college costs, parenting, scholarships, test prep

In honor of Halloween: Weird and Wacky Scholarships

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Although these scholarships have been deemed “weird and wacky”, any scholarship that garners you FREE money for college is anything but that. Did you know that you can type in “wacky scholarships” in Google and come up with some of these scholarship gems? Here are just a few of them.

Is your teen a leftie?

Juniata College located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania offers two 1,000 scholarhips to left handed students each year. One of the qualifications is – yes – left handedness.

Does your teen know how to knit?

The National Make It Yourself with Wool (NMIYWW) organization awards 2 scholarships for knitting wool garments. Make a killer wool garment and submit it to this organization and they will judge it based garment style and design, contestant’s presentation, and creativity. Winners receive either a $2,000 or a $1,000 scholarship.

Is your teen a Trekkie?

The Kor Memorial Scholarship is awarded by the Klingon Language Institute to recognize and encourage scholarship in the field of language study. You don’t have to be fluent in Klingon, but creativity is preferred.

And…

Starfleet Academy Scholarship. If you are a member of the “Starfleet Academy,” an organization modeled after the fictitious Star Trek academy you may qualify for awards such as the Gene Roddenberry Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Writers or the DeForest Kelley/Dr. Leonard McCoy Medical Scholarship.

Is your teen enjoying “the air up there”?

The Kae Sumner Einfeldt Scholarship, sponsored by Tall Clubs International offers tall students a $1000.00 scholarship. To qualify, girls must be at least 5-foot-10, and guys must measure at least 6-foot-2.

Is your teen fascinated with ghosts?

The New York-based Parapsychology Foundation offers young ghost hunters and those with interest in the paranormal several scholarships.

Does your teen have expertise in duck calling?

The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest awards a $1,500 scholarship to the winner of their duck calling contest. First runner-up gets $500, second runner-up gets $300, and third runner-up gets $200.

If these have peeked your interest, here’s a few other links offering many other possibilities. With the scholarship names, you can go to a scholarship search site like FastWeb and find out all the details.

http://scholarship.lifetips.com/cat/61637/wacky-scholarships/index.html

http://www.wacky-scholarships.com/

Happy Halloween!

admissions, college guidance, college news, college planning, parenting, Uncategorized

A Virtual College Fair: CollegeWeekLive

Times they are a’changin! When my kids were making those college decisions, we had to get in the car, head out to a college fair held at our local convention center, and fight our way through the crowds, hoping to snag some one on one time with the busy college representatives.

collegeweeklive

Today, you have another option. CollegeWeekLive.com offers a virtual college fair from November 4-7. It’s a GREAT opportunity to get the “inside scoop” from admissions professionals and even CHAT with college representatives and students. According to their website:

CollegeWeekLive attendees can watch admissions experts speak on topics such as how to prepare for the SAT, how to write a winning application essay or how to pay for college and have questions answered via live chat. Attendees can also video chat with college students and learn what campus life is really like. The event features scholarships and special promotions available only to those who attend.

And..here’s the BEST part. It’s ABSOLUTELY FREE. Click here to sign up and add events to your Outlook Calendar. What could be easier? I know I will be attending. And…if you’re a parent of a college-bound teen, you don’t want to miss it. It’s your opportunity to gain some knowledge and ask those questions you’ve been saving for the experts.

Mark your calendars and don’t miss a single session. This is an invaluable resource for parents and college-bound teens.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, parenting

College Admissions Essays

 

According to a recent article in the NY Times–The Choice, the college essay should be looked at like “a first date”. Chad Hemmelgarn, an English teacher at Bexley High School, in Columbus Ohio, said, “It’s kind of like a first date. You’re telling us the stuff that makes you special.” He was speaking as part of a panel at an annual forum in New York sponsored by The College Board.

When you think about it, that’s a great analogy. The essay is a way for you to let the admissions committee get to know you and an opportunity for you to focus on your strengths. Here are some tips that Mr. Hemmelgarn recommends that your teen can use when approaching the essay:

  1. Write some sample essays using actual questions from college applications–Look at the actual college applications for those questions and topics.
  2. Divide the essays into two categories: Why you? and Why us?–Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you (Why you?); Why are you considering our University (Why us?).
  3. Write as many essays as you can for practice–Have them evaluated by a teacher, your parents, and/or your counselor.
  4. Do your research if necessary and always answer the question–The college is looking to find something out about you and ascertain how you will be a good fit for their community of students.
  5. Don’t let your parents write the essay–Admissions counselors can spot those immediately and it’s a good way to have your application put in the “rejection” stack.

As a parent college coach, it’s your responsibility to guide your teen throughout the application process. Offer encouragement and feedback on their essay content. Help them brainstorm about a topic to use. Encourage them to spend some time thinking about what they want colleges to know about them.

And remember: Preparation Prevents Panic!

admissions, college costs, college guidance, college planning, extracurricular activities, parenting, scholarships, Uncategorized

Would you pay $14,000 to get your teen into Harvard?

college_20moneyTalk about college sticker shock! I just read an article about a company that charges $14,000 for a 4-day Application Bootcamp. The camp sells out every year and boasts a waiting list. The statistics are posted about the students who attend and the results of their admissions applications. The stats are impressive, but I had to ask myself if that price tag was worth the results. Perhaps it is, if your teen’s heart is set on a specific school and you have the cash on hand. But most parents are scrambling just to pay tuition, let alone come up with $14,000 to pay for an application coaching camp.

If you’re one of those parents whose teen wants to be accepted into a top-tiered college or university and you don’t want to drop 14 grand for admissions coaching, what can you do? Will that price tag assure your teen an acceptance letter?

If that cost sends you running in the opposite direction, try this instead:

  1. Start early and stay organized–use a filing system that helps you keep track of awards, activities and deadlines.
  2. Encourage your teen to take challenging courses: AP classes, Honors classes, science and math courses.
  3. Be an effective parent coach by encouraging them to focus on one or two activities in high school and stay involved.
  4. Arm yourself with the right tools and information to help your teen learn about interview questions, essay topics and admissions applications.
  5. Study the college admissions statistics of the colleges that your teen is interested in and use them as a guideline in the college selection process.
  6. And lastly, for a fraction of the $14,000 pricetag, you can purchase the Parents Countdown to College Toolkit which will provide you with all the tools you need to help your teen realize their dream of a college education at the school of their choice.

Granted, there are those parents who can afford and are willing to pay hefty prices for admissions counseling. But the bulk of most parents are on a budget, scrimping and saving to be able to send their kids to college. The Parents Countdown to College Toolkit is an affordable and effective alternative!

admissions, college costs, college planning, extracurricular activities, scholarships, test prep, Uncategorized

More valuable tips and advice

For my loyal readers, I thought I would post the links to some posts I have done on other websites and blogs. All offer valuable information for parents of college bound teens.

Preparing Your Student for the Future
If your child is just starting high school, you’re probably not thinking about college yet…but should you be?

It’s Test Time!
The SATs and ACTs… Are these standardized tests striking fear and dread in your home? Suzanne Shaffer of Parents Countdown to College says the key to success is practice and she shows you where to find FREE help!

Searching for Scholarships

The best advice I can give any parent of a college-bound teen is to start the scholarship process EARLY. Don’t wait until senior year and scramble around trying to find scholarships. Here are 10 tips on searching for scholarships.

Visit these sites and gather some valuable information. Sign up and join GalTime for even more valuable parenting advice. Encourage your teen to enter Diploframe’s scholarship.

admissions, test prep

The Test Prep Controversy

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test-taking

In today’s Education column of the New York Times, the President of the College Board addresses the question of the value of SAT Prep courses.  This has been a long standing debate and the theories vary depending on who addresses the question.

According to Mr. Caperton:

Success on the SAT, and more importantly success in college, begins in middle school and in the early years of high school. The best way for students to get ready for the SAT is to take rigorous, challenging courses in high school and to study hard and do well in those classes.

But, there were some interesting comments that followed the article that give differing opinions about test prep. The bulk of the comments were either from parents or students who had availed themselves of test prep services and were able to raise their scores significantly; thus justifying the cost involved. I found the comments more interesting than the article.

I tend to agree with one comment which stated that the SAT measured the students test taking ability before it measured their cumulative knowledge. Some students take tests well; others do not. If those who do not test well take the time to familiarize themselves with the test itself, it will help them be less anxious and more confident on test day.

Read my article on GalTime for some tips on preparing for those college admission tests.

admissions, college guidance, college planning

Is Your Teen an Average Student?

If your teen is an average student, you might be thinking that community college or a local small state college is their only option. But, in reality, there are some options you might consider.

According to a recent seminar at the National Association for College Admission Counseling,

There are application strategies that can help… Some strong colleges are looking for more geographical diversity, and will consider students with weaker grades if they are from another part of the country. Students with weak standardized test scores should also consider colleges where SAT and ACT scores are optional. (A list can be found at www.fairtest.org.)

Students might want to request an interview at colleges that don’t necessarily require them, to exhibit character strengths that transcripts and GPA’s don’t reflect.

One college counselor recommended applying mid-year, when admissions are less competitive than in the high-pressure fall. Another recommended looking for colleges with pre-admission programs to ease students into the college they plan to attend.

Of course, all counselors recommend that paying attention to grades early in your teen’s high school career will ensure more college options. But if your teen is already into their senior year and there is no time to rectify their GPA, there are always application strategies that can help.

If you are looking for a list of some colleges that welcome average students, you might want to read the entire article.

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Parents Play a Pivotal Role in College Decisions

If you plan to help your teen with the college decision process, you are not alone. According to an article on TodaysCampus.com by Joe Dysart:

Nearly all parents (90 percent) researching colleges and universities for their kids are turning to the web for information, according to a recent survey from a number of market research groups.

Of the surveyed parents, 82 percent said they plan to play a pivotal role in helping their children make the final decision about college. Only 17 percent said they will entrust their child to make that decision independently.

The internet is packed with information related to the college decision process. The key is to know where to find it and how to sift through all the information to utilize what is most helpful. My Parents Countdown to College Toolkit will send you to the right websites and give you all the information you need to play a pivotal role in helping your teen make the final decision about college.

admissions, college costs, college guidance, college planning, extracurricular activities, parenting, scholarships, Uncategorized

Following the Yellow Brick Road

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yellowbrickroadI spent some time today surfing. Not at the beach (I never learned to surf after living on the Gulf for over 30 years). I was surfing around doing some “follow the yellow brick road” path. I like to call it that because one link, leads to another, leads to another and you find an Emerald City at the end! That’s the great thing about following links: you never know where they will take you and what adventures you will have along the way.
These are the jewels I found today. I couldn’t help but pass them along to all my parent readers (and fans!):

http://www.knowhow2go.org/
This is an amazing website for college planning. It’s interactive and tons of fun. It’s not your typical boring college information site. It’s a fun place to start the search for middle schoolers with schedules and tips all the way through high school. Whaz up dudes and dudettes…check this one out! (I know I’m not hip but I try)

http://www.youniversitytv.com
Wow. This is NOT your avearage college tour site. This one has moxy and some genuine off the wall creativity. There are video tours that ROCK, a message board, cool 3D maps, games, career videos and ways to connect with other college students. Check this one out and get in the “mood for college”!
http://www.savingforcollege.com/
I had to plop one in just for the parents. This is the BEST, I said BEST, site for everything you want to know about financing that college education but were afraid to ask. Remember guys: DENIAL is NOT a river in Egypt. Knowledge is power. The more you know the more prepared you will be. So take a deep breath and jump in!
http://www.theclic.net/
As my daughter would say…”cool beans”. This is a site where you can find and be found by colleges, scholarships and other college programs. A GREAT networking site and a place to connect and set up an online presence.

http://globalquad.com/
This site is Twitterific! Yes, I did say that. Keep up with college life on Twitter: students, colleges, faculty, clubs, and more. Stay on top of the latest college and student news via all the great Twitter links. And, there’s an option to “follow all” if you are so possessed. Whew…I’ll just follow…EVERYONE!

Frame My Future Scholarship Contest - Click here to go to framemyfuture.com and find out about $6,000 in scholarship awards!

No “yellow brick road” search would be complete without unearthing a scholarship. And this one is a great one. Here is how you enter to win…Submit a creation that shares with us what you want to achieve in your personal and professional life after college. Your entry can be a photograph, collage, poem, drawing, painting, graphic design piece, short typed explanation, or anything YOU can create in an image! Your entry should communicate: This is how I “Frame My Future.”

That ends my search for today. I think I can safely say I found the “Emerald City” because every one of those links can take your teen closer to their dream of a college education.

But right now, I’m OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD!

admissions, college guidance, college planning, parenting, social networks, test prep, Uncategorized

Back to School: Time to get Organized

back to schoolSchool has begun for most of the country and parents are getting back in the routine: morning breakfasts, packing lunches, dropping off at school, chauffeuring their kids for after-school activities, and attending teacher conferences and  PTA meetings in the evening.  Believe it or not, I miss those days. But what I don’t miss is all the chaos. And with teenagers, there is always chaos.

The only way to survive that chaos is to formulate an organization plan. Start by making a resolution to streamline the paperwork the minute it comes home: student guidelines, school manuals, meeting announcements, homework assignments, and any papers that require a parent signature.

There are several “landing” places that we all use: the kitchen table, our teen’s bedroom floor, our kids backpacks, and somewhere  in our car.  These all cause us much heartache later as we scramble around at 7:30 am for the required permission slip  as we are running out the door.

Resolve NOW to have a place for every school related piece of paper that makes its way into your home.

  1. Create a simple filing system using a crate, a box, or file cabinet with school related tabs and folders.
  2. Get yourself a large write on calendar for school activities.
  3. Set up a special “landing” place with a magnet board or bulletin board to keep the papers requiring parent signatures visible.
  4. Encourage your teen to participate in the process by emptying their backpack every afternoon of all important papers.

Before you know it they will be receiving notices of college fairs, booklets with SAT/ACT information, announcements from counselors about scholarship opportunities, and notices of college information nights at PTA meetings. Starting the process early when school begins will get you moving in a positive direction and prevent chaos in the mornings as you walk out the door.

And remember: Preparation Prevents Panic!

Helping parents navigate the college maze