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Mom-Approved Tips: What Frustrates Parents Most About College Prep?

 

college prep

What frustrates parents most about college prep? I hear the frustration in parents’ voices every day about the overwhelming amount of knowledge a parent and student need to navigate the college maze. I call it a maze because that’s exactly how it feels. All throughout the process, parents feel lost, confused, off-track and often bewildered.

Not understanding your part in the process

It’s difficult for parents to know how involved you should be in the college prep process. It’s a balancing act between helping and hurting. Where do you pitch in? Should you teen handle everything alone? When do you cross the line?

In today’s world of highly involved parents, you need some help to define your boundaries and give your student the slack he needs to become independent:

Top 10 Dos and Don’ts of Parenting a College-Bound Teen

Motivating your student

I had an unmotivated student. It’s not that he wasn’t capable of achieving academic success; it was just that he didn’t have the motivation or the desire to do his best. He never soared in high school, or in the first semester of college, but he did reach his academic potential, finally.

It was hard having a child who didn’t grasp his full potential, no matter how much I told him he was capable of straight A’s. It just didn’t matter to him. Passing with average grades was good enough for him. Those grades, however, contributed to some difficult life choices and some hard lessons along the way. In the end, there were four tips that finally motivated him academically:

4 Tips to Motivate an Unmotivated Student

Finding a way to pay for the high costs

If you have a college-bound teen you’re well aware of the cost of college–it’s high. In a recent story in Business Week, one graduate confessed she had given up on her student loan debt of $186,000. She is not alone. With the nation struggling under a $1 trillion student debt crisis, stories like hers are nothing uncommon. For the first time ever, the national student loan default rate exceeds the credit card delinquency rate, and so long as student loans remain one of the few types of debt that can’t be discharged in bankruptcy, chances are the situation won’t improve any time soon.

As her parent, it’s up to you to make sure she doesn’t fall prey to debt that she cannot repay after graduation. Before she ever accepts an offer of admission, you need to talk to her about financing college. Following are a few tips to help broach that uncomfortable topic with your college-bound teen:

Talking to Your Kids About Financing College 

And you might also like to read:

10 Ways to Attend College for Free (or almost free)

Getting help and knowing who to ask

I was speaking with a parent the other night about advice her daughter received from an independent college counselor regarding standardized tests. The counselor told the student not to bother with either the SAT or ACT; they weren’t necessary. He made this statement before receiving a list of colleges and asking if she was applying to test optional schools! The parent questioned the validity of this advice, and rightly so.

With college admissions becoming ever more competitive, it may seem logical to consider working with an independent counselor. They can offer expertise and a personalized approach to the complex, time-consuming, and often stressful college prep, search and application process. But ask any group of parents and you will hear a variety of opinions. While some parents feel that engaging an independent counselor is an essential part of helping their student be a competitive applicant to his or her top choice schools, others question whether hiring someone adds value beyond what a student can already receive from parents and the high school.

Some parents choose to guide their student through the process and some choose to hire a professional. Neither is right nor wrong. The decision should be based on each family’s individual needs and resources.

Need some help trying to decide? Here’s an article I wrote for University Parent:

Should You Work With an Independent Counselor?

How to handle rejection

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. The best of times—getting an offer of admission. The worst of times—getting a letter of rejection. Or is it really? Is there any way to spin the disappointment? Parents have dealt with their kids facing rejection throughout their lives, but there is no greater disappointment that losing what you feel is your dream—getting in to your dream college.

I’ve found some very wise words from some very wise experts over the last several weeks. When the emotions subside and your college-bound teen is ready to talk, show them these words. It could open their eyes to the truth about college rejection letters:

The Truth about College Rejection Letters

college planning, mom approved tips

How to Make the Most Out of Your Education

 

educationEducation is important, from your early days in kindergarten all the way to the study you pursue later in life. Everyone is different though, and everyone studies for different reasons and different goals. No matter what your ultimate pursuit is though, there are a number of ways to make sure you really are getting the most out of your education.

Choose Pathways

Sometimes the slow path is the best path. People think trying to cram as many subjects into a three-year degree is the best way to go, but this type of workload and stress may actually be hindering your education. There are a variety of other flexible pathways available today, including colleges like Evocca, as well as TAFE courses and distance learning that can develop basic skills. By starting here, you can build up your knowledge gradually in your own time.

Think Long Term

Long term goals are what everyone should have in mind when it comes to their education. What are you going to get out of this? Where will you be able to apply this knowledge? To get the most from your education, sit down and pull apart what you’re studying and compare it, point to point, with what you want to do. By doing this you will be able to more clearly see what other subjects you need to add, or what might actually be irrelevant to what you want to learn. Some subjects will always be boring, but if they are more likely to help you in the long term, do them now.

Be Practical

Yes, working towards a diploma or a degree is going to give you the qualifications you need for a career, but it rarely gives you the practical experience to push you even further ahead. Many courses now make work experience a requirement, but not all of them. You have to put yourself out there if you want to show that you’re serious about a career. Volunteer on weekends for whatever is available, whether it be admin, as a coordinator, or a coffee runner. Every piece of life and industry experience counts when it comes to getting the most from your education and furthering your career prospects.

Self Educate

The best way to discover answers is to always be questioning, researching and recording. If you don’t question you don’t learn. Read widely when you can, and not just the books or journals that have been recommended by your tutor. Do internet searches, find educational institutes, locations or industry professionals on the subject you’re studying and further your knowledge that way. You have to be willing to always take it that one step further.

Society today is becoming more educated every year. Because of this, job prospects and industry expectations are at a high, and are therefore becoming hugely competitive. Really taking an analytical approach to your education, balancing it with experience and pushing yourself to always be learning from someone or something, is what is ultimately going to get you ahead.

Have you made the most of your education? If not, what areas do you think you could have improved on? Discuss your answers below.

mom approved tips

Mom-Approved Tips: Do the Math

 

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i hate math

Math– not my favorite subject. The words fraction, parallelogram, and xy coordinates strike fear and panic in the hearts of most parents. But believe it or not, according to a recent survey, 42% of adults believe that math was the most valuable subject they studied in school. It might also surprise you to learn that 70% of middle school students said they liked math. That’s an encouraging statistic, especially since STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) graduates are sought after and students are recognizing the future in these careers.

Why is math so important?

Student: I hate math. I just don’t see why I have to learn it. I’ll never use it after I graduate.

Mom: I hate math too. I never understood it and I never used it after high school.

WRONG. Do the math—you can’t survive without it. Everything we do revolves around facts and figures. If you don’t know the basics you can’t get by in this world. We use math in our personal lives and in our careers. Math teaches us problem solving skills and how to follow a specific path to get a desired answer. It’s so much more than 2+2=4. Even though most of us dreaded the word problems (and I bet your students do too), these teach us how to use math to find a solution. Math is used in just about every career as well.

Are your student’s math skills good enough for college?

Student: If I can just pass this math course I can graduate and get into college.

Mom: I will be so glad when this year is over. I can’t handle another frustrating night of math homework.

WRONG. Just passing and not understanding the math will not prepare your student for college, let alone the standardized tests. They need to understand the basic formulas and techniques used to solve problems. If they don’t, college will be even more of a struggle. Colleges look for students who are proficient in math and the sciences. Why? Because it demonstrates they have problem solving skills and have mastered difficult subjects.

How do you do the math if you can’t do the math?

Student: I don’t understand the problem and I have no idea how to solve it.

Mom: I have no idea either. Go ask your father.

WRONG. For most of us, basic algebra and geometry left us when we graduated from high school and/or college. When our teens ask us for help, we shake our heads and tell them to ask the other parent who almost always shakes their head as well. If you find yourself in this situation, turn to others for help—teachers, tutors and even online sites. Kahn Academy does a great job of explaining math and uses the videos to walk students through the step by step process. There are online tutoring networks as well. If your student is struggling, get them help before they drown.

Math is here to stay—whether we embrace it or dislike it. You can’t balance a budget, stop at the grocery store, calculate measurements for home improvement projects or determine the shortest driving route without it. The next time your student asks, “Why is math important” go to Google and type the question in the search box. You’ll be amazed at how many people have asked that same question and how many answers you will find.