student loan debt, the lack of actual learning that is going on in college and being taught by TA’s or tenured professors with antiquated teaching techniques, and the recent stories in the news about taking the non-college path to entrepreneurship. I’m sure that educators will scoff at this movement, college students will respond in defense, and parents will want to steer their kids away from the website.

We can throw tomatoes at this movement, deny its premise and take a firm stand against it, or we can ask these pertinent questions:

  1. Why is this movement happening?
  2. Is there something we can learn from their theory of self-directed education?
  3. As parents, how can we use this to start a conversation with our kids about higher education?
  4. Does higher education need to take at look at what is wrong and work to improve or fix it?

In my opinion, these questions need to be discussed and answered, if not for the rising tuition costs alone and the perceived value of a college education.

Take some time and read the blog post mentioned above and see the two different viewpoints: one from a Boston University college student and the other from the leader of the UnCollege movement. Both sides make valid points, depending on your point of view.

Here’s another article about the founder of UnCollege.org:

California teen entrepreneur asks: College? Who needs it?

Does this movement strike fear in your heart as a parent? Do you agree or disagree with their premise?

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Another article that might interest parents:

College vs. Real Life: Pros and Cons

 

college planning, organization, parenting

The importance of organization in the college process

I am the proud mother of three college graduates (Columbia University, Syracuse University, and Mass College of Art), so I know firsthand how difficult it is to keep on top of college tours, applications, test scores, financial aid, and scholarship information.

“Do you know where my ….is?” How many times has a parent heard that question? It’s one thing to lose a favorite toy or a shirt, but if you are misplacing college applications or missing deadlines because you misplaced a document, then it’s time to think about getting organized!

Good organizational skills are important in school and at home. If you are organized, you save time not looking for stuff! You save money by not paying for stuff you already have. And, you get important stuff done on time!

You have a better chance of getting into your preferred college if you are organized. The college application process involves much organizing for planning, testing, traveling, completing applications and deadlines for scholarships and essays. Getting advice from professionals who know the college process ins and outs and having all that information organized is imperative to reduce the stress that comes with the college search process and increase the chance of getting into your preferred school.

So, how do you organize for the college search? Start early! It’s a good idea to start keeping records in 9th grade, so everything will be in one place and easy to find when it’s time to begin the application process. Set up a record retention system for both student and parent. It should be easy to use, centrally located for convenience, and organized so that you can easily find the information you need. A good filing system will have clear labels and plenty of space to handle all the information you collect. Establish a calendar management system/ to do/check list that you refer to monthly to keep on top of timelines for such things as college fairs and visits, testing and appointments with your college advisor.

Setting up and using organization systems will give you a valuable advantage in school and in life! That’s why I believe in organization and its benefits and that is why I have become a supporter of the College Caboodle – an organizational tool for parents and college-bound high school students. The system includes:

 

  • A calendar of to-do’s for 9th-12th grade
  • An instructional DVD
  • A simple filing system with pre-labeled folders
  • A list of the must-know website resources
  • Easy to use forms and checklists
  • Important financial aid and scholarship contacts

Let this college prep tool turn the whirlwind college application process into an exciting look into your child’s future, instead of a tornado of paper and clutter in your office

Good luck with your college search!

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Today’s guest post was contributed by Isabell Wells, a professional organizer and founder of “All in Order”. You can contact her via email at:  allnorder2@rcn.com or by visiting her website at : www.orderbywells.com.

college planning, Guest Posts, parenting

Three tell tale signs that your student needs a tutor

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When is the right time to hire a tutor? Initially, the answer to this question seems relatively straightforward. Many would give the obvious answer: “It is time to find a tutor as soon as my student starts to struggle.” What does that mean? The word “struggle” is relative and carriers many different meanings. A lot of self-discovery comes in the “struggling” moments of academia, but there is a fine line that parents need to be aware of. Parents, you know your child best, and you need to ensure that your child doesn’t struggle to the point where they will give up on academics. If a student reaches this low point, it is easy for them to get discouraged. If a student has experienced enough moments of failure, it is not uncommon for the student to label himself or herself as a failure. Many students have a difficult time compartmentalizing the moments of failure and their entire academic ability.

There are three important scenarios where parents should start thinking about hiring a tutor for their child. It is important to act relatively quickly, and make sure your student has all of the necessary support.

Poor Grades

As mentioned above it is important for parents to respond quickly if their student’s grades are dropping. There are many contributing factors that could lead to poor academic performance, and hiring a tutor is a great way to assess any underlying issues. Tutors have a different vantage point than teachers, and it may difficult for a teacher to assess the situation when they have 25+ students in front of them. Many teachers will work in collaboration with the tutor, but it is the responsibility of the parents to facilitate that discussion. Even though, tutoring is a great tool to use if your student is struggling, it may not be the best thing for your student. Start a dialogue with the tutor, and work towards identifying why your student is struggling. If a student struggles from time management or executive functioning, academic tutoring alone may not help the student long term. It is difficult to define a specific plan of action that all parents can use because all students are different. Each student needs an individualized plan, don’t be afraid to try trial and error in the development process. Eventually you will create a comprehensive plan that is best for your student.

Not Being Challenged

When students are not challenged academically their grades could suffer. Students can become disconnected with what is happening in class because they are bored. If that is the case, parents should communicate with the teacher to develop an enrichment plan for the student. Provide your child with several opportunities to participate in learning outside of the classroom. An expert tutor can take the material covered in class, and adapt it to make it interesting for the student. Adaptations should include facets of information that is not being covered in class.

It’s Summer Time

It’s summer time, and our brains get shut off! Provide your student with something interesting to do over the summer that will help retain the information learned during the school year. Summer tutoring is my favorite because you don’t have to worry about aligning the instruction with the goals and objectives of the classroom teacher.

Below you can find two great resources for summer enrichment:

Summer Math Camps for High School Students

Summer Discovery

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Thanks to Eric Clark, CEO of Quincy Tutoring, an online tutor network based on the South Shore of Boston, for today’s guest post.  Parents can go to www.quincytutoring.com, and search the Quincy Tutoring database for free.  Tutors can also create/manage their own profile for free.  If you enjoyed reading this post, and have questions about how much you should pay for tutoring, click HERE.  If you would like a tutor network for your area please contact Eric today.  You can also follow Eric on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

college planning, parenting

Providing tools for the successful student

UPDATE: We had a wonderful Twitter party last night. The winner of the Suite was @ChaCha572. The suite will be heading her way soon! Thanks everyone for your enthusiasm and support–especially @TheOnlineMom @TheTechDad and @geekbabe for hosting the party and making me feel welcome.

Here’s your chance to WIN this AMAZING creative tool

Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Master Collection.

Register for #TheOnlineMom ‘s Twitter chat on her site and join us on#TheOnlineMom ‘s Twitter Chat TONIGHT at 9PM EST where one random person will win a FULL copy of this marvelous student tool.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Parents are always looking for ways to help our students be successful. In today’s technological age which spurs unbridled creativity in our students finding and providing the proper tools to enhance and

support their creativity can be not only difficult, but expensive. When I find a product or service that can help, I like to pass the information along to my parent readers. Adobe C5.5 Master Collection is one of those products.

You may have a high school student that is planning for college, or a current college student that needs these tools to be productive throughout their college career. As a user of Adobe products for almost 15 years, going back to Adobe Pagemaker, I know how effective these products can be in today’s age of lightning fast media, social sharing, and enhanced technology. Having a copy of this product in your student’s arsenal can give them the edge in creating flash presentations, streaming videos, high-quality graphic presentations, and smoking web content.

Here’s what’s inside:

  • Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended
  • Adobe Illustrator CS5
  • Adobe InDesign CS5.5
  • Adobe Acrobat X Pro
  • Adobe Flash Catalyst CS5.5
  • Adobe Flash Professional CS 5.5
  • Adobe Flash Builder 4.5 Premium Edition
  • Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5
  • Adobe Fireworks CS5
  • Adobe Contribute CS5
  • Adobe Premiere Pro CS5
  • Adobe After Effects CS5.5
  • Adobe Audition CS5.5
  • Adobe OnLocation CS5
  • Adobe Encore CS5
  • Adobe Bridge CS5
  • Adobe Device Central CS5.5
  • Adobe Media Encoder CS5.5

As you can see from the list, this is a computer geek’s dream, not to mention any student could benefit from these programs in their creative arsenal.

Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the collection by following the link above, you can purchase it by following this link: Purchase Adobe C5.5 Master Collection

Note: There is a STANDARD edition available as well which includes the basics: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, Bridge, and Device Central.

If you have a college graduate in your household, don’t wait until it is too late! Buy Adobe C5.5 Master Collection while you still can–get it at student pricing until May 31st.


college planning, Guest Posts, parenting, Uncategorized

How to encourage your high school student to consider an internship

From an early age, my parents always encouraged me to think about the parallels between student life and working full-time. “Just like it’s our job to get up and go to work every day, it’s your job to get up and go to school every day,” I vividly remember my mom telling me as a kindergartner. “And doing your homework when you get home at night is part of that job, too,” she added.

Looking back, it seems like a few trivial statements made by a mother to persuade her daughter to get out of bed for school in the morning. But it wasn’t insignificant. It helped my young, impressionable mind to recognize the importance in being a good student. I wanted to be a good student because it was my job to do so, according to my mother. Indeed, it was forward-thinking at its finest.

With that fundamental seed planted (you must get up every day and perform your job, whatever it is), when a child develops natural interests and skillsets, it’s time to hone in on the “whatever it is”. As teens reach the pivotal point in their lives of determining the career field in which they want to obtain further education and training, parents can have the same effect on their children as my mom did when she made that simple statement to her six-year-old. Little did she know her praise and support of my early passions would ultimately lead to my pursuit of a degree in disaster recovery.

Encourage your college-bound teen to investigate careers

Encouraging teenagers to investigate careers, if done properly, can set them up for success long before recruiters start showing up at their high school. No child ever really wants to grow up, so mandating they start thinking about declaring a profession will likely not yield a positive response. Rather than telling them to start thinking about college or figuring out what they want to do for a living, ask questions relating to a career that will provoke their curiosity and motivate them do initiate their own research.

For example, let’s say your teenage son has great language skills, is on the school newspaper editorial team, enjoys playing baseball, loves punk rock music, and appears to be dependent on his Twitter account. You could ask him if he plans to be on the newspaper staff next year. If he does, then he must enjoy writing. As a parent, you are surely in tune with what he’s writing about. So, if the newspaper has him writing about the school play, encourage him to seek permission to write about sports or music (two of his interests) instead. If the paper won’t allow him to change topics, mention a music or sports blog you stumbled across that you noticed was taking guest posts. Whether it’s with the school newspaper or on a blog, you’ve now guided him towards creative writing about subjects he enjoys.

Encourage them to take the next step

If it goes well and he likes it, as you praise him for the great work he’s been doing, casually mention what bigger and better things it could lead to- a music correspondent for an alternative arts publication, a field reporter for a local radio station, or video blogging for a local news station. Be persistent, but not annoyingly persistent, that these are real possibilities. Point out that those types of organizations need interns and that, if it’s something he could see himself doing for a career, that he could test the waters with an internship.

The point is that gentle nudging that provokes curiosity will, in the end, be much more effective than forcing internships if the student discovers on his own that his passion can become his career. Take an active interest in his activities and hobbies and encourage further development of those that could lead to internships and occupations. Drop hints and make suggestions. And most importantly- be supportive of their final decisions!

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This was a guest post contributed by Danielle Luna, a resident of Indianapolis, who blogs for Professional Intern (http://www.professionalintern.com), a website devoted to reading, literature, writing, and education.

parenting, test prep

Texting to Teach–Seriously?

If you asked most educators and parents to suggest possible new ways to help teenagers significantly improve SAT, ACT and AP test scores as well as overall GPA’s, “texting” is probably not one of the first (or second or third) things that would come to mind.

After watching my teenage daughter on a car trip texting faster than I could think, it dawned on me that I needed to find a way to make text messaging (SMS) productive and not just social. And as most parents can relate, it would also be nice for text messaging to be anything other than a dinnertime distraction!

Consequently, the concept of eTextPrep came to life when I realized that the cell phone was the prefect way to help teens be more successful in school. I also knew that by utilizing the method of communication that teens know and love, text messaging, we could capture any student’s attention long enough to explore some great new learning opportunities.

Recent statistics show that the average teenager spends 88% of their time on their cell phone texting, not talking, and that number is on the rise. So to have an educational tool that fits into the teen “LOL, OMG, JK” lingo of brevity above all else is a great step! Studies indicate that the majority of teens not only have a cell phone but as most parents know, it is never far from their side!

The educational benefit behind eTextPrep is really very simple. Critical vocabulary words and terms applicable to the SAT, ACT and AP tests are sent directly to the student’s cell phone two specific times each day. With studies showing 98% of text messages are opened and read within four minutes of receipt, I knew the educational texts could not be ignored.

Remaining cognizant of the busy schedule of most teens, eTextPrep is designed so that the student simply has to open the text message, read the word, the part or speech or origin and finally, the definition. There is nothing for them to initiate or remember to do, just open the message and learn! eTextPrep is a great example of the growing acceptance in the education community that with today’s technology, learning can in fact be “anywhere and anytime.”

As the mother of four teenagers, I knew that in addition to really engaging students in learning, in today’s challenging economy, eTextPrep needed to stay affordable. eTextPrep is both – a very effective learning tool for the student and at only $7.99 per month is affordable to the subscriber.

At eTextPrep we are raising test scores and GPAs – one text at a time – every day.

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Today’s guest post was contributed by Lynne Anderson, President and CEO of ETextPrep. The educational content for eTextPrep has been designed by highly experienced and nationally recognized educators. Veteran teachers who instruct, test, tutor and grade the courses have authored material that is challenging, highly specific and adheres to rigorous course standards and requirements. eTextPrep AP Learning Programs include words and concepts students will see again on AP test day!

eTextPrep utilizes the mobile medium students know and love – their cell phone – and puts the power of learning in the palm of their hand.To learn more about the concept of Texting to Teach visit our website at www.etextprep.com, email info@etextprep.com or call 888-553-8398 to learn more.


college guidance, college planning, parenting

Parents–Advise, but don’t invade!

Most parents would like to be involved in their child’s college selection process.  Sometimes it’s hard to know how much is enough, though.  From my perspective as a student, it’s best to monitor and advise, but not to invade.

I am the youngest of three children, so my parents were pros when it came to college admissions.  If you are experiencing your first child going off to college, that’s a whole other ball game which may require more planning and research.  No matter what, keep in mind that this decision affects your child more than it affects you, so let them make the final decision.

My parents had a tactful strategy. They had several early conversations with me about what I found important in a potential school.  These aspects generally included a strong marketing program (my major), plentiful extracurricular opportunities, and a comfortable campus with an active & social student body.  My parents would share their concerns, which included campus safety, finances, distance from home, etc.

Once they knew that I had listened to their point of view, I was free to research any schools I wanted. I came up with a list of around fifteen schools and eventually narrowed that down to the six that I would apply to.  As soon as I had my finalists, my parents went into hyperdrive.  They made lists, spreadsheets and poster board-sized charts about the benefits and drawbacks of attending these schools.  They helped me rank my schools into ‘reach schools,’ ‘safety schools’ and the ones that fell somewhere in the middle.  Finally, my dad accompanied me on a trip to the east coast to visit a couple of them.

Ultimately, I decided to attend Syracuse University, a choice that my parents and I were equally comfortable with.  My mom swears that after all the time she spent looking into other schools, she “always knew I would go to Syracuse.”

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Adam Britten is a senior at Syracuse University majoring in Marketing Management.  Follow him on Twitter @AdamBritten.  Read his previous post on this blog, “The most important questions to ask a campus tour guide.”

college guidance, college planning, parenting, Uncategorized

Parenting college-bound teens without pushing

 

It’s hard. I know. I’ve been there. You want your kids to have the BEST education available. You want them to want it as much as you do. You see them making some choices that you know they will regret. As hard as you try, you find yourself pressuring them to make the right choice and the battle lines are drawn. They dig their heels in. You dig your heels in. And the tug of war begins.

What’s a parent to do when they feel their college-bound teens are making the wrong choices related to college? Take a deep breath and read these examples (along with my suggestions)–

Your college-bound teen tells you he doesn’t want to go to the college that is hard to get into and is opting for what you consider to be sub par.

Don’t panic or overreact. It’s possible he is scared. Try and ascertain the reasoning behind the decision. Don’t do this by badgering him or constantly asking him why. The best way to figure out what is wrong is to LISTEN. Listen to him talk about his day, about college, about how he feels. If fear is not the reason, perhaps he feels the other college would be a better fit. If that’s the case, do yourself a favor and back off. The worst thing you can do with a teenager is force him into a decision he feels is wrong. Sometimes the best lessons we learn are the ones that come from making our own decisions (right or wrong).

Your college-bound teen tells you that he simply MUST go to Private College A, even though she knows it comes with a high price tag.

Don’t let her bully you into sending her to a college you can’t afford AND one that will require a tremendous amount of student loan debt. Sit her down and explain to her the dangers of graduating in debt. Use the college repayment calculators if you have to. If she truly wants to go to Private College A, she needs to do the work (good grades, good SAT/ACT scores, great essay) to be awarded scholarship/grant money from that college. If not, there are always other options and choices.

Your college-bound teen is not interested in college, deadlines, studying for the SAT or any other path that leads him toward higher education.

If there is one thing I learned with both of my kids (and clients), if they aren’t invested in the college process they won’t be invested in college. Save yourself some time, money and heartache and wait until they are. If not, they can learn from the college of hard knocks–minimum wage jobs are the BEST motivator!

Your college-bound teen misses deadlines, panics and comes running to you at the last minute to fix it.

The simplest way I know to avoid missing deadlines, is to get yourself a huge wall calendar and a fat red marker. Put it in a place that they have to pass by every single day. In addition, with all the smartphones and calendar apps available today, missing a deadline should be a thing of the past. At some point (hopefully when they go to college), they will have to fix their own problems. Let them do it now, while they live at home, and it will be easier for them once they are gone. Rescuing your kids all time only makes them into dependent adults and colleges aren’t impressed with those type of students or the parents that come with them.

Your college-bound teen suddenly announces she is not ready for college and wants to take a year off.

First of all, wait. Don’t react. Just listen. Odds are the mood will change with the wind and once all her friends are making college plans, that desire that she once had will kick back in. If not, let her know that it won’t be a “free-ride” year. She will be expected to work and save the money she makes for college.

If you have any questions or personal experiences you would like to share, please leave a comment here and share it with other parents. We learn from each other and from our mistakes and successes!

Disclaimer: These are my “suggestions”. I don’t claim to be a parenting expert, just a parent who has faced these same problems and learned from them. Take my wisdom as you will and realize that every family dynamic is different.

college guidance, college planning, parenting, Uncategorized

Tips for Helping Your College-Bound Teen Reduce Stress

1 Comment

Is your college-bound teenager feeling stressed about going to college? Let your teen know he or she is not alone; it happens to a lot of college-bound teenagers. Teens feel stressed when they perceive a situation to be difficult, dangerous, or painful. Those going off to college often worry about finding new friends, fitting in with the college crowd, being away from home, getting good grades, and a number of other issues. What can parents do to help? Here are some tips to help your teenagers get rid of stress:

  • Listen: Ask what’s bothering them. Listen and don’t be judgmental. Allow your teenagers to express their opinions.
  • Provide emotional support: By showing your teenagers you care about their feelings, they will feel more connected to you. Don’t criticize or trivialize their stressful feelings. They may seem to be overstressed about about going to college, but remember that teens don’t have the same perspective as adults. Provide reinforcement by giving compliments.
  • Realistic expectations: If part of the stress is due to expectations of grades, be realistic with them about your own expectations of their grades.
  • Support: Encourage teenagers to spend time with friends and relatives who provide positive reinforcement. Friends can help keep your teenager happy and motivated. College students or recent college graduates can be helpful. They can put things in proper perspective and talk about the good times they had while attending college.
  • Be positive: Remind your teenager that these anxious feelings will go away. Encourage your teen to look at the fun aspects of attending college.
  • Teens expressing themselves: Creative activities such as painting, drawing, dancing, and singing reduce tension.
  • Exercise: Exercise releases hormones in the body which lower stress levels. Yoga and meditation relieve stress. Some experts believe sunlight relieves stress. Sunlight is important for the body’s regulation of chemicals, so exercising outdoors is a good option. Also, stressed teens should avoid caffeine drinks.
  • Sleep: Make sure your teen goes to bed early enough to get a good night sleep.
  • Volunteering: Helping other people can help your teen stop worrying about himself.
  • Relaxation: Breathing and muscle relaxation techniques can help your teenager relax.

Stress is a common problem for college-bound teenagers. By addressing the problem and taking action you can help your teenager get rid of stress.

Online Resources

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Brian Jenkins has been writing about a variety topics helpful to college students for BrainTrack since 2008. For more information about BrainTrack, visit our Facebook page.