For the next several days, I’m going to be sharing some Back to School tips for parents. These tips will be for current high school parents and those parents whose students are heading off to college.
Today’s tips are for parents of current college students, especially those who are heading to college for the first time.
Continue reading Back to School: Preparing for Upcoming College Expenses
Those two little words, “financial aid” can be music to a parent’s ears. I know they were to mine. But I had no idea the different types of aid available or the varying awards that colleges can make when they offer admission.
I was surprised to find that private colleges tend to be generous with their merit aid because they have institutional funds available; while public universities will offer less aid because of their strict budgets and large student populations. That’s why private colleges can often cost less than a public university even though their price tags are higher.
When my daughter applied to college we knew we were going to need help paying for it. Since we were not in the financial category that would receive federal grants, we hoped for other types of aid in the form of college grants and scholarships. Some of the colleges she applied to were private universities and some were public. When accepted, she received varying degrees of financial aid awards from the different colleges, both public and private.
One state university offered her aid in the form of student loans, but no grants or scholarships. Another private college offered her a full-ride in the form of a four year scholarship meeting 100 percent of the financial need. Her first choice college, a private university, offered her student loans, work study and parent loans, which did not meet the balance of our EFC (Expected Family Contribution). This is called “gapping” and colleges often do this to students who are accepted but do not qualify for merit aid. The college she chose offered a combination of awards: college grants, honor scholarships, student loans, and work study that met the difference between the cost of the college and our EFC. It wasn’t the full-ride or her first choice, but it was her second choice and was a perfect fit for her.
Continue reading Understanding College Financial Aid
Traditional learning and teaching methods are no longer sufficient to meet the ever-increasing demands and challenges. As a result, the future of learning has been reshaped, ushering in a new era of educational practices, capabilities, and possibilities. From virtual reality and artificial intelligence to personalised learning and collaborative platforms, the future of education is here, and it promises to revolutionise the way we acquire knowledge, develop skills, and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. Join us on this exhilarating exploration of the educational frontiers, where students become active participants in their learning journeys and traditional classroom boundaries are transcended. The future of learning has arrived, brimming with opportunities and transformative potential.
Continue reading The Future of Learning is Here
If you have a college-bound student, how do you help them will college prep while letting them own the process? What is the parent’s role?
With all the talk of helicopter parenting, over parenting, and parents refusing to allow their students to become independent adults, it’s important to understand how to coach your teenager without crossing the line.
An article in Forbes magazine quoted a study conducted by Florida State University focusing on some of the issues with today’s parenting:
Helicopter parents are “overly involved, protective parents who provide substantial support (e.g., financial, emotional, physical health advice) to their emerging adult children, often intervening in their affairs and making decisions for them.
Individuals with parents who engage in highly controlling, overprotective behaviors have been characterized as being overly needy in terms of seeking attention, approval and direction from others,” the authors wrote in summarizing past research. “In addition, they have been found to utilize more ineffective coping skills, express higher levels of narcissism and demonstrate lower self-efficacy.
In contrast…
“Developmentally appropriate parenting can promote healthy decision-making and a child’s development of autonomy, increasing the likelihood that their children will become independent, well-adjusted, problem-solving adults. They tend to cope better with stress, have more self-esteem and experience less depression.”
Knowing this…
Over 1.7 million scholarships are awarded annually; however, only 7% of college students will receive a scholarship. On average, first-time undergraduates who receive government grants and scholarships at a 4-year college receive about $14,890 annually. On average, a student who receives a scholarship or grant at a private 4-year college will receive $8,005 more than a student in a public 4-year college.
That sounds depressing and you might ask what are my odds of winning a scholarship, but all hope is not lost. Many students and their families have applied for scholarships and used them to pay for college. But, you need to know the facts.
Continue reading What Are the Odds of Winning a Scholarship?
Celebrating your teen’s sixteenth birthday party is an exciting yet potentially daunting task. This milestone is a big deal, and planning a party that they will love and remember requires thoughtful consideration. After hosting a few successful sweet sixteen parties myself, I’ve come to understand that the devil is in the details. Let’s explore these five expert tips that will help you throw an unforgettable celebration.
Continue reading Planning a Celebration for Your Teen
Where do you begin? If you have a teenager who is looking toward college, it’s a valid question. There is so much information out there and so many opinions, it’s hard to know where to start. But as they say, each journey begins with a first step!
If you’re a parent of a college-bound teen start the college search process with the following steps:
Continue reading When and How to Start the College Search Process
If you haven’t heard it yet, your student is most likely going to say those hated words, “I’m bored. What can I do?” If you need a laugh, check out this short Instagram post from my favorite “mom” comedienne, Heather Land: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cte8Yd7LDjH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Who knew we were all of those things she mentioned in her short video?
If your teen is looking for something to do over the summer, put them to work on college-related tasks to fight summer boredom. It’s never too early to start.
Here are five activities for the college bound to fight summer boredom:
Continue reading 5 College-Bound Tasks to Fight Summer Boredom
Graduation is upon us and that means the future (college future) for many, lies ahead. While it’s tempting to take the summer off, and you want to spend as much time with your future college student as possible,
Preparing for a semester is a key part to ensure academic success!
College students find themselves juggling classes, homework, work, parties, clubs, organizations, dates, volunteering, and everything in between. With only 24 hours in the day, and only one mind to juggle it all, this can be a lot to manage.
Continue reading Summer To-Do List for New College Parents
May Decision Day has come and gone. Students have made those final decisions and committed to college in the fall. After all the stress of senior year and some of the conflict that arose within families, you can rest easy the hard work is done and it’s smooth sailing ahead.
But is it? Your student and you have worked hard for this day and you should certainly enjoy the accomplishment. Your student did the work and was accepted to college. You did the work and prepared your student for that next phase in their life: adulthood. You have been planning for this day ever since they entered high school. You looked forward to the day when they would finally leave your nest and go out on their own. But you probably weren’t expecting so many mixed feelings.
Continue reading The Joy and Angst of Decision Day