For parents, preparing their kids for college can be a stressful time. While they are getting excited to meet new people, decorate their dorm, and pack everything for their first year on campus, parents are often focused on the nitty-gritty details. This often involves preparing their children’s finances and filling out paperwork among many other things.
As a parent, it’s important to make sure your child knows about the responsibilities they’ll need to handle in college. Helping them understand money management is especially important, as this will help them be better prepared for when they graduate. Here are some first steps to help teach your child financial independence before college.
Determine an Organization Method
Working on developing a budget with your child who is college-bound can help them be better prepared to manage their money and avoid overspending. Generally, your kids will have a limited amount of money each semester depending on what they’ve saved up, and if they have any type of financial aid or work-study income.
To help them create a budget, work with them to calculate the expenses they expect to have each semester, along with how much money they will have to spend. Write down each of these by category, and then determine how to best allocate their money. Generally, you should create categories that distinguish between necessities and other non-necessities, with a priority on payments that are not negotiable such as food, textbooks, and school supplies, as opposed to non-negotiable payments such as parties and socialization.
In order for your child to best track their budget in college, they could utilize a digital budgeting app so that they can always have a handle on their money whenever they’re on the go.
Set Up Financial Accounts
Getting your child’s financial situation in order also involves helping them get a bank account, among other financial accounts such as credit cards and loan accounts. If they don’t already have one, getting them a savings and checking account is a great way to help them be fully in control of their money.
One great way of doing this is by helping them sign up for a digital banking platform, which can allow them to control their finances from their laptop or mobile device. These often have additional features that can help them be more financially responsible, such as automatic savings and fee-free overdraft protection. These services can help students save money during the semester and contribute to their life savings over time.
Discuss Credit and Loans
Finally, helping your child understand debt, credit, and loans will keep them from acquiring a low credit score throughout college or falling behind on student loan payments. Discuss with them the importance of meeting any credit card payments they have on time and paying them off immediately instead of letting the debt pile up.
You should also explain how much money they will owe for student loans and what they will need to do to pay these off after graduation. This will give them a better sense of their financial responsibilities and motivate them to be on top of their finances. You can go about this by giving them access to their student loan accounts and helping them stay aware of how much they will end up owing after graduation.
Overall, knowledge about debt and loans will come with the added benefits of motivating them to be more financially independent, so that they will be in a better position when they graduate. They may even work to find ways to avoid debt while in college, and in some cases, they can even begin to pay off loans while still in college.
Helping your child prepare to become financially independent is tricky, especially since they’re getting ready to go into a new environment. However, by teaching them the right skills, they’ll be prepared to manage their money and stay financially savvy in no time.
It’s a new world; especially in college admissions. What we did last year at this time has been obliterated by the coronavirus. Future college students (upcoming seniors) will have to adapt. Current college students are faced with all sorts of dilemmas.
Just for parents, I’ve compiled some of the articles I’ve found about navigating college during COVID-19. I hope you find them helpful for you and your student.
Amy Romm Lockard of Dovetail College Consulting in Portland, Oregon works with high school students nationwide to look at careers, majors, colleges and other post-secondary options as well as all the pieces in between (testing, financial aid, teacher recommendations, scholarship applications and more).
High school juniors may be wondering how the pandemic will affect their college plans. Your student may be asking:
How is this virus going to affect my future college application?
Are these abridged AP exams going to count?
I worked so hard this year, took a rigorous curriculum, but now how can this pass/fail grading highlight my improved grades?
My prestigious summer program was just canceled—what can I do for the next several months?
With all the seniors currently asking for gap years, will this mean there will be fewer spaces in future years?”
We can’t know the future, but we can deal with what we know now. As time progresses, the options will change, but for now, here is some helpful information.
We looked at the kinds of challenges and changes that rising high school seniors may face this fall.
Here’s what we found.
All schools that return to on-campus learning will have new procedures in place for keeping students and staff healthy. That includes whatever the state mandates for the number of students allowed in buildings, mask use, how far apart they can sit, where they can eat, hand-washing routines, changes in how clubs and extracurricular activities are handled, and whether sports are played and can be attended.
Collaborating with the Making Caring Common project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, college admissions professionals have jointly issued “Care Counts in Crisis: College Admissions Deans Respond to COVID-19.” The statement focuses on five points students need to keep in mind this year: Self-care, academics, service, families, and extracurricular activities.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, rising high school seniors would likely be spending some time during the summer and fall visiting prospective colleges, attending college fairs, or meeting with college recruiters who visit their high schools. But what about now? As you might expect, researching college options for the Class of 2021 just got very interesting! Let’s take a look at what some of these formerly typical activities might look like this year. It’s the COVID college search year!
As college move-in day approaches, parents around the country have understandable concerns about online vs. in-person instruction.
Many parents wonder if the quality of instruction will be the same if classes are conducted remotely, and if it’s worth the high cost of tuition they’re paying.
Parents are also expressing anxiety about student safety — both health safety because of the pandemic and physical safety in communities where protests and violence continue. Unlike the decision about how classes will be held, your student may have a choice about whether to return to campus or study from home (unless their school has closed all residential facilities or is permitting only certain grades to return).
If you’re still up in the air about this, or just want to prepare your student as well as possible for a safe and healthy fall semester, here are some things to know and talk about.
We looked at the kinds of challenges and changes that entering freshmen and current college students may face this fall.
Here’s what we found.
All schools that return to on-campus learning will have new procedures in place for keeping students and staff healthy.
That includes whatever the state mandates for the number of students allowed in buildings, mask use, how far apart they can sit, where they can eat, handwashing routines, changes in how clubs and extracurricular activities are handled, and whether sports are played and can be attended.
COVID-19 has impacted many families financially — including their ability to pay for college. What may have been a positive financial outlook in the fall of 2019, when students applied and accepted admission, has changed dramatically for many families with the nationwide shutdowns and changes in employment.
Student athletes have been hit hard as many colleges are cutting programs to save money and stay afloat. Needless to say, athletes aren’t the only students who are impacted. Many students who’d planned to use family funds to pay for college are now faced with financial hardship and left wondering how they will be able to afford college. Families are being forced to get creative and look for funds in the form of scholarships and grants if they wish to avoid borrowing to pay for college.
If you find you are short on funds to pay for college, use these tactics before you decide to take out loans.
As freshmen and upperclassmen start thinking (dreaming?) about heading to college this fall. They’re going to be packing more supplies than usual, however. What will be different on campus this year, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic? Maybe more elbow bumps than hugs! Here are five things you may not have thought of. Make some preparations if possible!
In one of the most challenging periods in the last century, the Coronavirus has roiled healthcare systems and everyday life, with citizens wondering what the ramifications are for society and their everyday lives.
While public health and government officials are providing their expertise to the specifics of health and everyday life, high school students, college students, and their parents face special complexities in managing their finances and their college experiences.
How do school administrators describe today’s parent?
Has it become so bad that school administrators (from grade school to college) have to label us (helicopter parent, bulldozer parent, snowplow parent)? Apparently, it has. When it comes right down to it, we should realize that this type of behavior only hurts the student. Of course, the student may not see the harm. After all, their parent is rescuing them from difficult situations in life. But in the long run, it hurts their quest for independence and causes strife within the family.
Let’s take a look at some of these parenting styles and ask yourself how they can hinder your student’s growth toward independence and influence your parenting for college.
The Helicopter Parent
A helicopter parent hovers over their child. They keep tabs on their every move, text them 24 hours a day and have tracking apps on their smartphones to keep track of their child’s location at all times. Helicopter parents are ready to swoop in at a moment’s notice to help their child in any situation. Forgot their lunch—they take off at lunch to bring it to them. Forgot to bring a permission slip—they drop everything and bring it to them. Forgot to register for the SAT—no, problem; we’ll pay the late fee. Receive a text or non-emergency call during a meeting—they drop everything to respond. Overslept for school—they write a note to explain the tardiness.
The Snowplow Parent
The snowplow parent goes beyond the hovering. They clear paths for their children and plow any obstacle that stands in the way of their happiness. Their children never learn how to advocate for themselves and head off to college to get lost in a sea of problems. As they get older, it’s harder for them to resolve conflict and overcome adversity. Honestly, I have to admit I did this with my daughter. The good news—I knew when to stop. The bad news—I did it much too long.
The Bulldozer Parent
A bulldozer parent is one who is involved in their child’s life, especially in school. This type of parent calls the teacher to complain about a grade they feel is undeserved. As their kids get older, they call the admissions office to plead their college-bound teen’s case for admittance. Bulldozer parents bulldoze their way into their kid’s lives. If their kids get into trouble, they are right there waiting to bail them out and make excuses.
Evaluate and adjust
Be honest. Haven’t you been guilty of some of these? As with any problem you have to want to stop. You have to examine your parenting style and decide whether or not you are helping or hindering your kids. And once you determine the problem you should make an effort to correct it. Back off a bit, give your kids some space, and allow them to make mistakes and learn from them.
Always remember that an independent adult will be a functioning adult and a happier adult. You may say now you don’t want them to grow up, but when they are asking for your help at 30 you will be sorry you encouraged their dependence.
It’s no surprise that parents have become so involved in their kids’ lives that school administrators have begun to label us; helicopter parent, snow plow parent, and bulldozer parent. But it can’t all be bad; after all, parents are actually involved. Is this a bad thing? As with anything there are extremes. And it’s possible that a few bad parenting experiences have shed a negative light on all of us.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of helicopter parenting:
Parents who are involved tend to have academically successful students.
Studies show kids who have parents that stay involved from Kindergarten to 12th grade are more likely to excel academically. Why? Involved parents help students with studies, organization and make sure they do their assignments. They also stay on top of grades and can recognize any problems that may require extra help.
Parents who are involved have students who are less likely to participate in at-risk behaviors.
Students whose parents are involved in their lives are going to find it harder to participate in at-risk behaviors. Why? Parents who know their kid’s friends, encourage activities at home, and encourage their kids to participate in after school activities help the kids learn responsibility and commitment. They have little time to get into trouble.
Parents who are invested financially and encourage their students to invest financially have students who take their education seriously.
College is a large financial commitment. When parents commit to invest, and insist that their student invest, the student will be more likely to see the value of that investment. That translates into academic success and a successful college education.
My mother used to say, “Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.” I think that is the best way to look at helicopter parenting. Embrace the good things about this type of parenting and avoid the behaviors that cause educators to label us.
With competition for college admission becoming stronger, parents are recognizing the need to begin college prep early. That doesn’t mean that you start drilling college into your toddler’s head (although some parents have been known to do this). It does mean that you begin a foundation for their education that will carry them into high school and eventually into college.
Looking at the three phases of education, what should parents do to prepare their students for college?
Elementary School
When discussing college prep, most of the discussions start in middle school and the steps begin when a student is in high school. But for a student to be truly prepared for college, parents should begin talking about it, thinking about it, and discussing it as early as elementary school.
Start talking about the value of education
Begin talking about the importance of education when your child enters kindergarten. The first seven years of education are filled with learning fundamental skills and gaining knowledge. This is the foundation of all future education. If your child loves school, excels in school, and is motivated to study and achieve excellence, the logical progression will be to continue their education by going to college.
Start talking about college
The opportunities that a college education provides can be relayed to your children during the early years of education.
For example, if your child is interested in dinosaurs, parents should talk about how people that research and recover dinosaur bones had to go to college first to learn how it’s done. Or if he is interested in space, discuss how scientists and astronauts go to college to learn the skills they need to work in that field. A child’s enthusiasms are the perfect opportunities to start a discussion about how college is key to pursuing and following those interests.
Visit colleges with the family
Visiting college isn’t just for teenagers. Many universities provide campus tours and visiting days when a staff member will guide a grade school class, or other group of children, around the campus and explain the unique and exciting things they can do when they grow up and go to college. Parents can also schedule outings with their children to the college or university from which they graduated. The important thing is to make college sound interesting, exciting and accessible.
Middle School
In a Forbes article about preparing for college, Director of Admissions MaeBrown said, “Start preparing for college at grade six. ”That’s when parents and students should increase the focus on the final goal after high school graduation: college.
Start planning academics
Middle school students should begin planning their academic path that will carry into high school. Meet with the school counselor and discuss the courses that can be taken in middle school to prepare for high school, especially in the math and science categories. Many middle schools offer classes that were traditionally reserved for high school students. These math classes are required to take more advanced math classes in high school and to take science classes like chemistry and physics.
Because college work and many jobs now require computer skills, your child should also try to take advantage of any computer science classes offered in middle and high school. He’ll gain new skills and may discover a career path.
Read, read, read
Establish an environment at home that encourages reading. Students can start adding to their vocabulary by reading diversely. Tweens should be reading all types of books, articles, blogs and news articles. This increases their vocabulary, which is a strong component in essay writing and standardized tests. While you’re at it, why not make vocabulary building a family game by learning a word a day? There are lots of free subscription services that will email a word of the day.
Partner with your child’s educators
Middle school is the time parents tend to be less involved, but it’s the very time your child needs encouragement and guidance. Meet your child’s teachers, if you haven’t already done so, and make it clear that you want to be kept up to date about any changes in your child’s work or behavior.
Talk to the counselor about your child’s interests to see if there are electives and extracurricular activities that will help him develop his talents. If your child needs extra help or more challenging assignments in a subject, talk to the counselor about how to arrange it.
Start working on extracurriculars
A key ingredient in the college application is extracurriculars. Begin looking at areas that interest your child in middle school. Try out some volunteering, connect with a mentor for an internship, and explore hobbies and interests. If your child enters high school committed to one activity, it will be much easier to carry that through the next four years.
First Year of High School
It’s the year of new beginnings. Wide-eyed freshmen enter high school campuses overwhelmed on the one hand and excited on the other. High school puts them on the path to adulthood and independence. It means added responsibility and academic challenges, especially if they plan to apply to college at the beginning of their senior year.
Establish a relationship with the high school counselor
This is a person you want on your child’s team for the next few years in high school. The counselor will ask what your child envisions doing beyond high school; goals and vision for your child’s future career. They should help draw out a plan to reach those goals. If you wait until senior year, it could already be too late to get particular requirements your child may need to attend the school of his dreams. Work with your high school counselor ahead of time to pinpoint what school courses your child needs to take and pass to fit those college subjects the best. Sift through options of high school electives that match with the specific degree your child is interested in pursuing.
Research careers
By now, your teen should know what interests him in school. Is he drawn to the sciences? Or is drama his cup of tea? Does he excel in math? Or is he interested in literature? These interests will serve to guide your teen down the right career path.
It would be useless to pursue a career in the medical field if science and math are your teen’s least favorite subjects. It would also be frivolous to head down an acting career path if your teen does not like being on stage in front of people. Analyze their interests and strengths to guide them in choosing the career that would best suit them and feed their passion. Take personality and career tests and attend career days.
Plan a rigorous academic path
Throughout high school, your child will have the opportunity to get some college credit out of the way. At some universities, four years of a foreign language in high school will be enough to satisfy language requirements for your degree. Also, AP and honors classes can sometimes fulfill certain degree requirements, which will be very beneficial not only on the college application to communicate commitment to academics, but will also save you money paying for expensive college classes.
Research colleges
Finding a college that compliments your child’s educational goals, personality, and learning style takes time and effort. Start by making a list of what criteria the perfect school would have. From that list, focus on the schools that meet those needs with regard to location, size, character and degree programs.
Each academic year produces it’s own set of challenges if your child wants to go to college. By planning ahead, you can minimize the stress of senior year and ensure that your child is ready to pursue higher education after high school.
Many college experts offer advice on how to get into college. They recommend stellar standardized test scores, a killer college essay, a high GPA, and strong extracurriculars. While all those application components are important, did you know that there an admissions secret students can use to increase their admission chances by 40 percent!
Students who visit a college before they apply, are up to 40 percent more likely to be admitted than students who do not visit or show demonstrated interest, the data says.
Why does demonstrated interest matter?
For colleges, it’s difficult to know which applicants are really interested in attending. Due to the ease of the Common Application, students can apply to multiple colleges at once. Students often believe that applying to more colleges will increase their chances of getting accepted.
When a college receives your application, admission officers look for ways to determine whether you will accept their offer of admission. Since all colleges have quotas to fill and determine their admission offers based on percentages of acceptance, showing interest lets them know you will likely accept their offer. As they see it, why offer admission to someone who isn’t interested when there is someone who is likely to accept?
How do you find the colleges that place a strong interest on this?
Which colleges want your student to show them some love? You don’t have to guess. You can use a tool like Collegedata.com to determine if a college uses demonstrated interest in its admission decision. The colleges are asked to rate 19 admission factors by using these four categories: very important, important, considered, and not considered. Each year, colleges are surveyed and this data is used to compile the information on its website.
To access the data, you simply search for the college, click on the Admissions tab, and scroll down to the Selection of Students heading. Then you can see the importance a college places on a student’s level of interest. Harvard, for example, lists this as “not considered.” In comparison, the United States Naval Academy, lists it as “very important.”
Every college is different so it’s important to check before applying to determine whether a college visit or another demonstration of interest is warranted.
To learn how your student can demonstrate interest for a college, read my article at TeenLife.com.
Do you have an average student? Do you think your student won’t qualify for any scholarships? Think again. There are no GPA requirement scholarships and average GPA requirement scholarships. If your student can fill out a form, write an essay or simply register on a website, they could win money for college.
Some of these deadlines are close, but if your student doesn’t apply this year, he or she can always bookmark the scholarship or add it to a spreadsheet for next year.
No essay, no GPA minimums, just money to cover tuition, housing, books or any education-related expenses.
Offered by Niche, a website that analyzes public data to review schools and colleges, the $2,000 scholarship is open to all high school, college and graduate students and those planning to enroll within 12 months.
All you have to do is register on their website for free and
enter. A new winner is chosen every month randomly, and you’re allowed to enter
once per month.
Deadline: The last day of every month. Available to: Students must currently attend — or within the next
12 months plan to enroll in — a high school or college, graduate school (listed
on Niche’s website) or be the parent of a student who falls into one of those
categories. The site states that one entry per person is allowed each month, so
you or your parent could apply.
As the title of the scholarship states, you don’t need to
write an essay and no GPA is specified. You must simply enter through their website.
Winners are selected via a random drawing about two weeks
after the last day of the month and will be notified by mail, telephone or
email; the winners will also be announced via Niche’s e-newsletter.
In addition, Niche provides more than 30 scholarships from
other sources on its website besides the $2,000 “No Essay” one.
The only thing required to win this $1,000 scholarship —
named after Gen and Kelly Tanabe, the award-winning authors of 14 books on
admission and scholarships — is a 250-word or less personal essay based on
questions provided on the website.
Your GPA will not be considered. You must be in high school,
or a student in college or graduate school and a legal U.S. resident.
According to the website, “the goal is to create a level field where students have complete control over their applications and are not given an advantage or disadvantage based on financial or academic circumstances.”
Deadline: There are both fall and spring
scholarships offered. Check the website for details. Available to: Ninth- to 12th-grade, college or graduate students
including adult students.
Simply fill out the answer to one of three essay questions —
why do you deserve to win this scholarship, describe your academic or career
goals or any topic of your choice — and a committee will choose the best
answers. The first place award is $1,000; you use the money for any education
expenses, including tuition, room and board and more.
Winners will be notified approximately four weeks after the
deadline.
If you wear glasses, you may be familiar with the Marvel
Optics company, but what you might not know is that its founders hold a $1,500
essay contest for full-time college students.
Applicants must submit a video or short essay on their
social media or blog page tagging or linking to Marvel Optics that answers the
following: “Helen Keller said, ‘The only thing worse than being blind is having
sight but no vision.’ What does that mean to you?”
Two scholarships are offered (fall and spring semester) and the money is sent right to the winner’s school financial aid office.
Deadline: August for the fall semester and January
for the spring semester. Available to: Any student attending a two- or four-year college.
Follow the rules on the rules on Marvel Optics scholarship
program website.
What do Arkansas, California, Texas, Missouri, Mississippi
and Louisiana have in common? They are all rice-growing states. And if you are
a graduating high school student living in one of these places, you can apply
to win up to a $4,000 scholarship, sponsored by Corteva AgriScience, from the
USA Rice Federation.
Applicants must simply make an original video (3 minutes or
less) promoting your state’s product to the sustainability of rice crops.
Upload your video to Vimeo and YouTube and then submit your entry with an online form.
Deadline: All entries must be in by the end of
October. Available to: High school seniors living in one of the following
rice-producing states: Mississippi, California, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and
Louisiana.
Make a short video about any aspect of the rice, or promote
your state’s rice production, upload it to Vimeo or YouTube and fill out
the online scholarship entry form. The USA Rice Federation will
contact you if you win one of the three scholarships: a grand prize ($4,000),
second place ($3,000) and third-place scholarship ($1,500).
Who knew your fire sprinkler could help you go to college or
a certified trade school? Yes, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) —
a nonprofit representing fire sprinkler contractors dedicated to the
educational advancement of its members — started a scholarship program offering
10 winners $2,000 in tuition assistance.
Their mission is to also “educate the public at-large about
the life-saving properties of automatic fire sprinklers” and therefore part of
the application is to take a short quiz after reading an article about the
industry of fire sprinklers.
The selection does not take financial need, GPA or
demographics into consideration. The only requirements are that you must enroll
for classes beginning no later than the fall semester of the year you apply,
and take a short quiz.
Deadline: Spring Available to: High school seniors enrolled for a fall semester.
All you need to do to enter is go to the site and
fill in your education and contact information, and take a short quiz. A random
computer-generated drawing selects the winners.
AFSA will contact each winner by email and phone within 14 business days of contest end-date. The prize will then be sent directly to the college or university where you’ll be attending.
Are you the student who always gets told to quiet down in
class? Well, there’s a scholarship just for you. Unigo, a college and
scholarship search website, started their own scholarship where they encourage
you to speak out.
Applicants have up to 250 words to say whatever they want
creatively and memorably. The “loudest” person will win $1,500 for college
expenses.
Deadline: End of September each year. Available to: Students must be 13 years or older and currently enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2026) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education
To enter, you must answer the following question in 250
words or less: If you could say one thing to the entire world at once, what
would it be and why? A qualified panel of judges will select one potential
winner based on the criteria of writing ability (25%), creativity (25%),
originality (25%) and overall excellence (25%).
The winner will be notified by email or phone toward the end
of December.
High school, college and graduate school students who are
interested in environmental issues, might check out Digital Responsibility’s
$1,000 scholarships. The grassroots company whose mission is to help create
safe internet awareness offers this scholarship each year. There are two steps
in the process.
First, applicants must fill out an online application form
including a 140-character limit answer to the question “the most important
reason to care about e-waste is …” From that pool of applicants, Digital
Responsibility will select 10 finalists, who will be asked to submit a
full-length essay (500 to 1,000 words) about e-waste.
Deadline: Earth Day (mid-April) Available to: All high school students, college students entering
or currently in college, and graduate school students. Home-schooled students
may apply as well. All applicants must be legal residents or citizens of the
U.S., but there is no age limit.
Fill out the online
application form via Digital Responsiblity’s website, and answer a
question about e-waste in 140 characters or less. If you are chosen as one of
10 finalists, you will be asked to submit a 500- to 1,000-word essay. The
winner will be chosen from that pool of 10 applicants.
Digital Responsibility will contact the winners by email
listed on the original application.
Ice-cream loving students rejoice, there is a scholarship
out there for you. In honor of national ice cream month (Juy) Unigo — which
also offers the
Shout It Out award above — is offering a $1,500 to the student who can
best explain to them what ice cream flavor best reflects your personality and
why.
Deadline: End of July
Available to: Anyone ages 13 or older planning
to go to a college, university or trade school. Simply submit a 250-word or
less online response to the scholarship portal. The winner is announced by the end
of November, and decisions are based on the decisions of a “qualified panel of
judges based on the criteria of writing ability (25%), creativity (25%),
originality (25%) and overall excellence (25%),” according to the Unigo
website.
Share your tips and photos for managing your stress, and
earn $1,000 in scholarship money from DoSomething.org and Blue Shield. In the
past six years, DoSomething.org has awarded $1.2 million in scholarships to
over 300 winners.
You might win cash and your suggestions may go into a guide
for students by students on how to help young adults manage stress.
Deadline: End of May Available to: Anyone in the U.S. or Canada under age 26. Become a
member of DoSomething.org and then fill out the simple scholarship
application, which takes an average of five minutes, according to its website.
Winners are announced via text message or email in late
June, and there is no GPA or essay required to win. Simply share your
strategies for dealing with stress. In addition, DoSomething.org offers other
simple entry scholarships to young people worth checking out.
Of course, a website dedicated to helping students afford
college and pay back student loan debt has a scholarship for the typical
student.
Yes, Student Loan Hero awards two $5,000
scholarships each semester to help alleviate educational costs and no
minimum GPA is required.
Deadline: Early October Available to: Participants must be 18 years of age or older and
enrolled at an eligible educational institution.
To enter, go to our
scholarship page and submit an essay in 500-700 words answering this
question: What financial challenges have you overcome growing up? How have they
shaped your goals and career aspirations?
A panel consisting of four personal finance professionals
will judge the essays. Each essay will receive a score based on clarity of
writing and organization, grammatical correctness, relevance to the prompt
question and creativity and thoughtfulness.
Available to: High School Seniors through College Seniors
Award Amount: $1,000
The Spirit of Giving Scholarship is available to high school
seniors and current college students. You must submit an essay of between 500
and 750 words on one of the following three topics in order to be considered
for this award: How have you advanced the spirit of giving in your community or
abroad either through service or in giving? How has the spirit of giving
affected you personally? How will your college or post-secondary education
allow you to be of service to others or give to others? Get more information on
the Spirit
of Giving Scholarship.
Available to: High School Freshmen through College
Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: $1,000
The Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship is available to high
school, undergraduate or graduate students. You must be U.S. citizen or legal
resident and complete a short statement on why you pledge not to text and drive
in order to qualify for this award. Learn more about the Don’t
Text and Drive Scholarship.
The Paradigm Challenge is open to students up to the age of
18. You may work in a team or alone in creating an original and creative way to
help solve real-life problems in homes, schools, communities, and/or around the
world. Entries may come in the form of posters, videos, inventions, messages,
community events, websites, mobile apps, or anything else that will help save
lives. Additionally, you must submit a brief statement of your idea (140
characters or less) in order to qualify for this award. Learn more about the Paradigm Challenge.
Available to: High School Juniors through High School
Seniors
Award Amount: $250
The Prom Pics Contest is open to high school students. To be
eligible, you must submit a high resolution photo from your prom event. Prizes
will be awarded in each of the following categories: promposal, pre-prom, prom
dance, and post-prom. Get more information on the Prom Pics Contest.
Ages: High School Freshmen through High School
Seniors
The National High School Oratorical Contest is open to
junior high and high school students who are under the age of 20 and citizens
or lawful permanent residents of the United States. You must prepare an oration
on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and
obligations of citizens to our government. A complete list of topics are
available on the Legion’s Web site. Each individual state winner certified into
and participating in the first round of the national contest receives an
additional $1,500 scholarship. Get more information on the American Legion National
High School Oratorical Contest.
The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest is available to high school seniors who demonstrate talent in duck calling. You must participate in a duck calling contest in Stuttgart, Arkansas to be considered for this award. Get more information on the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest.
Just one of the many scholarships without essays offered by
Niche, you can enter for a shot at this $1,000 scholarship by creating a free
account and reviewing your school. A new winner is drawn each month.
The Live Bearded team are focused on lending a hand to those
building their future through higher education. While the company Live Bearded
focuses on grooming products for men, this scholarship opportunity is open to
males, females, high school students, college students, undergraduate, and
graduate students. Send a 90-second video sharing your goals, facts about
yourself, and why you deserve the scholarship. Upload your video to a social
media platform, fill out your application with a link to your video, and you’re
good to go!
In order to ease the pain of paying for college,
SuperCollege offers a monthly drawing for a $1,000 scholarship. All you need to
be eligible is to fill out the exceptionally short application form and you’re
good to go!
Customized Girl prints bold statements on customized shirts.
Naturally, they know an eye-catching quote when they see one. To apply, post
your statement as a caption on Instagram to be chosen as one of two winners,
and your statement may be featured on a customized shirt! Check out past
winners on the scholarship page for inspiration.
While this scholarship technically has an essay, it’s only a
short 150 words, so we’re adding it in! To apply, just fill out the super short
application form and write a mini-essay about the goals you have for your university
education.
In order to win one of these no essay scholarships, simply
answer a short prompt in 150 words or less, such as “How do you prepare and
study to feel confident for your final exams?” If you have more than one
college class you’d like to review, you can improve your chances by leaving as
many reviews as you’d like!
Submit: A short letter and proof of scholarship
applications
Debt.com’s mission is to give scholarships to students who
are consistently applying to scholarships. Debt.com asks you to send all the
tedious scholarship confirmation emails you received along with a short letter
about yourself. Your letter can be about how you feel about applying to so many
scholarships, or if you learned anything from the application process. Winners
are announced every two months.
Submit: A video, music, creative writing, or
graphic design
Deadline: August – November 2020
Students between 14-22 years old may apply. The contest
seeks original work about a solution and strategy regarding reckless and
distracted driving. Choose either video, music, creative writing, or artwork.
There are many submission options and contest categories, so make sure to visit
the scholarship page for details!
Share your story of dealing with migraines or light
sensitivity. All full-time students of accredited two- or four-year American
universities may apply. Choose from a video (less than 1 minute in length) or
an image (photo, drawing, etc.). To qualify, the submission must be posted on
at least one of the following social media platforms: YouTube, Facebook,
Instagram.
HeadSetPlus.Com wants to help you pay for college…no essay
needed! Be creative and create a video with a maximum length of five minutes
detailing why you deserve the scholarship and what inspired you to pursue a
degree in your field.
If you’re planning on attending a two- or four-year
Christian college, you’re eligible to enter the drawing for this $2,500
Christian College Scholarship. Simply fill out a short online survey and you’re
good to go!
Attention all students: You can be the next J.K. Rowling!
This is your chance to show off your writing skills, get published and win a
cash scholarship.
You do not have to be an advanced writer to take part. This
is an opportunity to use words in a creative and unique way.
Students who are currently studying at or have been accepted
to an accredited university may apply by publishing an essay online on the
topic, “How Companies Can Take Advantage of Digital Marketing”.
This scholarship helps students 16 or older pay for higher
education. The scholarship is a competition based on a short essay. Family
income, grades and test scores are not used in selecting a winner. The award
must be used for any education-related expenses such as tuition, fees, books
and room and board.
Social skills are important for all of us in day to day life. The vast majority of us are surrounded by other people at all times. We have to work with others. We socialize with others. We engage with people in countless situations on a day to day basis – buying items in stores, navigating ourselves through crowds in the streets, spending time with friends… the list goes on. So, social interaction is going to be a constant presence throughout your child’s entire life. Teaching them social skills before college is essential. They’ll settle into school, make friends, enjoy extracurricular activities and much more if they are able to effectively interact with the people they’re surrounded by. Here are a few areas to focus on to get your college-bound student ready for college.
Teach Communication
Communication is absolutely essential to getting by in the world. We all need to be able to express how we’re feeling in order to maintain good relationships with anyone. Without effective communication, your teen won’t be able to make friends well. So, encourage your child to talk. Get them to talk about how they’re feeling. Get them to talk about their interests. Get them to talk about what they’ve been up to and what they’re planning on doing each day. Simple conversation can go a long way when it comes to helping your teen express themselves and build bonds with others. You can find more information on how to achieve this at teachkidscommunication.
Teach Empathy
Empathy is another essential life skill. It will help your teen to understand how others feel at any given time. This will help them respond appropriately in different social situations. They will be able to help others when they’re feeling sad, down or distressed. They’ll be able to pick up on signs of anger and help to resolve the issues that are causing it. They’ll be able to share in others joy when others are happy or celebrating. Empathy really is important. But how do you teach empathy? Well, you simply actively encourage your child to see the world through another’s eyes or walk in another’s shoes. Ask them to consider how others such as their siblings or friends are feeling.
Lead by Example
Remember that your teen will pick up on your own social behavior, so lead by example and be a good role model. Make sure to treat others respectfully and appropriately at all times in front of your child. They’ll pick up on your behavior and begin to mimic it themselves!
Hopefully, the above advice will help you to help your soon-to-be college student when it comes to social skills! Focus on these different areas to get the best results possible!
During these tough economic times, parents are committed to saving money on college costs. College tuition rises each year and there is little you can do about it; but there are other places that small savings will add up. Tuition will definitely be the huge chunk of your expenses. However, there are other expenses related to college where you can find some costs savings:
The expenses that cost the most
Computers—In today’s technological world a computer is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. When your teen goes off to college, they will need their own computer. Personally, I recommend a laptop instead of a desktop. Since it’s portable, they can take it with them to class, to the library, and to group meetings. To save some bucks, shop online for refurbished or even last year’s models. If you buy online, consider purchasing a service contract to go along with your computer purchase (Note: This will pay for itself—I learned from experience!)
Dorm furnishings—Most dorms come furnished with a bed, a desk and some sort of dresser. Beyond that, it’s up to you and your teen to decide what additional furniture and accessories they want. My recommendation is to buy used. You can find everything from small appliances (microwaves, coffeemakers, etc.) to furnishings (bookshelves, chairs and lighting) on Craigslist, Ebay or at local thrift stores. Be careful not to overload the room because they are traditionally small.
Room and board—Room and board can be a huge portion of your teen’s college expenses. One option is to live at home if the college is within driving distance. Another option to save might be to purchase a home near campus and rent it out to other students, allowing your teen to live in it. Not only will this save you on room and board, but it will also provide you with an investment and tax write off as a rental. However, make sure the home is zoned as rental property. And here’s one of the best savings of all: after freshman year, your teen can apply to become an RA (Resident Assistant) in one of the dorms, which will provide you with a huge break on room and board costs.
Meal plan savings—Most freshmen are required to purchase a student meal plan. But, there are usually options available. My recommendation is that unless your teen is an athlete with a large appetite, the full meal plan (3-meals a day) is costly and you will not get your money’s worth. Opt for the 1 or 2 meal a day plans. Most freshmen eat takeout with friends, microwave food in their rooms, skip meals periodically, and snack voraciously. Providing them with an in room fridge and microwave will save you some bucks in the long run.
Textbook savings
College
students can spend nearly $1000-1500 a year on new textbooks. The good news is
that you don’t have to spend that kind of money if you don’t want to. If you
can, prior to the beginning of each semester, find out what books your teen will
need (title, author and ISBN, or international standard book number). Then get
busy and here’s a word of extra advice: DON’T
WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE!
(Note: Look at my List of Website Links
in the Expert Links for all the links related to Textbooks)
Buy used–Never buy new textbooks if it’s possible (unless you are a fan of throwing money away). Used books are just as sufficient. Most students use their textbooks only while they are in class and end up selling them back to the bookstore at an incredibly reduced rate. (Many times the bookstore won’t buy them back because the professor changes texts or the textbook has been updated). You can easily find used books online at discounted prices and your teen will arrive on campus with their books in tow and won’t have to fight the last minute panic rush.
Try renting–There are numerous websites available that offer textbook rentals to students per semester. This is a fairly new concept, but seems to be taking off as more and more sites pop up offering this option.
Purchase Ebooks–Consider purchasing electronic textbooks. With the recent introduction of the new Kindle College version, your student can download their textbooks and carry all of them with them. Without purchasing a Kindle, they can download the ebook versions and store them on their laptop for easy access. These versions are typically 50% less than the printed text version. The only downside is that not all textbooks are offered in ebook format.
Share books–After freshman year, my daughter shared textbooks with her roommates. It was a huge cost savings. They were usually taking some of the same classes and would get together before classes began to discuss who would purchase which textbook. If your teen is a freshman, the likelihood of having the same courses as their roommate is extremely high. Sharing the book will save both of them money in the long run. There is also the option of using a library copy.
Look for free books–There are a few sites that offer free downloads of some electronic texts. Before you purchase, visit those sites to see if any of the books you need are listed and downloadable.
Evaluate the necessity—Do you really need the textbook? Wait a few days into class and get a feel for the professor. If he or she states that the tests will cover lecture notes, then consider not purchasing the book. Worst case scenario you can borrow one from a classmate if you truly need it or find a copy at the library.
The small things add up
It’s amazing how those little expenses can add up: gas, takeout, necessity items. But just as little expenses add up, small savings add up as well and you will be saving money on college costs.
Ditch the car–Many campuses don’t allow freshmen to have a car on campus. But if your teen opts to live on campus and the college allows cars, consider ditching it. Everything your teen needs can be found on campus. And many colleges offer student transportation at very inexpensive rates if they need to leave campus or there is always the option of purchasing a monthly bus pass. In emergency situations, one or more of their friends will usually have a car that they can use or will offer to drive them.
Use the student ID card for discounts–Most fast food restaurants and local eateries offer discounts to students with campus ID’s. Those small 10-15% discounts can add up.
Finish in 4 years or less–Encourage your teen to stay on track and finish in 4 years or less. Most financial aid packages are only good for 4 years. Staying an extra semester will tack on additional expense and is not necessary since most degree plans can be completed in 4 years.
Use family insurance coverage if allowed–Some colleges charge students for health plans. If you have a good family health plan, and the student insurance duplicates what is already covered, get any charges waived.
Financial aid can be a confusing part of the college application process. Even if you can afford to pay for college, it’s a good idea to learn what aid is available and apply for it. You aren’t obligated to accept it, but most students qualify for some form of aid and, if it’s available, why not use it?
What is financial aid?
Financial aid is intended to make up the difference between what your family can afford to pay and what college actually costs. With college tuition rising rapidly, more than half of the students currently enrolled in college receive some sort of financial aid to help pay for college. The system is based on the premise that anyone should be able to attend college, regardless of financial circumstances. However, students and their families are expected to contribute to the extent that they are able.
There are two types of aid: need-based, and non need-based. Need-based aid includes grants and scholarships that are issued based on the family’s ability to contribute to education costs. Non-need-based aid is allocated solely based on availability, not need.
There are three main types of financial aid: grants and scholarships, loans and work study.
What is “free” money?
Not all aid is equal and the best aid is the aid you don’t have to pay back. It’s like getting a huge coupon of savings to use for your college education. Here are the types of aid you can receive that you won’t have to pay back after graduation:
Federal Grants – These are grants given by the federal government.
Pell Grant – This grant is given to students with exceptional financial need.
College Grants – These grants are awarded by the individual colleges based on financial need.
State Grants – These grants are given to students who plan to attend college in their own state (and states are strict about residency).
Private Scholarships – There are a multitude of private scholarships available awarded by private organizations and businesses for every type of student.
Institutional Scholarships – These scholarships are given by individual colleges based on the student’s qualifications or financial need.
Federal Scholarships – Scholarships funded by government agencies.
Tuition Waiver – This waiver is offered by colleges to students who meet specific criteria (e.g. child of a POW/MIA)
There are two types of government-based loans: subsidized and unsubsidized. Subsidized loans have lower interest rates and are awarded based on the student’s financial need with interest deferred until after graduation. Unsubsidized loans are awarded without regard to financial need with interest payments beginning immediately and regular payments due after graduation. Following is a brief description of each:
Stafford Loan – Government based loans that can be either subsidized or unsubsidized.
PLUS (Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) – This loan is for creditworthy parents and has payments due beginning 60 days after it is disbursed with relatively low interest rates.
Private Loan – Loan offered by private lenders usually with higher interest rates than government loans.
Institutional Loan – A loan in which the school is the lender.
Once you have chosen the loan that best fits your needs, do the research and educate yourself about repayment, interest rates and grace periods.
To learn more about work study, the FAFSA, the EFC and award letters, read the entire article I wrote for TeenLife Online Magazine here.
The college admissions process can be overwhelming. It will be a stressful time for both you and your teen. Your teen will need your help and your support. They will need to know they can count on you to do your part so they can do their part. It’s truly a team effort. Good parenting is key, especially during college prep.
Here are some helpful suggestions for you that will help you help your teen during college prep.
Make a visit to your teen’s counselor– Let the counselor know that you intend to be an involved parent and establish a relationship at the start. The counselor is an important source of information and of course guidance regarding your teen’s college pursuit.
Establish relationships with teachers and staff–
Since most parents tend to drop out when their teen reaches high school, it’s
crucial that you make it clear to the educators that you will be a partner in
educating your child. Keep in touch and verify your teen’s progress via email
if it’s available and attend any teacher conferences or parent meetings that
are scheduled. Show up at PTA meetings and parent information sessions, making
you visible to the staff.
Read all school information– Once you have stressed
to your teen the importance of ensuring that ALL information gets home to you,
you must take the time to READ it. This means reading the school handbook,
teacher handouts, letters to parents, guidance department newsletters, any
rules and policies, and homework and attendance rules. Discuss these with your
teen to alleviate any future misunderstandings that might arise over failing to
follow school guidelines.
Stress the importance of good attendance– Attendance
is key in high school. Missing even one class can put the student behind. Schedule
appointments, when possible, before and after school. If there is an absence,
make sure your teen does the make up work in a timely manner. If the absence
will be for an extensive period of time, coordinate with the teachers to assure
the makeup work is completed.
Encourage strong study habits– These habits will
follow your teen to college. Set aside a regularly scheduled study time.
Studying needs to be a priority before any added activities. GPA rules in the
college admission process and good study habits will assure your teen enters
the process with an impressive one. Don’t allow your teen to procrastinate and
go into overdrive because they waited until the last minute to complete a
project.
Stress regular contact with teachers and counselors-This
contact will play an important role when your teen needs recommendation
letters. It will also establish in the minds of these educators that he or she
means business. They will see that your teen is there to learn and excel and
ask questions. Those students are the ones that are recommended for leadership
positions and academic awards. It can be something as simple as saying hello in
the hallway or using the counselor’s office to research scholarships.
Be the organization coach– My mantra for high school
was: Preparation Prevents Panic. If you know where everything is, have a
schedule and a plan, you won’t get stressed and frustrated. Sometimes the only
filing system a teen has is their floor. It’s your job as their parent coach to
help them start and maintain good organization for their date planners,
notebooks, folders, files and college related materials.
Stay informed and involved– This does not mean camp out at the school every day and follow your teen around (although that is tempting). It means monitoring quizzes, grades, daily homework assignments and long-term projects. If you begin to notice any problems, schedule an appointment with the teacher and work out a plan for tutoring if it’s necessary. Don’t wait for the report card to lower the boom. If you stay proactive and informed, you and your teen will be able to fix any problems before they become catastrophes.
Know your teen’s friends (and their parents)– Your teen’s out of school activities will always
affect in-class behavior. In high school, it’s as much about social activity as
it is about academic success. Assuring that your teen’s friends share the same
values and goals will make a difference in their focus in and out of school.
Encourage them to make friends that have college as a goal and have the same
study habits. Take the time to meet and get to know your teen’s friends’
parents. Make sure they share your values and understand your position on
smoking, drinking and drugs.
Be proactive when you encounter problems– All types
of problems arise in high school: academic, behavioral and even social. There
is a logical solution for all of them, but the key is to be aware when they
arise and address them quickly. Academic problems require additional teacher
help, tutoring, and possibly study skill courses. If you encounter behavioral problems,
contact the school counselor or principal and discuss with them recommendations
for the particular situation. Coaches can often help, along with a mentor.
Sometimes professional counseling is warranted. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for
help. And don’t make the mistake of turning your head and going into denial. Problems only get worse
if they are ignored, especially in high school.
