All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

Guest Posts, social networks

Mom-Approved Tips: Teaching Your Kids to Respect Themselves Online

1 Comment

 

respectToday, teaching your teens to respect themselves online is just as important as any other life lesson and when college is on the horizon, it is more essential than ever. Gone are the simple nuggets of advice which our parents put so much weight on; now it takes a steadfast determination to somehow get across what many teens think they already know.

Teaching the potential pitfalls of social media communication requires determination, cleverness, reverse psychology, and, if need be, tough love.

Watch the Traps

Social media strips away the ability to tune into someone’s social clues. Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair, a clinical psychologist and author of The Big Disconnect comments,

“In a way, texting and online communicating puts everybody in a nonverbal disabled context, where body language, facial expression, and even the smallest kinds of vocal reactions are rendered invisible.”

Because of this, there are many possible pitfalls your teen can fall into without them even knowing it. These pitfalls can manifest into adversely affecting their self-esteem, confidence, and overall self-respect. Some of these to watch for and discuss include:

  • Impostor Syndrome – Because image is so important to teens, it isn’t uncommon for them to create faux and/or multiple online personas. Talk with them about true identity and online identity, being sure to make them think about the difference between the two.
  • Stalking – It’s easy to annoy people online, but not only can it rapidly degenerate one’s reputation it can, in extreme cases, like cyber bullying, turn illegal. In addition, the hyper connection that kids have been living with could turn them into a recluse during college. Practice digital breaks and discuss how digitally harassing someone only creates unnecessary anxiety for both parties.
  • The Record – Sexting, private pictures/videos, and dangerous language are only a few of the traps that teens can slip into, especially once on their own at school. If your child doesn’t already know that every single thing they do on their computer is recorded, they should be told. Nothing can be deleted without a professional IT swipe and if something is emailed or texted, it is out there forever. A bad online decision, for any reason, can throw a teen into such a depressing funk that gaining back their self-respect may be a real uphill battle.

Helpful Apps

Thankfully, the digital universe is not all that bad and when it comes to teaching your teens to respect themselves online, a variety of available apps may help. Before they head to college, offer to buy or download apps that address:

  • Fitness– The “freshman fifteen” is a common term tossed around college campuses, but it needn’t apply to your child. There are great apps to track daily fitness and help your child maintain their weight and inevitably their self-respect.
  • Affirmations – A daily pop up quoting a positive affirmation may be just what your teen needs during the trials and tribulations of college life.
  • Life Coach– Yes, there are digital life coach apps that can assist your child with life problems they may not want to discuss with you.
  • Books – They’re still around, just not the tangible kind. Send them off with a downloaded book or two that you feel may help them keep their chin up.

Stay Connected

Stay connected, not with a device but with your heart. As cliché as that may sound, the Child Mind Institute describes some good habits to boost your teens digital self-respect,

“Establish technology-free zones in the house and technology-free hours when no one uses the phone, including mom and dad.”

Dr. Steiner-Adair advises,

“Give them your full attention until they’re out the door. And neither of you should be using phones in the car to or from school because that’s an important time to talk.”

Keep teaching your teens to respect themselves online and once they start college they’ll hopefully have a good foundation to beth them through unscathed.

_____________________________

Today’s guest post is from Tara Heath, a journalist in Southern California. As a mom of two teens, college is on the horizon and she is constantly looking for ways to teach her kids the importance of using the internet and social media wisely.

greek life

Your Daughter Wants to Join a Sorority?

 

sororityStanding on the sidelines of one of the most important decisions of her life is not an easy task. This blog post is meant to inspire moms and dads alike during the process of if your daughter wants to join a sorority, and everything you need to know about the process. It’s a rather busy schedule of events and experiences; positive, outside influence can mean the world to her during this time.

First off, the best way to approach the recruitment process and your daughter’s consideration of whether to join a sorority or not is to simply leave the choice up to her. This does not mean be an innocent bystander, but instead a constant encouragement to her to follow her heart. Let her know that either way you will still be there for her, helping her find where she belongs on campus.

Next, make sure you’ve considered as parents what the additional cost of living in a sorority might mean for your family. Whether you’re helping out your daughter with her tuition or living expenses at college, living in a sorority does add additional costs to life for her. Be understanding and helpful during this process – making sure no one gets overwhelmed with how much things are adding up. First year is definitely the most expensive, but it’s important to know there are financial costs throughout the entire sorority experience.

We know she’s got a good head on her shoulders – but make sure to talk about some of her expectations for partying, alcohol use, involvement, etc. Some stereotypes of sororities sound pretty scary, and it’s important to talk through those things with her before she jets off into unknown territory. Bad and scary things can happen to anyone; but a plan of action and expectations based in reality can go a long way to keep her safe and happy.

After she pledges, her whole world is going to change. It’s going to be a little scary jumping in headfirst to new relationships with sisters, and living up to the expectations of the house. Help her during this time by realizing her perspective on important things in college is going to shift… her priorities toward schoolwork might change with her sorority’s grades expectations, her perspective on friendships might alter due to being surrounded by best friends all the time. Whatever the changes are, let her know you’re still there as a constant in her life! Help her know your home is open to her new friends, and that you’re more than excited to come out for dads’ weekend and family week. As much as things change, also remind her of who she is apart from sorority life; she’s still your baby girl and a world changer. She’ll need reminding of this often!

Speaking of reminding her of her identity… help keep her focused on what she can do for the sorority and ways she can be involved instead of getting frustrated about not being able to do it all. There are a lot of expectations that come with sorority life. It’ll be easy for her to get overwhelmed at how involved she is expected to be in her sorority and outside of her sorority. Coach alongside her as she navigates the ins and outs of balancing sorority life and regular life.

Always be a cheerleader, supporter, and encourager! Her sorority life isn’t going to affect her alone – it’ll change your perspective and involvement as well. We know it’ll be a great experience for you all.

 _____________________________

Amy Furrow is the owner of A Greek Concept an online retailer of licensed Greek merchandise. She’s got drive, heart, and passion – something Greek life is all about. From Sorority gifts like clothing, jewelry, and pin boxes, as well as Fraternity coolers, clothing, and glassware; A Greek Concept is filled to the brim with options for every Sorority sister or Fraternity brother.

careers

Choosing the Right Career Path

 

Finding a job right after college can be particularly challenging for many individuals. After all, they have a degree but very little professional experience. In fact, the search for employment itself might seem like a full-time job thanks to the enormous amount of time and energy that it requires.

In today’s day and age, it is particularly important for recent graduates to choose the right career upon finishing college. But, how does one go about this effectively? Here are some strategies every recent grad should have on hand:

Choosing a field

eye doctorMany people start college without any idea of what they want to do when they graduate, but having some sort of idea before the job hunt begins is essential. While it may not be possible to have every moment of one’s personal and professional life mapped out, selecting a field in which to work is a good idea. Having a specific career in mind isn’t always necessary right away.

Often, it is the road less frequently traveled that reaps the most rewards, especially when it comes to one’s career. Being open to a number of different jobs within the preferred field also increases the chances of getting hired. This is particularly true when one wants to work within the healthcare industry. For example, working as an optician is a rewarding and respectable option. Check out Stanton Optical careers for some more information on this exciting sector.

 Do plenty of research

Just because college is over doesn’t mean the research and learning stops. Planning ahead and setting some concrete career goals are the essential first steps to landing the perfect job. One must understand his or her personal and professional strengths, weaknesses, interests, values, and personality. A self-assessment is critical in selecting the right professional path.

Network with others already in the preferred field

Networking plays an important role in the job search – it is actually the top job search strategy in every industry. Recent graduates should take advantage of every connection they have available, which means reaching out to friends, family, previous teachers, faculty, and employers in addition to utilizing their university’s Career Development Office. Connecting with professionals in the preferred field is also helpful, so attending job fairs, career seminars, and industry-specific events is a good idea.

Create an effective resume and cover letter

A good resume and an effective cover letter play an integral role in helping recruiters decide whom they will interview. Remember, these documents are the first impression most job hunters will get to make, so it had better be a good one! Cover letters must compliment the resume and highlight one’s talents and experience, but they should also be written with the specific employer and position in mind.

Look for job leads and start applying

There are a number of ways to look for a job. The traditional route of the newspaper’s classified ads works from time to time, but many college grads find work via online job postings, networking, and prospecting. It is important to widen the playing field and allow for as many opportunities for an interview as possible. Seeking jobs with large organizations and big corporations is acceptable, but applying with smaller employers may make getting started a lot easier.

On top of the above points, the key things to remember are, be persistent and don’t give up – with these thoughts in mind, a dream job will be gained in no time.

Scholarship Friday, scholarships, Uncategorized

Scholarship Friday: 10 Tips for Your Scholarship Search

 

scholarship searchScholarship searching is an art. It requires a commitment of time, energy and perseverance. As in any worthwhile pursuit there are tips to make it easier and more effective.

Here are 10 tips for your scholarship search:

  1. Assemble your scholarship search tools—Having the right tools makes all the difference. Your tools for this search will be a professional email, a filing system and a calendar.
  2. Search scholarship databases—Scholarship databases are an invaluable tool in the search. Here are 7 sites to get you started.
  3. Check into other schools’ resources—If you live near a community college or better yet, a university, you can utilize them as additional resources. They have libraries and scholarship listings that might be unique to your area.
  4. Utilize your school’s resources—Counselors are great resources for your scholarship search. Scholarships come across their desks every day and most of them have scholarship application forms available for the asking.
  5. Search your community—Every community has local organizations that offer scholarships to local students.(i.e. non-profit groups, local businesses)
  6. Don’t forget government sources—Believe it or not the U.S. Government also offers scholarships to high school students heading to college. Explore these opportunities.
  7. Pursue all personal and family affiliations—Brainstorm about your family and scholarship opportunities that are specific to you.
  8. Apply effective internet search techniques—Follow the primary trail to secondary trails. Many times there will be less well-known scholarships lurking in the shadows of the primary trail. How does this translate: the less that know about the scholarship, the less applications, the greater your chances of winning.
  9. Uncover school specific awards—Most colleges have scholarships that are only available to their students. Research the colleges you are contemplating attending and find out what types of scholarships are available. You may have to fill out a separate application when you apply to the college.
  10. Search organizations—Go to the library and ask the reference librarian for an Encyclopedia of Organizations. Make note of any scholarship opportunities that are listed that might pertain to you or your family.
Guest Posts, test prep

The Ultimate Guide to the PSAT

 

Anthony-James Green is a world-renowned SAT and ACT tutor with over 10,000 hours of experience teaching these tests, crafting curriculum, and training other tutors to teach their own students. He is also the founder of TestPrepAuthority.com. CNN recently named Anthony: “The SAT tutor to the 1%”. He’s providing today’s post: The Ultimate Guide to the PSAT.

____________________

psatOf all the standardized tests on the market today, few are less understood than the PSAT.  Almost every client who comes my way has the
same three questions about the PSAT:

1. What’s the difference between the PSAT and the SAT?

2. What’s the point of the PSAT?

3. How does my child prepare for the PSAT?

By the end of this short guide, you’ll know the answers to all three questions, and you’ll have an actionable plan that you can use to conquer this exam and get on with your life!  Without further ado, let’s start The Ultimate Guide to the PSAT.

What’s the difference between the PSAT and the SAT?

The simplest answer to this question?  Almost nothing.  For all intents and purposes, the PSAT and the SAT are almost exactly the same test.  The only differences between the two exams:

1. The PSAT doesn’t have an essay portion.

2. The PSAT is shorter.

The difficulty level of both exams is exactly the same, the material tested is the same, and the format is practically identical.  The PSAT is just a shorter version of the SAT without the essay.  Even the scoring is the same – while the SAT gives you an “out of 2400” grade, with three sections worth 800 points each, the PSAT gives you an “out of 240” grade, with three sections worth 80 points each.  A 50 on the PSAT math section is a 500 on SAT math, a 67 in Writing is a 670 in SAT writing, etc.  Which brings up a good question: if the two tests are so similar, what’s the point of offering the PSAT in the first place?

What’s the POINT of the PSAT?

The PSAT has two major purposes:

1. To give students and parents an idea of where their SAT scores currently stand.

In many ways, this is the most important aspect of the PSAT.  Many parents assume that their children will get good SAT scores because they’re smart, hard-working kids with good grades.  Here’s the issue: your SAT score has NOTHING to do with your academic performance.  The SAT has a bizarre, unique format that tests a limited, extremely random assortment of information in intentionally confusing ways.  I can’t tell you how many parents have said something like this to me:

“I can’t believe John got such a bad math score – he’s a great math student!”

SAT math and academic math are worlds apart.  Just because your child is a “good reader” or “good in English” does not mean that he or she will get a good SAT Reading or Writing score.

The PSAT is a “wakeup call” for parents and students alike.  If you know that you need 650+s to get into your target schools, and your PSAT scores are all in the 40-50 range, then it’s time to prep for the SAT!  Since the PSAT is administered as a requirement but most schools in the country, it’s a helpful warning system for students across the country.

2. The National Merit Scholarship

Students who score in the top ~3% of their state’s population on the PSAT are considered for the National Merit Scholarship.  Students who become National Merit Finalists are extremely coveted by competitive schools – the number of National Merit Finalists at any given school plays into the school’s ranking and prestige.  Furthermore, students who get NMF status can receive grants and scholarships for their tuition.  To learn more about this entire process, including the scores you’ll need, the process for becoming a finalist, etc., you can visit the official site here:

http://www.nationalmerit.org/

If you’re able to achieve NMF finalist status, you have an enormous leg up in the college admissions process.  Not only will you potentially receive free money for college, but you’ll also have a much better chance of getting in (and, because PSAT scores are directly indicative of SAT scores, there’s a darn good chance that you’ll have high SAT scores, which are essential for competitive college admissions).

If you’re interested in competing for the National Merit Scholarship, the key is to start early.  Getting a high SAT score takes time, diligence, and effective preparation.  Which brings us to our third question:

How does my child prepare for the PSAT?

The same exact way that you prepare your child for the SAT!  There’s literally no difference between an effective SAT prep program and an effective PSAT prep program.  If you simply prep your child for the SAT, he or she will have all the skills necessary to crush the PSAT and compete for National Merit Finalist status.

However, there are a few key details that you’ll want to keep in mind:

1. Call your child’s school and find out exactly when the PSAT will be administered.

You need to think ahead, and it’s important that you know precisely when the PSAT will be given so that you can prepare accordingly.

2. Give your child at least two months to prepare.

A solid SAT prep program takes at least two months (and ideally four or five).  If you have less time than this, all is not lost – but you need to get started immediately.

3. Avoid classroom SAT courses like the plague.

Countless studies have shown how remarkably ineffective these courses are.  Choose either an online, self-directed course, or, if you have the means, get a reputable one-on-one SAT tutor.  Never spend your money on SAT classroom courses, which charge you upwards of $1,000 to read a book out loud to your child.

4. No matter which prep option you choose, be sure that it has both an excellent track record of results and extensive testimonials and references.

There are few barriers to entry in the SAT prep space, and literally anyone can become a tutor, write a book, or craft a program.  No matter which online course or tutor you choose, be sure that you know exactly what past students have experienced, and be sure that the option comes highly recommended.

That’s all there is to it!

The PSAT is simply a “warm up” for the SAT, but if you do well, you’ll be able to achieve scholarships, gain a leg up in the admissions process, and get a headstart on your SAT prep.  If you’re interested in shooting for a NMS Finalist position, get started as soon as possible.

Thanks so much for reading my guide, and good luck with your prep!

 

Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Encourage Summer Reading

 

summer readingThe National Literacy Trust did the research and found that becoming a lifetime reader is based on developing a deep love of reading.

“Research has repeatedly shown that motivation to read decreases with age, especially if pupils’ attitudes towards reading become less positive,” it said. “If children do not enjoy reading when they are young, then they are unlikely to do so when they get older.”

But if a student doesn’t see people reading at home, it may be harder to instill the idea of reading for pleasure. One of the best activities to encourage over the summer is reading. Reading improves vocabulary—a key component on standardized tests.

What can parents do to encourage summer reading?

Get involved

Discuss what books you are reading and why they interest you. Talk about blogs or articles that you have read and use these discussions to spark interest. This can be done over dinner as you encourage everyone at the table to get involved in the discussion.

Foster escape

Reading offers escape from the challenges of life and allows students to become engrossed as a form of self-indulgent relaxation. Seeing reading as a pleasurable activity and a means of escape moves it from the “have to” category of tasks to the “want to” column. Summer offers them the time to immerse themselves in all types of books and reading that interest them.

Encourage varied interest

It makes sense that a student will be more willing to read if it’s something that interests them. Allow your student to have control of venturing from one book to another, one area of interest to another, and one medium to another. Introduce them to a wide variety of texts and genres—comics, ebooks, short stories, online articles, blogs, and magazines shouldn’t be ignored.

Parents who read foster reading interest in their children. It’s not enough to say, “Go read a book”. Even if the child submits to the request, if they don’t enjoy reading, they aren’t going to absorb what they read and want to read more. Readers are more successful in school and in life. It’s one of the ways students grow mentally and intellectually.

Read Wendy’s post: 6 Unexpected Bonuses from Summer Reading

______________________________

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.

App Tuesday

8 History Apps for College-Bound Teens

1 Comment

history appsApps make our lives easier: from monitoring spending, to organizing our calendar, to finding the nearest restaurant. One of the best ways to use apps is to encourage and improve our college-bound teen’s education.

Today’s App Tuesday post is about history apps. Whether you need to reference an article of the Constitution, find out what happened today 100 years ago, or look up some famous speeches, here are some apps that have got you covered.

Documents

Sometimes it would be easier if historical documents and your classroom textbook were pocket sized. Luckily, through a few iPhone apps, some are virtually so.

  • Constitution (Free) – Mix-up no amendment or article again with a complete copy of the U.S. Constitution at your fingertips.
  • Declaration of Independence (Free) – And if you have the Constitution, why not get the Declaration of Independence app as well?
  • U.S. Historical Documents (99 cents) — U.S. Historical Documents contains over 200 of the most influential documents in U.S. history and they will be stored directly on your iPhone/iPod Touch. Quickly and easily find any text from any document with the fastest and most powerful search engine available on the iPhone. Have the documents automatically scroll for you in both portrait and landscape modes while reading. Create notes for each paragraph which can be displayed inline. You can even assign bookmarks to any paragraph in any document for future reference. Highlight important words or phrases using the absolute best highlighting system available.

 Reference

Browse historical maps, quote famous speeches, and find out what happened today in history with a number of reference apps.

Learning

  • History App (Free) —Watch your favorite HISTORY shows and content on your iPad, iPhone or Android device with the HISTORY app. Get free access to full episodes, clips and topical videos, all available whenever and wherever you want. New video is added every day so you’ll always have something to watch! Hundreds of videos on historic topics, including the original web series. And a great feature—History: Deconstructed and Bet You Didn’t Know. Available for iPad, iPhone, Android and Windows Mobile
  • Historia World (Free) —Think you know everything about the world history? Try Historia World! Historia is a quizz which will test your general knowledge in History. Historia is very easy to play: try to find the date of the historic events of the selected category. The closer you are, the bigger your score! If you can gain enough points you will be rewarded with a book in your library.
college guidance, mom approved tips, parenting

Mom-Approved Tips: How Early is Too Early to Prepare for College?

 

prepare for collegeHow early is too early to prepare for college? We’ve all seen those movie clips where the parents are agonizing over the right preschool to prepare their kids for the right kindergarten, the right grade school, and the right college preparatory school. These overachieving parents are convinced that college prep begins at birth. They take it to a whole other level elevating college jerseys into full blown college prep. But just how early is too early and how far should parents go when preparing their children for college?

With competition for college admission becoming stronger, parents are recognizing the need to begin college prep early. That doesn’t mean that you start drilling college into your toddler’s head (although some parents have been known to do this). It does mean that you begin a foundation for their education that will carry them into high school and eventually into college.

Looking at the three phases of education (elementary school, middle school and high school), what should parents do to prepare their students for college?

Elementary School

When discussing college prep, most of the discussions start in middle school and the steps begin when a student is in high school. But for a student to be truly prepared for college, parents should begin talking about it, thinking about it, and discussing it as early as elementary school.

Start talking about the value of education

Begin talking about the importance of education when your child enters kindergarten. The first seven years of education are filled with learning fundamental skills and gaining knowledge. This is the foundation of all future education. If your child loves school, excels in school, and is motivated to study and achieve excellence, the logical progression will be to continue their education by going to college.

Start talking about college

The opportunities that a college education provides can be relayed to your children during the early years of education.

For example, if your child is interested in dinosaurs, parents should talk about how people that research and recover dinosaur bones had to go to college first to learn how it’s done. Or if he is interested in space, discuss how scientists and astronauts go to college to learn the skills they need to work in that field. A child’s enthusiasms are the perfect opportunities to start a discussion about how college is key to pursuing and following those interests.

Your student might also be interested in pursuing an education online, like this online BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) offered by Spring Arbor University. There are many opportunities available for your student to pursue a Bachelor’s degree online.

Visit colleges with the family

Visiting college isn’t just for teenagers. Many universities provide campus tours and visiting days when a staff member will guide a grade school class, or other group of children, around the campus and explain the unique and exciting things they can do when they grow up and go to college. Parents can also schedule outings with their children to the college or university from which they graduated. The important thing is to make college sound interesting, exciting and accessible.

Read more college prep tips from TeenLife for middle school and high school students

essays, Guest Posts, Uncategorized

Answering the Common App Essay Prompts

1 Comment

 

essayOver the past five years I have read and commented on hundreds of essays from students all over the country. As a result of that work, I have two categories of advice: general essay-writing tips (which we’ll discuss soon), and specific ways to make the Common App essay prompts work for you.

The big idea here is that the story you want to tell matters a lot more than the prompt you attach to it. Most stories are about more than one thing, so yours might be about identity and failure, or about contentment and coming of age. So write the story first, and then figure out how to pitch it to an admissions committee. Having said that, it’s still useful to understand the questions. So let’s look at them in detail:

1. Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

There are several ways to read this question:  Is your ethnic, racial, cultural, or linguistic background central to your identity? Do you have a specific story you can tell that illustrates that in an engaging way? Sweet. Try it and see how it goes.

But that’s not the only thing way to answer this question. It can also be about what it felt like when your family moved from Oklahoma to NYC, and how that move made you who you are today. It could be about the birth of your little sister the summer before your junior year, and how becoming one of her primary caregivers changed your perception of yourself.

2. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

One way to think about this question is that’s not really about the failure at all, but rather, about the response to failure. It’s an opportunity for you to tell the admissions officers how you respond to adversity. What’s nice about this question is that you don’t have to pretend that your failure was actually a success, or any of that job-interview nonsense. If you face-planted in epic style, write about that, as long as you then write about how you dug all the gravel out of your face and kept going.

You can also add to your understanding of this question by thinking broadly about what it means to fail at something. You could write about failing tenth grade chemistry. But really, it would be a lot more interesting to write about how you came to the realization that no matter how hard you worked, your feet would never allow you dance on pointe. One of my students wrote about how she came to accept that fact, but that in doing so, she also discovered not only how to dance for pleasure again, but to enjoy other activities, too.

3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

Just like the question about failure, this question should be understood as broadly as possible. Don’t limit it to school. Do your parents believe that financial security is the only consideration in choosing a career, while you want to be an actor? Do your parents want you to follow your dreams, while you want something grounded and practical for yourself? Does your school worship athletic prowess, while you think social action is more important?

Stories about standing up to bullies or publishing an article in the school newspaper that the administration didn’t want you to are great examples, but bravery isn’t always loud and public; sometimes it’s quiet and private.

4. Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?

What’s your favorite TV show? (Quick – just pick one.) Now, think about what makes that show your favorite. Is everyone in it happy all the time, and good friends all the time, and nothing ever happens because there’s no drama? A lot of my students have said things like, “I feel really content while playing the piano because it lets me lose myself in the music,” or “I feel really content in my grandmother’s kitchen.”

But being content doesn’t really make for a good story. So for this essay, try to think about why you feel content somewhere. One of my students wrote about being content in the dance studio at her school, and the process that led her to feel that way. She hadn’t always felt content there. In fact, for a while she had felt intimidated there. The essay turned out to be about how she grew into herself, both as a dancer and as a leader.

5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Just as the failure question isn’t really about failure, this one isn’t really about the accomplishment or event: it’s about how you fit into your community. So you can write about your bar or bat mitzvah, or your quinceañera, but you could also write about your first job, or the time you had to put your dog down, or what you learned from looking after your younger sibling.

Remember when I said that the story matters more than the prompt? That’s because all the prompts are really the same prompt, asking for the same story: “Tell us how you’ve grown and matured over time.”

 __________________________

­Today’s guest post is by Rachel Shulman of Shulman & Hill, LLC. Rachel is a passionate teacher, and her students often comment that this passion and excitement for her subject makes them more interested, sometimes in spite of themselves. She has helped students achieve their goals in all three AP History classes and both AP English classes, as well as on the Reading Comprehension and Writing sections of the ACT and SAT. Since the fall of 2010, she has edited over 300 college application essays, working both on her own and with independent educational consultants.

A graduate of Bryn Mawr College, where she majored in History, Rachel also holds an MA in History and an MS in Library and Information Science, both from the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign.  

Based in the Boston area, but with students all over the country, Shulman & Hill specializes in standardized test preparation, high school English, History, Math, Physics, Biology, and college application essays. We provide individualized learning plans tailored to the student’s unique learning style. Our goal is to leave our clients prepared for independent academic success.

parenting

Motivation for Students Starts at Home

 

helping without harmingAfter finishing high school, which means the end of the obligatory studies, some students struggle to maintain a positive attitude towards learning, especially if they have found a job offer. If you were to ask them, “what do you prefer,money now or money in 10 years,” you’d find out how some of them are so impatient that they prefer the money now, even if it’s a smaller amount. That’s why us, parents, have to be there to motivate them to go to college or to study an occupation and in that way in which they don’t believe it’s only a mandatory thing imposed by adults. In this post we’ll see how to motivate our kids from an early age to always choose to study:

The family is the environment in which our child’s education begins, and also the main model of values and behaviors that guides the cognitive and affective student’s future development. Here’s where parents have the opportunity to get that their children enjoy learning.

Everything should start by educating by an example to follow. Parents who show interest and enthusiasm for their child’s learning tasks and express their curiosity to learn new skills convey this attitude to the student naturally. Several researches say that parental behavior can influence the motivation or demotivate their children to learn, so it’s important too to adopt this disposition in leisure time: parents should teach their kid from an early age to look for the answer to questions, to participate in activities with enthusiasm and to get satisfaction when they get significant achievements in life.

Family should also encourage and appreciate this effort over the results; if we want our child to be motivated in its tasks, they need to suit its capabilities and to increase the difficulty as the student gains new skills cause otherwise, if he’s always required to do the activities he doesn’t understand yet, it’s easy that he feels frustrated and demotivated if he sees his efforts were not worth it. In these cases, it’s necessary to teach him to overcome his problems through perseverance and constant work and to be confident in his skills.

Now, regarding formal education, parents can also influence their children’s motivation by helping them with homework, in order to teach them to deal with problems and to have a good relationship with their teachers. If parents and children share objectives and strategies, the interest of the children to learn will always win.