Tag Archives: college success

college guidance

A Recipe for College Success

 

college success

As a parent, knowing that you child has got into college is such a thrill. You are so happy for them that their hard work has paid off, and that they get to move on to the next stage of their life and better their career chances. But of course, there is a little worry and concern in that mix too. Worry about whether they will be OK, and concern for whether they will achieve their full potential in the college system. By why worry, when there are the thing that you can actually do to ensure they do their best when studying for their degrees? Just read on to find out what they are.

Help them get practically prepared

One important thing that you can do as a parent is to help your child to get partially prepared for college. This can be a thing like getting them the right supplies to survive a year in a dorm like thong sandals for the shower, and a decent frypan.

Or it can be by setting them up with a budget tracker and planner. So they can stay organized however hectic their schedule is.

It can even be helping them to have all the basics that they will need like clothes, toilets and washing powder, or a school bag and laptop.

Also if they aren’t heading to catered halls, then it’s a great idea to get some practical cooking lessons in with them in the run-up to going way from college. It doesn’t have to be anything 5 star. Just basic means like spaghetti bolognese, boiled eggs, and omelets. They will certainly be glad of these skills when they get there.

Help them improve weaker areas

Of course, college isn’t just all about being independent and exploring the world on their own, and there is a fair bit of studying to do as well. That means it can help your child prepare for college by getting their educational skills up to scratch.

This includes helping them improve with a thing like their spoken English skills by doing courses like the ones provided by the Effortless English Club. Or improving on their study skill by showing them different ways of making notes like mind mapping.  

Help them emotionally prepare

Of course, another ingredient of the recipe for college success is to help your child be mentally prepared for the experience. To do this, you may take advantage of the college open days. So they can get used to the layout and being on campus?

It’s also a great idea to speak to them about an emotional issue that might arise while they are away from home. This could be things like stress, mental health issues like depression or anxiety, sexual health issues, or being homesick.

More than anything it’s crucial to let you shall know that while their education is important, it is not vital to your parent-child relationship. This means that if they are having problems and are considering dropping out, they know that you will be there for them unconditionally and support them no matter what.

college guidance, college planning, parenting

5 Things you can do to help your kids succeed in college

photogirl2Every parent wants their kids to succeed, but most flounder when it comes to figuring out their role in contributing to those accomplishments. It’s not so hard when kids are little; teaching them to tie their shoes, share their toys, and look both ways when crossing the street is fairly easy. But as your kids get older they may become more resistant to your efforts and advice, even when you’re trying to help them reach their goals. This is a natural phenomenon. As children enter adolescence they begin to develop a strong urge to assert their independence. This is an important part of forming a separate identity and figuring out who they are and what they stand for. Without going through this phase they cannot hope to become mature, confident, and competent adults. So to some degree you need to let them make their own decisions, even though it’s your job to keep them safe, rein them in, and give them a reality check once in a while. And of course, there are still many ways that you can help them to succeed when they get to college, even if they don’t necessarily want your advice.

  1. Planning. When it comes to planning for college your kids may need help studying for SATs and PSATs. You might not be able to quiz them yourself but you can certainly hire a specialized tutor to ensure that they get the best possible score (increasing their chances for both admission and scholarships). And although they may have their hearts set on a particular university, you must urge them to find other suitable schools and apply to several so that they have plenty of options. You can even arrange for campus tours to help them make this life-altering decision.
  2. Financial aid. You might not have the money to cover the entire college tab, but thanks to student loans, scholarships, grants, and other resources you probably won’t have to. That said, most lenders will expect parents to cover a portion of the bill, based on income tax returns. And you probably want to contribute to the ongoing education of your children anyway to increase their odds of earning a degree and finding gainful employment (rather than living in your basement for the rest of their lives). A nice bonus of helping your kids financially while they’re in college is that it can ease their stress level so that they can devote more energy to their studies.
  3. Emotional support. While most kids are raring to go when it comes to leaving home, many find the stresses of their new situation to be somewhat overwhelming. So whether they’re trying to cope with homesickness, anxiety, or social issues, you can help to keep them on track by making yourself available for calling, texting, Skyping, and other forms of communication, listening to their problems and consoling or advising them as needed.
  4. Professional connections. If you happen to know people in the industries your kids are studying for careers in, you can use your connections to get them internships or perhaps even part-time work during their college years. This can help them to determine if they’re on the right track even as they gain valuable experience (along with school credit or a paycheck).
  5. Room and board. If you don’t have the money to give your kids the campus living experience, you can at least offer them room and board for free while they’re in school instead of making them get a job to pay rent somewhere else. This will give them the freedom to focus on school without having to worry so much about money or spend their time working to pay the bills when they should be attending to their studies. Whether your student is starting at a community college, attending a nearby university, or studying from home with a program from http://www.onlinenursingdegrees.maryville.edu, their opportunities for success in college could increase dramatically if they live at home.

Taking the above advice and putting it to practice will go a long way in ensuring they will succeed in college.

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!”