college planning, life skills, parenting

5 Ways to Help Your Student Transition to College

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transition to college

College is a magical time in any youngster’s life. Despite the excitement, though, the prospect of leaving everything behind for the next 1-5 years can be quite daunting too. A smooth settling-in period can make a world of difference, thus enabling your son or daughter to enjoy the full college experience. As a parent, then, supporting them through the planning stage is vital as they transition to college.

You will probably need to let your child find their feet once they arrive at college. Still, there are several ways to support them before this time arrives. Here are five of the most effective ways to help them transition to college.

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admissions, financial aid, financial planning, parenting, work study

Different Types of Financial Aid

types of financial aid

Those two little words — “financial aid” — can be music to a parent’s ears. I know they were to me!

What I didn’t know as I began the college application process with my daughter was that there are a number of different types of aid available. Not only that, but the awards colleges offer when they offer admission can vary tremendously.

I was surprised to find that many private colleges can be generous with merit aid because they have institutional funds to distribute as well as federal dollars, while public universities with tight budgets may offer less aid. This can result in a private college with a higher “sticker price” costing less to attend than a public university.

Back to the example of my daughter, who applied to a mix of public and private universities. We knew we would need help financing her education, so when she applied to college she also applied for financial aid and we completed two online forms: the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE (administered by the College Board and required by many private schools and some flagship state universities).

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admissions, college costs, financial aid

Breaking Down the Award Letters

award letters

It’s a joyful day for your high school senior when an offer of college admission arrives, and the joy is magnified by a financial aid award.

Award letters arrive along with (or soon after) acceptance letters. I remember the first time I saw one, my daughter’s senior year. Quite honestly, it was Greek to me.

How were we supposed to compare the offers? The letters included the same basic categories — loans, work-study, grants and scholarships — but without understanding what each category meant it was hard to tell whether or not the college was meeting all of our financial need (Total Cost of Attendance minus our Expected Family Contribution, or EFC). Every college was different and every award letter was different!

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admissions, financial aid, financial planning, scholarships

6 Ways to Search for College Scholarships

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college scholarships

For college-bound students, scholarships can fill in the gap between what you can afford and the cost of the school. Most students believe college scholarships are a pipe dream if they aren’t athletes or 4.0 students. But nothing could be further from the truth. There are thousands of scholarships available for the taking. You just need to find them.

There are six key places to look. But remember: Finding them is half the battle. You have to put in the effort to apply and be vigilant in paying attention to requirements and deadlines.

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academics, parenting, private school

Choosing a Private School

private school

When it comes to education, private schools are well-known for their rigorous academic standards and top-notch curriculum. However, while any private school’s theoretical aspects are essential, much more goes into creating a thriving educational environment. This blog post will cover some of the fundamental essentials needed to have a successful private school. 

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learning disabilities, parenting

Helping Your Student With Learning Disabilities

learning disabilities

A child with learning difficulties is no different in their deserving of education than a child without it. Of course, the challenges are more apparent ad there may be obstacles that are put in the way of helping a child learn when they have a learning difficulty but there are no obstacles, you and your child can’t overcome.

With that being said, here are a few tips to help your child with learning disablities navigate the education system.

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dorm life, how to, life lessons, life skills, off-campus housing, parenting

Adding Protein to Your Student’s Meal Plan

meal plan

Leaving home for college means picking up all sorts of life skills. You’re going to have to learn to fend for yourself, picking up chores and routines to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle. This can vary from household chores to budgeting and more. But one area that you are going to have a big learning curve with is your diet.

Most of us are used to being in family settings where one person creates meals to cater to everyone’s needs. Now, you will be eating the campus meal plan or doing meal planning, prepping and cooking for yourself – most likely in single person portions. Managing a healthy and balanced diet requires focus on a number of areas, but for now, let’s focus on protein. Here’s everything you need to know about getting enough protein into your diet, as well as some tips and tricks on how to manage it!

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college housing, off-campus housing, parenting

5 Tips for Finding Off-Campus Housing

off-campus housing

Finding safe, affordable off-campus housing can be a struggle. After all, not all places that advertise their availability as apartments or houses are actually safe. In today’s world, there are many people who seek to take advantage of the younger population in need of somewhere to live. 

Here are the top five things you should look for when searching for safe college accommodation:

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high school, parenting

Getting Ready for High School

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high school

Raising teenagers can be one of the most exciting and terrifying experiences for any parent. Your teens will go through many transitional periods, affecting them into full adulthood. 

As a parent, one of the best ways to help your teen during transitional periods is by ensuring that it goes through as smoothly as possible and letting them know you are with them throughout that period. One such time is entering high school. Sadly, it doesn’t help that nearly 75% of high school students don’t think highly of their school. 

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Helping parents navigate the college maze