Crafting the Ultimate College List

February 10, 2015 Suzanne Shaffer

This article was written by Robin Noble and previously published on University Parent.

college list — –photo courtesy of University Parent–

My high school junior’s college search is going in a maze of directions as she works to create a list of schools for serious consideration. The list is important and timely. She will use it to decide which schools to visit this spring with limited time and travel dollars.

Lately I sense she is a touch overwhelmed. I wonder: how can I help my daughter figure out which schools will be a good fit for her?

Like you, I’m up on the feel-good wisdom here: be positive, let your student be her own guide, encourage her to let the process flow from within. All good thoughts, but parents certainly have some important roles to play.

You are the voice of financial reality.

Before your student gets her heart set, get clear on what your family can afford. Take half an hour to work through the “net price calculator” available on most school websites, or use theFAFSA4caster to estimate federal student aid. These tools calculate your family’s financial need — essentially the difference between the college sticker price and what the formula says you are able to contribute.

Net price calculators don’t assess potential merit aid — institutional money set aside for students based on varying factors like GPA, standardized test scores, advanced courses, etc. Some institutions include merit calculators on their websites; many do not. To learn how specific schools determine merit aid, don’t hesitate to call the admissions office and ask.

With net price and merit aid estimates in hand, your student’s list can be more economically viable. If you and she have assumed that private scholarships and loans will fill gaps, the amounts you are supposing are now clearer, and that’s a good thing.

Read the entire article: Reality, fit and substance–the ultimate college list

And don’t forget to sign up for the high school parents newsletter while you are there!

admissions, college guidance, college planning, mom approved tips

Mom-Approved Tips: Six Steps to a Great College Search

February 9, 2015 Suzanne Shaffer

This article was originally published on University Parent.

college search strategy — –photo courtesy of University Parent–

As my children entered high school and began on the college path, I knew I was going to be handicapped. I had not attended college myself and my husband attended a local school with a 100 percent acceptance rate. Neither of us had any idea how to approach the college search process!

But I love to think of myself as a “do-it-yourselfer” and I delved into college prep as a novice, starting with the searches. After my daughter was accepted to every school she applied to, family and friends began asking me for advice, and later encouraged me to broaden the circle and share what I learned on what became my Parents Countdown to College Coach blog and website.

When my daughter began her college search, she had one objective: to attend school in Boston. (Sound familiar??) In many cases, focusing on a particular city narrows the search drastically, but there are over 100 schools in the Boston area! Thankfully, not all are four-year colleges — some are technical or art schools. That helped a bit, but there were still too many to choose from. To find the best-fit college for my daughter, we needed a search strategy.

When creating a college search strategy, I recommend students and parents start with basic information and build on it. If you do this, when your student is ready to finalize his college list and submit his applications, you will be confident that you did your research, weighed all the options, and made informed choices.

Read more for six steps to a great college search strategy.

Scholarship Friday, scholarships, websites

Scholarship Friday: Raise.me–Automatic Scholarships for Students

February 6, 2015 Suzanne Shaffer

What is Raise.me? It’s a new program that gives students the opportunity to earn micro-scholarships during high school for participating colleges. Awards are given to students automatically for each of their achievements during high school. Currently, over 60 colleges are participating in the program with more being added each month.

The Raise.me Micro-Scholarship program gives student incentives to perform well in school. The money comes from the participating colleges and is awarded upon admission. So far, over $250 million in Micro-Scholarships have been made available by the colleges as part of their commitment to making aid more transparent, predictable, and motivational for students.

Students can participate in the program for free and see which colleges are participating. College like Tulane University, DePaul University and the University of Rochester are just a few of the college participants. It’s a great way for students to see their efforts rewarded and rack up money to pay for college.

Parents can encourage their student to participate and see results:

Automatic earnings of grant aid before you even apply to college
Bite-sized goals to help your teen achieve at their highest level
Privacy controls that give students complete control over their information
Timely reminders to keep your teen on track
Early connections to colleges to get the inside scoop and receive invitations to events

You can see the award amounts here: https://www.raise.me/parents

Read more about the program on SavingforCollege.com

or visit Raise.me and join for free!

Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Is Grad School in Your Teen’s Future?

February 4, 2015 Suzanne Shaffer

With all the talk about college, your teen probably hasn’t even thought about grad school. And you may ask why should they? Because grad school is the next step in the education chain for many career paths and it makes sense for your student to plan ahead if they want to pursue those paths in the future.

How do you plan for grad school while planning for college?

Research majors and careers

If your student is interested in the medical or law field it stands to reason they will be attending graduate school and possibly beyond. Some other career paths also require graduate degrees as you move up the ladder. For example, many students who want to teach at a college level will need a masters degree or even a Ph.D. for this career path. Students who are entering the business field might consider and MBA in their future. Research the majors and careers while researching the colleges.

Discuss finances

Graduate degrees are an added expense for students and many families do not prepare for this additional expense. If your student knows he will be going to grad school, make a financial plan and add those expenses to the overall costs. Evaluate graduate degree programs just as you would undergraduate degrees based on the return on investment.

Be prepared for concentrated study

If your student plans to pursue a graduate degree, there is no time to slack off and skate through college. Graduate programs are often difficult to get into and your student should consider the undergraduate program as a stepping stone. Just as high school academics prepare them for college, college prepares them for graduate school. Focused study and academic excellence are a key factor when applying for a graduate degree program.

Whether your student knows he will go on to graduate school, or is simply considering it, the best plan is to make a plan. It’s easy to do the graduate research along with the undergraduate research. Why not combine two tasks in preparation for the future?

Read Wendy’s post: 6 Reasons to Think Grad School in College Search

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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

The bonus is on the fourth Wednesday of each month when Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT. We will feature an expert on a topic of interest for parents of the college-bound.

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from parentingforcollege to pocsmom.com and vice versa.

admissions, career colleges, college planning, community college, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Is Community College Right for Your Student?

January 28, 2015 Suzanne Shaffer 1 Comment

Higher education is a complicated issue for many students and parents today. College education is a necessity for finding success and prosperity in many career paths, but rising concerns about student loan debt and graduate unemployment are making the process of pursuing education more stressful and uncertain than ever before. Community colleges are becoming increasingly popular options for students everywhere, as a means of securing foundation credits before transferring to a university. Is community college a path that your teen should consider?

Community college gets a bad rap

Community colleges are often viewed as being stigmatized in many academic circles. Students and parents alike disdain the idea of a community college education because they believe that more prestigious institutions will look down upon them. Worries about how an employer will view community college education on a resume are disconcerting as well. However, you shouldn’t be concerned about such fallacies. Your teen can study at a community college before transferring to another school, and still have access to all the same opportunities as every other student.

Consider the costs

With college costs soaring, community college remains one of the most affordable options—in fact, it can save you a bundle.

•Community college tuition is significantly lower than that of traditional colleges and universities as well as public institutions.

•While attending a local community college, students can often remain living at home saving on room and board which on average is close to $10,000 a year.

•If your child is employed while in high school, they can keep their job by staying local throughout their college years. This income can often go a long way towards helping pay for transportation and college costs.

•If low grades are preventing your child from getting a scholarship at a college or university, attending a community college to earn an associate’s degree can be an affordable stepping-stone.

While you can likely finance an expensive private college or university with federal student loans or private loans—consider too that your child will be one-step ahead financially if they can enter the workforce debt-free.

Getting an education with potential

Gone are the days when masses of young people went to college for a general liberal arts degree with no specific career focus in mind. With the sagging job market, students have their eye on promising careers with upward mobility and lucrative salaries. For students looking to enter rapidly growing job markets, community college can be a viable option.

Many in-demand, well-paying, jobs require only an associate’s degree. More and more educational programs are offering these career-focused degrees. Careers such as electricians, plumbers, and mechanics are financially lucrative and graduates who can work in these fields are in high demand.

Many graduating seniors have decided to take the community college path before heading off to a 4-year university. They will tell you that they’ve made that choice for several reasons: cost, academic preparation, and the freedom to stay at home for the first few years. Community colleges aren’t just training grounds for technical careers, they are also the first stop for about 4 in 10 of college-bound high school graduates.

Community college might not be for everyone. But, it might be a perfect fit for your teen. And, if your teen is planning on making it the start of a 4-year degree plan, do some research and verify that the classes will transfer to the university they plan to attend.

Read Wendy’s blog: 3 Surprising Reasons to Consider Community College

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study abroad

Work for College Students While Studying Abroad in Australia

January 27, 2015 Suzanne Shaffer

Work for students studying abroad in Australia can be easy or hard to find. Most international students get jobs after spending some time learning English a bit better. Students, who already know how to speak English well, obviously have more opportunities. There are cases where in three weeks the person is already employed, but other cases can reach 8 months of waiting, and there are even those who have never gotten any work.

The three most frequently asked questions about work for students in Australia are:

Will I get a job easily?
How much will I be paid?
Can I keep this work while studying abroad?

There is no simple answer. Everything depends on many factors. One thing is certain; it is very hard for someone to get a part time job as a student and save a lot of money to take back to their country. Only immigrants get full time jobs. The math is simple: the hours students are allowed to work are 20 hours a week, and the average fee is 15 AUSD, this can make a total of 350 AUSD. However, if you account for all the expenses it means it is impossible. As you can see, the permission of the Government of Australia to allow students to work 20 hours a week is for financed studies, as it does not provide enough to survive financially depending on other resources.

Many people coming to study in Australia have the illusion that they will earn more money than this. This can happen, but usually only for a few people. The numbers are real and students must be prepared for this reality.

The most common jobs for international students are in the tourism and hospitality industry such as restaurants and hotels. Working hours for qualified students are the same as hours of study, or work hours are the same as those of courses. This is the reason why many engineers, systems analysts etc., work as cleaners or waiters. The most common jobs offered in the hospitality sector are: dishwasher, kitchen help, waiters and general cleaning. There are some opportunities in shops such as a seller and Pizza delivery but you may need your own vehicle. Of course you can get other work, but these are the easiest to find. For those students eager to work on farms during school holidays, there are magazines with lists of places in every state of Australia.

The procedure for obtaining the Working Visa is, after starting the course in Australia; go to DIMIA (Department of Immigration) in your city, have with you a school letter attesting to your enrolment and attendance over the passport and you get the seal that allows you to work 20 hours a week.

admissions, essays

7 Positive Things That Can Look Bad on a College Application

January 27, 2015 Suzanne Shaffer 5 Comments

Today’s guest post is from Ryan Hickey, Managing Editor of Petersons & EssayEdge.

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In my experience helping students with literally thousands of college application essays, it has become second nature for me to immediately recognize what works and what falls flat. However, I can see why it’s not easy for the layperson to understand what might be inappropriate for an entrance essay. That road paved with good intentions can easily lead a young college applicant right off a cliff.

Here are seven potential essay topics that may seem great on the surface but are actually big mistakes.

Bragging about good grades.

Many well-meaning essayists list their favorite classes and then the perfect scores they received. It’s a complete waste of words. The adjudicator has a school transcript in hand. The essay is a chance to give the committee a glimpse into something they can’t already see.

Taking an overly creative approach.

While it is a wonderful idea to create a unique narrative, the story needs to have some connection to qualifications, a school, and why a student wants to go there. This is not a place to write a Ray Carver-like short story, no matter how impressive it may be.

Talking about the volunteer trip that changed your life.

The story of volunteering to teach English to people in a small village in Ecuador seems like a no-brainer.

“I went to Quito and from there braved the jungle and you know what…? I thought I was going to teach others English, but instead found that it was I who had the learning experience.”

It’s a beautiful story of commitment, and it’s also the number one story not to tell. The reason? Admissions counselors get this one ALL the time. ALL the time. If you must share this volunteer experience, the story should be truly unique and specific. What exactly was learned in the wilds of Ecuador? How does this tie into a desire for higher education?

Celebrating a privileged background.

Some essayists feel it’s a great plan to write about how they feel so lucky to have come from such wonderful circumstances (from such loving parents, of course). The last thing an adjudicator would like to read about is how a student feels he or she has led a charmed life. It says nothing about what they can actually bring to the school.

Battling adversity.

Overcoming obstacles is a good thing, but stories about death, dying, or trauma can easily come off as way too heavy in this format. These are not only distressing, but they are probably not as compelling or persuasive as one might think. Ultimately, they may end up distracting the reader.

Obsessing over the sporting life.

I threw the winning pass to lead the team to the state champi… zzzzz… Just stay far away from stories of athletic triumph. There are way too many of these.

I was bad… but now I’m all good!

I don’t know why students think it’s a great idea to talk about how they started out in high school as a slacker, but they’re much better now and deserve praise for getting their life together. The big takeaway I get as a reader is “possible recidivist slacker.”

They say you have to know the rules to break the rules, and with all this in mind, it is absolutely possible to write about every one of these topics IF a story is personal, specific, and truly portrays why a student and their ideal school are a perfect match. That being said, try to convince your young college applicant to avoid any topics that will make them blend in with the crowd rather than stand out.

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About the Author

Ryan Hickey is the Managing Editor of Peterson’s & EssayEdge and is an expert in many aspects of college, graduate, and professional admissions. A graduate of Yale University, Ryan has worked in various admissions capacities for nearly a decade, including writing test-prep material for the SAT, AP exams, and TOEFL, editing essays and personal statements, and consulting directly with applicants.

test prep

The Scoop on Test Optional Colleges

January 23, 2015 Suzanne Shaffer

I was having a discussion on Twitter last night with a mom about the SAT, ACT and test optional options. I am of the opinion that not taking the test is a bad idea, even if you are applying to test optional colleges. And I’m not the only one. Paul Hemphill of Planning for College and Lauren Gaggioli of Higher Scores Test Prep agree with me (or I agree with them).

Here’s a podcast Paul did with Lauren about the ramifications of not taking the standardized test. It’s worth a listen. Lauren says, ” It is worth hearing all of the facts before you make the testing decision for your student and this is the side of the argument that tends to get lost in the conversation.”

Also, read these posts as well:

The Financial Risks of Not Taking the SAT

Why the ACT May Be a Smarter Choice for ADHD Students

college prep, parenting

The Race to Nowhere: Are We Pushing Our Children Too Much?

January 22, 2015 Suzanne Shaffer 3 Comments

With all the talk and the hype about college prep, we should ask the question: Are we pushing our children too much? I believe in preparing for college. I don’t believe in pushing so hard and preparing so much that your student becomes stressed, over-anxious, and burned out. Recognizing that there’s a real problem, Vicki Abeles, a concerned parent, directed a documentary about the pressures our students face. The result was a documentary called, “The Race to Nowhere”.

“Race to Nowhere” is a film that calls us to challenge current thinking about how we prepare our children for success. Named by TakePart.com as one of “10 Education Documentaries You Don’t Want to Miss”, “Race to Nowhere” brings communities together to spark dialogue and galvanize change in America’s schools.

Featuring the heartbreaking stories of students across the country who have been pushed to the brink by over-scheduling, over-testing and the relentless pressure to achieve, “Race to Nowhere” points to a silent epidemic in our schools. Through the testimony of educators, parents and education experts, it reveals an education system in which cheating has become commonplace; students have become disengaged; stress-related illness, depression and burnout are rampant; and young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired.

Shown nationwide and internationally in more than 7,000 schools, universities, cinemas, hospitals, corporations and community centers, “Race to Nowhere” has become the centerpiece of a nationwide, grassroots movement for the transformation of education.

Do yourself and your kids a favor and watch the trailer for this film and encourage your student’s school to set up a screening for parents. It might change the way your family views college prep and relieve the stress around the process.

financial aid, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: “We Won’t Qualify for Financial Aid”

January 21, 2015 Suzanne Shaffer

If I had a dollar for every time parents said this to me, I would be rich. Surprisingly, most parents believe this fallacy. Believing this, they don’t complete the FAFSA and miss out on all kinds of aid. Just because they were misinformed and unaware of how financial aid works.

Why should you complete the FAFSA?

College is expensive and it’s a chance for you to grab yourself a piece of the financial aid pie.

Why should you complete it by February 1st?

The early bird gets the worm when it comes to financial aid. If you want your piece of the pie, you have to be the first in line. Once financial aid packages are disbursed, the money is gone and that means your student’s financial aid package will be composed of student loans only. If your form is filed and completed once the decision for admission is made it puts your student in a good position to receive some of those funds.

What can the FAFSA do for you and your college-bound teen?

There could be federal, state and college funds available. If you don’t complete the FAFSA, you won’t be able to get any of them. Even if your family income is high and you might not qualify for federal aid in the form of grants, your student might be eligible for state scholarships and merit-aid awards from the college. Additionally, any federally subsidized loans, including parent loans, require you to complete the FAFSA.

What should you do if you haven’t filed your taxes before FAFSA filing?

It’s simple. Use last year’s tax figures and update once you file. Don’t wait to file the FAFSA until after you file your taxes.

Why do some people tell you that you won’t qualify for financial aid?

The easy answer is they are misinformed. Remember there are all kinds of financial aid. While not everyone will qualify for federal grants, most students receive some form of financial aid. If you don’t apply your student will not be one of them.

Read Wendy’s post: 4 Strings Attached to Free Financial Aid

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This month Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT on Wednesday, January 21. Our guest will be financial aid expert Jodi Okun. She is the founder of College Financial Aid Advisors, an About.com Expert, Paying for College, and the @Discover Student Loans Brand Ambassador. Jodi has worked for over 10 years in the financial aid industry and helped thousands of families navigate the financial aid process. Don’t miss a chance to get her tips and ask questions.

Read Wednesday’s Parent Night on #CampusChat for some simple instructions to join a Twitter chat.

Parenting for College