All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

admissions, college planning, college prep

Is Military College Right for Your Student?

 

military college
Texas A&M Corps of Cadets

I recently had a discussion with an admissions officer regarding military colleges. The conversation arose because he had read my blog post “Motivating an Unmotivated Student”. In it I discussed my son’s college journey from high school, to the Marines, to college. He expressed his concern that many students are choosing the military as an option after high school when students who aspire to college can get the best of both worlds—a military college.

Twenty years ago, my son was in NJROTC and I was well acquainted with the service academies, but no information was given to him or to us about military colleges. The recruiters, however, were a constant presence in the unit. They have the cadets take the ASVAB test and use the test to draw them into military service. For some students, the military is an excellence choice. For others, a military college might be a better option.

What is a military college?

According to The Association of Military Colleges and Schools, “Military schools have a unique culture that is built on tradition and proven practices.  Students wear uniforms and participate in ceremonies that develop self-discipline and foster pride. Most are boarding (residential) schools where the students live together and are part of a student-lead organization that helps each student develop competencies as a follower, team member, and leader. Students learn the importance of self-discipline, time management, and to work together with others as part of a team.”

What types of colleges are available?

There are Senior Military Colleges (4 year), colleges that offer ROTC programs, and Military Junior Colleges (2 year). Cadets have formation, physical training and wear their uniforms. For more information about the specific programs, you can check out these sites:

What is the military service obligation?

Two-year colleges, colleges and universities all offer programs leading to commissioning that include a service obligation. However, none of these programs are mandatory and many students participate in the school’s Corps of Cadets without incurring an obligation. The decisions whether to accept a commission is normally made at the beginning of the junior year.

Where can I get help or ask questions about military colleges?

As with any college information, going to the source is the best practice. Contact the admissions offices of each individual college for information, schedule a visit, and speak with an admissions officer.

Another excellent source for information is the Service Academy Forums. You can browse the FAQs, view the questions and answers already posted, and even post a question. Often these forums provide parents with answers to all of their questions.

The military can be an excellent choice for anyone desiring to serve their country. But you might want to consider a military college, giving students the military experience along with a strong education.

 

college guidance, college planning, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Illogical College Choices–Part 1

1 Comment

 

college choicescollege choicesIn March, Wendy and I discussed how to make a good college list (Part 1). Today, we’re revisiting that advice and adding some additional tips on helping them make those college choices.

Summer vacation is halfway gone and families have most likely been making some preliminary college visits. It’s only natural for students to begin formulating a lists of “wants” when they begin to see themselves in college. However, the difference between what they “want” and what they “need” can be miles apart. It’s your job to rein them in.

You student may list the following illogical things as his must-haves. Next week, I’ll discuss how to steer him in a different direction.

  • Going to the same school a boyfriend or girlfriend is going to—The danger here is obvious. High school romances rarely last and once the romance ends, so does the love for the college.
  • Only look at the colleges your best friend is viewing—Friendships, while many last a lifetime, are no reason to make a college choice. Friends oftentimes have different educational goals and career paths. Even if they line up, evaluate the true reasons for choosing the college and be sure it’s not for friendship. Besides, I saw many college friend explosions over the years when my kids were in school. It taints your view of the environment.
  • Choose a college because you love their football team—Being a Texas Aggie fan or a Texas Longhorn fan or a Notre Dame fan is no reason to attend their college. Investigate their academic programs and choose it if it gives you the best education for your needs and for your dollar.
  • Choose a college based on its “party” ranking—You would be surprised how many students choose schools that are ranked high as a party school. They convince their parents it’s for the academics, but truthfully it is not. My son did this after the Marine Corps. It was the worst decision he ever made. Too much partying equals academic failure. Besides, even the most stringent academic institutions have parties.
  • Limiting location—Don’t just look at colleges close to home. Check out some schools that are a little further away. It will increase your options.
  • Let the choice just happen—Many teens just slide in to the most comfortable place: they got an email from someone; their friend suggests it; their parents went there. Neither of these are good reasons to attend college.
  • Pick a college to impress someone—This is not a reason to choose a college. Keeping up with the Jones’ or trying to impress your friends will only result in your teen being unhappy at school.
  • Believe that the harder a college is to get into, the better it must be—The best colleges are sometimes the ones that have a high rate of acceptance. Research is the key to finding out the benefits of these schools.
  • Assume that all colleges are the same—All colleges offer an education, but not all colleges are the same. Programs, athletics, campus life, and even teaching styles vary. All of these can affect the overall college experience.
  • Rely on someone else’s opinion—Never assume anything about a particular college until you investigate and gather information. Opinions vary and at any given time you will always find someone that loves or hates a particular school.

Now read Wendy’s post: 2 Phases, 3 Points for Forming a College List

_____________________

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.

study abroad

Is You Student Interested in Attending College Abroad?

 

college abroadAre considering colleges in this country as your college-bound teen’s only option? Is your student interested in exploring different cultures, traveling, and gaining a more global view of the world? If so, then attending college abroad could be a viable option.

Why would your student consider attending college abroad?

Rather than studying abroad for only a semester or two, some Americans are choosing to attend school full time overseas.  In addition to the more than 260,000 students who study abroad each year for academic credit at a U.S. college or university, more and more American students, upwards of 40,000, have enrolled in higher education institutions outside of the U.S. for full degree programs.

By choosing an international degree program, not only is the student able to earn a degree, they have the opportunity to live and travel abroad as well; something they cannot experience if they attend college in the United States.

What can your student gain from this experience?

Your student will be immersed in the culture, gain a completely different world view, learn independence and self-sufficiency, and in most cases, be able to travel to bordering countries. The majority of international degree programs take less time to complete than standard four-year American universities, which can be cost efficient in terms of tuition in the long run. Many countries average tuition is less than that of the United States. Multicultural programs draw attention to the local culture, as well as learning other communication skills in the country’s native language.

Additionally, studying abroad offers you a valuable resume boost. Global companies are looking for applicants who have global experience, a knowledge of diverse cultures, and developed independence, learning to problem solve on their own.

What steps should your student take before applying abroad?

Students and parents should do their research. Students should always verify that a school is accredited regardless of the country they plan to study in. A student should consider length of degree, cost, language of instruction and degree types offered.

Students also have to do their due diligence in educating themselves about the countries and the cultures they will encounter.That is as important for an American student going to the London School of Economics or to the Sorbonne [in Paris] as it is for a course of study at this institution: American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

After students determine what university to attend, they should verify the level of support from the host institution to help navigate the move and get familiar with the campus and surroundings once the student arrives.

There’s nothing like an education experience abroad. With all the benefits listed above, it might be something your family and student should consider.

 

App Tuesday

10 Math Apps for Students

1 Comment

 

math appsDoes math homework make you quake in your shoes? It did me. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the widespread availability of apps that today’s high school students have. To begin, if you need a Windows desktop app or file sharing, then try Cloud Desktops at https://www.clouddesktoponline.com and SharePoint at https://www.cloudappsportal.com,

Here are 10 math apps you can download to help with those ever-present math questions:

1. Graphing Calculator by MathLab (Android) / Free Graphing Calculator (iOS)

Graphing calculators used to be expensive, complex and pretty fun if you could program games on them. However, those studying advanced mathematics can download these apps. These free apps provide users with advanced operations, functions, an intuitive user interface and beautifully laid out graphs featuring slopes, roots and intersections — just to name a few.

2. Convert Units for Free (iOS) / Unit Converter (Android)

Allowing you to convert nearly anything — be it currency, data, energy, power or temperature. For world travelers, they are also able to convert currency in real time using up to date exchange rates. These free apps let you create your own unit conversions for anything you want, quickly and easily.

3. MathRef (iOS, Android)

MathRef is a solid app for quickly finding formulas across multiple disciplines. This app does not cover as many disciplines as WolframAlpha, but that is perhaps a strength as is it more focused on traditional math fields such as Algebra, Geometry and Calculus. MathRef also has an excellent user interface, allowing users to add notes to equations, save favorite equations and copy text from within the app to e-mails or text editor.

4. Wolfram Alpha (Android, iOS)

Wolfram Alpha, available for both offers up detailed answers to any math-related or number-centric question you could ever have. This computational knowledge engine can compute almost anything across 29 disciplines. You can get formula details, graphic representations and brief explanations to help you understand how the app arrived at a given solution. It will even tell you the meaning of life, if you ask it.

5. Digits (iOS)

After making standard calculations, Digits saves your work in an onscreen tape akin to the old accounting calculators with the paper ribbon. If you made a mistake anywhere in the ribbon, “check the tape” to locate the error and correct the calculation on the spot. Once you’ve made all the calculations needed, you can save and share your ribbon for printing or further manipulation in Apple’s Numbers or Microsoft Excel.

6. My Script Calculator (iOS, Android)

Some of us have very nice handwriting, others have chicken scratch. When using a stylus or our finger on a screen, however, most of us just have chicken scratch. This makes the functionality of MyScript Calculator even more impressive. By writing the equation you are looking to solve onto your phone or tablet’s screen, the app deciphers your writing, converts it to digital text, then solves the problem for you. So if you’re someone who doesn’t want to hunt for a specific operator on your phones keyboard, this is the app for you.

7. Math Solver (iOS, Android)

Math Solver helps you solve mathematical equations. It shows you the answer to the problem as well as the steps used in the solution. The app solves linear equations and quadratic equations. Math Solver also simplifies expressions, solves literal and radical equations, factors, and graphs equations.

8. The MathPage (iOS, Android)

Ever have your student ask you how to solve a math problem and you immediately panic. Stop struggling with complex, confusing math concepts…. if you can’t solve a problem TheMathPage will show you how, with clear explanations, easy examples and interactive questions (just tap to reveal the answers). It’s like having your own personal tutor!

9. Equations All-in-One (iOS)

Equations All-In-One solves 130 plus of the most common Math, Chemistry, and Physics formulas used in universities and high schools throughout the world. Each formula allows you to solve for any variable in the given equation. This App is essential for any student! Ideal for Math, Physics or Chemistry Classes. Includes unit converter with capability to convert all major units for physics and chemistry.

10. iMathematics Pro (iOS, Android)

iMathematics is the best app for the study of math! With more than 120 topics, over 1000 formulas, attractive interface, with 7 solvers and calculators, it’s the complete package for your study of math.

parenting, Uncategorized

The Empty Nest: Should You Redecorate?

 

redecorateSome parents may mentally throw a party when their child goes off to college, while others may feel their home will be empty without the noise, mess and general frenzy that teenagers bring to a house and wish they were not going to college at all.

To decorate or not to decorate?

Many parents may believe that they need to keep their child’s bedroom the same and always available for when they return, while others may rub their hands together in glee at the thought of having a reclaimed space to play with. It may be best for parents to leave the room untouched for a little while, perhaps a few semesters, to see how often the child returns to the family home, and whether when they do, they need their own room to sleep in.

What to do with what is left behind

The child will not have been able to take all their stuff with them to college, so when it is time to redecorate, it goes without saying that there will be a fair amount of furniture and accessories that will need to be stored or repurposed. With the child’s permission, check through the room’s contents, throwing out anything that is broken, and give to charity anything, such as toys, that they have grown out of.

Different uses for the spare room

A vacated bedroom offers parents the chance to reclaim a bit of their home for themselves. Hobbies that were carried out in awkward places now have the chance to spread out. Wives who want their husbands out from under their feet can suggest that the child’s bedroom becomes a room solely for masculine use, perhaps being turned into a home cinema room complete with blackout drapes and a comfortable recliner chair; a home gym fitted out with wall-length mirrors and equipment, complemented by light, stimulating wall colors; or even a games room, with pinball machines and a football table.

A mother could have that arts and crafts room she always wanted, complete with a worktable and shelves or storage units full of beads, ribbons and other haberdashery. More prosaically, it could become a room where all the laundry is sorted and ironing could be carried out, rather than have it spilling over into the downstairs reception rooms. Of course, the room could serve both parents if it were transformed into a home study with computer desk and chair, a small select library with long and high bookcases, or even a meditation room with low lighting and minimalist decoration.

Remember they come back

It is a good idea that despite whatever type of room the space is turned into, it serves a dual purpose and can become a bedroom once again, however impromptu and impermanent it may be. An excellent way to achieve this is to have a sofa bed in the room, which will not only provide a place to sit during the day, but will turn into a bed on those occasions when the child returns home and needs a place to sleep.

Guest Posts, parenting

Mom-Approved Tips: Knowing the Warning Signs of Cough Medicine Abuse

 

Years ago, I worked for the local school district creating drug awareness materials for Red Ribbon Week. I was shocked as a parent to discover that some teens will do just about anything to get high. From huffing paint, to taking ritalin, to abusing cough medicine. Today’s guest post is from Tammy Walsh, a high school math teacher with a passion for helping to educate teens on the dangers of substance abuse and a mother of two boys. She contributes to The Five Moms blog at stopmedicineabuse.org. Being passionate about this topic myself, I was happy to give her an opportunity to share her advice.

_______________________________

cough medicine abuse
Photo from stopmedicineabuse.org

As your teen relaxes and enjoys some much needed time away from academia this summer, it’s important to keep in mind that this increased free/unsupervised time can also increase the likelihood of your teen engaging in risky activities. Underage drinking and smoking is at the forefront of parents’ minds when they think about what drugs teens are choosing to experiment with, but cough medicine abuse is usually not on the typical parent’s radar. Unfortunately, it should be. One out of 25 teens reports abusing over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine to get high. Perhaps even more alarming, roughly one out of three teenagers knows someone who has abused cough medicine to get high.

As a parent, it’s overwhelming to think about looking out for yet another dangerous activity your teen may be engaging in, but we aren’t hopeless. The first step to combating teen cough medicine abuse is to familiarize yourself with the warning signs.

Signs of abuse of OTC cough medicine include:

  • Empty cough medicine boxes or bottles in the trash of your teen’s room, car, backpack or school locker
  • Your teen’s purchase or use of large amounts of cough medicine when he or she isn’t sick
  • Missing boxes or bottles of medicine from home medicine cabinets
  • Hearing your teen use certain slang terms for DXM abuse, such as skittles, skittling, tussin, robo-tripping, robo, CCC, triple Cs, dexing and DXM
  • Noticing that your teen has visited pro-drug websites that provide information on how to abuse DXM
  • Unusual internet orders, the arrival of unexpected packages, or unexplained payments for a credit card or PayPal account
  • Changes in your teen’s friends, physical appearance, sleeping or eating patterns
  • Declining grades
  • Your teen’s loss of interest in his or her hobbies or favorite activities
  • A hostile and uncooperative attitude
  • Unexplained disappearance of household money

Unusual chemical or medicinal smells on your teen or in his or her room. While some of these warning signs may appear to be normal, angsty teenage behavior, be sure to follow your natural instincts, trust your gut and directly address the situation if you suspect that your teen may be abusing medicine.

Visit stopmedicineabuse.org to learn more about cough medicine abuse and how to start the conversation about drug abuse with your teen.

 

college costs, Guest Posts

How to Get In-State Tuition if You Live Out of State

 

in state tuitionIs your child considering a school that is out-of-state? More than likely, you want to give them the ability to attend any of the schools that they are considering. However, this is difficult when in-state colleges carry far less expensive tuition fees. We’ve compiled some tips for getting in-state tuition for out-of-state students to help families solve this cost dilemma.

1. Plan ahead

The more time you give yourself to plan, the more opportunities you will have to obtain tuition benefits. It pays to research, as many of your savings options can last through all four years of college. Also, it is important to apply to many of these benefits early, giving you preference over other applicants.

2. Understand the college’s rules

Some schools have stricter in-state tuition qualification requirements than others. It is important to research the rules for each school that your child may be considering. Some colleges require students to have graduated high school in the state or have a parent living in the state. Others allow in-state residency for students that live in the state for one year and are financially independent from their parents. It completely depends on each school. Check out Finaid.org for a list of links to each school’s rules regarding in-state residency requirements.

3. Fill out forms carefully

Make sure you completely understand the rules for each school so that you do not make any mistakes or omit any information when filing for residency. Be cautious when filling out forms and be sure to look them over before submitting them. If you have any questions, be sure to utilize the college’s admissions offices by giving them a call. As a result, you can be sure to submit the correct information.

4. Avoid penalties

Try to avoid the negative consequences of making a mistake. The penalties assessed to students for inaccurate in-state residency range from expulsion from school to being charged for past tuition at an out-of-state price.

5. Research academic reciprocation agreements

There are currently four regional programs that help students obtain lower out-of-state costs compared to the full out-of-state tuition. These programs are made available to students interested in specific majors. Students must qualify and there is usually a cap on how many students can receive this benefit from each college.

The Western Undergraduate Exchange helps resident of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming gain access to out-of-state schools. Students from one of these states are eligible to receive a reduced tuition rate of 150% of in-state costs at a school outside their home state. This includes two and four-year institutions. Again, this depends on how many spaces are available for WUE students at each school.

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia all participate in The Academic Common Market. This program offers tuition savings to students if an institution in their home state does not offer them the program that they are looking to study.

The Midwest Student Exchange Program offers students in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, or Wisconsin a similar benefit.

The New England Board of Higher Education offers a tuition break program referred to as the New England Regional Student Program. This allows students that are permanent residents in the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont to receive tuition aid. With this program, students may qualify if the out-of-state college they would like to attend is closer to home than an in-state college that offers the same academic program.

6. Hire an expert

In-State Angels helps students and families navigate the often confusing process of establishing residency in a different state. Avoid the risk of going at this by yourself and employ an Angel to help. ISA helps students gain residency in the fastest and most legal way possible, saving families like yours tens of thousands of dollars.

These tips can help you and your student by opening up as many college options as possible, even those you originally thought to be too expensive. Like we’ve been saying, it pays to do your research, so get searching and start saving!

______________________________________

About the Author – Jake Wells founded In-State Angels in 2009 after graduating from the University of Colorado-Boulder with more debt than seemed reasonable. He is on a mission to prevent others from suffering a similar fate, and now advises students on how to get in-state tuition in the fastest way legally possible.

 

Scholarship Friday, scholarships, Uncategorized

Scholarship Friday: 3 Scholarship Truths

2 Comments

 

scholarship truthsParents usually have two misinformed views about scholarships. First, they think it’s impossible to win scholarships because its like the lottery, a one in a million chance to win. Secondly, they think that only kids with high GPAs win scholarships. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I’m not going to lie. Winning scholarships requires a commitment both on your part and on the student’s part. It’s not going to happen if your student isn’t invested heavily in the process. And it’s not going to happen if you aren’t willing to help. It requires work, perseverance, and determination. If neither of these are present, scholarships will be impossible to win.

Here are 3 scholarship truths that can make all the difference:

You MUST search

Searching for scholarships is not easy. It requires an endless persistence in looking for them, a willingness to explore every available opportunity, and a commitment to invest your time and resources in the effort. Yes, you can sign up on scholarship engines like Zinch, but these engines are not your only options; and if you’re not willing to dig for those lesser known scholarships, (especially locally) you’re only decreasing your chances of winning.

Parents can play a huge part in this part of the process. Pay attention, read everything you can, watch for them on social media, subscribe to podcasts (like How to Pay for College HQ) and subscribe to blogs that talk about scholarships (like this one). High school students are extremely busy and their time and effort is best spent completing the applications. You and your college-bound teen can be a team for this aspect of the process.

You MUST apply

One expert, Gyan Devi, says the time spent applying to scholarships reaps more rewards than a part-time job. However, the students MUST be invested in this part of the process. You can’t write their essays, complete the paperwork, or push them into it. If they aren’t invested, it’s not going to payoff with rewards.

One way to motivate them to do this is to have the money talk early in high school. If your student understands that winning scholarships directly affects his/her ability to attend college, they are going to be more likely to commit their time to applying.

You MUST be unique

According to “The Scholarship Mom“, packaging makes the difference. In order for your student’s scholarship applications to stand out, you need to package it properly. Just applying, especially when your student is one of thousands, probably won’t produce winning results. Just like anything you’re trying to sell or promote, it’s all about the marketing. And your student is marketing himself to the scholarship committee. You need to make sure he puts his best foot forward.

The truth about scholarships? There are scholarships for every student, some with high GPAs and some don’t even ask for a GPA. But, unless your student is willing to commit their time to the process, he/she is not going to win any scholarships. If you and your student work as a team, the odds of winning that big payoff increases dramatically. If you follow these simple tips and suggestions, the time spent will be well worth the payoff.

 

college guidance, essays, Uncategorized

12 Essay Experts on Twitter

16 Comments

 

essay experts
Photo by By Aleksi Tappura

I began my search for essay experts on Twitter a few days ago. To my surprise, and disappointment, most of the accounts I found were for companies or organizations that write essays for students. I find that disturbing as a parent, and as a college coach. It baffles me that students would actually pay someone to write their essay for them which is out and out plagiarism and that’s why there are sites like Unplag that can help. Even more surprising were the number of essay experts who were not on Twitter or inactive.

Along with the multitude of essay writing services, I also found a great number of complaints from dissatisfied customers complaining about the quality of the essay they paid for. And the age old proverb is true: if you want something done right, do it yourself.

These twitter accounts are essay coaches—they help you write your OWN college essay by providing encouragement, guidance and support throughout the essay writing process. Follow them for tips about the essay and connect with them if your student needs help.

Essay specialists

1. College Essay Guy @collegeessayguy

2. The Essay Expert @brendabernstein

3. Essay Hell @essayhell

4. Chris Polley @essaybrainstorm

5. All College Essays @allcollegeessay

College counselors who help students with essays

6. Megan Dorsey @collegeprepllc

7. Jeannie Borin @jeannieborin

8. Paul Hemphill @vcollegeadvisor

9. Jessica Velasco @Admissions411

10. Jim Overton @ccofsc

11. George Scurlock @collegehelp1

12. International College Counselors @College_Experts

 

college visits, Uncategorized, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: College Visits and the Illogical

 

college visitsI will never forget Nancy Berk’s chapter in her book, College Bound and Gagged, when she talks about college visits. It only seems fitting as we revisit the student role in the college visit that I share Nancy’s story of a fairly common visit since we are revisiting the student’s role in the college visit today. She calls it “The Tour de Chance” and it goes like this:

Yes, there’s a chance you could land on campus and your teen will refuse to get out of the car. It’s pretty common, totally baffling, and goes something like this . . .

Son: I’ve seen enough; let’s go.

Parent: But we haven’t even parked the car yet.

Son: You don’t think I can tell already? I DON’T like it here.

Parent: But we’re finally here. Let’s get out and look around.

Once the visit is completed, the verdict is in and it’s far from logical. The campus can be breathtaking and the tour guide engaging, but don’t assume your teen’s impression will reflect that. Rejection rationale is not logical or consistent across high school juniors and seniors. Rejection reasons are often bipolar. They include:

  • Too many beautiful students–it’s not normal
  • Too many badly dressed students–it’s not normal
  • Gloomy weather–totally depressing
  • Too much sunshine–totally depressing

During tour experiences, parents wait for logical academic rejection reasons. Instead they are bombarded with reasons related to fashion, temperature, food and architecture. One friend was perplexed by the value her daughter placed on dormitory bathroom configurations.

Still seemingly ridiculous rejection reasons are easier to understand than the vague one most parents hear–“I just don’t like the look”. Teens can’t explain it, but they are 100% certain from “the look” that this college experience will be the worst one.

For more student college visit quirks check out my previous blog: The Student Role in the College Visit

And then read Wendy’s post: Must-know tricks and tips for successful college visits 

++++++++++++++++++++++++

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.