Picking a new school or college can be a long and arduous experience. Not only does it seem like there are so many schools to choose from, but it can also be tricky to determine what’s best for your child. Although many schools offer something unique, it can be hard to find one that ticks all the boxes. So, how can you know if a school is right for your child no matter how old they are? Here are four vital factors to consider.
Continue reading Choosing the Right School
Any parent who is looking at college applications knows how important getting involved in extracurriculars can be. Your teen might not have the involvement in school activities that are going to impress the kinds of colleges they are looking for, but it’s not too late. However, there’s no denying that children who aren’t sporty can find it tougher to find the activities that they like. Here are some of the options you might want to nudge them towards instead.
Continue reading There’s More to Extracurriculars Than Sports
The FAFSA for the 2022-23 school year will be available on October 1. The earlier you file, the better your chances of getting some of the money colleges allocate for financial aid. In order to help parents understand the FAFSA and answer some of your questions, this week is FAFSA week.
According to a new SallieMae study, 70% of families reported submitting the FAFSA for AY 2021–22. This figure represents the first time in four years that FAFSA submission rates did not decline-last year it was 68%. Low- and middle-income families submitted the FAFSA® at a higher rate than their higher-income counterparts.
Many families believe their income is too high to submit the FAFSA. Most families who didn’t file the FAFSA® said it was because they believed their income was too high (36%). While families earning more than $150,000 annually were most likely to select this reason (74%), 26% of families making less than $150,000 also believed their income is too high to qualify for aid.
Here are the other reasons for not submitting the FAFSA:
Continue reading 10 Reasons to Complete the FAFSA
Completing the FAFSA® form is the first step to obtaining federal student aid to pay for your college or career school. Follow these eight simple steps for FAFSA filing to set your student up for success and submit the form on time.
Continue reading Step-by-Step FAFSA Filing
For many parents, understanding the FAFSA can be complicated. It’s not meant to be, but as with all government forms, it can be daunting.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is the student’s responsibility, but when a student is considered a dependent student for FAFSA purposes, parents have a large role in the application process. Educate yourself about the process and opportunities so you can provide the guidance your child needs to do their part.
Continue reading Just for Parents: Understanding the FAFSA
It’s fair to say that lots of children lack confidence, becoming shy and reserved from a young age, but this can actually have a huge effect on their life as a whole. It’s vital that you can take the opportunity to help your shy child to gain confidence, as lacking self esteem may cause them to back away from social situations or even deny themselves of fun opportunities due to simply feeling as though they don’t deserve it or won’t fit in.
Fortunately it doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might initially imagine to help your student build their confidence levels, as this guide contains some of the most effective lessons that you can teach today! So, simply read on to discover more.
Continue reading Helping Your Student Build Confidence
You probably don’t need a survey to tell you what you already know: parents are more involved in the college process than ever before. They want to participate in the decision and communicate with the colleges. They want to help and guide their students in the decision-making process.
Here’s what the survey found:
Parents want to be more involved. Parents are increasingly anxious and hands-on. Parents want communication from the college and want to participate in the college decision. They want to be involved at the same time as their students in the college search.
Continue reading New Survey Shows Parents Want to Be Involved in the College Process
It’s a new era for college kids. They are no longer just the traditional 18-22-year-olds who are fresh out of high school and venturing off to live on their own for the first time. Instead, college students today come from all walks of life and have diverse experiences that range well beyond the classroom.
This is why parents need to be even more intentional about what they teach their kids while they’re away at school. Here are four important life skills that every parent should make sure their college kid knows how to do!
Continue reading Life Skills to Teach Before College
I read a post from a parent on one of the Facebook groups I follow. Her son was applying to 40 colleges and she asked how he was going to do it using the Common App since there is a maximum of 20 allowed in the application.
Parents chimed in with suggestions on how to supplement the Common App by applying via college websites and choosing alternate college applications. I read all the suggestions, which were logical and helpful. I kept wondering if anyone would respond by encouraging her to help her son narrow down his list.
Finally, someone spoke up with that suggestion. I’m hoping the mother took their advice because it was the most logical of all.
Continue reading Should Your Student Apply to 40 Colleges?
My favorite lines from “You’ve Got Mail” are:
“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.”
Newly sharpened pencils always remind me of back to school days. And when fall comes around, I think about that movie (mostly wishing I were in New York in the fall!); but it also reminds of the promise and expectation of a new school year.
Armed with the right online tools, parents and students can face the new year with anticipation and promise. Having the right tools can mean the difference between organization and frustration. These tools would help students succeed as they enter college. Here are some excellent links that I shared with my newsletter subscribers today that I thought you might find helpful:
Continue reading It’s Back to School Time—Resources for Parents and Students