Tag Archives: college planning

admissions, college costs, college planning, extracurricular activities, parenting, scholarships

Is the Ivy League price really worth it?

When my son was a young boy, he talked often about going to Harvard. Where he got that notion in his head, I will never know. It was so ingrained, that he wanted a Harvard sweatshirt. Funny thing…my daughter still has that sweatshirt today and has grown quite fond of it.

Did my son attend Harvard? No. He opted to join the Marines and attend college later on the GI Bill. Perhaps a wiser and more logical choice in the grand scheme of things. But…I’ve often wondered whether or not the cost of those Ivy League colleges is worth the education you receive.

A recent article from Unigo/WSJ on Campus explored that question in depth. It explored the current economic climate, the state of colleges and universities, and the overall thought process in making those college decisions. The article begins by stating:

Old dreams of adult children earning degrees from elite, door-opening colleges or “legacy” schools attended by relatives are falling away in some families, in favor of a new pragmatism. Other parents and students are doing a tougher cost-benefit analysis of the true value of a pricey undergraduate degree. As parents wrestle privately with such emotional issues, many say they wish they’d begun years earlier to assess their values and priorities, long before their children’s college-decision deadline was upon them.

That’s ALWAYS been my philosophy: START EARLY. Do your research and learn about the college’s financial aid footprint.  Do a benefit-cost analysis and weigh ALL of your options before you make that final decision.

The overall tone of the article is that parents and college-bound teens are opting for the more logical college choices that keep them close to home and ensure they graduate without debt.

But, I would have to add an additional comment: find that “perfect fit” college. It’s not about the rank, or the prestige, or even completely about the cost. It’s about finding a place where your teen feels at home and is valued. And discounting Harvard, or any Ivy League college because of the pricetag might not be the BEST advice. An admissions consultant offers this advice:

Depending on the financial aid package offered, the out-of-pocket cost of attending a private college can often be lower than that of a public university. In a simplistic example, a $25,000 bill at a state college would be reduced to $20,000 with $5,000 of financial aid, but a private liberal arts college with a sticker price of $50,000 would cost $15,000 if the financial aid package totaled $35,000, making it cheaper than the state college. Of course, financial aid is more complicated than this, but private colleges with strong endowments often offer generous merit and need-based scholarships. In the end, award offers must be weighed against each other carefully, taking into account whether the award is made up of loans (which must be paid back) or grants/scholarships (which do not get paid back). The bottom line? Research the possibility of financial aid before eliminating a college from your list just because it sounds too expensive.

college costs, parenting, scholarships, test prep

In honor of Halloween: Weird and Wacky Scholarships

2 Comments

Although these scholarships have been deemed “weird and wacky”, any scholarship that garners you FREE money for college is anything but that. Did you know that you can type in “wacky scholarships” in Google and come up with some of these scholarship gems? Here are just a few of them.

Is your teen a leftie?

Juniata College located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania offers two 1,000 scholarhips to left handed students each year. One of the qualifications is – yes – left handedness.

Does your teen know how to knit?

The National Make It Yourself with Wool (NMIYWW) organization awards 2 scholarships for knitting wool garments. Make a killer wool garment and submit it to this organization and they will judge it based garment style and design, contestant’s presentation, and creativity. Winners receive either a $2,000 or a $1,000 scholarship.

Is your teen a Trekkie?

The Kor Memorial Scholarship is awarded by the Klingon Language Institute to recognize and encourage scholarship in the field of language study. You don’t have to be fluent in Klingon, but creativity is preferred.

And…

Starfleet Academy Scholarship. If you are a member of the “Starfleet Academy,” an organization modeled after the fictitious Star Trek academy you may qualify for awards such as the Gene Roddenberry Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Writers or the DeForest Kelley/Dr. Leonard McCoy Medical Scholarship.

Is your teen enjoying “the air up there”?

The Kae Sumner Einfeldt Scholarship, sponsored by Tall Clubs International offers tall students a $1000.00 scholarship. To qualify, girls must be at least 5-foot-10, and guys must measure at least 6-foot-2.

Is your teen fascinated with ghosts?

The New York-based Parapsychology Foundation offers young ghost hunters and those with interest in the paranormal several scholarships.

Does your teen have expertise in duck calling?

The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest awards a $1,500 scholarship to the winner of their duck calling contest. First runner-up gets $500, second runner-up gets $300, and third runner-up gets $200.

If these have peeked your interest, here’s a few other links offering many other possibilities. With the scholarship names, you can go to a scholarship search site like FastWeb and find out all the details.

http://scholarship.lifetips.com/cat/61637/wacky-scholarships/index.html

http://www.wacky-scholarships.com/

Happy Halloween!

admissions, college costs, college guidance, college planning, extracurricular activities, parenting, scholarships, Uncategorized

Would you pay $14,000 to get your teen into Harvard?

college_20moneyTalk about college sticker shock! I just read an article about a company that charges $14,000 for a 4-day Application Bootcamp. The camp sells out every year and boasts a waiting list. The statistics are posted about the students who attend and the results of their admissions applications. The stats are impressive, but I had to ask myself if that price tag was worth the results. Perhaps it is, if your teen’s heart is set on a specific school and you have the cash on hand. But most parents are scrambling just to pay tuition, let alone come up with $14,000 to pay for an application coaching camp.

If you’re one of those parents whose teen wants to be accepted into a top-tiered college or university and you don’t want to drop 14 grand for admissions coaching, what can you do? Will that price tag assure your teen an acceptance letter?

If that cost sends you running in the opposite direction, try this instead:

  1. Start early and stay organized–use a filing system that helps you keep track of awards, activities and deadlines.
  2. Encourage your teen to take challenging courses: AP classes, Honors classes, science and math courses.
  3. Be an effective parent coach by encouraging them to focus on one or two activities in high school and stay involved.
  4. Arm yourself with the right tools and information to help your teen learn about interview questions, essay topics and admissions applications.
  5. Study the college admissions statistics of the colleges that your teen is interested in and use them as a guideline in the college selection process.
  6. And lastly, for a fraction of the $14,000 pricetag, you can purchase the Parents Countdown to College Toolkit which will provide you with all the tools you need to help your teen realize their dream of a college education at the school of their choice.

Granted, there are those parents who can afford and are willing to pay hefty prices for admissions counseling. But the bulk of most parents are on a budget, scrimping and saving to be able to send their kids to college. The Parents Countdown to College Toolkit is an affordable and effective alternative!

admissions, college costs, college planning, extracurricular activities, scholarships, test prep, Uncategorized

More valuable tips and advice

For my loyal readers, I thought I would post the links to some posts I have done on other websites and blogs. All offer valuable information for parents of college bound teens.

Preparing Your Student for the Future
If your child is just starting high school, you’re probably not thinking about college yet…but should you be?

It’s Test Time!
The SATs and ACTs… Are these standardized tests striking fear and dread in your home? Suzanne Shaffer of Parents Countdown to College says the key to success is practice and she shows you where to find FREE help!

Searching for Scholarships

The best advice I can give any parent of a college-bound teen is to start the scholarship process EARLY. Don’t wait until senior year and scramble around trying to find scholarships. Here are 10 tips on searching for scholarships.

Visit these sites and gather some valuable information. Sign up and join GalTime for even more valuable parenting advice. Encourage your teen to enter Diploframe’s scholarship.

admissions, college guidance, college planning

Is Your Teen an Average Student?

If your teen is an average student, you might be thinking that community college or a local small state college is their only option. But, in reality, there are some options you might consider.

According to a recent seminar at the National Association for College Admission Counseling,

There are application strategies that can help… Some strong colleges are looking for more geographical diversity, and will consider students with weaker grades if they are from another part of the country. Students with weak standardized test scores should also consider colleges where SAT and ACT scores are optional. (A list can be found at www.fairtest.org.)

Students might want to request an interview at colleges that don’t necessarily require them, to exhibit character strengths that transcripts and GPA’s don’t reflect.

One college counselor recommended applying mid-year, when admissions are less competitive than in the high-pressure fall. Another recommended looking for colleges with pre-admission programs to ease students into the college they plan to attend.

Of course, all counselors recommend that paying attention to grades early in your teen’s high school career will ensure more college options. But if your teen is already into their senior year and there is no time to rectify their GPA, there are always application strategies that can help.

If you are looking for a list of some colleges that welcome average students, you might want to read the entire article.

admissions, college costs, college guidance, college planning, extracurricular activities, parenting, scholarships, Uncategorized

Following the Yellow Brick Road

2 Comments

yellowbrickroadI spent some time today surfing. Not at the beach (I never learned to surf after living on the Gulf for over 30 years). I was surfing around doing some “follow the yellow brick road” path. I like to call it that because one link, leads to another, leads to another and you find an Emerald City at the end! That’s the great thing about following links: you never know where they will take you and what adventures you will have along the way.
These are the jewels I found today. I couldn’t help but pass them along to all my parent readers (and fans!):

http://www.knowhow2go.org/
This is an amazing website for college planning. It’s interactive and tons of fun. It’s not your typical boring college information site. It’s a fun place to start the search for middle schoolers with schedules and tips all the way through high school. Whaz up dudes and dudettes…check this one out! (I know I’m not hip but I try)

http://www.youniversitytv.com
Wow. This is NOT your avearage college tour site. This one has moxy and some genuine off the wall creativity. There are video tours that ROCK, a message board, cool 3D maps, games, career videos and ways to connect with other college students. Check this one out and get in the “mood for college”!
http://www.savingforcollege.com/
I had to plop one in just for the parents. This is the BEST, I said BEST, site for everything you want to know about financing that college education but were afraid to ask. Remember guys: DENIAL is NOT a river in Egypt. Knowledge is power. The more you know the more prepared you will be. So take a deep breath and jump in!
http://www.theclic.net/
As my daughter would say…”cool beans”. This is a site where you can find and be found by colleges, scholarships and other college programs. A GREAT networking site and a place to connect and set up an online presence.

http://globalquad.com/
This site is Twitterific! Yes, I did say that. Keep up with college life on Twitter: students, colleges, faculty, clubs, and more. Stay on top of the latest college and student news via all the great Twitter links. And, there’s an option to “follow all” if you are so possessed. Whew…I’ll just follow…EVERYONE!

Frame My Future Scholarship Contest - Click here to go to framemyfuture.com and find out about $6,000 in scholarship awards!

No “yellow brick road” search would be complete without unearthing a scholarship. And this one is a great one. Here is how you enter to win…Submit a creation that shares with us what you want to achieve in your personal and professional life after college. Your entry can be a photograph, collage, poem, drawing, painting, graphic design piece, short typed explanation, or anything YOU can create in an image! Your entry should communicate: This is how I “Frame My Future.”

That ends my search for today. I think I can safely say I found the “Emerald City” because every one of those links can take your teen closer to their dream of a college education.

But right now, I’m OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD!

admissions, college guidance, college planning, parenting, social networks, test prep, Uncategorized

Back to School: Time to get Organized

back to schoolSchool has begun for most of the country and parents are getting back in the routine: morning breakfasts, packing lunches, dropping off at school, chauffeuring their kids for after-school activities, and attending teacher conferences and  PTA meetings in the evening.  Believe it or not, I miss those days. But what I don’t miss is all the chaos. And with teenagers, there is always chaos.

The only way to survive that chaos is to formulate an organization plan. Start by making a resolution to streamline the paperwork the minute it comes home: student guidelines, school manuals, meeting announcements, homework assignments, and any papers that require a parent signature.

There are several “landing” places that we all use: the kitchen table, our teen’s bedroom floor, our kids backpacks, and somewhere  in our car.  These all cause us much heartache later as we scramble around at 7:30 am for the required permission slip  as we are running out the door.

Resolve NOW to have a place for every school related piece of paper that makes its way into your home.

  1. Create a simple filing system using a crate, a box, or file cabinet with school related tabs and folders.
  2. Get yourself a large write on calendar for school activities.
  3. Set up a special “landing” place with a magnet board or bulletin board to keep the papers requiring parent signatures visible.
  4. Encourage your teen to participate in the process by emptying their backpack every afternoon of all important papers.

Before you know it they will be receiving notices of college fairs, booklets with SAT/ACT information, announcements from counselors about scholarship opportunities, and notices of college information nights at PTA meetings. Starting the process early when school begins will get you moving in a positive direction and prevent chaos in the mornings as you walk out the door.

And remember: Preparation Prevents Panic!

college costs, college planning, parenting

Saving for College

529-college-savings-plansSo many parents ask me the best way to save for college. Since every family is different, and their financial situation is unique it’s difficult to give a generic answer. But one thing is certain: saving will reduce your financial burden when your teen enters college. And as a responsible parent, you should plan for this expense, just like you plan for retirement.

Many experts agree these are the two best ways to save:

An Education Savings Account or Education IRA–This allows you to save $2,000 (after tax) per year, per child. Plus, this grows tax free! If you start when your child is born and save $2,000 a year for 18 years, you would only invest $36,000. However, at 12% growth, your child could have $126,000 for college!

A 529 College Savings Plan–Look for a 529 plan that allows YOU to control what funds are in the account. Do not choose a 529 plan that freezes your options or automatically changes your investments based on the age of your child.

Both of these options offer tax savings.

If you want to see how much you should begin saving, use this easy College Costs Calculator. But, be prepared for college sticker shock. Looking at it on paper can be quite sobering.

Here are two great sites that will help educate you and your family about saving for college.

SavingforCollege.com

Finaid.org

Spend some time reading all the information because all the answers can be found on these two sites. Once you know the facts about college savings you will be able to make an informed decision.

It’s never too late to start saving. And remember…Preparation Prevents Panic!

admissions, college guidance, college planning

MoreThanGrades–A great resource for Parents and Teens

more-than-grades-logo

When you’re a parent of a college-bound teen, you’re always looking for resources to help both you and your teen navigate the college maze. I’m always excited with a new resource comes online and I want to share it with other parents. MoreThanGrades.com is a web-based platform for students to create customized profiles for review by college admissions officers.

According to Ed Carpenter, the CMO of More Than Grades:

Students (and parents) can utilize the site in a variety of ways. We have an interactive college search feature that allows students to get the information they need. We also have the ability for students to find non-published scholarships that colleges offer using the same search engine.

Colleges can search for students using their search function, which allows them to seek out individuals with specific criteria listed in a student’s profile.

Our guidance tab allows students to ask individualized questions and get responses from our guidance and college representatives.

Spend some time at  MoreThanGrades and you will find this is an innovative approach to helping your teen create an online profile. The site gives college admissions officers the opportunity to learn more than the obvious application information about your teen.

college guidance, college planning, extracurricular activities, parenting, social networks

Parents of High School Freshmen: It's time to view your course options

high-school-courses-thumb7673077The U.S. Department of Education has compiled a list of courses for the college-bound student that is recommended by higher education associations and guidance counselors. These courses are specifically recommended for students that want to attend a four-year college. Even if your teen is leaning toward community college, junior college, or a technical college, they should still consider these courses. They provide the preparation necessary for all types of postsecondary education. Although academic requirements differ among colleges, the admissions requirements listed below are typical for four-year colleges. The specific classes listed here are examples of the types of courses students can take.

English–4 Years  (American Literature, English Composition, English Literature, World Literature (many schools offer English I, II, III and IV which combines all these within the yearly offerings)

Mathematics–3-4 Years   (Algebra I, Algebra II, Calculus, Geometry, Precalculus, Trigonometry)

History/Geography–2-3 years  (Civics, Geography, U.S. History, World History, U.S. Government, World Cultures, World Geography)

Science–2-4 years (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Marine Science)

Visual/Performing Arts–1 year (Art, Dance, Drama, Music, Band, Orchestra)

Foreign Language–2-4 years

Challenging Electives–1-3 years  (Communications, Computer Science, Economics, Psychology, Statistics)

Mathematical skills and scientific concepts and skills learned in challenging math classes are used in many disciplines outside of these specific courses.

Traditional English courses will help students improve their reading comprehension and also their writing skills and vocabulary. All of these skills are part of the SAT and ACT college aptitude tests.

History and geography help your teen better understand their society as well as other societies and governments around the world. Learning from history is a valuable tool in teaching your teen that there are consequences to all of our actions.

Encourage your teen to participate in the arts disciplines (visual or performing). Studies show that students who do often do better in school and on standardized tests. The arts also give them a richer understanding of history, science, literature and math, as well as helping to spur their creativity and ignite their passion. Many college admissions staff view participation in the arts as a valuable experience that broadens student’s understanding and appreciation of the world around them.