Tag Archives: college planning

book reviews, college planning, parenting

“College Bound and Gagged” left me ROFLMAO

 

I know text speak is not appropriate blogging title content, but there really is no other way to describe the experience I had reading Dr. Nancy Berk’s book, College Bound and Gagged. Nancy takes the everyday aspects of the college admissions process and puts them into terms that parents can easily understand and relate to by using humor. And if that’s not enough, she sprinkles some of the best college admissions advice along the way by tapping into her own personal experiences and her network of college experts that she utilizes throughout the book.

What did I LOVE about Nancy’s book? She allowed the reader to go inside her own college admissions process with her son and experience all the trepidation and angst that goes along with it. She adds humor by describing parent archetypes so you can avoid those types of behaviors during the process. Her “5 Tips” sprinkled throughout the book simplify each step in the process and her “Top Tips” from college experts put you inside the heads of those who are “in the know” about college admissions.

Quite honestly, every page of her book had me laughing and saying, “Man oh man, do I remember that statement coming out of my daughter’s mouth!” Then Nancy helps you put it all into perspective and get you to the other side of the drama giving you insight into the perfect mental and emotional response.

Here’s an excerpt from her book of a conversation between Nancy (denoted as “me”) and her son (denoted as “teen”) related to college selection:

Me: What about Texas?

Teen: I don’t think I can go anywhere where they speak with southern accents.

Me: But you have a Pittsburgh accent. This really isn’t the place to start throwing stones.

Me: (after deep breath) What about Ohio? There are so many great schools in Ohio.

Teen: I’m not going anywhere that borders our state.

Me: (rough calculations look like he’s eliminated five additional states and Ontario; I am determined to figure this out) And why is that?

Teen: It just doesn’t feel right.

Or this conversation related to college visits:

Son: I’ve seen enough, let’s go.

Parent: But we haven’t even parked the car yet.

Son: You don’t think I can tell already? I DON’T like it here.

Parent: But we’re finally here. Let’s get out and look around.

Son: Nope. You go ahead if you want to. I’m just gonna wait here.

Zing! Every parent can relate to these types of conversations from their college-bound teens and Nancy knows how to get you through them with a little humor and a dose of common sense coping tactics.

After reading this review, I know that you MUST have your own copy and here’s your chance to win one. Nancy has donated a copy for me to give away to one parent and here’s what you will need to do to be eligible for the drawing:

  1. Leave a comment here with your name and email address; then…
  2. Go to my Facebook Fan page and leave a comment on my wall telling me why you NEED Nancy’s book.

On February 8th, one lucky parent will win a copy of College Bound and Gagged to peruse its content and learn all they need to know about surviving the college admissions process.

Good luck!

 

college planning, infographics

The path to your dream college

Every student who aspires to attend college has a dream college. This infographic lines up clearly the steps every student should take to position themselves for college acceptance. Just remember that a dream college should be the college that fits the student. For some students, the best online college could be their dream college; just as their parents’ alma mater could be for another. If you follow these steps, once you find that perfect fit college, then it should be the college of your dreams.

 

Getting Into the College of Your Dreams

college guidance, college planning, parenting

5 Tips to help your student prepare for college

As a parent, it’s always a wonderful thing to see your child growing up. The years can pass by so swiftly that before you realize it, it’s already time for him or her to prepare for the college admission tests.

But the bigger question is—are you prepared to shoulder the expenses that a college diploma entails? If you already have a plan and a separate fund ready for action, then there’s nothing for you to worry about. However, if you’re the kind of parent who has put off college planning until the last minute, you have to decide on a plan as quickly as possible so you can discuss it with your child.

College is a major decision that you and your child will have to tackle seriously. It entails great financial resources, the tenacity to stay on despite the rigorous academic requirements and emotional support from one another.

It is never bad to aim for high goals, but make sure that you and your child have realistic expectations given the scarcity of financial aid programs and the difficulties of being admitted to the top educational institutions in the country. He can’t study at an expensive school if you can’t afford it and scholarships don’t always fill in the gaps. You can’t force him to take a particular course if he doesn’t have even an ounce of interest in the subject matter.

Deciding about what to do for college is something that you and your child should mutually make. Here is some food for thought as you sit down and talk about college with your child:

  1. Consider your child’s career: the course that your child wants to take will be the single biggest factor in determining where he will go for college, how much you will have to spend for it and how he will prepare for the admission exams. There are courses that will allow him to graduate and get a job in three years’ time, but there are also other career paths that can take as long as a decade to finish. Be sure that you both understand the complexities and difficulties of getting into the school and applying for financial aid, provided you are qualified for it.
  2. Talk about your financial resources. Your child has to know if he will need to look for work to earn extra cash to augment your financial contribution even before he is packed off to the dormitory. Learning financial independence is certainly a good thing, but not at the expense of his academic standing. Some students need time to adjust to their new environment before they can take additional responsibilities like a job, so don’t expect your child to be able to work and study at the same time immediately. Be realistic about what you can and cannot do for your child in terms of financial support so that he can also make plans and contributions on his own.
  3. Help your child to prepare for the admission exams. Be generous with your words of encouragement and advice as your child reviews for the college entrance tests. Nothing prepares your child better for college than a solid educational foundation. Help him brush up on the most critical subjects that will impact his chances of getting into his college of choice the most, such as English, Math, Science, History and Computer Science. Let him know that you are with him every step of the way.
  4. Do your homework. If your child already knows what course he wants to take, it’s up to you now to help him choose the best college or university. This will help you prepare not just for the admission exams but also for the actual costs that you will incur once he is accepted for enrolment. Your expenses will vary from institution to institution, so you should be careful to note the differences and the options that are available to you. After all, you will have to pay not just tuition fees but also dormitory fees, living allowance, medical costs, etc. Learning about the different colleges and universities that offer the best programs for your child can help you plan ahead and structure your finances accordingly.
  5. Check out financial aid options. Knowing about the various colleges that your child can attend will help you gather important information about financial aid and scholarship requirements that can help ease the burden of sending your child to college. There are different types of programs that can look into, such as work-study plans, merit-based financial aid, need-based financial aid and federal financial assistance. Go over each option with your child and solicit his ideas on the matter so you can both come up with a mutually sound decision.

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When not out building relationships with other bloggers, Krisca Te can be found reading blogs that tackle how to save money. She is also a personal finance freak who is currently working with CCF, a personal finance blog that writes about financial literacy.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, organization, parenting

Interview with Power Women Magazine

Last week I did a radio interview with Power Women Magazine about the college prep process and my Parents Countdown to College Toolkit. In it, I discussed the steps necessary to prepare for the admissions process, how to stay organized, and the 10 mistakes parents and students often make when applying to college.

Click the link below and you can listen to the interview.

 

 

Power Women Magazine Radio Interview

college housing, college planning, dorm life, Guest Posts

Ship2School makes move in day bearable

I’m always looking for services that parents and students will find helpful throughout the college admissions process. When my daughter moved from south Texas to Boston for college, it was a nightmare as you can imagine. I wish I had known about these type of services. It would have made our move half way across the country bearable!

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Arriving at college on move-in day is an experience that is filled with strong emotions. Incoming freshman and their families want the college experience to be great, and can also appreciate that it is going to be the start to a new phase of their life – one full of challenges, discoveries, and wonderful achievements. At Ship2School, we want to get everyone off to a great start to this new path in life by making the actual process of moving in as easy and hassle-free as possible. We do this by simplifying the way your college-bound freshman gets their stuff from their room at home to their room at school. With our service, you will receive a box-kit that come in packs of 6 or 12 sturdy boxes, packing tape, and box labels to print out. How much you want to bring is entirely up to you! After all the boxes are packed, we will come by and pick them up and then have them sent straight to the dorm – from nearly anywhere to just about everywhere!

We start the process of simplifying your lives before the acceptance letters even start rolling in. As soon as you and your child start to discuss college preparation, we are ready to help you take one huge thing off your mind – getting all of your college-bound freshman’s things to their school, even before you know where they’re headed to in fall! You can go to the Ship2School website, fill out an order, and then let us know when the final decision has been made!

After the order has been placed, the college or university has been decided upon, and you’ve received your box-kit from us, you can tackle what’s next for you and your college-bound young adult – packing! The best advice we have for the sometimes overwhelming process of college packing is to make lists for 1) essentials, 2) maybes, 3) don’t needs, and 4) we’ll get laters. On our blog, we’ve written a lot about the process of packing for college, and you and your daughter or son can also do some searching and asking around for extra tips. For more information on packing, including our suggestions check here!

Once packing is finished and you’ve arranged for pick up and drop off with Ship2School, the real payoff comes on move-in day. There’s no loading the car or sitting in a cramped car for sometimes many hours while you try not to think about much stuff there is! You can enjoy all the free time and space you would otherwise be missing and have a more pleasant ride to campus. Once you’ve arrived, there’s no unloading of the car, so you and your family can just stroll into your freshman’s dorm relaxed and comfortable knowing that they will have more time to get themselves settled into their new situation.

Our Ship2School service delivers right to their dorm building and is very affordable, with highly competitive rates by locale and destination. For an extra $199 you can even upgrade and get the white-glove treatment and we’ll put their stuff right in their dorm room! Right now you can get $25 off any order. As well, we’re having a contest where one lucky student can ride like rockstar and show up move-in day with their friends in a limo!

Our best wishes to all those heading off to college and their families!

Check out us on Ship2School.com, follow us on Twitter, and Like us on Facebook!

college costs, college planning, financial aid

Is it possible? Can it be done? Is it affordable?

My good friend Jeff Sheely over at the College Money Insider created this amazing Infographic about the college admissions process and what it takes to accomplish your goal of attending college.

If you’re a parent of a college-bound teen you may be asking yourself the same question, especially as it relates to paying for the education. You might want to jump over to my blog at CollegeParenting.com (The #1 Question Parents Ask Me) to check out my suggestions and then take a look at Jeff’s infographic to help you visualize the process.

View Original Size

Copyright © 2011 Student Loan Marketplace
 

college costs, college planning, Uncategorized

Charged and Ready–Sony Delivers!

4 Comments

I can’t tell you the number of times my laptop battery has run down while I was at a coffee shop, on an airplane, or in the hospital waiting room. My old IBM Thinkpad’s battery holds a charge for about 4 hours and then it’s time to plug it in. My son’s Mac lasts about 6-7 hours, depending on the usage. That’s why when Sony introduced me to their 15 hour battery life laptop, I jumped at the chance to check it out.

Let’s be realistic—college students need a laptop that stays charged and ready. They are on the go between classes, study groups, the library, coffee shops, and their dorm rooms. They travel back and forth between home and college, and even study abroad all around the world. Air travel, train travel and long car trips lend themselves to utilizing the laptop for all sorts of tasks: gaming, reading, studying (I had to add that as wishful thinking) and Skyping with friends and family. Rarely is there a convenient plug available if your battery needs a charge (especially on an airplane or other public place).

Does Sony’s S series laptop with extended battery address this problem and answer the call for college students everywhere? Decide for yourself by reading my “a day unplugged” journal.

7:45AM-Starbucks—unplugged with added battery pack (100% available on both batteries)

This is one of my favorite morning destinations and it’s always crowded. I didn’t have to look for a seat near outlets–great freedom. I booted up the laptop and checked email, communicated on Twitter, updated my Facebook Fan page and downloaded several articles for blog posts. The Wifi worked seamlessly on the ATT network. There is a button on the laptop keyboard that allows you to switch from “speed” to “stamina” to conserve battery life. Since I wasn’t using any graphics programs or other programs that required quick response, I switched it to “stamina” to conserve the battery life. I noticed the laptop turned off the DVD-CD-BR player to conserve energy as well.

Worked two hours and still have 88% battery remaining (11 hours 42 minutes)

At this point, I turned the Wifi off by using a convenient “wireless on/off” button on the front of the laptop. I spent two more hours working on blog posts and articles completely unplugged.

1:00PM-Barnes and Noble (after a short lunch break and powering down)

I have never understood it, but our local store only has ONE plug located in the coffee area. But with this laptop, there is no need to fight for the one plug because I still have 9 plus hours left on my battery. After booting up (which occurs rather quickly with Windows 7), I turned on Wifi and checked my email and social media.  I also plugged in my headphones and decided to live stream news on the Casey Anthony drama (yes, I’m obsessed!). I posted a blog and read some blogs related to college admissions. Then I turned off the Wifi again to work on another article and conserve the battery.

Still have 71% of my battery life remaining (7 hours and 25 minutes). I love the flexibility and the fact that this gives me an entire day to work on the go and without need for carrying around burdensome power chords to recharge.

4PM and I still have 49% of my battery remaining (5 hours 33 minutes)

I just witnessed an altercation over the one and only plug in the store. Another reason this laptop gets an A+ rating from me for battery life!  I would have had to stop hours ago to find a plug or leave the store altogether. I’ve been switching my Wifi on and off manually, conserving the battery. I posted another blog, responded to several emails, and wrote two more articles. It’s been a productive day and it’s not over yet!

During dinner, I left the laptop on and carried it into the kitchen for some Manilow tunes (showing my age here) from his new album 15 Minutes in my iTunes library.

8PM-Twitter Chat with 37% of battery remaining (4 hours 12 minutes)

I attended two Twitter Chats simultaneously (#theonlinemom and #campuschat) opening two windows to watch and participate.

Afterwards, I turned off the Wifi and worked on my book for 2 hours while listening to music with the headphones plugged in to the laptop.

10 PM Time to call it a day with 17% battery remaining (2 hours 4 minutes)

I decided to end the day with a late night movie and my favorite actress Meryl Streep (Julie and Julia), popped into the DVD/CD/BR player on the laptop.

After the movie was over, there was 3% battery remaining. I managed to go the entire day without plugging this little jewel in to recharge, leaving it on all day. It powers down when not in use, conserving the battery life.

Is this a good investment for your high school or college student? Speaking from experience I would say unapologetically–YES!

If you think this might be the best laptop to help your student succeed in college, please visit Sony’s online store to check out all your options and be sure to take advantage of their FREE student battery offer. 

If you would like to win one of these laptops for FREE, Microsoft is currently running a laptop give-a-way sweepstakes. The lucky winner gets a shiny new Sony S – Series laptop (including the 15 hour sheet battery option). It’s easy to enter and worth your time to CHECK IT OUT!

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Check back later this week as I outline “my personal favorites” related to this laptop and how it could benefit your soon-to-be or current college student.

This post is part of program called “Charged and Ready” by Sony Electronics and Microsoft, where a group of college bloggers have been given a Sony VAIO-S series laptop to test and review.

college planning, parenting

And the un-college revolution begins

2 Comments

This weekend on Twitter I caught the tail end of a conversation related to a post that appeared on UnCollege.org. UnCollege.org says they are “a social movement empowering you to create tomorrow–with or without letters after you name.” They also state that their movement is found on three principles:

  1. Introspection is essential. It is vitally important that you know yourself before you pursue higher education.
  2. Passionate action outweighs school. Real-world success proves more than homework.
  3. Self-motivation is requisite for success. Taking initiative is more valuable than completing assignments.

I have anticipated this movement would start for a long time. I saw it coming based on high tuition costs and high student loan debt, the lack of actual learning that is going on in college and being taught by TA’s or tenured professors with antiquated teaching techniques, and the recent stories in the news about taking the non-college path to entrepreneurship. I’m sure that educators will scoff at this movement, college students will respond in defense, and parents will want to steer their kids away from the website.

We can throw tomatoes at this movement, deny its premise and take a firm stand against it, or we can ask these pertinent questions:

  1. Why is this movement happening?
  2. Is there something we can learn from their theory of self-directed education?
  3. As parents, how can we use this to start a conversation with our kids about higher education?
  4. Does higher education need to take at look at what is wrong and work to improve or fix it?

In my opinion, these questions need to be discussed and answered, if not for the rising tuition costs alone and the perceived value of a college education.

Take some time and read the blog post mentioned above and see the two different viewpoints: one from a Boston University college student and the other from the leader of the UnCollege movement. Both sides make valid points, depending on your point of view.

Here’s another article about the founder of UnCollege.org:

California teen entrepreneur asks: College? Who needs it?

Does this movement strike fear in your heart as a parent? Do you agree or disagree with their premise?

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Another article that might interest parents:

College vs. Real Life: Pros and Cons

 

college planning, organization, parenting

The importance of organization in the college process

I am the proud mother of three college graduates (Columbia University, Syracuse University, and Mass College of Art), so I know firsthand how difficult it is to keep on top of college tours, applications, test scores, financial aid, and scholarship information.

“Do you know where my ….is?” How many times has a parent heard that question? It’s one thing to lose a favorite toy or a shirt, but if you are misplacing college applications or missing deadlines because you misplaced a document, then it’s time to think about getting organized!

Good organizational skills are important in school and at home. If you are organized, you save time not looking for stuff! You save money by not paying for stuff you already have. And, you get important stuff done on time!

You have a better chance of getting into your preferred college if you are organized. The college application process involves much organizing for planning, testing, traveling, completing applications and deadlines for scholarships and essays. Getting advice from professionals who know the college process ins and outs and having all that information organized is imperative to reduce the stress that comes with the college search process and increase the chance of getting into your preferred school.

So, how do you organize for the college search? Start early! It’s a good idea to start keeping records in 9th grade, so everything will be in one place and easy to find when it’s time to begin the application process. Set up a record retention system for both student and parent. It should be easy to use, centrally located for convenience, and organized so that you can easily find the information you need. A good filing system will have clear labels and plenty of space to handle all the information you collect. Establish a calendar management system/ to do/check list that you refer to monthly to keep on top of timelines for such things as college fairs and visits, testing and appointments with your college advisor.

Setting up and using organization systems will give you a valuable advantage in school and in life! That’s why I believe in organization and its benefits and that is why I have become a supporter of the College Caboodle – an organizational tool for parents and college-bound high school students. The system includes:

 

  • A calendar of to-do’s for 9th-12th grade
  • An instructional DVD
  • A simple filing system with pre-labeled folders
  • A list of the must-know website resources
  • Easy to use forms and checklists
  • Important financial aid and scholarship contacts

Let this college prep tool turn the whirlwind college application process into an exciting look into your child’s future, instead of a tornado of paper and clutter in your office

Good luck with your college search!

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Today’s guest post was contributed by Isabell Wells, a professional organizer and founder of “All in Order”. You can contact her via email at:  allnorder2@rcn.com or by visiting her website at : www.orderbywells.com.

college planning, Guest Posts, parenting, Uncategorized

How to encourage your high school student to consider an internship

From an early age, my parents always encouraged me to think about the parallels between student life and working full-time. “Just like it’s our job to get up and go to work every day, it’s your job to get up and go to school every day,” I vividly remember my mom telling me as a kindergartner. “And doing your homework when you get home at night is part of that job, too,” she added.

Looking back, it seems like a few trivial statements made by a mother to persuade her daughter to get out of bed for school in the morning. But it wasn’t insignificant. It helped my young, impressionable mind to recognize the importance in being a good student. I wanted to be a good student because it was my job to do so, according to my mother. Indeed, it was forward-thinking at its finest.

With that fundamental seed planted (you must get up every day and perform your job, whatever it is), when a child develops natural interests and skillsets, it’s time to hone in on the “whatever it is”. As teens reach the pivotal point in their lives of determining the career field in which they want to obtain further education and training, parents can have the same effect on their children as my mom did when she made that simple statement to her six-year-old. Little did she know her praise and support of my early passions would ultimately lead to my pursuit of a degree in disaster recovery.

Encourage your college-bound teen to investigate careers

Encouraging teenagers to investigate careers, if done properly, can set them up for success long before recruiters start showing up at their high school. No child ever really wants to grow up, so mandating they start thinking about declaring a profession will likely not yield a positive response. Rather than telling them to start thinking about college or figuring out what they want to do for a living, ask questions relating to a career that will provoke their curiosity and motivate them do initiate their own research.

For example, let’s say your teenage son has great language skills, is on the school newspaper editorial team, enjoys playing baseball, loves punk rock music, and appears to be dependent on his Twitter account. You could ask him if he plans to be on the newspaper staff next year. If he does, then he must enjoy writing. As a parent, you are surely in tune with what he’s writing about. So, if the newspaper has him writing about the school play, encourage him to seek permission to write about sports or music (two of his interests) instead. If the paper won’t allow him to change topics, mention a music or sports blog you stumbled across that you noticed was taking guest posts. Whether it’s with the school newspaper or on a blog, you’ve now guided him towards creative writing about subjects he enjoys.

Encourage them to take the next step

If it goes well and he likes it, as you praise him for the great work he’s been doing, casually mention what bigger and better things it could lead to- a music correspondent for an alternative arts publication, a field reporter for a local radio station, or video blogging for a local news station. Be persistent, but not annoyingly persistent, that these are real possibilities. Point out that those types of organizations need interns and that, if it’s something he could see himself doing for a career, that he could test the waters with an internship.

The point is that gentle nudging that provokes curiosity will, in the end, be much more effective than forcing internships if the student discovers on his own that his passion can become his career. Take an active interest in his activities and hobbies and encourage further development of those that could lead to internships and occupations. Drop hints and make suggestions. And most importantly- be supportive of their final decisions!

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This was a guest post contributed by Danielle Luna, a resident of Indianapolis, who blogs for Professional Intern (http://www.professionalintern.com), a website devoted to reading, literature, writing, and education.