study abroad, Uncategorized

The Value of High School Study Abroad

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study abroad

Studying abroad is an excellent way for students of all ages to enhance their foreign language skills, level of independence, and ability to think critically. These aspects fall within the heaps of knowledge and personality traits that are developed while embarking on a study abroad experience, unique to every student. Particularly for those individuals who have a certain interest in languages, international affairs, history or art, studying abroad is always a good idea for both personal growth and for the resume. 

The term study abroad is generally associated with college students. It is very popular at this day in age for college students, regardless of their major, to spend at least a semester outside of the US, if not more. Less common are those students who choose to embark on an international academic experience when they are still in high school. This is the case for numerous reasons, starting with the fact that opportunities to do so are less frequent and less discussed; though the powerful impact of such experiences on a younger mind is incredibly valuable. In this article, I will share why study abroad experiences during youth and adolescence are critical for young students, both on paper and in person.

I make this claim as both a former study abroad student and a recruiter. My high school study abroad experience opened me up to a world of invaluable relationships, heightened cultural awareness, and fluency in a foreign language. As our world gets smaller and smaller, these aspects become more useful to us as students, professionals, and people.

On paper – What value does study abroad in high school add to a resumee?

1. International experiences set you apart. 

In a world where test scores and athletic achievements are seemingly the most common ways a high school student can excel on paper, international academic experiences provide a curveball opportunity for standing out. It’s especially valuable for students who may not be interested in pursuing a future of college sports or strictly academic vigor, and want to contribute something more diverse to their profiles. Since study abroad experiences are more exclusive to college students or graduates, their presence on a high school student’s resumee is highly unique and telling of the student’s probable personality characteristics. Which brings me to our next point… 

2. Studying abroad at a young age shows initiative and ambition.

There’s a difference between the inferences made about a student who studied abroad in college versus in high school. As a former student recruiter, when I came across a profile of a student who had embarked on an academic experience abroad before starting college, I always wanted to know more. Due to its less prevalent nature, making the decision to study abroad before college shows a unique level of initiative and self-driven ambition in a young student. Taking the initiative to travel at length and put oneself out of their comfort zone to pursue a curiosity allows someone to infer that they are dealing with a notably brave, flexible, and self-starting person. Especially at a young age, when taking advantage of an opportunity to go abroad often entails application forms, collaboration and convincing of the parents, and time away from home, the experience is much more reflective of these strong personality traits. 

3. Fluency in a foreign language stands out.

This is not only because our world is getting smaller and therefore naturally, the more languages you know, the more value you may serve. Studying a foreign language is time consuming. It puts the student in embarrassing and confusing situations. It forces you to let your guard down and laugh at yourself. We can even put aside the valuable display of ambition and drive that study abroad creates; learning a foreign language takes it a step further. It shows wit, perseverance, and the ability to think critically about oneself. People are left impressed when a young person explains to them that, no, the reason I speak Spanish isn’t because I learned it at home. I studied it and went abroad to perfect it, and now I’m fluent. It’s a wow factor. 

In person – What valuable impact does study abroad in high school have on a young mind?

1. Being abroad heightens our sense of self-awareness and critical thinking. 

The ability to exhibit elevated self-awareness and think critically about oneself are hard to come by even in adulthood. By partaking in the experience of studying abroad, young people get a kickstart to growing in these crucial aspects of knowledge and emotional intelligence. Studying abroad in high school made me reconsider the way I think; it prompted questions about myself in relationship to my own culture and upbringing. Suddenly, my 17-year-old brain was actively exploring parts of my psyche, like why I was so afraid of failure, or why the Spaniards are not disgusted by jealousy whereas Americans are. These are thoughts that inhibit us to become more considerate, self-correcting people both in adolescence and adulthood. 

2. We are more impressionable when we are young. 

Young brains are highly impressionable when it comes to both knowledge and mindset. The fact that we absorb more information with less effort at a young age is a given; it’s why a five-year-old can learn a new language just by listening to it, whereas a 35-year-old must put in seemingly endless amounts of effort to reach the same fluency level. In youth and adolescence, it is easier for our brains to grasp foreign concepts like languages and diverse ways of thinking. That’s why the younger we are exposed to them and forced to make sense of them, the better they stick. I’m talking about languages, yes, but also the ability to keep an open mind. By facing foreign concepts when we are young – for example, eating dinner in Spain at 10pm instead of 6pm back home in Massachusetts – we train ourselves to be open to adaptability and to maintain a flexible outlook. 

3. Authentic exploration is more precious at a young age. 

International experiences that take place in that special time between childhood and adulthood are invaluable. In this phase of our lives, it is more likely that the experience abroad will be less centered around finding bars where other Americans hang out, and more about discovering oneself and the culture around us through meaningful friendships, letting our guards down, and getting to feel more independent. At this age, an authentic experience is longer lasting in the impressions it has on us.  Even in the age of social media and connectivity, it allows a deeper connection with the place we visit and the people we meet. That value is continuous into our college application process, during college, and beyond. 

___________________________________________________________________________

Today’s guest post is by Shannon O’Brien, European Coordinator at Abbey Road Programs

Author bio: Shannon is an American expat whose career in Europe began with a study abroad experience in Spain when she was in high shcool. She is still active in the study abroad community in Italy and Spain, and works as European Coordinator for Abbey Road Programs, assisting other students in pursuing international educations. 

college planning, parenting

Coaching Your College-Bound Teen

coaching

With all the talk of helicopter parenting, over parenting, snowplow parenting and parents refusing to allow their students become independent adults, it’s important to understand how to coach your teenager without crossing the line.

A recent article in Business Insider quoted a study conducted by Florida State University focusing on some of the issues with today’s parenting:

Helicopter parents are “overly involved, protective parents who provide substantial support (e.g., financial, emotional, physical health advice) to their emerging adult children, often intervening in their affairs and making decisions for them.” 

“Individuals with parents who engage in highly controlling, overprotective behaviors have been characterized as being overly needy in terms of seeking attention, approval and direction from others,” the authors wrote in summarizing past research. “In addition, they have been found to utilize more ineffective coping skills, express higher levels of narcissism and demonstrate lower self-efficacy.”

In contrast…

“Developmentally appropriate parenting can promote healthy decision-making and a child’s development of autonomy, increasing the likelihood that their children will become independent, well-adjusted, problem-solving adults. They tend to cope better with stress, have more self-esteem and experience less depression.”

Knowing this…

What is a parent’s role during the college prep process?

How can you successfully coach your college bound student?  

I will give you 10 coaching steps to take for a positive college prep experience.

Step 1-Offer guidance and advice.

Parents are primarily coaches—coaching and directing their teenager during high school so that they will be prepared to apply to and eventually attend college. It’s natural to take this role in parenting and it works well in the area of college prep.

Your teenager may not always ask, but they will need advice during this stressful time. Listen to their concerns and offer guidance and advice. Listening is the key because teenagers don’t always communicate what they are feeling and don’t always ask for help.

The next thing parents need to do is…

Step 2-Establish boundaries.

Early during the college prep process, have a serious conversation with your student.

Because of the insurmountable number of tasks involved with college prep, your student will need your help. The key word here is, “help”. One admissions officer told me, “Let your student drive the car”. It won’t be easy to let your student take control of the process, but this is part of the training they will need to be successful in college.

Next, we will discuss exactly how you can help.

Step 3-Be an encourager and a helper.

Be an encourager by reminding your student of deadlines, from test registration to FAFSA and application submission. Encourage them to stay on top of every task and suggest creating a timeline for each task.

Parents can participate in just about every activity during college prep.

You can help with organization by establishing a college landing zone. A place where you and your student can keep track of all college-related information.

You can help with test prep—practicing vocabulary words, administering practice tests, and hiring a tutor if necessary. You can also help them create a study schedule to prepare for the tests.

You can help your student create a college list. What is at the top of their list? What are they interested in studying? What career interests them? What college activities outside of academics are important? Does location or size matter? Use these questions to begin crafting the list.

You can participate in college visits by planning the visits, traveling with them, and discussing the visits afterwards, Under no circumstances should you take control during any aspect of the campus visit, from the tour to the interviews.

Scholarship searching can be a daunting task for any busy student. Parents can help by searching for the scholarships, making sure all the components of the scholarship application are completed, proofreading any essays, and making sure they are submitted correctly and on time.

Once the applications have been submitted you can participate in the final decision. Weigh all the financial aid offers against one another and help your student choose the college that is the best fit: academically, socially and financially. This is an important part of coaching.

Step 4-Teach life skills.

Teenagers need time and priority management skills, conflict management skills, and effective communication skills. They need to know when and how to ask for help, they need to effectively maneuver the college bureaucracy, and they need to operate on a budget and manage their money. They need to self-advocate and have the self-discipline to stay safe.

Step 5-Teach Academic skills.

Students should start college with strong study skills. They need to be able to write a well-researched and documented, accurate, organized, and well-written paper. They need to start college prepared to attend all their classes, read the assigned materials, and know how to take notes. They need to be prepared to pursue study groups, additional review periods, or other options such as seeking out their teachers when they have questions and need help.

Step 6-Model behavior

Parents should be involved in their teenager’s school by participating in parent-teacher meetings and similar events, judging their student’s academic strengths and weaknesses, and pushing them to get help when they need it. Parents should make expectations and rules clear for both academics and behavior, and follow through on reasonable consequences. Parents should give their teenagers graduated responsibilities, teach them to budget, and make them responsible when they make mistakes.

Step 7-Educate yourself about everything to do with college prep

In order to be the “wise sage”, you need to educate yourself about all aspects of college prep. And in today’s age of technology and social media, you have all the tools available to do this. Take advantage of all the college prep advice on social media (Twitter, Facebook, and even Pinterest) have all sorts of tips for parents to help with college prep. Subscribe to blogs that provide parents with advice and connect with other parents on Facebook who are going through the same process.

On my blog, I offer numerous lists of experts to follow on social media, along with advice from college counselors, test prep tutors, essay experts and admissions officers. These tips help parents stay on top of all the college prep tasks and stay educated about any changes in standardized tests, admissions or financial aid.

Step 8-Have the money talk

Parents should have a serious conversation with their student about money before even applying to colleges. Approach it as a collaborative discussion and use this as a start to helping your teen understand the importance of budgeting and “needs vs wants”. 

  • Start off by making sure your teen knows what a “need” is and what a “want” is in relation to college costs. For some teens, all wants are needs. This is the time to nail the definition down and clarify it in their minds.
  • Decide just who will be paying for each college expense. Every family is different but it’s important to make this clear from the very beginning so that there won’t be any surprises.
  • Use a budget worksheet and understand ALL college expenses. Don’t just assume that tuition, room and board will cover it. There will be additional costs as well like travel, entertainment, dorm furnishings, student fees and others. Be sure to budget for these additional expenses.

When your teens contribute to the costs of their education, they will be more invested in their success. They will also learn valuable budgeting lessons that will stick with them past college and into adulthood. You’re doing your teen a disservice if you don’t involve them in the college financial discussions. They need to be active participants in the decisions and also play an active part in paying for that high-cost college education.

Step 9-Make financial aid a priority.

Even if you can afford to pay for college, why would you use the money if your student can get some of the free money from scholarships and grants? It makes sense to apply for scholarships. Scholarships are available for all ages and students should start applying early, even before senior year. There are scholarships for students with average grades, and scholarships that don’t require a GPA or even an essay. Sign up for scholarship search engines to find scholarship matches. Leave no stone unturned: search locally, ask friends, talk to your student’s school counselor and listen to the media. Scholarships are literally everywhere, and many local ones go unclaimed every year.

When your student is a senior, complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA is the key to getting not only federal aid, but aid from the colleges themselves. Much of the college aid is merit based but your student won’t receive it if they don’t submit the FAFSA.

Next…

Step 10-Participate in the final decision.

Once your student is accepted to colleges, due your due diligence and compare all the financial aid awards. If one award is higher than another and your student wants to attend that college, appeal the lower award using the higher award as leverage. Find the college that is the best fit: academically, socially and financially. Don’t allow your student to take on high amounts of debt just because it’s the college he or she wants to attend. Be the voice of reason and explain the consequences of graduating with too much student loan debt…

Now, some final words of advice…

Nag less and listen more

You will be tempted to nag: write this, apply to this, study for this, and search for this. Nagging will only cause strife and stress for you and your student. Instead, listen to his concerns, his visions, and his dreams. Listen carefully to ascertain whether or not college is the best choice. Listen to him talk about how he feels about the entire college prep process. And once you’ve listened, guide him — don’t nag.

Do less and encourage more

Avoid the temptation to take over the process. As one admissions officer told me, “Let your student drive the car.” You can be a coach, an advisor, a mentor and an attentive listener. You can also help with data gathering, scholarship searching, and deadline reminders. But under no circumstances should this process be yours. Let your student own his own future.

Compare less and research more

Don’t listen to other parents who want you to compare your student to theirs. This is you and your student’s journey. Do your research. Ask the experts. Don’t rely on hearsay to make your decisions. Your student is unique, and his journey will be unique. Arm yourself with all the information and tools to help with the process. Then pass it along to your student.

Panic less and plan more

If there’s one piece of advice I give parents, it’s this: stay organized and don’t miss any deadlines. Make a plan throughout high school and follow the plan. Once your student enters senior year, you should be organized and ready to begin the application process.

college planning, college prep

5 Steps to the Perfect College List

college list

Whether your student is a freshman or entering the last semester of their junior year, you should be looking ahead towards graduation. The first, and obvious question, should be—what’s next? What will your student do after high school? Will they enter the job market, take a gap year off to decide, enter the military, or will college be their next step?

If college is in their future, the college list should be a priority. All decisions, goals and pursuits will be geared toward receiving an offer of admission from those colleges on that list. Those colleges should be chosen with much thought and planning. Your student’s goal is to first be offered admission, and secondly be awarded aid that will pay for the education.

In order to craft a great college list, you and your student must keep an open mind. With over 4000 institutions of higher learning in this country alone, the obvious choices are not necessarily the best ones. Before you haphazardly throw some names onto the list, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Look at the statistics and rise to the top

The best college is the college that fits your student’s academic and social needs, and at the same time is affordable. The last thing you want is for your student to graduate with debt; and the best way to guarantee the most merit aid is to apply to a college where your student is at the top of the applicant pool. If your student’s grades, scores, and extracurriculars exceed those of the average applicant, a college will be more likely to entice him with merit aid (scholarships and grants).

How do you know where your student falls in the applicant pool? Use sites like College Navigator and College Data to compare your student with current students. Look at the figures for admitted students: what is the average test score, what is the average GPA, how much weight do they place on extracurriculars? If your student’s statistics are above these average amounts, the college will consider them a highly desirable applicant.

Step 2: Consider the unknowns

Most students gravitate toward the known colleges—those with national or state recognition. But there are so many excellent colleges within each state that go unnoticed. These are often smaller private colleges offering excellent liberal arts educations. These colleges have alumni that support them and often provide continued support—translating into scholarships and grants to new students. The larger state university may appear cheaper based on tuition, but the smaller private college will often award more merit aid to entice students.

I recommend parents encourage their students to look into the College That Change Lives . These colleges are built on the premise of “building the knowledge, character and values of young people by introducing them to a personalized and transformative collegiate experience.” Also consider technical colleges like Penn College that combine a liberal arts education with hands-on career training.

Here are some other links to research:

13 of the Most Unique Colleges in America

50 Most Underrated Colleges in America

50 Underrated Colleges Doing Great Things

Step 3: It’s all about the numbers

You might be surprised to know that in addition to all the factors students use to choose a college, there is one they might overlook: statistics. While location, major, campus appeal, and others are certainly important statistics will help you and your student make a more informed college choice.

Why statistics? Statistics will help you determine some of the key factors involved in choosing a college. With statistics you increase the odds of your student being accepted, receiving more financial aid, and graduating on time. You can also determine the class sizes, the freshman retention rate and the odds of finding a job after graduation.

Two good sources for college statistics are College Navigator and College Data. These two resources will help you make an informed college choice. Numbers aren’t everything, but consider these eight important stats when you and your student are looking at schools:

  1. Rankings (simply as a baseline for comparison)
  2. Financial aid percentages
  3. Acceptance rates
  4. Student-to-professor ratios
  5. Freshman retention rates
  6. Graduation rates
  7. Student indebtedness
  8. Percentage of student who are employed after graduation

Step 4: Let the money do the talking

There’s no point in adding a college to the list if it’s unaffordable. Your student will be disappointed if offered admission and the cost makes it impossible for them to attend. Before applying, research the financial aid footprint of every single college on the list. How much aid do they typically give? How much debt does the average student graduate with? Use their net price calculator and determine what it will cost to attend there before applying. If your student is offered admission, there will be no surprises and disappointment if you do your due diligence before the application process begins.

Colleges offering small percentages of financial aid in the form of scholarships and grants should only be considered if you can pay or your student makes applying to scholarships a priority. You can’t count on scholarships or grants, but your student can certainly do everything to position themselves at the top of the applicant pool to receive them.

Step 5: Do a side-by-side comparison

How do you compare colleges once you have a solid list? Your student should develop their own rankings based on their personal choices and priorities. These items might include the obvious items like academics and location, to such unconventional items like Greek life and campus appearance. List all the items on a chart, giving each item a plus (+) or a minus (-) and tally up the scores. The colleges with the highest scores should make the final list. Colleges with lower scores might not make the list or need further evaluation.

By following these five steps, your student can create a strong college list of colleges that fit them academically, socially and financially. You might discover some hidden gems while navigating the search, just as my daughter did (and fell in love!).

college planning, Uncategorized

Can You Afford To Send Your Child to College?

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college

One of the most common worries that a lot of parents tend to experience is that they aren’t going to be able to afford to send their kids to college. After all, college is one of those things that’s pretty much essential to get a competitive edge in their careers but it’s also one of the most expensive things that they will ever do. Of course, it’s not particularly productive to spend your time worrying about it. Especially because there are actually plenty of things that you can do in order to make sure that you’re in a financial position to send your kids to college. Here are just a few things that you may want to consider.

Start saving

The simplest and most obvious thing that you can do in order to make sure that you can afford to send your child to college is to start saving your money as early as possible. Having money stored away in a savings account means that when the time for college rolls around, you’re already prepared for it and you don’t have to worry about the ways in which it will impact your finances overall. Even if you’re just putting away a little bit here and there where you can, if you’re focused and disciplined about it, that kind of money can end up growing far more quickly than you might expect.

Grow your money

One of the best things that you can do in order to bring in the kind of extra money that you might need to send your child to college is to find ways to invest it. There are plenty of investment options out there for those looking to grow their money. Property is one of the safest and most profitable. Working with agents like William Pitt Sotheby’s Realty can help you find the perfect properties that are the perfect place to invest your money. Of course, investing always comes with risks so it’s worth being as cautious as possible so that you don’t wind up making any mistakes with your money.

Borrow

Taking out a loan in order to fund your child’s college experience is one of the most common options and for good reason. The truth is that a lot of people simply don’t have the means to pay it themselves so taking out a loan can be a great option. You just need to be sure that you’re borrowing carefully. Do your research and make sure that any loan you take out is fully accredited and that you’re not falling prey to any predatory practices.

One of the most important things to remember is that financing is something that you should think about from the very start of the college application process. The last thing you want is for your child to be attending their orientation and you’re only just thinking about how you’re actually going to be able to afford to finance their college experience. It’s something that requires planning and preparation. In all likelihood, it’s something you’ll be thinking bout far longer than your child.

scholarships, Uncategorized

Automatic scholarships based on standardized test scores

automatic scholarships

Do you need money to pay for college? Are you having trouble motivating your student to study and prepare for standardized tests?

What you may not know is that there are GUARANTEED scholarships available for students based on their standardized test scores. And in case you think they are only for perfect scores, think again. Many colleges award automatic scholarships for scores of 1100 for the SAT and 22 for the ACT. Of course, the higher your score, the more scholarship money you receive.

Automatic National Merit scholarships

Perhaps one of the best sources of money based solely on a standardized test score, is the PSAT. If your student is a National Merit finalist (based on the scores in your state), they are eligible for scholarships. Apart of earning a $2500 scholarship through the competition itself, students can score some big money from colleges by listing them as their first choice when they take the test.

Your student can get a full ride from any number of colleges, just for being a finalist. For example, you can get a full ride scholarship at the University of Idaho and the University of Oklahoma.

With just a little preparation and study (most students don’t prepare for this test), your student can score well stacked up against other students in the state. It’s completely achievable and pays off in huge scholarship dollars.

To learn more about sponsoring universities, read here.

Automatic scholarships based on SAT/ACT scores

Colleges offer automatic scholarships based on your student’s test scores. These scholarships don’t require an extra application or information, but there may be a college application deadline. Check with each individual college for deadline information.

These scholarships are usually posted on the college websites. For a short list of some of the colleges and their scholarship opportunities and how to search for any college, hop over to PrepScholar for a detailed explanation of how to search for these scholarships.

Of course, don’t stop here. Encourage your student to apply for the scholarships that fit them well and keep applying all throughout college. Free money means no debt after graduation. Your son or daughter should appreciate the benefit of that.

financial aid, parenting, scholarships, social networks

8 Facebook Pages and Groups to Help With College Prep

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facebook

Have you ever had a question about college prep and there was no one to ask? Do you wonder what other parents have done in your situation? Is there a question about paying for college that you simply can’t find the answer to?

Odds are, you can find most answers to your unanswered questions on Facebook (or at least a suggestion on who to ask). From parenting a teen through the college process, paying for college, financial aid, scholarships and connecting with college parents, you can find groups or pages to help.

Here’s a list of my favorite Facebook groups and pages:

Grown and Flown

This is a widely popular group for parents of both college-bound and college students. You can connect with experts in college prep here or get advice from other parents who have been through the process and/or have current college students. It’s a friendly, conversational group and if you have a question, it’s easy to post it and usually get an instant response from another parent or expert in the group.

Paying for College 101

If you have a question about paying for college, this group is available to help. Helpful articles are posted daily and questions are answered quickly by experts and mentors on the page. They cover topics related to college prep and often offer training sessions and webinars to help you with the college admissions process.

College Talk

Financial aid can certainly be confusing for parents and students. College talk provides parents with tips and strategies related to college financial aid.

How to Find Merit Scholarships

Looking for merit scholarships? This group is devoted to sharing merit scholarship opportunities and discussing ways to find schools generous with financial aid and merit scholarships.

How to Win College Scholarships

Need help searching for scholarships? Need help with scholarship applications? Have a question about the scholarship process? You capayn find the answer on this page, along with endless lists of scholarships available. Check this page daily for the best in scholarship information.

Parenting for College

This is my page and you can find the answer to any college-related question here. I post informative articles daily and am happy to answer any question you might have about college prep. I also frequently post scholarship opportunities and free training opportunities as well. Check back often to see new news about college admissions.

Parents of High School Students

This is the portal for you to ask any question, raise out any concern or get feedback from the group. This type of forum rarely exists in the college admissions space, but it’s space for parents to expand their network, build connections, establish relationships and form a support system in this competitive field. This is also the place for parents and students to grow and even enjoy their college admissions journey.

College Essay Guy

Everything you need to know about the college essay, personal statements and supplemental essays can be found on this page. From podcast episodes to essay samples to expert advice, the College Essay Guy is available to help. Your student can also join his private group page for personalized essay help: College Admission and Application Forum.

…and one more

College Connections Educational Consulting Services

A page with over 14,000 members offering great college advice, current articles in the news, and a forum for students and parents to comment on them and ask questions. College Connections’ main objective is to have our students gain admission to the college which is their best match, and where they find happiness, success and a solid academic program.

interviews

Tips for Nailing an Interview

interview

If you have an upcoming job or college interview and you’re not sure how you can ace it then don’t worry, you’re definitely in the right place. Whether you’re going to your first ever job interview or you’re interviewing with your dream college, you need to ensure you’re as prepared as you can be. Luckily, there are lots of tips and tricks you can pick up to ensure you’re doing exactly that. From researching the college or company in advance to looking at practice questions online, the more you’re doing the better. With that in mind, here are 5 ways to nail your upcoming interview: 

Make sure you do your research in advance

One of the first things you need to do when it comes to nailing an interview is to research the college or company that you’re going to be interviewing for. Whether this means looking at their website or researching whether or not they’ve been in the news, the more you know about them the better, as not only will it give you the opportunity to discuss what you know in the interview, but it will also show how dedicated you are. For a guide to researching a company before your interview, you can visit this site here.  If you’re researching a college, look at their websites and read articles about them.

Look At Practice Questions Online 

Another great way to ensure you have a great interview is to make sure you are looking a practice questions online. Although you may have been to lots of interviews before, it’s always great to refresh your mind with the kind of questions they can ask. If it helps, try to think about what you might say without sounded too scripted. For common job interview questions, you can visit this site here. For ideas on what to ask and answer during a college interview, here are some suggestions.

Create A More Detailed Resume To Hand Out

Although your potential employers and/or the college will have already seen a copy of your resume, you may want to consider creating a more detailed version that you can hand out. Whether this included further details about your employment history or it has a detailed GPA on there, you need to ensure you’re giving your interviewers all the information they need. For a high school GPA calculator, you can visit this site here.

Prepare Questions To Ask After The Interview Is Over

Another great way to nail an interview is to prepare questions to ask once your interview is over. At the end of an interview, you will always be asked whether there is anything you want to know and it always helps to have a couple of questions lined up to show your interest. 

Relax And Answer Questions As Honestly As You Can 

Finally, you need to ensure you’re being as relaxed as you possibly can. Interviews can be incredibly stressful and if you’re not relaxed, chances are you’re not going to be on top form. 

Do you have a job or college interview coming up that you’re nervous about? What can you do to ensure you’re nailing the interview for your dream job? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.

college planning, Top 10

10 Podcasts for the College-Bound

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podcasts

Who doesn’t love podcasts? It’s the best way to be entertained or educated wherever you are: in the car, at work, at home or waiting at the doctor’s office. There truly is a podcast for every interest. My daughter listens to the History Chicks and has learned a great deal of history while listening. I like to listen to inspirational podcasts that motivate and encourage me.

With all the college information available to parents today, there’s no excuse for being uninformed about the ins and outs of the college process. Podcasts are a great way to stay informed. Here’s a list of my favorites:

The College Essay Guy Podcast

Practical, up-to-date interviews with experts in college admissions, financial aid, personal statements, test prep and more. Ethan Sawyer (aka College Essay Guy), interviews deans of admission, financial aid experts, and veterans of the admissions field to extract, then distill their advice into practical steps for students and those guiding them through the process. From creating an awesome college list to appealing a financial aid letter, Ethan skips the general advice and gets right to the action items, all in an effort to bring more ease, joy and purpose into the college admissions process.

Prepped and Polished Podcast

Here you’ll find tips and tricks for studying specific subjects and how to prepare for major tests like the SAT and ACT. You’ll also discover valuable insights from local and world-wide educational experts as they discuss poignant topics like “How to Help Teens Reduce Stress” and “Navigating School and Career with Physical and Learning Disabilities”.  Practical tips and shortcuts for students are revealed in episodes like “Vocabulary Memorization Shortcuts for the SAT” and “Google Docs Organization for School”.

The College Prep Podcast

Nationally recognized experts Megan Dorsey and Gretchen Wegner share tips and tricks about creative study strategies, SAT/ACT prep, college applications, essay writing, teen-friendly time management tools, and more. They will also host experts on a number of subjects including scholarships, parenting, test prep, learning differences, NCAA athletics, and more! About the hosts: Megan is a college admissions consultant and test prep guru who helps students and parents plan and prepare for college admission. Gretchen is an academic life coach who helps stressed out students and their families feel smart, confident and ready for the rigors of college without losing their lives to school and studying. Together, they are a one-stop shop for how to survive…and thrive!…during the final approach into higher education.

College Prep Genius

College Prep Genius will teach you all the tips and tricks to ace the SAT and get FREE money for college (no strings attached)! Jean Burk’s program will give you all the inside information on how to get money for college, put together a college transcript, and become a logic-based thinker. Jean will debunk myths and misconceptions, all while providing you all the information on how to stop fearing the SAT.

Inside the Admissions Office: Advice from Former Admissions Officers

Need help navigating the college admissions process? Every other Monday they bring you exclusive interviews with Former Admissions Officers, graduates from top universities, and admissions experts. Each episode will be filled with application tips and first-hand experiences that will help you get into your dream school. Brought to you by InGenius Prep, the world’s largest team of Former Admissions Officers.

Admissions Uncovered – College Applications and Admissions Explained

Two high school seniors and one Columbia freshman explore the black box that is the college application process. They cover topics like handling deferrals, asking for letters of recommendations, the college essay and more.

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

Each week on VoiceAmerica College Coach hosts their internet radio program and podcast, Getting In: A College Coach Conversation. Each week, former University of Pennsylvania admissions officer Elizabeth Heaton leads the discussion on a variety of admissions and college finance topics including: approaching and crafting essays, successfully appealing financial aid decisions, selecting the right college, determining the most effective savings vehicle to help pay for it and more!

Demystifying College Admissions

Julie Kim, a Harvard-graduate college consultant, the founder of Julie Kim Consulting is the host of Demystifying College Admissions. This podcast is designed to inspire high school students to identify their passions, learn all about the most updated college admissions strategies, with guests and experts from all industries! She also dives into mental health so that this podcast will be a healthy, safe, and vulnerable space for all teens and parents.

College Admissions Podcast

Applying for college is more complex and often times more confusing than it used to be. In addition, there are so many resources out there. How do you know which is the right one? The best one? Shouldn’t everyone have access to the best information out there, regardless of price? On this podcast, Mark Hofer and Anna Ren, both independent college consultants, share real and relevant topics in college admissions to provide you with a fresh perspective and truly actionable takeaways that you can use as you prepare to apply for college.

Your College-Bound Kid

Let a college admission expert (Mark) and a mom who’s been through the process (Anika) guide you through the college admission process. Learn key strategies and hear true stories on topics ranging from building the right college list, getting admitted to the colleges on your list; how to pay for college, and even choosing the right career. The podcast combines in depth knowledge and insights about college admissions and college life with a lighthearted, and at times, entertaining style that makes Mark and Anika easy to listen to.

financial aid, financial planning, Student debt

How To Avoid College Debt

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college debt

Parents want what’s best for their children. I’m sure you do. You want your student to succeed in life and if that path is college, you don’t want them to be saddled with college debt after they graduate. Entering the work force with debt puts strain on your student and their ability to live independently after college.  

But with college costs rising it almost seems impossible to attend without borrowing money to pay for it. At least that’s what you might think; but with some smart planning and wise financial choices, I t can be done and here’s how:

Know how much you are willing to pay

Before even starting the college search, you should know how much you are willing to pay. Set a budget before your student starts looking at colleges. If you know how much you are willing to pay, you can avoid going over-budget on a college, even though it’s a college your student wants to attend.

Have the money talk

After you know what you’re willing to pay, have the “money talk” with your student. Discuss with them how much you are willing to pay for college and how much you expect them to contribute. Do not (I repeat do not) allow them to apply to any colleges beyond your financial reach unless your student has been working toward and receiving scholarship awards. Do not count on financial aid or merit aid to fill the gap when planning for college. If your student applies and is offered admission to a college you cannot afford it makes for a difficult conversation and a very disappointed student if you cannot pay for the tuition.

Research individual college statistics

Before applying, research the financial aid footprint of every single college on the list. How much aid do they typically give? How much debt does the average student graduate with? Use their net price calculator and determine what it will cost to attend there before applying. If your student is offered admission, there will be no surprises and disappointment if you do your due diligence before the application process begins. Colleges offering small percentages of financial aid in the form of scholarships and grant

Think outside the box

There are thousands of colleges in this country. Many families make the mistake of not researching affordable colleges before applying. Smaller private universities offer more generous financial aid packages. Recognizable names and Ivy League colleges are not the only schools offering a quality education. Don’t assume that a state university is cheaper than a private college out of state. Look at the numbers, research colleges, and think outside the box.

Consider community college

Two years at a community college will save you and your student a substantial amount of money. After completing the basics at a much lower cost, they can transfer to a four-year college and graduate. Your student may also choose an associate’s degree in a technical field and graduate from community college with a skill and a career. In the past, community college has gotten a bad reputation from parents and students for being “less than” a “real” college. But smart parents and students know the education is the same at a much lower cost.

Apply for scholarships

Until your student graduates from college they should be applying for scholarships. The sooner they begin, the better. There are scholarships for all ages and if your student accumulates awards all throughout high school and into college those awards will go a long way to help them graduate without debt. There are resources to help you and your student find and apply for scholarships—take advantage of them.

Get good grades

Scholarships and grants are disbursed by colleges based on merit. Grades are a key factor colleges use to determine merit aid. They use this aid to entice student applicants to accept their offers of admission. Putting your student at the top of the applicant pool with good grades stack the odds of merit aid in your favor. Believe it or not, a great GPA results in more scholarship money than athletics. Use this to your advantage.

Graduate in four years or less

You might be surprised to learn that most students take more than 4 years to graduate from college. On average, a college degree takes six years. That’s two years more of college costs, not to mention two years of lost income. Plan to pay for four years and make a plan for your student to stay on track.

Become a National Merit finalist

Your student doesn’t have to win a National Merit scholarship to score some generous financial aid. All they have to do is become a semi-finalist—and with a little study for the PSAT, it’s entirely possible. Colleges who have money set aside for the finalists will use merit aid to entice your student to attend: full tuition, room and board, books and fees, laptops, study abroad and even spending money. They might also offer automatic entrance into the honors college, the best housing and priority registration until graduation.

Take AP exams or CLEP tests before college

It’s possible for your student to take AP or CLEP exams and test out of freshman subjects. Your student could enter college as a sophomore, cutting a whole year off the degree. For a small test fee, your student can save thousands of dollars and time by taking advantage of these tests.

With all these options available, your student does not have to take on college debt to receive a quality education. With knowledge and hard work, your student should be able to graduate college debt-free.

college planning, college prep

Is College the Right Path?

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college

Life can throw us curve balls when we least expect it, don’t you think? It doesn’t matter how old we are, what we are doing at that precise moment, rich, poor, in love, on our own. Life can be full of champagne but easily be filled with bitter lemons at a moments notice. Often we don’t really know what path we should be taking, we just go with what feels right, what we think we should be doing, or just basically making the best out of the deck of cards we have been dealt. So what is next when life can be ever-changing? If you find yourself at crossroads don’t despair especially about education. Here are some of the things that you could consider to help you make the right decision on what might be next for you. 

Learn something new and go back to school

Maybe learning is going to be the right thing for you, and perhaps you want to study to work towards gaining qualifications and degrees in specific areas or industry. This can be a great way to understand what career you want to take. Whether you decide to study from home or attend a university, the experience not just studying can really help you decide on what you want from life moving forward. 

Taking a job that’s linked to your degree 

Once you have gained your qualifications and degrees you may be wondering what is next and there are a number of things you can do with it. You could continue your educational journey, be more specific in the areas you work in and learn on the job. You could use your degree to gain a graduate job where you can be given an underlying overview of a company and a different role to play, there is more information here about how this could be a good option for you. Or you may have done all you can with the educational side of things and secure yourself a job that is specific to your degree and qualifications. 

Travel

Traveling is often the most popular way to spend a GAP year, and many students backpack across different countries, exploring their hidden gems and enjoying experiences like no other. However, you can also incorporate travel into your studies, and take advantage of trips for University students. They can work well alongside your courses as well as giving you amazing experiences. Traveling to remote parts of the world can also give you a new perspective on life and how you see things. Which can often change you as a person and help you later on in life. 

Volunteer and gain work experience

Maybe you want to use the time out for something good, and volunteering can be a great way to do it. Not only sure you doing good for someone or something, but you are also gaining valuable work experience in a different environment, which could help you seek out employment in the future. Volunteering can be something you do sporadically, or you could choose to focus on it full time. 

Let’s hope these suggestions help your consider your options regarding further education. 

Helping parents navigate the college maze