Tag Archives: college planning

admissions, college guidance, college planning, Guest Posts, parenting

Mom-Approved Tips: How to Help Your Child Get Into College (Without Being a Helicopter Parent)

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

how to help your child get in to collegeYour child is filling out forms, applying to schools, and getting ready to take the leap into the world of college life. As a parent, you may feel like your baby is slipping away, and as they begin acting more like an adult, your role becomes increasingly blurry. It’s not uncommon for parents to feel as confused, anxious, and overwhelmed as their college-bound kids.

The truth is, the college search process requires a delicate balancing act between parents and their children. As parents prepare to let go of their kids, they must offer their support and guidance while encouraging independence. In other words, show them that you trust them enough to make their own decisions, but be prepared to speak up when they make questionable choices.

Ultimately, establishing a parent-child relationship built on mutual respect and trust is one of the most rewarding things you can ever do for your offspring. By following these tips, you can help your child get into college, adjust to the coming changes and keep your sanity, making you proud of what you’ve both accomplished.

Set aside plenty of time and energy to focus on the college search.

Taking the time to really decide on a college is not a simple or straightforward process — for you or your child. In fact, it can be unpredictable and haphazard. Don’t put things off until the last minute, when you might be distracted by work or they’re just trying to get through exams. Instead, get started early; ideally, you should begin looking for schools at least in your child’s junior year. If you organize right and work together, you can get it all done during their senior year, especially if you start early in the semester.

Use the resources available to you.

Colleges and universities know that this can be a trying time for both you and your child, and they have numerous resources available. Even before your child gets accepted into a school, ask as many questions as necessary to your contacts in the school. Knowing the answers to your questions gives you a leg up on the future, as well as helping alleviate some of your fears. Find out what kinds of resources are available before your child starts class, and use them early and often. It’s important to keep your child up-to-date on any communications you may have with contacts at schools — they should feel just as involved in the process as you do. When they have questions of their own, guide them to the resources they need to find answers.

Let your child make the final decision.

You may have your own ideas about where you want your child to go, but remember that choosing is an important part of growing into an adult. Make them part of the process, helping them to identify what draws them to one school versus another. This can help you bridge the gap between what you both want. Showing support for such an important decision can also help you, as the parent, show that you trust your child, something that can pay dividends down the road.

These tips can help you get started, but it’s up to you and your child to keep the momentum going. By making the process a unified approach between yourself and your child, you stand a better chance of making everything come together when your loved one steps out of your home and into their first college classroom.

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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.

college guidance, college planning, college prep, websites

Campus Steps: A Free Resource for Students and Parents

 

campus stepsCampus Steps, the first free platform for students, parents and counselors to connect, communicate and navigate the road to higher education, launched recently. The company is being incubated by Campus Explorer, a leader in college recruitment technology in partnership with developers from Learning Core, which provides integrated school communication and content delivery systems.

Campus Steps addresses the nation’s broken college preparedness system. Nearly 75 percent of high schools lack online counseling technology solutions that can fundamentally improve the success of college and vocational school-bound students. For every 477 students, there is just one counselor and the average student receives less than 30 minutes of college counseling over their entire high school career. According to the American Psychological Association, high school students are now considered the most stressed-out age group with 80 percent of their stress related to workload.

“Students lack the critical support they need to find the right college or vocational school,” said Mark Eastwood, general manager, Campus Steps. “Campus Steps brings transparency and empowerment to the college admissions process. Just as adults use Linkedin to manage their professional profiles, our goal is for students to use Campus Steps to manage and track their academic profiles.”

Campus Steps hosts multiple online and mobile ready apps to easily allow a student to keep tabs of their academics, search colleges, apply for colleges and communicate with their counselor via text or email. The platform matches students to colleges based on a database of more than 8,500 public and private four-year universities, community colleges and trade/vocational schools, regardless of their academic level, socioeconomic background or location.

Key apps for students include:

  • High School Resume – Students track academic info and accomplishments with a mobile friendly, easy to use tool. The Resume Score shows where a student stands compared to the national average.
  • College Matching – Discover new colleges with the personalized matching technology.
  • My College Goals Manager – Students create a college goal list and manage their application process all in one place.
  • Student Resources – Articles, resources and guides answer all college related questions.

Campus Steps also helps counselors better manage their workflow through setting appointments, automated messages and tracking their students’ college search and application plans.

About Campus Steps

Campus Steps is the first free platform with powerful apps for students, parents, and counselors to connect, communicate and navigate the road to higher education. The platform currently has 150,000 users and democratizes access to higher education, regardless of a student’s academic level, socioeconomic background or location. Based in Santa Monica, Calif., the company is being incubated by Campus Explorer, a leader in college recruitment technology in partnership with developers from Learning Core, which provides integrated school communication and content delivery systems. For more information, visit www.CampusSteps.com. Follow us on Facebook @CampusSteps and Twitter @CampusSteps.

college planning, college prep, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: College Prep in Middle School

 

college prep in middle schoolMost parents don’t begin to think about college prep until junior or senior year of high school. But the problem with that strategy is that by that time you will be at the end of the line. While I’m certainly not a proponent of ramming the thought of college down your middle schooler’s throat, I do believe there are some tasks you should do for college prep in middle school.

I recently wrote an article for TeenLife on “How to Prepare for College Before High School”. Here’s an excerpt from the aticle:

In a Forbes article about preparing for college, Director of Admissions MaeBrown said, “Start preparing for college at grade six. ”That’s when parents and students should increase the focus on the final goal after high school graduation: college.

Start planning academics

Middle school students should begin planning their academic path that will carry into high school. Meet with the school counselor and discuss the courses that can be taken in middle school to prepare for high school, especially in the math and science categories. Many middle schools offer classes that were traditionally reserved for high school students. These math classes are required to take more advanced math classes in high school and to take science classes like chemistry and physics. In addition to taking math every year in middle school, your child should take:

  • English: Every year.
  • History (including geography) and science: As many classes as possible.
  • Foreign language: Many colleges require at least two years of a language, which your child can begin in middle school.

Because college work and many jobs now require computer skills, your child should also try to take advantage of any computer science classes offered in middle and high school. He’ll gain new skills and may discover a career path.

Read, read, read

Establish an environment at home that encourages reading. Students can start adding to their vocabulary by reading diversely. Tweens should be reading all types of books, articles, blogs and news articles. This increases their vocabulary, which is a strong component in essay writing and standardized tests. While you’re at it, why not make vocabulary building a family game by learning a word a day? There are lots of free subscription services that will email a word of the day.

Partner with your child’s educators

Middle school is the time parents tend to be less involved, but it’s the very time your child needs encouragement and guidance. Meet your child’s teachers, if you haven’t already done so, and make it clear that you want to be kept up to date about any changes in your child’s work or behavior.

Go over your child’s standardized test results with the counselor to identify strengths and weaknesses. Talk to the counselor about your child’s interests to see if there are electives and extracurricular activities that will help him develop his talents. If your child needs extra help or more challenging assignments in a subject, talk to the counselor about how to arrange it.

Start working on extracurriculars

A key ingredient in the college application is extracurriculars. Begin looking at areas that interest your child in middle school. Try out some volunteering, connect with a mentor for an internship, and explore hobbies and interests. If your child enters high school committed to one activity, it will be much easier to carry that through the next four years.

Read Wendy’s post: 3 Ways to Prep Middleschoolers for College Prep

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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, college guidance, college planning, Guest Posts

Mom-Approved Tips: Be Wise-Apply to Backup Schools

 

Being admitted into your first choice school is a challenge and not a guarantee. No matter how positive you are about your application, no matter how hard you’ve worked to be an ideal applicant, it is important not to assume that gaining admission to your top choice for college is a sure thing. But don’t get dejected or cynical! Here are three ways to increase your chances of being accepted by applying to backup schools.

backup schools
Photo Courtesy of Andre Lüd

Why You Should Apply to Backup Colleges

Rather than be overly confident or too doubtful during the college application process, try to balance your reason with your desire by applying to more than one school. The responsible way to deal with the possibility of being rejected from your first choice is to apply to backup schools. Applying to more colleges and keeping your options open will only increase your chances of being accepted somewhere. Since it is possible that you’ll get in to a backup school over your ideal school, it’s a good idea to take the time to consider several colleges that you’re interested in attending.

The Number of Colleges You Apply to Matters:

Application fees can be costly, but it’s a good idea to invest your time and funds on more than just a few applications. For most students, anywhere from 5-7 applications is a good number. If you under-apply, you run the risk of not getting in anywhere; if you over-apply, you may get overwhelmed and unable to complete the whole process.

Although quantity is vital in increasing your chances of getting in, the quality of your applications also affect your chances of being accepted. Many state schools have one application portal for every school location, which makes applying to more than one school easier. Regardless of whether you’re interested in public or private, try to apply to a manageable number of colleges without overexerting your energy.

Applying to the “Right” Colleges for You

When choosing backup schools to apply to, think thoroughly about major options, location, tuition fees, and each school’s unique application process. If you’re undecided about your major or open to changing it in the future, apply to schools that have many strong programs.

Even if you’re not adventurous, try to picture yourself living in more than one college town. Consider affordability and look for schools that have good scholarship or work study programs. Research what schools like in an applicant and how they accept students to see if you’re their ideal candidate. For instance, if you’re a poor test taker but have a high GPA or write great application essays, apply to colleges that rely more heavily on the latter.

Photo Courtesy of Minh
Photo Courtesy of Minh

Bottom line: widen your educational horizons by keeping an open mind. When you apply to several schools, you give yourself the opportunity to have a variety of options or the chance to be surprised by your acceptances. It’s likely that the “right” college for you picks you rather than you pick it.

Due to intense competition and circumstances beyond your control, you may not get in to the college of your choice or be able to afford it. If you’re serious about higher education and gaining a degree, then be wise and apply to backup schools. If you want to make the best of your college experience, be open and pro-active during your application process.

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Javaher Nooryani is a writer and editor based in Denver, CO. She has a BA in American Literature & Culture from UCLA and a Masters in English & American Literature from NYU. As a former private tutor and college prep advisor, Javaher is passionate about higher education and is happy to share her knowledge on CollegeFocus, a website that helps students deal with the challenges of college. You can follow CollegeFocus on Twitter and Facebook.

college planning, interviews

Mom-Approved Tips: Preparing for the College Interview

 

college interviewNobody likes interviews, and the college interview is no exception. Inexperienced high schoolers are expected to enter a room with a college admissions officer and speck eloquently while answering their questions. Factor in the obvious nerves and the inability to know what they are going to ask and you have a very anxious teenager.

My daughter was no different. She had her heart set on a popular New England university and the interview would be the defining factor in their decision to admit her. She had the grades and the extracurriculars, but her SAT scores were average and below the university’s typical applicant. So she scheduled an interview and we traveled to San Antonio to meet with the admissions officer. As you can imagine, she was a bundle of nerves.

Long story short, she was offered admission. Even longer story, she turned them down and opted for a smaller New England college that offered better financial aid and better suited her interests. But the interview made the difference.

Entering any interview unprepared is unwise. Job applicants should learn about the company before the interview; and students should learn about the college and prepare some answers to commonly asked questions.

Can you answer these 10 interview questions?

Here is a list of 10 interview questions colleges might ask and suggestions on how to respond. They may not be exactly as worded, but they will fall into one of four categories: questions about your fit with the college, questions about your personality, questions about interests and goals, and broader questions requiring a more thoughtful response.

Click here to read the entire article on TeenLife.com’s blog

5 Questions you should ask on a college interview

The answers to the questions they ask you (Can You Answer These 10 College Interview Questions?) are important. But the questions you ask them can be just as important and can also help you make your final college decision. In the end, it’s not just them choosing to admit you, it’s you choosing to accept their offer of admission.

Click here to read the entire article on TeenLife.com’s blog

A key thing to remember is that the college decision is your decision. Colleges seem to have the power during the interview process, but the interview is also your opportunity to clarify your choices and learn more about the college. Approaching this interview with this in mind will help you relax and be more confident. Asking questions shows the colleges that you are strong, independent and will be making an informed decision.

 

admissions, college planning, websites

The College Application Process–New Tools for the Digital Age

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It always excites me when I find a tool that helps parents and students stay organized during the college admissions process. In the past, we have used filing drawers, wall calendars and to-do-lists to stay on top of all the admissions requirements. Then we moved on to usb storage drives, smartphone calendars and Evernote, which have worked seamlessly over the last few years. But today, there is a new tool for the digital age: The College Application Wizard.

 

 

College Application Wizard is the brainchild of Lynell Engelmyer and Kelly Herrington. Between Lynell and Kelly, they have over four decades of experience in college admissions, college counseling, and college financial aid.  Lynell, a former Director of Financial Aid, owns a successful college counseling practice in upstate New York, and frequently writes and speaks to groups about all aspects of applying to and paying for  college.  Kelly is the Director of College Counseling at a high school in the Pacific Northwest and is the former Associate Dean of Admissions at Union College.  Lynell and Kelly worked with a team of graphic designers, programmers and writers to create the first online personalized college organizer – The College Application Wizard.

 Just to see how the program works, I signed up for a free account (one college) and walked through the process. It was simple, self-explanatory, and allowed you to tailor your list by setting your own deadlines on the tasks and adding any extra to-do lists for each task. The application gives you all the requirements for each individual college: transcripts you need to gather, recommendation letter requirements, forms required for financial aid, application and financial aid deadlines, and essay topics. Here’s a screenshot of the college that I set up–Bentley University.
The cost is free for one college and $9.95 for up to 15 colleges for one year of access (more than enough in a narrowed down list). The fee includes the customized online organizer tool and a host of other resources including the advice of professionals with almost a half-century of college admission and financial aid experience.  The fee also allows the student to share their account with two people (parents, counselors, mentors, etc.)  These mentors enjoy read-only access to the student’s file. In my opinion, this is a BARGAIN!

Why Do Students and Parents Need The College Application Wizard?

Gone are the days when every high school had enough college counselors with sufficient time to work with each student. Today, one counselor is often assigned to hundreds of students.  At the same time, the process itself has become more complex and the competition increased.  In the past, students applied to three or four colleges.  Today, students often apply to 7 to 10 colleges or more.  Students who used to take either the SAT or ACT now take both tests and may also need to take SAT Subject Tests as well.  Arts majors may need to prepare a portfolio.  Athletes must prepare an athletic resume and submit game film to schools.  Students need to request teacher recommendations and follow-up to make sure they were submitted by the deadlines.  Families applying for financial aid face another important set of requirements and deadlines with very high stakes attached.   It’s the rare person who can seamlessly navigate and organize every step of this process.  For many applicants, this process is a complex, confusing maze.

The College Application Wizard takes the confusion out of the process and straightens out the maze to organize, guide and support students along the path to college.  It helps students understand the steps they need to take and take those steps in the right order and at the right time.  It relieves anxiety and takes the stress out of the process for parents.  In the words of a parent who saw the prototype of the College App Wizard, “This is a parent’s dream come true!”

admissions, college planning, organization

ApplyKit: An Online Personal Assistant for College Applications

 

Last night during #CampusChat I noticed a new participant–@applykit. Naturally it peaked my interest and after the chat I did a little research about them. As luck would have it, the founder Bobby Touran emailed me with the 411 about their service.

Heads up parents and students–there’s another tool available to help organize the college planning process. The app manages all aspects of the college application process, including recommendations.

applykit

ApplyKit, the online personal assistant for the entire college application process, today announced the beta release of its ApplyKit service, cloud-based software that helps high school seniors manage their own efforts as well as those of interested stakeholders such as recommenders and parents.  ApplyKit manages the college selection process by bringing the entire process online, and connecting everyone involved.

The ApplyKit software includes the following features:

  • Add a desired school with one click, and ApplyKit will automatically load its deadlines and requirements in checklist form
  • Personalized dashboard tracks a senior’s progress against all applications, as well as any upcoming deadlines
  • A single, secure online space for students to work on application materials with collaborators like recommenders, consultants, and parents

“I’ve built a business around the inefficiencies of college applications,” said Craig Plummer, a professional college counselor.  “ApplyKit will help me manage the application process for my students in a way not previously possible.”

When a student creates an ApplyKit account, she can search for schools and add them to her dashboard. ApplyKit automatically adds dates and deadlines to a student’s master timeline for each school she chooses.  These dates and deadlines trigger email reminders to make sure she doesn’t forget a single step in the process.

ApplyKit then provides an online “Folder” for each school to keep materials and workflow clear and organized.  A student can use the “Collaborators” feature to involve others in the application process as appropriate.  For example, a teacher can compose and submit a letter of recommendation online.  If desired, ApplyKit will even automatically send newsletters to parents to keep them in the loop, including analytics on their student’s overall progress.

ApplyKit was founded by Bobby Touran, a serial entrepreneur from a family of educators, who was stunned by the hassle and manual grunt work required to manage his business school applications.  “At ApplyKit, we plan to disrupt the archaic college application process,” said Touran. “We have launched our product, we have new customers signing up daily, and we will be announcing a number of key relationships in the coming months.”

Touran built ApplyKit as part of Wasabi Ventures’ Entrepreneur-in-Residence program, based in both Nashua, New Hampshire, and Baltimore, Maryland.  Said Touran, “This is a fantastic time for EduTech innovation, thanks to all the great resources available.  For example, in addition to the Wasabi Ventures EIR program, we are an applicant for Pearson’s “Catalyst” program.  Catalyst exposes startups to Pearson’s API and arranges sessions with Pearson advisors.”

Pricing and Availability

ApplyKit uses a Freemium pricing model.  Any student can sign up and manage a single college application for free; a Basic plan that covers 5 applications is $12 per month, and a Premium plan that allows unlimited applications is only $25 per month.  Discounts are available for students who pay for 6 or 12 months in advance.

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About ApplyKit

ApplyKit manages a student’s college selection process. Students can access, track and share all research and application materials in one place. Applications to undergraduate institutions are at record highs, and students need an advantage more than ever. ApplyKit is positioned at the heart of the college prep industry. Bobby Touran—an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Wasabi Ventures, started the company in 2012. Visit http://www.applykit.com/about for more information. 

 

admissions, college guidance, college planning, websites

Online college resources for parents

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Recently, I prepared a list of what I believe to be invaluable college resources for parents online. I’ve found these resources to be helpful during the college admissions process and can vouch for the quality of the information they provide. This is not an all-inclusive list, but some of my favorite go-to resources. After all…”we get by with a little help from our friends”.

Youtube

Researching Colleges
SAT Prep tips
90 second videos to help students and parents with admissions
College Auditions
Tips for students who will be auditioning for an arts (music, theater) college

Parent help sites

Student Advisor
Guides and an App to help parents with the admissions process
University Parent
A comprehensive site for parents with tips and guides

Blogs

Dr. Strange College
A parent’s perspective step by step through the college journey
The College Solution by Lynn O’Shaughnessy
Info on admissions, aid, and great advice on how to choose the right college
Admissions Game
Comprehensive info for parents and students with Q&A available
SAT Tutoring Blog
Tips from the writer of “Outsmarting the SAT”

Tutoring

ADHD tutoring-Jennifer Cohen
If your student is ADD/ADHD this is the BEST tutoring available
Quincy tutoring network
Network of tutors to help in school
Hoot.me
Use facebook to connect with other students and get help with homework

Sat prep

Bell Curves
Exceptional SAT/ACT prep company focusing on diversity with integrity
Word Nerd
The BEST way to study SAT vocabulary in preparation for the test
Revolution Prep
Hosts a tutoring season on Facebook–giving great tips

College searching

Student Advisor
Offers free guides for parents and students on all college topics
The College Board
Great site for students to begin their college search
College Prowler
by students for students–info on college campuses to help with the college search
College Application Wizard
Plan and organize your college search

College visits

Smart college visit
Plan your trip, book your travel, get insight about college visits
Join Parent Advocate program to get/give expert advice
Welcome to College
Find schools, review the school info, read and give peer reviews and even schedule and keep track of visits
College Week Live
A virtual college fair where students can talk to other students and admissions counselors online

Scholarships

Zinch
Cappex
Fastweb
How to win college scholarships
Scholarships 360

Admissions

CollegeData
Gives parents and students help with choices, admissions tracking, and percentages to gauge admissions
College Navigator
Stats on colleges for parents and students to compare cost, aid awarded, acceptance rates and export results into a spreadsheet
Ask a question about college
Type your question in the box and get answers from experts
Unigo
Advice from college experts and students with a Q&A platform

Financial Aid

College Affordability and Transparency Center
FinAid
College Money Insider
The best info on loans, repayment, and financial aid advice
College Financial Aid Advisor
Help for parents and students with the FAFSA and finding financial aid

College Recruiting

NCSA Sports
Learn about the college recruiting process and how it works
Be Recruited
Register and get in touch with coaches and recruiters

College Tax Tips

College Tax Guides
Bone up on all the tax information you need to know about college-related expenses.

College related chats on Twitter

#campuschat
#collegechat
#collegecash
#collegebound
college planning, Guest Posts, Uncategorized

Six Simple Steps to Prepare for College

The competition for college acceptance has never been tougher, which is why preparing early for your college education can help you position yourself to get into the college you want.  High school graduation may seem like it is ages away, but now is the time to start preparing for college.   Getting ready for college means planning for the future and making some very important decisions early—we advise following these six steps below to maximize your chances of getting into the best college possible.

1) Visit a College Counselor as Early as 9th Grade

Students should begin visiting a college counselor as early as 9th grade. Visit your school’s college counselor early and often to assist with SAT prep, college choices, college applications and letters of reference at no additional cost.

2) Do Your Research to Find a Great Match

Finding a college that compliments your educational goals, personality and learning style takes time and effort. Start by making a list of what criteria your perfect school would have. From that list, focus on the schools that meet your needs with regard to location, size, character and degree programs.  I highly recommend the various college searching tools available at Student.CollegeBoard.org

3) Visit at Least 6 College Campuses

It is recommended that you visit at least six campuses before senior year begins and applications start going out.  Once you have edited down your list of potential schools, schedule an appointment to visit each campus. Also, make sure to check out the schools’ social media sites to get the inside scoop before you visit.

4) Explore Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Total School Costs

Many students find it helpful to prepare an excel spreadsheet to manage information on colleges’ costs, financial aid program and scholarship offerings.

Review national lists of scholarships, awards and grants for college. BigFuture.com is one of many great resources for finding scholarships and awards.

5) Line up Your References Before Junior Year Ends

Get to know teachers and administrators, who can provide valuable letters of reference to accompany your college applications.  Get involved in extracurricular activities, such as leadership and service opportunities, to build strong relationships.

Allow enough time to show them why you are worthy of their endorsement and provide ample notice, at least four weeks, for them to write the letter. Send a thank you note after you receive your letter to show your appreciation.

6) Take the SAT Exam Seriously

Preparing for the SAT should start well before you even book the date of the exam.  The test draws on information learned during the school year, so make sure you do well in class, working with a tutor as necessary.

Lastly, strong consideration should be given to the type of high school you attend, for not all high schools are created equal.  Many colleges will take into account the academic structure and relative rigor of your high school, so attending a respected boarding school or private high school could provide several advantages as well.  But, regardless of what high school you attend, the single most important advice I can give you is to start early—getting into the college of your dreams will make all this preparation worth the hard work.

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Today’s guest post was contributed by Amanda Green, a freelance writer who normally writes on the topics of education, business, and personal finance. Amanda has been writing for multiple years on the web and enjoys writing on less serious topics like pets and crafting in her spare time! You can read more writing by Amanda at paidtwice.com

admissions, college guidance, college planning, tutoring

Alleyoop connects with Naviance to maximize student success

Earlier this year, I wrote a post about Alleyoop, a program designed to help students prepare for college by improving their math skills.

Today Alleyoop is partnering with Hobsons to create even more customized recommendations to keep students on track to reach their college and career goals through Naviance. With more than 5 million students in 5,500 schools around the globe, Naviance is the world’s largest college and career readiness platform. Through this partnership, students can use their Naviance Family Connection accounts to benefit from the collective intelligence of the Alleyoop Super Brain to improve their math and science skills.

“Alleyoop is about so much more than getting immediate math and science help — it’s about letting students take control of their education,” said Patrick Supanc, president of Alleyoop. “With this new partnership, Alleyoop becomes a destination for students and families on Naviance to get personalized academic resources that help make their dreams a reality.”

Alleyoop helps students succeed by connecting them with the right resources at the right time. Students will now get customized, tailored math and science help from Alleyoop based on the goals they set within the Naviance Family Connection portal.

According to The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, every year in the United States, nearly 60 percent of first-year college students discover that, despite being fully eligible to attend college, they are not academically ready for postsecondary studies. Alleyoop and Naviance are helping to bridge the gap between college eligibility and college readiness by providing a way for students to set academic and career goals, and map out a plan of action to achieve them.

 

“The combination of Naviance and Alleyoop makes it easier than ever for students to tie learning to life,” said Stephen M. Smith, President, Hobsons K-12. “At Hobsons, we strive to connect everything a student learns to a real-world objective. Our partnership with Alleyoop helps students tie their interests and skills to real college majors and careers, and preparing them academically and personally for a bright future.”