What is the trouble with college tuition? Ask any parent and they will say, “it’s too high!” This infographic breaks it down and shows how it has increased over the years and what that means for the average college student. Click on the graphic below and see the entire infograhic.
I love books because, well, I just love books. They are some of my prized possessions. These college books are part of my collection because they are jam-packed with information about the college admissions process. Some of them are informational, and others help you relax and laugh during the process. Add these books for parents of college-bound students to your reading list. After all, who doesn’t like books?
Nancy takes the everyday aspects of the college admissions process and puts them into terms that parents can easily understand and relate to by using humor. And if that’s not enough, she sprinkles some of the best college admissions advice along the way by tapping into her own personal experiences and her network of college experts that she utilizes throughout the book.
Wendy David-Gaines, the author, is famous for exposing the cliches about college. After giving the cliche, she gives you the “POCS reality”. In her book, Wendy does this effectively by compiling actual parent stories. The stories (both from pre-POCS and POCS) are simple, light-hearted, often humorous and an easy read. But here’s the clincher–they provide parents with added insight into each individual situation.
The best part about Monica’s e-book is that it’s simple and easy to understand. If you follow her easy 10 step program, the scholarship process becomes doable for any parent and their student. You can sit back and hope that your student does all the work, or you can offer help and support by grabbing a copy of Monica’s book, reading it, and rolling up your sleeves.
When Zac Bissonnette headed off to college, he had the funds to cover the tab. Bissonnette has seen the currently flawed system first hand. He’s a contrarian, and his book is packed with studies and statistics to back up his analysis. It’s a magical combination that college-bound students and their parents should read, even if there’s plenty of money set aside to pay the tuition tab. There’s no harm in learning ways to get the biggest bang for your buck and the best education available at the same time.
The author, Paul Hemphill, forces history to shout its powerful lessons about our least appreciated ability – leadership. A pre-teen, a parent, or a corporate exec doesn’t need to be trained for leadership because it’s already alive and pumping in your DNA. The proof is all here. Here’s the bonus feauture: it uses history as a motivational tool. Instead of stats and facts, you get more than 200 life-lessons from Gettysburg to help you succeed in any endeavor. What’s the number one quality admissions officers look for in a candidate for admission? Leadership!
This week, Wednesday’s parent takes at look at back to school with some tips for a new school year. Do you take first day of school photos of your kids? I did. I loved seeing how much they had grown and how the fashion trends changed. For parents (especially after a very long summer) back to school day was a day of rejoicing. Finally, the house becomes quiet and you can have a little bit of time to yourself.
What does “back to school” mean to you? If your student is moving to a new school it probably means uncertainty and stress. Anytime your student enters a new environment they will be anxious; but there are ways you can ease those back to school jitters.
Let your student express their concerns and help them relax about it. Preschoolers are entering school for the first time; middle schoolers now have added responsibility like changing classes and locker combinations; high school students’ lives begin to revolve around their peers; and college students are on their own to flounder in a whole new world of responsibility and accountability. Open conversations will help them lower their stress level.
Yes. I said, “man up”. The sad reality is that today’s parent doesn’t know how to let go. It’s your responsibility to communicate confidence, excitement and joy about the new environment. If they witness you crying, whining and generally unhappy, they will mimic your feelings. Positive parents raise positive children.
As your student gets older and moves on in their academic track, the homework will increase; and so will the drama. If you are frustrated, just imagine how your student feels. Pay close attention and if you witness your student floundering with the new material, hire a tutor, such as tutors at Takelessons, or get help from the teacher or tutoring labs. If you nip the problem in the bud early, he/she won’t be nearly as frustrated in high school and college
New school means new bullies. Unfortunately, it even happens in college. Prepare your student for those encounters by fortifying their self-esteem. Use every opportunity to encourage, hug, support and love on them. Coping with peer pressure is very stressful for students (and their parents). Be proactive and get involved if you have to. This is one area that it’s ok to be a helicopter parent.
Yes. Parents need to make new friends, just like their students. Get involve in parent organizations. This applies to all age groups, even at the college level. Colleges have parent groups too—join them. Volunteer when needed and this helps you stay abreast of what is happening at the school. And don’t tell anyone, but it’s easier to check up on your student when you’re there!
Keep your antenna up and ready to spot any problems that require parent involvement. No. This doesn’t mean you need to hover over your student. But it does mean that, especially at new schools and in new environments, the students encounter problems that need adult intervention. Do not, however, get on the phone every day and become one of those parents school officials detest. You know the ones: their student is never wrong and the teacher is never right.
New school New attitude. What’s past is past and the future is the future. Leave those negative experiences behind and look forward to the new school year with excitement and anticipation. It’s a new start for your student and a new start for you.
Parenting never changes. Whether you have a preschooler or a college student the premise is always the same: you want the best for your kids. Who doesn’t love a fresh start? (I actually saw you smile when you read this.) Have a great school year!
Back to school brings excitement and anticipation for most students. But this is a new year and a new environment with new challenges. This can lead to frustration and apathy after a few weeks of classes, homework and tests. The last thing your student needs is to start the year off in a slump. The first few weeks set the tone for the entire school year, which makes it important to avoid some common back to school mistakes.
Procrastination is certainly at the top of the list: putting off homework, waiting until the last minute, and neglecting to stay on top of deadlines. Students who find themselves buried in homework sometimes throw up their hands in frustration and don’t do it. New schedules, new campuses, new classrooms and new teachers can raise your student’s frustration level.
Avoiding these back to school mistakes can start the year off on a positive note and help your student focus on what’s important: academics and the college prep process.
Hop on over to Zinch’s high school blog to see a comprehensive list of the biggest back to school mistakes you must avoid.
You know the drill. You feel you have to stay on them for every little thing or it won’t get accomplished. After all, they are only teenagers and can’t possibly manage on their own. Reality check—they better learn how to because once they leave the nest they will be expected to act like responsible adults (well, most of the time). Now we all know that’s a tall order for an 18 year old, but you have to let them spread their wings if you don’t want a 30+ year old living at home with you. What are you communicating to your teenager?
What you say: I expect you to go to college.
What you mean: I want you to be able to compete in today’s job market by getting a good education and have some great college experiences.
What your teen hears: If you don’t go, I will be disappointed in you.
How do you fix this miscommunication? Ask them how they see their future. Talk to them about their interests and the courses they enjoy in high school. Let them tell you what they want and help them understand that in order to accomplish it they will need a good education. Assure them that whatever their decision, you will always love and support them.
What you say: Don’t you think you should spend some time studying for the SAT?
What you mean: You want them to be prepared for the test and not be disappointed by their scores, especially if it affects their college acceptances.
What your teen hears: You really don’t study enough and your score will sufffer.
Every high school student feels pressured to do well; not just from parents but from their peers. If you see they are struggling because they don’t understand or seem frustrated with the material, consider hiring a tutor. Tutors are surprisingly affordable and will take all the pressure off them and help you to relax about SAT prep.
What you say: Do you think you are spreading yourself too thin?
What you mean: You know that if your child overcommits to things they will be stressed and overwhelmed, which will ultimately affect academics. You are concerned that fatigue will also be a factor as well.
What your teen hears: You are involved in too many activities and it’s going to hurt your studies.
Before the school year begins, discuss activities and schedules with your students. If you schedule time for academics, extracurriculars and entertainment, along with some time for college prep, this conversation won’t happen nearly as often. And your child won’t feel overwhelmed and stressed.
What you say: It would be great if you would spend some time searching for scholarships.
What you mean: College is expensive and every extra dollar you can get will help pay tuition.
What your teen hears: You can’t go to college if you don’t win some scholarships.
Before you begin the college admissions process sit down with your student and discuss finances. Explain to them what you are willing to contribute to college financially and what you expect them to do as well. Once that discussion is out of the way your teen will understand your financial situation and also see that they are responsible to do their part.
What you say: I hardly see you anymore. It would be nice if you were home more often.
What you mean: I can’t believe you will be leaving soon and I’m already starting to miss you. We don’t have much time and I want to make the most of it.
What your teen hears: You spend too much time with your friends.
Make it a family rule for everyone to have dinner together. Schedule a family game night and make attendance mandatory. If necessary, schedule a father/daughter or mother/son date night, a girls night out, or a boys night out. Scheduling these times help to draw the family close and cement the relationships that you share with them.
Communication is key in the parent/teen relationship. Find time to talk, even if it’s in the car or over a quick snack or during dinner preparation. You will be surprised at the wealth of information you will learn when you’re not asking questions but listening. And sometimes, it’s more information than you care to hear (TMI)!
When your teenager enters high school they are told from day one that they NEED extracurriculars to get into college. Parents nag them about it. Counselors and teachers lecture them about their importance. Most of the advice they receive, however, neglects to mention one crucial point: padding the resume with activities does not impress college admissions officers. They can spot this tactic when they see it and it gives a negative impression on the application.
How should you approach extracurriculars? With planned purpose. Begin freshman year by examining your likes and dislikes and trying out some activities. You don’t need a long list; just a few that you enjoy and are willing to commit to for four years. Think outside the box and remember that all activities don’t need to be school related. One student gained admission and a scholarship because an admissions officer that his hobby of raising carrier pigeons was unique. The possibilities are endless based on your interests.
Don’t forget that extracurriculars are only one part of the college application. Don’t spend so much time focusing on them that you neglect academics and test prep. A well balanced student possesses all the qualities necessary to impress the college admissions officers.
Read more for a comprehensive article on extracurriculars
It’s back-to-school time and a perfect time to take care of the files on your student’s laptop or desktop computer. You know the drill: something happens and they forgot to backup their files. They lose that important research they have done for a term paper or the notes they took in Chemistry class. Or worse yet, they lose that precious college essay they have been working on for months.
Panic ensues and there is absolutely nothing you can do except take it to a repair shop and hope they can recover the data. Not if you have Carbonite! The program automatically backs up your files so you don’t have to. No more worrying about backing up files. With Carbonite you get:
Cloud Backup: Cloud backup not only protects your data so you can get it back in the event of data loss, but it also provides remote access to files when you’re away from your computer. Carbonite’s cloud backup plans start at just $59.99 per year, and runs in the background so new and changed files are backed up automatically. And for the student who always forgets to print out their homework or loses papers before they’re due, Anytime, Anywhere Access ensures they can download, print or email their backed up files from any computer, iOS or Android device.
I installed it on my Mac and it works fabulously. I no longer have to worry about forgetting to back up my files. Installation was easy and leaving it on overnight and my computer was backed up when I got up in the morning. It worked like a charm!
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If you are a prospective or current college student who will be studying in the science and/or medical programs your school offers, you are most likely going to be required to purchase a lab coat.
Any science class that requires you to be in a laboratory as part of the course will generally also require you to wear a lab coat during any lab work. Biology, biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, and physics are all classes that will likely require a lab coat, and there are other science classes which will require one as well.
If you are attending a college or university that specializes in science and/or medical programs, you can probably purchase lab coats in the college bookstore. If they are not available on the shelf at the college bookstore, sometimes the college will order lab coats for you if you ask the person in charge at the bookstore.
Another way to obtain a lab coat for your science lab classes would be to get in contact with the students who have taken the class prior to this semester. If a previous student no longer needs his or her lab coat, you may be able to pick one up pretty inexpensively.
Students have a lot to worry about when they get into higher education. For many, it is the first time they are on their own and have to worry about things like laundry and cooking. Even more, they have to worry about including study time in addition to other responsibilities. This can be very overwhelming, especially for science students. However, there are a few study tools they can use to make study time effective.
Graphing calculators are very useful in working with complicated applications in science, especially those that involve math functions like calculus and trigonometry. These calculators are devoted exclusively to these functions, so they become easy to use. Furthermore, many of these calculators store information, so it is easy to go over concepts and track progress with the information.
With the rise of mobile technology and smartphones, apps are becoming even more popular and have a variety of uses. There are even science study guides available for various forms of science including physics and biology. However, the drawback of many apps is that they come at a cost, so they may not be an option for all students who need some extra study help. Still, there may be other free apps that help students understand concepts and provide other kinds of necessary information.
There are also many websites all over the Internet that can help students with many types of science needs. Many of these sites are free for all users and they can explain concepts and theories to students who need a little extra help with their science. There are many reference sites such as Knovel and the Science and Engineering Encyclopedia for those who need help with general concepts in science.
However, it may be more useful to find sites that are more tailored to specific subjects in science. For instance, sites like Chemdex, PTable and the On-Line Encyclopedia of Chemical Terms can help those who need to brush up on chemistry. Biology students can look to sites such as Everything Bio, Biology Reference and All Experts Biology. There are even sites for other subjects including astronomy, botany, environmental sciences, genetics, geology, physics and zoology among others.
The importance of study groups cannot be underestimated when it comes to studying any of the sciences. Putting together a study group is a very good way to compare notes and find out what concepts and ideas are important during the class in case something is missed. It is also a good way to begin understanding the work with the help of fellow students. If the group cannot meet in person, it is possible to begin a chatroom or communicate via webcam so that it is easier for members to get together.
Whether in a group or alone, it is very important to find a place that makes uninterrupted study easy. For instance, many schools have designated study rooms, but they may need to be reserved in advance. Libraries may also be a good place to study for students who need a place that is already quiet and need to accommodate more than one student.
However, there are other options when it comes to study rooms or areas. Many students are now taking their work to cafes and coffee shops, which can be good for students who are not easily distracted. This may also be a good option for those who need to get off campus. Some students are even able to study in their rooms, but they should make sure they are comfortable and able to focus, especially if there is a roommate to consider.
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Author Bio
Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he offers a few study tips to science students and aims to encourage further study through Ohio University engineering online.
The entrance of smartphones in our lives brought a lot of changes in the way we do things. This is due to the fact that this small communication device can assist us to undertake a lot of activities much easier and faster than before. However, each of these activities makes your battery deplete. This means that you need to find ways to reduce the battery consumption. This article looks at the science behind the various approaches.
Your screen is one part of your smartphone that is always on when performing an activity. Every operation on the phone uses the screen in one way or another. This means that your screen is one of the components that take up a lot of battery power. The good thing is that you can change the various settings that are used in your screen to reduce consumption.
If you have no time to customize this feature, you can select a theme that automatically adjusts the features to improve battery consumption. This is achieved by selecting the ‘power saving mode’ under your display settings. The science behind this is basically a change in the screen time-out and reduction in the brightness of your screen. This most definitely reduces the power consumption.
No other smartphone function uses up your battery like connecting to the Internet via Bluetooth, data, or Wi-Fi. You may prefer to leave the connection turned on due to the fact that some of the apps and functions use the Internet, but you need to be ready with a charging pack very soon.
If you are not using the Internet, it is better to turn off these functions so that you do not waste your battery. Additionally, the higher the level of connectivity, the faster your battery will be drained. This means that it is more economical for you to connect to a 2G network rather than a 4G network.
Continue reading Tips to make a smartphone battery last longer
