Tag Archives: college planning

college planning, parenting

The Number One Key To Success In College

What is the primary key for your kids to succeed in college?

grades – avoiding procrastination – passion – friends-scholarships – study time – lots of beer (just kidding…although some kids think that)

Here it is parents!  Get out your journal, grab a pen…you don’t want to miss this one!

CHARACTER

M-W.com definition of character: moral excellence and firmness <a man of sound character>

Chris Spradlin’s definition of character: “Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking.”…Jackson Browne actually said this!

As parents we can teach our kids to make great grades, to be on time, we can instill passion deep into their souls, encourage them to make great friends and study.  But the single greatest asset that we can deposit deep into our kids heart is Character.

As our kids enter college we must encourage them to exhibit character in the following areas…

  • Study Ethics: I remember that my toughest subject my freshman in College was Algebra.  To be honest, I am just not that bright when it comes to math.  How did I make it through?  I cheated my entire way through the class.  I never built a math foundation for my remaining years; therefore I struggled through all four years of College.  Parents, we must teach our kids to walk in character when it comes to study ethics.  We must teach them to work hard, study hard, ask questions, join study groups; but at the end of the day, we must teach our kids that it is much better to take a low grade than to cheat.
  • Honoring The Gift: Many students today expect that they will attend college.  I believe that is a good expectation but that parents should help them understand that attending college is a gift!  In the world we live in today many students can’t afford college, don’t have the grades to get into college or don’t have their families help to make it into college.  I believe that parents should teach their kids to walk through the college doors with thankfulness and humility!  That each time they enter a class or extracurricular activity that they should recognize that attending college is a gift other kids don’t have and to honor it.
  • Contributing Financially: I know that this can be a controversial subject for some, but I strongly believe that by asking a student to contribute financially in some form or fashion…this creates ownership in the college experience.
  • Free Time: One of the biggest lessons that I have learned in my life is when a mentor of mine sat me down, looked me in the eyes and said, “Chris, I want you to know that life is not all about you”!  The reality is that most kids enter college and they are the star of their own show, life is about them…their grades, their friends, their fraternity and their social life.  I believe that parents should teach their kids that, “life is not all about them”.  Parents should teach their kids to use their free time to serve others.  Encourage them to serve in a soup kitchen, serve in a local religious organization, mentor a struggling student or befriend someone who is having a tough time with the college transition.

I believe the number one key to success in college is character. Parents, we must take the time to live this out and deposit character deep into the heart, soul and mind of our kids and then they will be truly successful.

******

This guest post was contribured by Chris Spradlin, the founder of www.epicparent.tv.  According to Chris: “I didn’t launch epicparent to showcase my parenting skills, but rather be honest about my failures, wounds, wins and my journey as a parent.  I absolutely love honest, authentic, on-the-edge, innovative, entrepreneurial, get-your-hands-dirty parenting. I believe that if parents would step into their God-given role, the world would be changed!”

admissions, college guidance, college planning, parenting

Is college just about ROI?

This week on #CampusChat there was a guest that informed us that college is a bad investment for a large percentage of teens. Granted, I could see her point (You can read the transcript here). Many teens aren’t ready for college. I agree it is important to counsel our teens on finding out what they love and guiding them along a career path. But is college truly all about ROI? Do we encourage our kids to go to college solely based on the fact that they will give us a good return on our investment?

It’s not that I don’t agree that college, for some, is a bad decision (Should everyone go to college?). Not because it’s a bad investment, but because they aren’t suited for it and would be happier pursuing other options. Should you go into massive debt for a liberal arts degree that leaves you unemployable? Absolutely not (Being realistic about college debt). But, could you get a liberal arts degree and in the process discover your passion? Absolutely.

If you ask both of my children if they thought college was about ROI, they would have different answers. My daughter would say that college for her was so much more than getting that degree and finding a job. She would say that it gave her life experiences. She would say that she found lifelong friends in college. She would say that her study abroad experience was invaluable. She would tell you that she learned about the business world doing internships related to her major. It was at college that she learned independence, budgeting, developed a strong work ethic, got an education, and basically grew up. And she would say that you can’t put a dollar amount on those four years.

My son, on the other hand, had a very different experience. He was not a good student in high school and didn’t show much interest in college, opting for a 4-year term of service in the Marines. After the Marines, he decided to go to college. For him, it was more about pushing himself to attain the degree and proving to himself that he was capable of that level of education. He attended community college for two years and transferred to a 4-year college to finish his degree among the top graduates in his major. And while he did incur some debt acquiring that degree, he would never say it was a waste of time and money or a poor return on investment even though he’s not working in a career related to his liberal arts major.

I’ve known smart kids who knew their career paths at an early age and got to college and failed. I’ve known average students without a clue of what they wanted to be, attend college, find their passion and excel. College opens up your mind, introduces you to experiences and submerges you in academia. Should you be wise about which college you choose and how much you pay for that education and life experience? Of course you should!

I admit. I’m a proponent of college. Perhaps it’s because I never had the opportunity to go. Perhaps it’s because my parents never encouraged me to go. Perhaps it’s because both my kids found value in two different educational paths. For me it’s so much more than ROI. Maybe I’m burying my head in the sand. But I still believe that a college education is something that has great value beyond its cost.

And that, my loyal readers, is one parent’s opinion!

admissions, college planning, parenting

Parents–Upcoming #CampusChat Topics

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I just received the agenda for the upcoming #CampusChat discussions. If you’re a parent of a college-bound teen (or even a parent of a college student), mark your calendars for some great information and some eye-opening realizations about college preparation.

#CampusChat is hosted by Kelly @collegevisit who is the founder of SmartCollegeVisit.com. She works hard to find guests that are timely and helpful in the college search process, and especially helpful for parents.

Here is a list of upcoming guests and topics (Wednesdays at 9PM EST):

11/3 – Carol Christen – “What Color is Your Parachute for Teens”

11/10 – Jeannie Borin – http://www.college-connections.com/

11/17 – Harlan Cohen – The Happiest Kid on Campus: A Parent’s Guide to the Very Best College Experience (for You and Your Child)

11/24 -Thanksgiving break-Happy Turkey Day!

12/01 – Tim Gasper, social media guru for Marquette University

12/08 – Maureen Tillman – http://www.collegewithconfidence.com/ (also writes for a regional NY Times news outlet)

admissions, college guidance, college planning, college visits

3 Reasons You Can't Miss CollegeWeekLive FALL

I just received an email from College Week Live that I wanted to share with my readers:


CollegeWeekLive FALL, the largest college fair, is your one stop shop for all things college admissions. Here are 3 reasons you need to take advantage of this free resource:

  1. Discover Schools: Over 300 colleges are participating in CollegeWeekLive FALL with virtual booths and online presentations. Research schools that interest you and discover schools that you may not have heard of. CollegeWeekLive FALL has it all.
  2. Find Scholarships: CollegeWeekLive FALL features a database of scholarships worth more than $2.5 Million. One lucky attendee will also be eligible for the CollegeWeekLive $10,000 scholarship just for logging in!
  3. Strengthen Your Application: Let our admissions experts guide you through the application process, including financial aid applications, college essays, test prep, and more. Attend live presentations to ask questions. Anything you miss you can catch on demand!

Login to CollegeWeekLive FALL on November 3rd and 4th for all this and more!

college guidance, college planning, parenting

Should everyone go to college?

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I read an article recently in The Atlantic: “In the Basement of the Ivory Tower“, that gave me some food for thought. It’s been on my mind for quite awhile, especially since I have a close friend who is a financial aid counselor at one of those infamous “for profit” colleges.

She would answer my leading question with a loud and emphatic, “NO”, based on her experience dealing with those who are not prepared to attend college and don’t understand the consequences of borrowing money that they can’t pay back. They have been convinced that without a college education, they can’t get a job or pursue a career. They’ve been told by someone that it doesn’t matter how much money you borrow as long as you get that degree. Once you get that degree you can earn enough money to pay back what you’ve borrowed. But we all know that’s not often the case.

In the above mentioned article, the English professor makes an interesting point:

America, ever-idealistic, seems wary of the vocational-education track. We are not comfortable limiting anyone’s options. Telling someone that college is not for him seems harsh and classist and British, as though we were sentencing him to a life in the coal mines. I sympathize with this stance; I subscribe to the American ideal.

Sending everyone under the sun to college is a noble initiative. Academia is all for it, naturally. Industry is all for it; some companies even help with tuition costs. Government is all for it; the truly needy have lots of opportunities for financial aid. The media applauds it—try to imagine someone speaking out against the idea. To oppose such a scheme of inclusion would be positively churlish.

I’ve come to realize that Americans truly are snobs. We brag about what we have and what we have obtained. Like it or not, we are a classist society. We snub our noses at those who haven’t been to college and brag heavily about our numerous degrees as if they are badges of honor. And while graduating from college is an accomplishment, so is learning a trade.

Often, we push our kids to attend college when we know it’s not for them. Why? Because we are a society that measures success by the number of degrees hanging on a wall or the dollar signs that can be found on our bank accounts. It is noble to dream big and education is always a noble goal. But so is being a plumber, a carpenter, a cosmetologist or a civil servant like a police officer or fireman.

What’s my point? My point is that you need to know your child. If they want to go to college and have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful there, then encourage them to go. But if they aren’t interested or motivated, save yourself some heartache, disappointment and money by letting them pursue a trade. There are so many fabulous careers out there that they can do without higher education. You will be happier, they will be happier and they will fill an important role in society. College really isn’t for everyone.

college guidance, college planning, Uncategorized

Recent Grads Reveal College Regrets


Advice from those who have “been there and done that” is always valuable. I like talking to college students and recent graduates to find out what they might have done differently, as evidenced by a recent post on my blog written by a current student at Virginia Tech. Below are some thoughts from recent graduates whose advice can be helpful in planning for the future.

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Everyone’s college experience is different. We come from places far and near; we run in different social circles; we pursue different activities and classes and majors. No one college student can be at two, three, four places at once — not every sporting event or party or meeting or cookout. We just try to make the most of these four years and hope/wish/pray that they don’t fly by too fast.

But wouldn’t it be nice to hear what college grads have to say about their experiences? Their regrets, their proudest moments and their sage advice? We took a look back with four recent graduates:

JAIME JACKSON GILES

The 2003 Roanoke University alum recently received her master’s in education from Shenandoah University.

Biggest regret: “I wish I’d played sports.”
Giles was heavily involved in Greek life and the student-activities organization at Roanoke. “Yet I still wish I had pursued more, joined more clubs,” she says. “I played softball growing up as a kid, and I didn’t even try out for the club team when I got to college.” Giles also wishes she’d attended more sporting events. “You take a lot of the sports for granted while you’re there and then regret not going to watch more of your fellow students in action.”

Proudest accomplishment: “I let go of my fears.”
“I’ll always remember speaking at graduation,” says Giles. “It was an honor.” Of  course, she’s also proud of her master’s degree. “I think it represents how hard I’ve worked since graduating from Roanoke.”

Best advice: “Go to class!”
“Even if no one’s forcing you to, you’ve got to discipline yourself to go,” says Giles. Nevertheless, she stresses the importance of balancing work and play: “Instead of all that reading, go to a party instead because you’ll regret not going later.”

DAVID AMOS

After graduating from the University of Virginia in spring 2010, Amos is taking time off before law school.

Biggest regret: “I put things off.”
Typical traditions at UVA include streaking the famed lawn and touring Monticello, the home of founder Thomas Jefferson. “I spent too much time pushing all of those things off into an ‘I’ll do it later’ category,” says Amos. Clearly, he can still pursue those things (hopefully not the streaking) … but not as a student.

Proudest accomplishment: “I took some risks.”
Amos is most proud of getting accepted to UVA’s McIntire Commerce School (currently ranked second among undergraduate business schools), as well as running for the Commerce School presidency — even though he lost by a measly three votes. “I’m obviously not happy I lost, but I was proud of being part of the UVA student government process.”

Best advice: “Have fun!”
Enjoy the college experience while you can, says Amos: “Grades will matter for the next three years. Memories will be with you for the rest of your life.” And to all of you new UVA Cavaliers reading this, he offers a few more words of wisdom: “Hate Virginia Tech with a passion.” Kidding, of course … but not really.

LEIA VACHON

The 2008 Appalachian State grad is currently working but has dreams of becoming a missionary.

Biggest regret: “I wasted time not pursuing my passion.”
“I ended up taking part in a lot of activities during my time at App,” says Vachon. “I tried to take advantage of every day and make it exciting.” But she wishes she’d spent more time during her first years on campus doing what she wanted to do. “I pledged a sorority but then deactivated because I realized it just wasn’t for me. Then, in my last couple of years, I became really involved in the campus ministry — and loved every second of it, meeting some of my best friends.”

Proudest accomplishment: “I learned to effectively multitask.”
Balancing her various extracurriculars, keeping up a high GPA and earning her degree by double-majoring in public relations and business was quite a feat for Vachon. “I feel like I had a well-rounded, rich college experience,” she says. “I’m very proud of what I achieved — and want to use what I learned to do bigger and better things in the future.”

Best advice: “Soak up every minute of it.”
“Enjoy every new day you have! Count each one as a blessing, and try to live life to the fullest,” Vachon says. “Meet new people, take cool classes, get involved, but also take time for yourself once in a while.”

CHARLES MILLER

The 2010 University of Virginia grad is taking time off before medical school.

Biggest regret: “I did way too much.”
While many students advise making the most of your time in college, Miller might have been too involved. He was a member of a fraternity, competed as a top player on the club tennis team, conducted countless hours as a research assistant, volunteered at UVA Hospital — often late at night and on weekends. “I wish I had just focused more on the moment, on being a student,” says Miller. “It’s important not to spread yourself too thin. There are so many hassles to deal with after college that you shouldn’t be worrying about them while you’re there.”

Proudest accomplishment: “I got into med school.”
“I’m thrilled I was accepted,” says Miller. “It’s tangible proof of all the hard work I put in during my time at UVA.”

Best advice: “Do what makes you happy.”
Says Miller: “That’s the biggest piece of advice I can offer — and probably the most useful you will hear.”

*****

This article was written by David Replogle at The Real College Guide and  is made available to Parents Countdown to College Coach through a partnership with The Real College Guide.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, parenting, Uncategorized

A CollegeParent Partnership

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With all the recent talk of helicopter parents, I’ve picked up on some slight disdain from academia when it comes to parent involvement. Granted, there are some parents that would make any admissions representative pull their hair out. But I would like to think that there are so many more parents who view their role more as a coach in the process and would like to have colleges value their input. After all, when it comes right down to it, parents are generally the ones paying the bill for the student’s education.

During a recent #CampusChat on Twitter, Gil Rogers, Associate Director of Admissions and Enrollment Technology for the University of New Haven shed some light on how his college views the parent/college relationship:

We like to be a partner in a family’s college search, not just an option. We simply encourage parents to allow students to have their space and make the choice. Let the kid drive the car. We have, however, developed a number of communication tools with parents in mind. Charger Connection and the monthly eblasts that admissions sends are to prospective student’s parents. The monthly e-mail that goes to all parents we have e-mail addresses for is separate from the student’s with tips. Social Media (and any communication tool for that matter) is about building relationships.

That’s the view that parents like to hear: a partner in the family’s college search. With this view, both parent and student feel valuable; and this translates into the college providing a positive environment for making the right college choice.

University of New Haven has created an extremely helpful parent’s guide: Parents Guide to College and Financial Planning. They cover every topic that a parent needs to know about college choices and financial planning; also giving advice on how to help your student survive the first year of college. This guide communicates that partnership that Gil talked about and emanates through his social media persona.

I hope you will take a look at the University of New Haven and even view their parent’s guide. Here are the links to connect with them online:

University of New Haven

UNewHaven Facebook Page

UNewHaven Twitter Account

college guidance, college planning, Uncategorized

Lessons learned: a college student's perspective

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If I had the option to press the “reset” button that would send me back to freshman year with the knowledge that I have now about college, I would go back in a heartbeat. Needless to say, there are plenty of things I wish I knew before my freshman year of college commenced. Here are a few key ones:

I wish I knew what “time management” meant.

When I was a senior in high school, all the teachers and recent graduates would tell us that it was imperative that we understood how to manage our time; as in how to balance our social lives with our academics. I didn’t understand what they meant. It was easy enough to hang out with friends and get A’s and B’s in high school, How hard could it be in college? Hard.

Hard if you don’t find some sort of balance. It’s easy to get caught up in the social aspect of college. There are a ton of people to meet, tons of places to go, a whole bunch of activities that you can do every single day. Best thing of all is no parents. So what tends to happen is that a lot of college kids experience full “freedom” and forget that they have classes. I know I did my freshman year. I chose to go out and hang with my new friends instead of studying for an exam that week or I waited till the day before an assignment was due to start it.

Finding a balance takes time and depends on the person. It took me till the end of my sophomore year to finally figure out some sort of balance. I found that using iCal on my Mac and planning out when every single exam, project and assignment was due really helped me know when important things were coming up so I could focus on my work and hang out later. My GPA also helped motivate me because I didn’t want to be put on academic probation. Sometimes an academic kick in the butt can motivate a student to focus on their schoolwork. But you don’t want to slide that far down before changing your ways because if your GPA is low after the first year, it’s hard to bring it back up.

I wish I sampled different classes in the beginning.

I wish I had taken more random classes my first year instead of taking four science classes, one math class, and one English class. I entered Virginia Tech as a biology major and dove right into the science classes, only to find out that I hated labs halfway through the semester. Unfortunately I was caught in a bind because it was too late to drop the classes and I didn’t want to waste my withdrawal credits in the first semester. I was miserable that semester.

What I should have done was taken one science class and branched out and tried out different classes to see what I liked. I know a friend of mine was a journalism major and took an Intro to Film class during her sophomore year. She loved it so much, she changed her major to Film; based on that one single class. That happened to me as well! After my first semester, I ended up dropping my biology major, switching to undecided, then changing to Communications after taking an Intro to Communication Theory class at the end of my freshman year. Pretty big switch, but sometimes one class can do that. I encourage more college students to sample out different classes when they can. You never know what other passions you may have.

I wish I knew that there are plenty of ways to have fun without drinking.

I partied a lot during my first two years of college. Not only did it hurt my grades, but it also got me in trouble. I wish when I entered college I understood the hazards of drinking and that I could have plenty of fun without drinking. Besides the fact that underage drinking is illegal, another problem with drinking in college is that a lot of students don’t understand their limit. They’ll just keep drinking and drinking and go overboard. Some may find it funny to tell their friends how wasted they were or laugh about blacking out, but in all seriousness it’s no laughing matter. I went overboard during the start of my sophomore year and paid the consequences by being put on deferred suspension. Since that ordeal, I’ve pushed myself to limit my drinking and a lot of times I’ll opt not to drink at all. Ironically, some of the best times I had were the ones where I chose to remain sober and remember all the crazy things that happened when other people were drunk.

Some students may think that the only way to have fun is to go out, party and drink, which is not true at all. For one thing, you can always go out to a party and not drink and still have a fun time. You can also check out some of the facilities that your college provides for other forms of entertainment. Here at Tech there are plenty of ways to have fun without the need of alcohol. There’s a place on campus called the BreakZone that offers a variety of games like pool, bowling and darts. Instead of going out and drinking, sometimes I’d gather a group of friends and we’d play a couple games at the BreakZone. If bowling or pool isn’t your thing, why not organize a video game session or watch movies? There are plenty of chances to go out and party; sometimes staying in and enjoying your surroundings can be a refreshing experience.

I wish I got out of the room more.

The dorm is a great place to meet people from all sorts of places, and it’s possibly the first place where you develop some of your closets friends throughout your college career.  While meeting people in your dorm and hanging out in the dorm is nice and all, don’t forget that there exists a world outside of your dorm! I spent way too much time in my dorm, whether it was in my room or in my friend’s room. I chose to stay indoors on nice days rather than go outside and enjoy my surroundings. The one thing I love about Tech is that its campus is pretty big and there are tons of areas to explore. I remember one of my architecture friends gave me a tour of the architecture studio that was located underground. It was an eye opening experience to say the least and I knew that there was a studio somewhere on campus, but never took the time to go out and look for it on my own. After that trip I started to go out more and walk around campus the weather was nice. I figured I might as well enjoy campus while I’m still here.

I encourage students to get out of their dorms during a beautiful day and walk around their campus; after all, college only lasts for so long and who knows when your next visit will be once you graduate. Enjoy your environment and surroundings, and don’t be afraid to go out and explore!  Who knows what you’ll discover!

*****

This is a guest blog post by Tauhid Chappell, a junior at Virginia Tech majoring in Electronic/Print Journalism. He is the executive editor of Planet Blacksburg; a student-run, online, media organization at Tech. He aspires to be a multimedia journalist and is addicted to social media!

college planning

Packing for College

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Here’s a great help for parents from Sarah Schupp of University Parent–print these lists and keep them handy for that day that your college-bound teen heads off to college.

As students prepare to begin or return to college, making sure they have everything they need to be successful can be challenging.

But now as you wipe the sweat from your brow and pat yourself on the back — your child is going to college! Then it dawns on you. What should they bring with them? Where should you shop? What do they need? What don’t they need?

Relax. While packing your student for college may feel like an overwhelming task, it doesn’t have to be. In fact, you might even have some fun with it.

We’ve compiled the ultimate packing lists for residence hall life, classroom and studying needs and personal items they should bring along  — so that you can get your student off to school and ready to learn! Each list offers tips and tricks to ease the headache of the big move.

Plan and prepare
before you run out to your local stores and buy everything they’ll need, first wait for more information from their college — or visit the college’s web site for further information about what they’ll need for school.

Common sense tells you to begin by making a list of everything they will need. Combine your own list with that of the college, as well as the list of things others may have advised you that they’ll need.

Then, survey your house for these items. Save money by making sure you don’t already own something similar.

Lastly, if they’ve gotten their roommate information, they should discuss what each has to bring –- no need for multiple mini-fridges or TVs when space is already limited.

If they’ve lucked out with a huge dorm room, you both have much more liberty in deciding what goes with them. One piece of advice: Don’t overpack! They’ll end up being stuck with stuff they won’t use, and it will take up precious space that can help keep them organized.

Ready…Start….Pack!

Regardless of their room size, here are some must-haves, in no particular order:

  • Computer/Laptop. If it’s at all possible to buy one or borrow one, do it. Most colleges have pretty good computer facilities that students can use for free, but they’re often crowded and noisy, and not in their own room. If you have a choice, opt for a laptop. They can bring it to class, the library or outside, and can have more options of where to work.
  • Extra socks and underwear. Doing laundry is expensive and a pain. Students can always rewear jeans and sweaters more than once, but clean underwear and socks are a must!
  • Flip-flops. Using communal showers equals foot fungus, an unattractive yet common problem in dorms.
  • Climate-appropriate clothes. If possible, try to pack only what they’ll need for the season and climate they’ll be living in. There is usually not a lot of room for extra clothes, especially bulky sweaters or excessive shoes. They can always trade clothes at home during winter or spring break.
  • Storage bins. Stacking things is the way to go in their dorm room. A variety of storage bins are available at most stores.
  • Group games. Board games, cards and video games are a great way to make new friends and are perfect for breaks and downtime at school.
  • Home reminders. Bring things that remind them of home, such as a few pictures or posters. These things will make homesickness –during those first few days or weeks — that much easier to bear. With photos and personal touches, their dorm room will feel more like a home and less like just a dorm room.
  • Dictionary and thesaurus. Although most computer programs have a thesaurus built in, the paper versions still have many more options.
  • Lamps. Get a cheap halogen or desk lamp — most grads still can’t part with theirs. But before you go out and buy one, make sure their college doesn’t consider certain types a fire hazard.
  • Clothes hamper. They will need something roomy and something they can easily carry when it is time to do laundry.
  • First-aid kit. Just in case.

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Sarah Schupp is the founder and CEO of University Parent Media in Boulder, Colo. UPM publishes print and online guides for parents of students at universities and colleges in 38 states. Online at www.universityparent.com

admissions, college planning

The Common Application

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On August 1st, the NEW and IMPROVED online version of the Common Application goes live! Here’s a sneak peak for you and your college-bound teen:

2010-2011 Common Application

If you’re on Twitter and would like to get some more information, you can attend a chat TODAY at 3PM PST for “Everything Common App”. Just use the  #collegejoin twitter chat hashtag and follow along. If you can’t make it, you can always review the tweets at a later time.

The Common Application is used by 391 member institutions. The benefits? You can fill out ONE application and submit it to any participating college. The same is true of the School Report, Midyear Report, Final Report and Teacher Evaluation forms. This saves your college-bound teen time and that translates into more time available for the other important college admissions tasks.