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

What Parents Need to Know About an AI-Built College List

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AI-Built College List

Your teen may have already assembled some of their college list using AI. About half of high school students have used an AI tool at some point in the search process, up from around a quarter six months ago, a survey of more than 5,000 students by education consulting company EAB found. Most parents learn of it too late.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A chatbot will answer a question at 11pm that a teenager would never think to ask a counselor at 11am. But the same survey revealed that 18 percent of students had already started ruling out colleges because something a bot told them. That’s a real choice based on unverified data.

Here’s what to look for before that list is set in stone.

Continue reading What Parents Need to Know About an AI-Built College List →
empty nest, independence, MamaBear, parenting

Getting a College Power of Attorney Just Got Easier with Online Notarization

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college power of attorney

If you have a college-age child, there’s probably a legal document sitting somewhere on your mental to-do list that you keep meaning to take care of: a Power of Attorney.

And if you’re like most parents, you know it’s important. You also know that once your child turns 18, you may not automatically be able to step in and help with financial or legal matters if something happens.

But getting the paperwork completed? That can feel like one more thing to coordinate.

The good news is that getting a College Power of Attorney notarized just became a whole lot easier.

Mama Bear Legal Forms now offers online notarization, which means you can go from “We really need to get this done” to “It’s done!” without printing paperwork, finding a local notary, or making another appointment.

And as a parent who has been through the college years, I know that anything that removes one more logistical headache is worth paying attention to.

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college costs, financial planning, Guest Posts, Student debt, student loans

Your Parent PLUS Loan Is Capped—Here’s the Lever Parents Can Still Pull

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parent plus loan

If you’re using the Parent PLUS loan to plan your finances around your student’s college this fall, you’ll notice the new upper limit that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act now enforces.

As we covered when the hard caps took effect, from July 1, 2026, onward, the bill limits borrowing to $20,000 per student per year, with a total limit of $65,000 per student over the course of the whole degree.

The change will become apparent once the 2027-28 FAFSA opens on October 1, and it’s worth starting to plan for it already.

Our earlier piece delves into how you can find more sources of money for college, including scholarships, aid appeals, borrowing conservatively, and net price comparisons.

Here, we’ll look at a complementary strategy: how you can reduce the amount you have to pay for your student’s college fees.

Continue reading Your Parent PLUS Loan Is Capped—Here’s the Lever Parents Can Still Pull →
college housing, dorm life, move-in day, parenting

College Packing List: The Ultimate Guide for Parents and Students

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college packing list

Sending a child off to college is a big moment, full of excitement, pride, and, let’s be honest, a little bit of chaos. Trying to fit a teenager’s whole life into a few boxes and suitcases can feel totally overwhelming for everyone involved. The best way to make sure they have everything they need for a successful and comfy first year away from home is to put together a clear, organized packing list. This college packing list breaks down all the must-haves into easy-to-manage categories, so you can tackle the task one box at a time.

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financial aid, financial planning, Guest Posts, Student debt, student loans

Managing College Debt: Student Loans and Retirement Goals

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Your child gets into a college they love. Then you open the financial aid offer and realize how much the family would still need to borrow.

Before accepting those loans, decide what you can contribute while keeping up with essential bills and retirement savings. Leave emergency money available. Your child needs a clear budget, including how much debt each of you could reasonably repay, before the family commits to the school.

For U.S. families considering loans for the 2026–27 academic year, that conversation also needs to account for new Parent PLUS borrowing limits and repayment restrictions.

Continue reading Managing College Debt: Student Loans and Retirement Goals →
admissions, college guidance, college planning, college prep, high school

Why Early Bird College Planning Matters When It’s Your Grandchild

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Disclosure: This post is intended to introduce families to Early Bird™ and contains affiliate links. I only recommend resources that I believe may be useful to families navigating the college process.

early bird college planning

I’ve been through the college process before.

As a parent, I’ve experienced the excitement, the questions, the deadlines, the financial concerns, and, yes, even the occasional panic that comes with helping a teenager navigate the road to college.

But this year, I’m looking at the process from a slightly different perspective.

I have a grandson entering the college process this year.

And let me tell you, being on the sidelines as a grandparent doesn’t make me any less invested! In fact, it has made me think even more about how overwhelming college planning can be for families.

There are so many questions.

  • What colleges are actually a good fit?
  • What should students be doing in 8th, 9th, 10th, or 11th grade?
  • When should they take the SAT or ACT?
  • How do you find scholarships?
  • How do you help your student build a strong application without taking over the process?

And perhaps most importantly: How do you make sure your student isn’t simply following a checklist, but actually creating a college plan that fits who they are?

That’s why I was intrigued when I learned about Early Bird™, a college-planning platform designed to help students and families start earlier and make the process more personalized.

Continue reading Why Early Bird College Planning Matters When It’s Your Grandchild →
dorm life, move-in day, tech gadgets

Smartish Tech Products Every College Student Needs

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smartish tech products

If there is one thing I learned about sending kids off to college, it’s that the little things can become surprisingly big problems. A missing charging cable, a phone that falls between the bed and the wall or trying to carry a phone while juggling a backpack, coffee, keys, and everything else can quickly become frustrating.

That’s why I like finding products that solve an actual problem rather than simply adding another gadget to a college student’s already-overstuffed dorm room.

Smartish is one of those brands. Their products are designed around everyday annoyances, and three that caught my attention are the Cable Wrangler, Crown Joule, and the Case Slinger Crossbody Sling. These are exactly the kinds of inexpensive accessories I would consider adding to a college packing list.

Continue reading Smartish Tech Products Every College Student Needs →
college housing, dorm life, Guest Posts, move-in day

Small Dorm Room Ideas: Make a Shared Room Feel Like Home

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dorm room

College move-in season brings plenty of excitement—but making a small dorm room feel comfortable, functional, and personal can be a challenge.This is especially true when sharing space with a roommate. Between two beds, desks, wardrobes, and everything else needed for the school year, there may not seem to be much room left for privacy or personality.

The good news: Creating a space that feels functional and personal does not require expensive furniture or permanent changes. With a little planning, students can establish healthy boundaries, create dedicated zones, and make even the smallest shared room feel more like home.

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education, high school, life lessons, life skills, parenting

What Educational Visionaries Can Teach Us About Raising Better Learners

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The way we learn today reflects the ideas of people who questioned traditional education and pushed for better ways to teach. These educational visionaries’ influence shows up in classroom routines, teaching methods, and even how families support learning at home. Over time, these ideas have helped shape a more flexible and engaging approach to education.

Continue reading What Educational Visionaries Can Teach Us About Raising Better Learners →
college planning, financial aid, financial planning, student loans

Federal Student Loan Changes: What Parents Need to Know in 2026

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federal student loan changes

Paying for college has never been simple, and recent changes to federal student loan programs have made it even more important for families to understand their options before borrowing.

Whether you’re a parent considering a Parent PLUS Loan or a student preparing to accept federal loans, knowing what’s changed can help you make smarter financial decisions that could save thousands of dollars over the life of a loan.

Here are the most important federal student loan changes families should know.

Continue reading Federal Student Loan Changes: What Parents Need to Know in 2026 →

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