All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

Last minute study tips for the PSAT

October 17, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer

Sign up for my FREE parent tips email and get my FREE Ebook on college financing! Or subscribe to my blog via email on the left.

psat

For many high school students, their first big standardized test is the PSAT, which is scheduled for this Saturday across the country. The PSAT is more or less a practice test for the SAT, but with one big distinction; scoring well can get you named as a National Merit Scholar finalist and earn you cash for college. It’s the perfect test to figure out your best strategies for test prep — especially if you’re a sophomore taking it for the first time.

Many students don’t prep for the PSAT like they would for the SAT or ACT. If you’re starting today or just looking to squeeze in a few last minute prep sessions before Saturday’s test, read on for some quick tips and tricks.

Take a Practice Test

The PSAT takes about 2 hours from start to finish. If you’ve never sat for an exam of that length, going through a practice exam can accomplish three things. First, it will give you confidence that you can actually sit for the complete test and get through the entire exam. Second, it will give you a sense of areas you can make quick improvements on. For example, you may discover that you aren’t getting through all of the math questions, or that you’re rusty on some aspects of the geometry but are racing through the algebra. Third and finally, it will get you familiar with the test structure. Remember that the PSAT has the exact same structure on every single test; only the questions change.

Brush Up on What You Don’t Know

Now that you’ve taken a test and identified areas for improvement, drill down on those areas. Don’t waste time reviewing every topic covered on the test since undoubtedly you’re zipping through some questions without an issue. If you’re struggling with Algebra, spend time getting Algebra help and reviewing factoring and quadratics, instead of using your valuable last minute study time reviewing geometry concepts.

Develop a Strategy For Skipping Questions

Figure out when you’re going to skip questions, and when you’re going to guess. According to the College Board (who administers the PSAT), “Students can earn an above-average score by getting only half the questions right and omitting answers for the rest of the questions.” Random guessing won’t help you earn a great score, but if you can narrow your answer choices down to two answers, it’s worth it to guess (you’ll lose ¼ point for every wrong answer). Give yourself a time window for answering tough questions; you won’t benefit from spending 5 minutes on question you inevitably get wrong. If you’re struggling to figure out how to tackle a question in the first 15 seconds and don’t have an inkling of how to solve it, move on; you can always come back later.

Don’t Stress Too Much

Remember that the PSAT is a practice test (except for the National Merit qualification). It won’t determine the rest of your life and stressing out too much won’t help you much anyway. Make sure you eat a healthy dinner the night before, get a good night’s sleep, and then eat a healthy breakfast the morning of. If you can, get some exercise the day before as well (working out can aid in brain function).

The PSAT is the first of many standardized tests — SATs, ACTs, APs, placement tests — that you’ll encounter in your life. And for the most part, this is one of the few exams whose outcome is not all that important. Use this as an opportunity to build up good test-taking strategies that you can apply not only to the PSAT, but to other standardized tests as you come across them in the future.

___________________

Today’s guest blogger, Laura Oppenheimer, works for InstaEDU, the online tutoring company that offers online PSAT test prep and tutoring.

college visits, Uncategorized, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: College Visits from the Trenches

October 16, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer 1 Comment

Sign up for my FREE parent tips email and get my FREE Ebook on college financing! Or subscribe to my blog on the left and get email updates.

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!

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 pocsmom.com to parentingforcollege and vice versa.

_____________________-

Autumn leaves signal the beginning of fall (for those lucky enough to live in a state where the leaves change color) and the beginning of college visits. For juniors it’s time to start the process. For seniors, it’s time to visit again and narrow down the college list. What better way to kick off the season than to give some “past parent” experiential advice and draw from the stories I’ve heard from others. Sit down, grab a cup of coffee and exhale. You’re in for a wild ride.

You’re going on a nice visit to some colleges. You’ve done your homework and you’ve planned several within driving distance of each other. You’re proud of yourself and you know that your kid is going to fall in love with at least one of them. You’re all decked out for the college tours (dressed to not get noticed or embarrass him) and you’re ready to listen and let your kid ask the questions. Sounds like a perfect trip–adventure and information gathering all at the same time.

But your kid forgot to read the notes. He’s nonchalant about the whole thing and acts disinterested in the car as you are driving towards the first college. What happens after this disrupts your mojo and you begin to wonder if an alien isn’t inhabiting your kid’s body.

The skeptic

Before you even get out 0f the car your kid announces that he’s just not feeling it. Don’t even attempt to decipher what that means because it’s impossible to understand. You’ve driven (or flown) to go to a college he had on a list and now he’s just not feeling it. Bench your anger, take a deep breath and get out of the car. You’ve come all this way and you’re going to visit the college. In the best of worlds he will get out with you. In the worst of worlds he’ll stay in the car. There’s not much you can do with an obstinate teenager; it’s best to move on.

The architect

And yet another alien appears. You’re walking around campus and your kid announces that he doesn’t like how it looks. Never mind that he’s not going to college for the buildings or the landscaping. He’s going for the academics. But for some reason his blinders aren’t allowing him to see anything but the buildings and no amount of pointing out the pluses is going to change his mind.

The critic

You’re walking around campus and your kid announces that the students don’t seem friendly. Mind you he’s probably not even spoken to any of them and it’s a good bet he didn’t like the tour guide. Don’t try to convince him otherwise because the more you say, the less likely he’ll come around. Just wait until a cute girl approaches him. He’ll change his tune quickly.

The panic-stricken

You get back into the car after your last visit and he announces, “I’m not sure I want to go to college”. Don’t panic. He’s just realized the whole thing is real and he’s terrified. Give him some time to think it through and tomorrow he’ll most likely change his mind again. The worst thing you can do is draw a hard line in the sand now because his feelings are likely to go up and down like a roller coaster over the next few months (or years).

What’s a parent to do?

Even though your kid wants you to treat him as an adult, he’s still a teenager. His emotions are all over the place and this next step in his life is frightening. Remember that college is largely an emotional decision and you should expect that emotions will play into that decision. When the dust settles and the emotions clear, he will make a decision based on all the factors, including his campus visits. After all, you don’t want him to attend a college he just isn’t feeling and you don’t want him to make a decision and leave out the emotional factor. He’s going to spend the next four years of his life at this school. It will become his second home and it’s important that he likes where he is.

Before the college visits start resolve to be flexible. Your lives will be less stressful and the college application experience will be more exciting. And in the end, your kid will move on to the next phase in his life–college.

For another look at college visits, check out Wendy’s blog: Collegecation.

spotlight on, websites

A new college comparison tool-Abacus 100

October 15, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer

Sign up for my FREE parent tips email and get my FREE Ebook on college financing! Or subscribe to my blog via email on the left.

As I’ve said before, determining college costs is key to making a wise college choice. Comparing college costs should be simple, but it’s not. You have to factor in so many variables: tuition, room and board, books, living expenses, travel expenses, and even miscellaneous costs. Don’t forget, when comparing colleges, to factor in the less obvious costs.

Thankfully, though, parents and students can compare the basic costs and expenses before shelling out the often large application fees. Why go to a college you can’t afford? Why apply to a college only to get accepted and disheartened when you look at the families finances and find out it’s just not possible based on the financial aid award? It just makes sense to take a look at costs before applying using a college comparison tool.

How do you compare costs?

You can make a physical list and visit the college websites and use their net cost calculator. Or you can go to one place and get comparisons of the colleges you are considering–one stop shopping so to speak! That’s why CollegeAbacus.com created the Abacus100, permitting personalized comparisons of the top 100 universities and top 100 colleges, as determined by U.S. News. This service, which costs the same as Harvard’s application fee, is now offered alongside College Abacus’ free net price search tool, which allows comparisons of up to three schools’ costs simultaneously.

Their personalized net price calculations incorporate likely financial aid, cost of living and other considerations absent from tuition. Federal law now requires colleges and universities to post net-price calculators on their websites. Complying with the letter of the law, but defying the spirit, many schools bury their net-price calculators in little-trafficked corners of their sites.

How does Abacus 100 work?

Relying on information directly from over 4,000 schools themselves, College Abacus aims to end the tradition of students and families applying to schools without knowing whether they can afford to attend. College Abacus relies solely on data provided by the schools themselves, permitting students to compare school-created cost estimates with ease.

Interested? Watch the short video and try it out for FREE. Enter up to three schools and see how the program works. You might be surprised at the information gathering process and you also might be surprised at the great colleges which will fit into your budget.

If you like what you see and want to compare up to 100 colleges and universities, College Abacus has provided me with a 20% discount code: COLLEGECASH. Take advantage of this GREAT offer!

Why study or improve your level of English?

October 15, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer

Sign up for my FREE parent tips email and get my FREE Ebook on college financing! Or subscribe to my blog via email on the left.

Further to our recent article highlighting the benefits of studying a foreign language, we thought it logical to next discuss the importance of learning English. It is after all, the most widely used language today, both socially and in the working world. It is hardly surprising then, that a high level of English is highly sought after by employers in an increasingly competitive and international work market. As a native English speaker, be it in the US, UK or Australia for example, it is often easy to take for granted our English speaking and writing capabilities. Is your fluency in English as good as it could or should be? As for non-native speakers, English is most commonly studied as a second language. Education systems around the world now place greater emphasis on the teaching and learning of English from an early age, not just as a subsidiary subject, but as essential as mathematics or science. This article will seek to answer some of the most important issues when it comes to studying English, and to hopefully convince you that it´s never too late to get out those books and start learning something new!

The Benefits

Okay so we´ve already touched on this, but why else should you learn English? In simple terms, English is a truly global language. Let´s have a look at the figures… According to the British Council, English is the first language of approximately 375 million, while it is believed that around 750 million speak it as foreign language. One in four of the world´s population has at least a basic command of the language, and this is growing.

Of course there are benefits attached with learning any language, as discussed in our previous article. Specific to English however, it allows native speakers to consolidate and improve their current level, and perhaps even lead to a future career in English teaching. After all, the demand for such profession is huge and often lucrative. Nowadays it is not just enough to write in your CV “Fluent in English”. Employers want proof. For assistance in gaining an English qualification, you can take an IELTS course at an English language school in England. Such courses are also recommendable for those learning English as a second language, as visiting and learning in an English-speaking country (where better than London, England?) is one of the best things you can do to improve your fluency. This brings us neatly on to…

Continue reading Why study or improve your level of English? →

mom approved tips, Uncategorized

Mom-Approved Tips: The Truth about College

October 14, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer

Sign up for my FREE parent tips email and get my FREE Ebook on college financing!

During our student’s senior year of high school we live in a bubble. All sights are set on one goal—getting into college. Students and parents focus on college selection, college applications, financial aid forms, and then we wait. We wait for the offers of admission to come pouring in and then we compare financial aid packages and help them pack their bags for college.

But wait. Is it really that simple? Hardly. Most parents would say it’s anything but simple; it takes work, commitment and perseverance on both parts—parents and students. Before your student sends off those applications, you should know the truth about college.

Acceptance doesn’t mean graduation

Did you know that graduation rates differ wildly from school to school. About 400,000 students drop out of college each year. When you research the college, look up their graduation rates. Low rates could send up a red flag. True, graduation rates don’t determine the quality of a degree. Yet students who start college but don’t finish are typically no better off than those who never even started, and in some cases might be worse off, if they took on debt.

I owe, I owe, so off to work I go (if they can find a job)

Even if your student graduates, it’s no guarantee they will secure a job; at least not one that will pay enough to cover too much student loan debt. Having that conversation about college costs should be a priority before they apply.

According to the College Board and other statistical resources student loan debt among graduates is at an all-time high:

•As of Quarter 1 in 2012, the average student loan balance for all age groups is $24,301. About one-quarter of borrowers owe more than $28,000; 10% of borrowers owe more than $54,000; 3% owe more than $100,000; and less than 1%, or 167,000 people, owe more than $200,000.

•In 2010‑11, about 57% of public four‑year college students graduated with debt. They had borrowed an average of $23,800 (in 2011 dollars). About two‑thirds of those earning bachelor’s degrees from private nonprofit institutions had debt averaging $29,900.

Be cautious about student loans and if at all possible avoid them.

Will they stay, or will they go?

As many as one in three first-year students don’t make it back for sophomore year. The reasons run the gamut from family problems and loneliness to academic struggles and a lack of money. If schools you’re considering have a low freshman retention rate, you’ll want to ask the admissions office why. Some colleges do a great job of taking care of their freshmen; some don’t. That’s why it’s important to look at these rates when making college choices.

It’s a jungle out there

Even if you and your student do everything right, there’s going to be bumps in the road. They will call complaining of roommates, homesickness, and frustration with their classes. The best thing to do is listen and know that most times, those complaints get less and less and they eventually cease after they have settled in. Don’t be surprised if this happens to your bright, self-sufficient independent student. Just one word of advice—fight the urge to rescue them. It’s time they learn to fight their own battles.

Why study a foreign language?

October 13, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer

Sign up for my FREE parent tips email and get my FREE Ebook on college financing!

Aside from the fact that most competitive colleges require at least two years of a foreign language, and some require three or more years, studying a foreign language can enhance your life and broaden your horizons.

Studies have found that speaking two or more languages is a great asset to the cognitive process. The brains of bilingual people operate differently than single language speakers, and these differences offer mental benefits. Even if people begin language study in their adult lives they can still achieve the same levels of fluency as a young learner, and still reap the same mental benefits. For example, there are a lot of students who study English in Ireland as adults.

What exactly are the mental benefits of studying a foreign language? Consider some of the following:

You actually become smarter

Speaking a foreign language positively affects your brain by challenging it to communicate using varied language systems. This boost in brain power also translates into being able to complete other problem-solving tasks. An added benefit is that students who study a foreign language tend to score better on standardized tests, especially in math, reading and vocabulary.

Studying a foreign language teaches you to multitask

Multilingual students are skilled at switching between two systems of speech, writing, and structure. Penn State University conducted a study that showed the “juggling” skill makes learners multitaskers, because they can easily switch between different structures. In one study, participants used a driving simulator while doing separate, distracting tasks at the same time. The research found that people who spoke more than one language made fewer errors in their driving.

Your memory improves

Everyone knows that your brain is like a muscle. It functions better with exercise. As you study a foreign language your brain becomes more adept at memorizing and this helps strengthen your mental muscle. This means that multilingual students are better at remembering lists or sequences, such as names, shopping lists and directions.

Your senses are heightened

A study from Spain’s University of Pompeu Fabra showed that multilingual people are better at observation. They are more adept at focusing on the relevant and sifting out the irrelevant. They’re also better at spotting misleading or incorrect information.

Your ability to make decisions improves

According to numerous studies, students who speak more than one language tend to make more rational decisions. The nuances of a new language subconsciously influence your judgment. Bilinguals are more confident with their choices after thinking it over in the second language and seeing whether their initial conclusions still stand up.

Your brain stays alert during the aging process

As you get older, your brain is often less active. If you study a foreign language, either as a young learner or as an adult, your brain muscle is being exercised and your mental alertness stays consistent as you get older.

If you study a foreign language you not only improve your brain power, but knowing a second language allows you to become immersed in other languages and cultures.

giveaways, Uncategorized

Giveaway: Backblaze Online Backup

October 12, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer 3 Comments

When I attended Blogher13, I stopped by a booth promoting an online backup service: Backblaze. I liked what I heard and wanted to try the service. After returning home, with coupon code in hand, I began backing up my laptop; something I had never done before. I should have known better, especially as a self-imposed geeky type, but we all think it will never happen to us–the inevitable computer crash. I have to confess it’s happened to me before and my computer was not backed up. So you imagine my excitement when I got the opportunity to test drive this product.

What do I like about it?

It runs in the background after initial installation and you don’t have to worry about it. You can schedule it to automatically backup or you can manually do it when it’s convenient (although I would not recommend this option–you might forget to do it!). The best thing about it is that it’s not being backed up to a physical hard drive, but is encrypted and sent to an external server that you can access from your computer or any mobile device. Your data is always accessible.

Locate My Computer

Another perk of this backup program is it allows you to locate your computer. Why would you need that option–how can you lose your computer? Consider this scenario. Your college-bound teen heads off to college with his new trusty laptop. Two opportunities might arise that he might need the “locate my computer” option. Forgetful as they are, students have been known to walk off and leave their computers. It happens. Or their laptop or computer might get stolen out of their dorm room and with this perk, you can locate it’s whereabouts using the “map this” option, and download all files before it’s ever recovered. This could save you thousands of dollars of replacement cost and stressful nights and days over papers, class notes, pictures and other documents stored on the computer.

BACKBLAZE

Giveaway

Backblaze is providing me with a coupon code for one year of backup service to one lucky parent or student. Just enter the giveaway below as many times as you like to increase your chances.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Scholarship Friday, scholarships, Uncategorized

Scholarships Friday: What are the odds?

October 11, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer

Sign up for my FREE parent tips email and get my FREE Ebook on college financing!

Most students hope for some sort of scholarship for college. Few are able to pay for the entire four years. Parents dream of getting that letter in the mail that says, “Congratulations, you have won a full ride for four years.” It happens, but it’s not the norm. The students who receive scholarships work hard and spend time searching and applying.

What are the odds?

Not everyone is going to win a scholarship. According to the 2007-08 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS), about 1 in 10 students enrolled full-time at 4-year colleges used scholarships to pay for their education, and the average amount was about $2,800. That sounds depressing and might cause you to think why bother; but keep reading to the bottom of the article for some hope and encouragement.

Athletic Scholarships

You will hear parents brag that their student is an athlete so they aren’t worried about scholarships; their student will get a full ride athletic scholarship.

Statistics rarely lie. And unfortunately, the numbers show that the recruiting game is a tough process to go through. There are more than seven million high school athletes, but there are college roster spots for just two percent of them. Getting to the NCAA Division I level is even tougher. Just one percent of those seven million student-athletes get a full ride to a Division I program. The recruiting process takes work, and earning an athletic scholarship is far from easy. It’s better to focus your time on academics, where your changes for a merit based scholarship are greater.

Here’s an infographic to demonstrate the point: Athletic Scholarship Statistics.

Here’s a chart that lists which athletic scholarships are available, how many, and the award amount: Scholarship Stats

It’s not all bad

Each year rumors and speculations arise around the topic of scholarships. You will hear statements like: there’s no way I will qualify so why bother applying; there are millions of applicants so I won’t win one; if you aren’t an A student you shouldn’t even bother. All of these, of course, are not true.

Scholarship Experts talks about myth vs fact: Scholarship Facts you won’t believe

What are my chances?

The best answer I can give you is your chances are ZERO if you don’t apply. Do the work, follow the rules and apply for the right scholarships by using a matching search engine like Zinch. Think outside the box and apply for scholarships with the fewest applicants (like local ones), thus increasing your chances.

The simple adage applies with scholarship searches: no pain, no gain. It may take you time and require you to push your limits, but the reward is worth it.

FastWeb Refer A Friend Scholarship

Eligibility: Scholarships for high school studens, undergraduate students, and graduate students