college guidance, college majors, Guest Posts

Is your student artistically inclined?

December 7, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

Finding the perfect career path is sometimes difficult. There are varied options available for pursuing careers that encourage your student’s creativity. If your student loves to cook, can draw really well or design games, these are all wonderful careers to be pursued that might “fit” outside of the box of higher education. Traditional college is not always the best choice for this type of student. The key to finding the right educational path is a) knowing their interests and b) finding the best educational path to take for their specific area of interest.

The culinary arts have become more appealing for high school graduates. There are numerous schools that provide the technical training to pursue a career as a chef. As you would imagine, the culinary arts are not just about cooking—they encompass all forms of creativity using edible ingredients. There are multiple job opportunities for a graduate of culinary arts: restaurant chef, pastry chef, personal chef, caterer, food stylist, nutritionist, and even cooking school instructor.

Another area of artistic talent would be in the photography field. This is an excellent career choice for students who enjoy shooting photos and learning ways of editing and developing. The industry is leaning toward more creative natural photo shoots outdoors as opposed to studio sittings. This helps to capture the personality of the subject. Community colleges, universities and even technical schools can help your student learn editing techniques and lighting: two important items that need to be perfected for successful photographers.

Many students have the mental aptitude and programming skills to design video games and/or apps. Check into game design colleges and discover the many areas of career pursuits in this field. Has your student ever had an idea for a game that would make it even better than it is now? Higher education can provide the necessary tools your student needs to pursue this type of career.

If your student has artistic talent, there is a good chance they will be able to turn that into a career. Remember to “think outside the box” with these type of career goals. The traditional 4-year college route might not be necessary. There are many technical schools, online colleges, and community colleges that offer 2-year degree plans with job placement opportunities. The key is to invest that college money properly so that your student will find a job that fosters their creativity while paying the bills

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Today’s guest post was contributed by Amanda Green, a freelance writer who normally writes on the topics of education, business, and personal finance. Amanda has been writing for multiple years on the web and enjoys writing on less serious topics like pets and crafting in her spare time! You can read more writing by Amanda at paidtwice.com

college planning, Guest Posts, Uncategorized

Six Simple Steps to Prepare for College

November 21, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

The competition for college acceptance has never been tougher, which is why preparing early for your college education can help you position yourself to get into the college you want. High school graduation may seem like it is ages away, but now is the time to start preparing for college. Getting ready for college means planning for the future and making some very important decisions early—we advise following these six steps below to maximize your chances of getting into the best college possible.

1) Visit a College Counselor as Early as 9th Grade

Students should begin visiting a college counselor as early as 9th grade. Visit your school’s college counselor early and often to assist with SAT prep, college choices, college applications and letters of reference at no additional cost.

2) Do Your Research to Find a Great Match

Finding a college that compliments your educational goals, personality and learning style takes time and effort. Start by making a list of what criteria your perfect school would have. From that list, focus on the schools that meet your needs with regard to location, size, character and degree programs. I highly recommend the various college searching tools available at Student.CollegeBoard.org

3) Visit at Least 6 College Campuses

It is recommended that you visit at least six campuses before senior year begins and applications start going out. Once you have edited down your list of potential schools, schedule an appointment to visit each campus. Also, make sure to check out the schools’ social media sites to get the inside scoop before you visit.

4) Explore Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Total School Costs

Many students find it helpful to prepare an excel spreadsheet to manage information on colleges’ costs, financial aid program and scholarship offerings.

Review national lists of scholarships, awards and grants for college. BigFuture.com is one of many great resources for finding scholarships and awards.

5) Line up Your References Before Junior Year Ends

Get to know teachers and administrators, who can provide valuable letters of reference to accompany your college applications. Get involved in extracurricular activities, such as leadership and service opportunities, to build strong relationships.

Allow enough time to show them why you are worthy of their endorsement and provide ample notice, at least four weeks, for them to write the letter. Send a thank you note after you receive your letter to show your appreciation.

6) Take the SAT Exam Seriously

Preparing for the SAT should start well before you even book the date of the exam. The test draws on information learned during the school year, so make sure you do well in class, working with a tutor as necessary.

Lastly, strong consideration should be given to the type of high school you attend, for not all high schools are created equal. Many colleges will take into account the academic structure and relative rigor of your high school, so attending a respected boarding school or private high school could provide several advantages as well. But, regardless of what high school you attend, the single most important advice I can give you is to start early—getting into the college of your dreams will make all this preparation worth the hard work.

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Guest Posts, parenting, tutoring

4 Do’s and Don’ts for your struggling student

November 14, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

High school is a balancing act, and students are often doing so much – and sleeping so little – that their grades or test scores may fall by the wayside. As parents, there are actions you can take to help when your student’s grades are dropping, and a few actions that won’t help at all.

What Won’t Help

Do the student’s homework for them. It may be harder to give a student suggestions and guidance for an essay than to walk them through every sentence. But when they’re fed the answers, students aren’t learning. They’ll learn more by coming up with a wrong answer on their own than by you simply providing the right one.

Ignore your student. They may want to be left alone, but poor grades are often an indicator of deeper problems. You can have a conversation with your student about their grades while still respecting their privacy.

Go behind their back to the teacher. It may be tempting to blame a teacher for a student’s bad grades. A high schooler, however, should be learning to take ownership of their class performance and communicate with the teacher themselves.

Berate them for poor time management or lack of study skills. It’s one thing to point out that your student spends more time with friends than with books. It’s another to make them feel like all their choices are poor ones. Constant haranguing risks lowering a student’s self-confidence, which could make academic performance even worse.

What Will Help

Get the whole story. Listen if they explain why their grades fell, and don’t automatically accuse them of making excuses. Many factors in a high schooler’s life could be contributing to poor grades or test scores; bad decisions are often a factor, but it’s rarely as simple as laziness.

Help the student set small, specific goals. A few math problems a night or an outline for an essay are manageable steps. Although you should keep holding your student to a high standard, any progress can be noted and praised.

Communicate regularly with your student (and teachers, if necessary). Ask your student what you can do to help. Attend parent-teacher conferences and ask teachers what they recommend – and encourage your student to keep an open dialogue with their teacher.

Make the student take responsibility. If they fail to meet their goals, hold them accountable. Trust them – and make it clear that you trust them – to do their work on time and bring up their own grade. Remember, they’ll need to be accountable and responsible in college. They might as well start now!

Students need to know that you’re their cheerleader and advocate, especially if they’re struggling in school. It can be tough to bring up a low grade or redeem a failed test, but by working together, you can do it and learn something in the process.

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Today’s guest post is from Amy. Amy edits and writes for the University Language Services blog, a resource for students from college application to graduation and beyond.

parenting, Uncategorized

Teaching your teen 10 lessons from the 2012 Election

November 7, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

It doesn’t matter which side of the political aisle you are on, the 2012 Election can teach your teen some valuable lessons about life, responsibility and outcomes. Since you are their greatest teacher, take a moment to discern what they are indeed gleaning from your behavior during this election time. There are important lessons for them to learn.

There will always be winners and losers–The sooner they learn this truth the happier they will be. You can’t always be on the winning team and you should always be a good sport about losing.
With freedom comes responsibility–Voting is a responsibility. Vote in EVERY election and take your teens with you. Let them experience this freedom right along side of you. Decisions are made by the people who show up.
Bashing someone else’s beliefs and opinions only makes you small–Don’t be one of those people that rub victory in other people’s face or bash the ones who won. Rise above the temptation and take the high road.
Even though you may not be happy with an outcome of a decision or path you take, you can still move forward–Teach your teens that there is always a road ahead. Mistakes have consequences but you deal with those, learn from them, and go in a positive direction.
Playing the blame game never benefits anyone–If you blame everyone for the way things turn out, you are teaching your teen to do the same. Explain to them that we are all responsible for our OWN actions, not those of others.
Support your leaders and if you don’t agree, take action toward effecting change–This is America and we have elected our leaders, so they should be respected. If you aren’t happy with the people who are in office, work toward the next election. Sitting around voicing hatred for them will only teach your teen to do the same.
We shouldn’t be defined by our political views but by our values–A famous person once said, “We’re not the red states or the blue states, but the UNITED States.” Teach your teens your values and they will carry them into the future.
Your behavior speaks volumes about the kind of person you are–Don’t be one of those that post hateful comments on social media sites. Be the one who focuses on the future and sees good in everyone.
Negative attitudes make you a very unhappy adult–Negativity breeds defeat, discouragement, and despair. You certainly don’t want your teen to live their life with these attitudes.
You live in the greatest country in the world–Say what you will, but we have FREE elections and every adult is given a vote to decide who governs us. Teach your teens to be proud of our country, our past, and our future.

I have watched all the negative campaign ads for a year. I’ve watched the coverage of election night. I’ve read Twitter and Facebook feeds yesterday and today. Many adults need to apply these 10 principles to their lives. Your college-bound teen is our future; teach them to respect one another and dream.

college guidance, college planning, essays, Guest Posts

10 Tips to write more competitive college application essays

November 1, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

With college admissions season in full swing, students nationwide are beginning to prepare their applications. While many of the academic elements like GPA, class rank and SAT score are set, one part of the application that students still exercise control over are the essays. To help students write competitive essays that will help get them noticed by admissions officers, Veritas Prep, the largest global provider of test prep and admissions consulting services, teamed up with Application Boot Camp®, America’s top college consulting firm, to offer ten tips students should follow as they draft their college application essays:

DO think of your essays as a collection – use each to explore a different layer of who you are and how you would enhance the student body.
DON’T discuss politics or religion, unless you’re coming from an academic perspective – the essays are not the place to take a stand on a personal issue.
DO show, DON’T tell – think hard before you overuse adjectives and adverbs; clearly communicate your strengths without using extraneous language.
DON’T focus on what you want to do, but rather on what you have already done – how have you gone above and beyond? What is your scholarly niche?
DO use an opening hook – start your college essay with something that will capture the admission officer’s attention and show why you stand out.
DON’T be a generalist, be a specialist – colleges and universities aren’t looking for well rounded students, they are looking for a well rounded student body. Show them where you stand out and how you complement the mix they are going for.
DO use details – unsubstantiated statements are quickly dismissed, so be sure to use supporting details to illustrate and elaborate on what you are saying.
DON’T use “SAT words” – admissions officers are unimpressed by those trying to show off their vocabulary, they much prefer clear, concise essays.
DO write “Why Paragraphs” – while they are not required, they are an excellent opportunity to show what you’ll bring and why you belong at a given school.
DON’T use clichés – clichés are the quickest way to come across as inauthentic and unexceptional.

“Each year admission at the top colleges and universities becomes more and more competitive and students need to maximize their applications to highlight the qualities and characteristics that admissions officers are looking for,” said Dr. Michele Hernández, former assistant director of admissions at Dartmouth College and one of the nation’s most sought after private admissions counselors. “Essays are the best way to become a 3D applicant, adding another dimension to what otherwise would be a profile made up of grades, activities and test scores, which are only part of the story. In their essays, students have an opportunity to jump off the page and showcase who they are as an applicant and a person.”

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Nearly a decade ago, Dr. Hernández and award winning author and parenting expert Mimi Doe co-founded Application Boot Camp®, a four-day workshop that provides students with step-by-step advice on their college applications. Recently they partnered with Veritas Prep to launch Application Boot Camp® On Demand, which captures the same guidance and advice from the $14,000 in-person workshop and makes it available as an interactive, online program for only $750.

In addition to twelve self-paced sessions led by Dr. Hernández and Ms. Doe, the program features a library of quizzes and interactive exercises. To learn more about Application Boot Camp® On Demand and Veritas Prep, visit http://www.veritasprep.com/sat/college-application-boot-camp/.

About Veritas Prep
Veritas Prep is the world’s largest provider of test prep and admissions consulting services. It offers industry-leading programs to help applicants improve standardized test scores and gain admission to the world’s most selective universities. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management, Veritas Prep offers its live classroom GMAT prep course in more than 90 cities worldwide and as an interactive online course available to students everywhere. Its Veritas Prep SAT 2400 course is available as a classroom course, live online, on demand or in private tutoring sessions and features the only zero risk, money back guarantee in the industry. In addition, Veritas Prep offers admissions consulting services for applicants seeking entry into competitive business schools, law schools, medical schools and other graduate programs. For more information, visit veritasprep.com.

college guidance, parenting

10 Scariest Mistakes Parents Make

October 31, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer 2 Comments

Halloween–the time for jack-o-lanterns, kids (and adults) dressed up in costumes, trick or treating and all around good fun. The holiday got me thinking about the scary things parents do to their college-bound teens. Some of them simply embarrass them, others destroy their confidence, and the worst ones squash their dreams.

Here’s my list of the 10 scariest mistakes parents make with their college-bound teens. Have you make any of them?

Constantly nagging them about deadlines–The last thing your student needs is for you to constantly nag them. Find other ways to remind them: wall calendars and text messages work much better than harping on them day in and day out.
Forcing them to attend your alma mater–Not every student wants to attend their parent’s college. Be sensitive to the fact that they might want to forge their own path.
Belittling their college choices–You might not think that culinary school is prestigious enough, or community college won’t give you bragging rights with your friends. But your student could be thinking logically and saving your thousands of dollars in the long run. After all, it’s their future–not yours.
Speaking for them during interviews, tours and counseling sessions–Let your student have a voice. Colleges look poorly on those students who can’t speak for themselves. Learning to speak up and self-advocating is an important part of becoming an adult.
Allowing them to attend a college that will put them in debt after graduation–Your student may want to attend an Ivy League college but if the money’s not there, don’t do it. Bragging rights aside, allowing your student to incur overwhelming debt to attend a high-priced college is just poor parental guidance.
Keeping them close to home–Allow them to spread their wings and go away to college if they express an interest. You may want them to attend a school close by and live at home; but living in a dorm and leaving the nest helps them learn to make their own choices and become independent.
Ignoring the signs of frustration–If you see your student faltering or becoming frustrated, give (or get) them some help. There is nothing wrong with coming alongside of them and helping them with the college application process, test prep or scholarship applications. If they are struggling in school, find a good tutor.
Hovering over their every move–Helicopter parents are always around to swoop in when their teens are struggling. Don’t be so quick to intervene. Let them solve the problems on their own; teach them to live with consequences and reap the benefits of wise decisions.
Talking and not listening–Take the time to listen to your teen; let them share their frustations, problems, hopes and dreams. Rather than asking questions and giving them the first degree, listen to them talk. You will be surprised how much you can learn about their lives from a simple conversation.
Not allowing them to dream–Whatever your college-bound teen may want for their future, allow them to dream (and dream big). Don’t squash those dreams by telling them it’s impossible or improbable. They will never know what they are capable of until they try.

Some of these mistakes may appear to be obvious, others you might not have even considered. Your college-bound teen is moving toward the most exciting time of their lives and you can either be a hindrance or a loving encouragement.

parenting, tutoring

LearnSmart–Personal Digital Tutor

October 30, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

McGraw-Hill Higher Education has made its industry-leading personal digital tutor – McGraw-Hill LearnSmart – available for students to purchase directly. Traditionally, McGraw-Hill has marketed LearnSmart, which is available in almost every subject area, to universities and professors for class-wide adoption, which it will continue to do. But now, students can access LearnSmart on their own – a move the company made because of the solution’s growing popularity and proven effectiveness among students.

Students using McGraw-Hill LearnSmart have been proven to move up a full letter grade by studying smarter, not longer. With LearnSmart, students use their out-of-class study time to answer questions that are related to what they’re learning in their course. The fully digital system acts like a personal tutor, continuously assessing students’ knowledge and skills and providing personalized content and recommendations that help them master basic course concepts and retain their knowledge over time. Because LearnSmart is conveniently accessible online and via mobile apps, the technology and devices that students use every day will power a personalized, study-on-the-go experience that will give them the information and focus they need to ensure success in their courses.

Widely available for more than 100 best-selling McGraw-Hill college textbooks and across more than 40 course areas, LearnSmart is great even for students on a budget, starting at $24.99 per semester. Parents wanting to ensure their children get the most of their education can rest assured that LearnSmart is a smart investment. In a study released last year, LearnSmart was shown to turn C students into B students, and B students into A students.

“I have had so much success using LearnSmart,” said Tracy Chupp, an Anatomy & Physiology student at Ivy Tech Community College. “By using LearnSmart to study, I know exactly what I need to practice and how much I know about each topic.”

Originally developed in 2007, McGraw-Hill LearnSmart uses a wealth of data to continuously analyze students’ knowledge and skills and direct them to the exact material (in their e-book or print book) they need to study. LearnSmart also contains engaging gaming elements to push students to improve their performance by showing them how they rank relative to their peers. LearnSmart is perfect for today’s multitasking students, whether they are over-achievers seeking an added edge, struggling students who need extra help to prepare for their exams, or students who are simply pressed for time. More than 950,000 students have answered nearly 700 million questions using LearnSmart – which is good news for students, as LearnSmart gets smarter the more widely it is used.

“We have technology with the power to personalize the learning experience and give students an academic edge,” said Brian Kibby, president, McGraw-Hill Higher Education. “We’re making LearnSmart available directly to students – and their parents who want to help them succeed – so we can ensure that more students have the tools they need to empower themselves and get the most out of their college education. As a student in today’s highly competitive and expensive college environment, why wouldn’t you use a digital tutor that could increase your course performance by a whole letter grade?”

Students and parents can purchase immediate access to LearnSmart from the recently launched LearnSmart website at www.mhlearnsmart.com, by simply finding the McGraw-Hill textbook title for the courses they are taking. McGraw-Hill LearnSmart will also be available for purchase at Follett’s network of 940 college and university campus stores throughout North America and on Follett’s website. LearnSmart can also be purchased through the McGraw-Hill Education online store at www.shopmcgrawhill.com.

To promote the proven effectiveness and expanded availability of this exciting study tool, McGraw-Hill is also announcing today the Going Places with LearnSmart Sweepstakes, in which students who enter will be eligible to win prizes totaling more than $10,000, including gift cards students can use towards spring break travel, and free LearnSmart products. For more information and to register, students should visitwww.mhlearnsmart.com/goingplaces.

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About McGraw-Hill Education

McGraw-Hill Education is a content, software and services-based education company that draws on its more than 100 years of educational expertise to offer solutions, which improve learning outcomes around the world. McGraw-Hill is the adaptive education technology leader with the vision for creating a highly personalized learning experience that prepares students of all ages for the world that awaits. The company has offices across North America, India, China, Europe, the Middle East and South America, and makes its learning solutions available in more than 65 languages. For additional information, visit www.mheducation.com.

college guidance, college planning, organization, parenting

25 Twitter accounts every parent of a college-bound teen should follow

October 24, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer 19 Comments

If you have a college-bound teen, you should have a Twitter account. There is a wealth of information out there from scholarships, to admissions, to financial aid, to help with choosing a college. Here is my list of the MUST FOLLOW on Twitter. It’s easy to follow these if you make a list (college experts) and add these follows to the list. That makes it easier to read their feeds and find them as you are scanning through the multitude of information on Twitter.

@SuzanneShaffer https://twitter.com/SuzanneShaffer
@collegevisit https://twitter.com/collegevisit
@askjohnabout https://twitter.com/askjohnabout
@jodiokun https://twitter.com/JodiOkun
@payingforschool https://twitter.com/PayingForSchool
@zinch https://twitter.com/Zinch
@collegeblogs https://twitter.com/CollegeBlogs
@collegeboard https://twitter.com/CollegeBoard
@JaneKulow https://twitter.com/CVLKulow
@CPofAmerica https://twitter.com/CPofAmerica
@scholarshipscom https://twitter.com/Scholarshipscom
@AidScholarship https://twitter.com/AidScholarship
@collegeweeklive https://twitter.com/CollegeWeekLive
@NancyBerk https://twitter.com/nancyberk
@HappiestKid https://twitter.com/HappiestKid
@fujifulgueras https://twitter.com/fujifulgueras
@collegemoneyblg https://twitter.com/collegemoneyblg
@4collegeparents https://twitter.com/4collegeparents
@simpletuition https://twitter.com/SimpleTuition
@unigo https://twitter.com/Unigo
@studentadvisor https://twitter.com/StudentAdvisor
@preppedpolished https://twitter.com/PreppedPolished
@PeterVanBuskirk https://twitter.com/PeterVanBuskirk
@getcollege https://twitter.com/getcollege
@collegeadvice https://twitter.com/collegeadvice

In addition to these 25, do a search for the colleges your student is considering and add those feeds to the list.

You might also like:

Online College Resources for Parents

Smartphone Apps for Students

Your Parent Arsenal-strength for the journey

Parenting for College

Is your student artistically inclined?

Six Simple Steps to Prepare for College

4 Do’s and Don’ts for your struggling student

What Won’t Help

What Will Help

Teaching your teen 10 lessons from the 2012 Election

10 Tips to write more competitive college application essays

10 Scariest Mistakes Parents Make

LearnSmart–Personal Digital Tutor

25 Twitter accounts every parent of a college-bound teen should follow

Helping parents navigate the college maze

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Helping parents navigate the college maze