All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

dorm life, Uncategorized

How to make the most of a small college dorm room

 

college dorm storageIf your student is lucky he’ll end up with a dorm room that’s roughly the size of a shoebox (as opposed to the postage-stamp variety). Let’s face it: dorm rooms are small and cramped! And most of them already come with two twin beds, two desks and chairs, and two wardrobes, which means even if you’re student is fairly economical with his stuff he still may not squeeze everything in. He’ll probably want to bring his entire wardrobe and he’ll certainly want his computer setup. Then there are toiletries, electronics, and small appliances like a microwave and mini-fridge. And soon enough there will be a slew of books and papers to contend with, as well. Of course, if he plays music or sports there will be even more equipment crammed in. In short, your student’s small dorm room could soon become a featured residence on the TV show ‘Hoarders’ if he’s not careful. So here are just a few strategies that could help to cut down on the clutter and truly optimize your student’s college dorm room.

Continue reading How to make the most of a small college dorm room →

college guidance, college planning, online learning

What if your student wants to attend an online university?

 

online universityYou’ve probably dreamed of sending your child off to your own alma mater, not to mention watching him walk to the stage to receive his diploma. Even if your kid is the first generation in your family to attend an institution of higher learning, you probably want him to have the college experience, including living in dorms, participating in Greek life, and so on. But times are changing, and more and more students these days are looking to save time and money by attending online schools to earn their degree.

You might be understandably concerned about the ramifications of going this route. What will it mean for your student and his prospects of gainful employment? If your teen tells you he’d rather attend an online school, there are a few things you’ll want to consider before you agree.

Check the accreditation

The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing an online college is the status it holds; you want to make sure your student attends an accredited school. Luckily, many online universities these days are accredited, and they enjoy the same accreditation status as their brick-and-mortar counterparts. You can find such institutions online via the U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education (ope.ed.gov/accreditation/), which is required by law to compile a list of qualified institutions (even though they don’t themselves offer accreditation). But why is choosing such a school so important?

A school that has gained accreditation has proven that it meets certain standards for excellence in academia, and this means that other schools are far more likely to accept students coming out of such an institution. Many employers might question the validity of an online degree as well. Offering accreditation communicates that the courses offered are beneficial as they apply to your work preparation.

Weigh the financial savings

Of course, there could be other issues, as well. If your teen stays home he will certainly save money on tuition and living expenses, and the flexible schedule offered by an online university will allow him to continue working part-time. He won’t get the opportunity to socialize as much; and while this might not sound so terrible, consider that the peers he meets in college could one day be his colleagues. In short, he’s missing out on a prime chance to network with others who will eventually be in his industry. This is a big loss. He also won’t have access to internships and job placement.

Online education can also be costly. Many online universities attract students by offering student loans. Which can seem appealing at first, but later down the road, upon graduation, the debt is unsurmountable. If your son has applied for scholarships and won, verify that they can be used at an oline university.

So while attending University of Phoenix or WSU online might certainly be easier and more cost-effective, it’s important to impress upon your teen all that he might be missing by remaining at home instead of heading to campus. If he’s set on staying home, he needs to consider all of his options before making a choice that could affect the rest of his life.

college planning, financial aid, Uncategorized

Angeldorm helps students fund education

2 Comments

 

With the cost of college rising, parents and students are looking for creative ways to fund their education. Angeldorm, an education funding website, has addressed that issue. A few days ago, I asked its creator, Scott Baxter, some questions about the service and what led him to create it. If you’re looking for another way to fund college, you should definitely check them out. Every little bit helps!

angeldorm

Following are the questions and answers:

Q: What lead you to create AngelDorm?

A: I was inspired by my growing concern that the kind of education that paved my way to success is now out of reach for many. I paid for my own education, but I was lucky enough to have parents who risked well over their net worth when they co-signed my loans. I created Angeldorm to capitalize on the marriage of crowd funding with social media to make it easier than ever before to raise money for college, while doing so in an environment that is safe, secure and connected directly to the student’s university of choice.

Q.  How can parents and students benefit from your service?

A. Student loans are the fastest growing form of consumer debt and represent a serious economic threat. The fact is that each student leaves college with $25,000 in debt on average. Angeldorm’s strategy is to help tackle this global problem by providing a safe, secure environment in which students can raise money for college by tapping into their social networks. By telling the human stories of real students, Angeldorm is recasting the national policy crisis into a problem shared by neighbors, friends and relatives in thousands of communities.

The Angeldorm system follows the crowdfunding model that has made meaningful changes in political campaign funding by turning small donations from the American middle class into political heavyweights. That same concept, focused on the problem of college funding, can help democratize college funding to include greater opportunity for participation. Angeldorm’s goal is to shrink that yawning ’education gap’ that has become one of the biggest worries of our era.

angeldorm1

Q. What is a fundraising dorm?

 A. A “dorm” houses a student’s fundraising efforts and results. A “dorm” includes a custom profile with a photo or video, a brief questionnaire identifying the school, major/minor focus, and any other information a student wants to share. Every student controls the information within their own “dorm”. When they’re ready, a student can launch their “dorm”, and share it with their community through posting the link to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin or their own personal blog. They can talk about the university they have targeted, their intended major and the career path they hope to begin after they complete their degree. The site also has the students give donors academic progress reports, as well as an important space on the site for students to share details of the volunteer work they are doing now and planning for the future.

angeldorm

Q. Is it easy for people to donate?

 A. Yes! Angels can contribute from anywhere across the globe with a valid credit card, they don’t even need to register, it’s fast and easy.(Standard currency conversion rates apply).

Q. Does your fundraising service easily connect to social media?

A. Yes! Angeldorm provides tools for students to easily place their funding dorms on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google and other significant social media networks. The site makes it easy for the students to tell their stories to everyone in this network. Students can upload videos and narratives that explain why they are going to college and how it fits into their long-term plans. The profile tool on the site lets them create their personal histories in the online ‘virtual dorm’ so donors understand what they will do when they get to their real college dorm.

The broader the reach, the greater the support. The ideal “angel” support network includes friends, family, employers, coaches, teachers, religious colleagues, community members, club members, etc.

Angeldorm also acts as an aggregator and link to other online college funding sites and scholarships, including other crowdfunding services, so that students can take advantage of every possible source as they become independent advocates for their own future.

Q. Are students responding to this service and if so, how successful are they in raising funds?

A. Yes! We have more and more students every day and they are raising hundreds, even thousands of dollars, every bit of which helps fund their dreams and goals without that much debt.  It all adds up and helps.

Q. If you could describe your service in just a few words, what would they be?

A. Angeldorm is the first major one-stop shop for helping students fund their college education by tapping their social network.

Q. Tell us about your scholarships and why you created them.

A. We created our own scholarships because some donors would like a tax deduction which if they donate to Angeldorm and we allocate the monies to students they may receive.  We also created our own scholarships to help students who meet certain criteria. Every student is automatically eligible for an Angeldorm scholarship when they launch their ‘dorms.’

admissions, college planning, websites

The College Application Process–New Tools for the Digital Age

1 Comment

 

It always excites me when I find a tool that helps parents and students stay organized during the college admissions process. In the past, we have used filing drawers, wall calendars and to-do-lists to stay on top of all the admissions requirements. Then we moved on to usb storage drives, smartphone calendars and Evernote, which have worked seamlessly over the last few years. But today, there is a new tool for the digital age: The College Application Wizard.

 

 

College Application Wizard is the brainchild of Lynell Engelmyer and Kelly Herrington. Between Lynell and Kelly, they have over four decades of experience in college admissions, college counseling, and college financial aid.  Lynell, a former Director of Financial Aid, owns a successful college counseling practice in upstate New York, and frequently writes and speaks to groups about all aspects of applying to and paying for  college.  Kelly is the Director of College Counseling at a high school in the Pacific Northwest and is the former Associate Dean of Admissions at Union College.  Lynell and Kelly worked with a team of graphic designers, programmers and writers to create the first online personalized college organizer – The College Application Wizard.

 Just to see how the program works, I signed up for a free account (one college) and walked through the process. It was simple, self-explanatory, and allowed you to tailor your list by setting your own deadlines on the tasks and adding any extra to-do lists for each task. The application gives you all the requirements for each individual college: transcripts you need to gather, recommendation letter requirements, forms required for financial aid, application and financial aid deadlines, and essay topics. Here’s a screenshot of the college that I set up–Bentley University.
The cost is free for one college and $9.95 for up to 15 colleges for one year of access (more than enough in a narrowed down list). The fee includes the customized online organizer tool and a host of other resources including the advice of professionals with almost a half-century of college admission and financial aid experience.  The fee also allows the student to share their account with two people (parents, counselors, mentors, etc.)  These mentors enjoy read-only access to the student’s file. In my opinion, this is a BARGAIN!

Why Do Students and Parents Need The College Application Wizard?

Gone are the days when every high school had enough college counselors with sufficient time to work with each student. Today, one counselor is often assigned to hundreds of students.  At the same time, the process itself has become more complex and the competition increased.  In the past, students applied to three or four colleges.  Today, students often apply to 7 to 10 colleges or more.  Students who used to take either the SAT or ACT now take both tests and may also need to take SAT Subject Tests as well.  Arts majors may need to prepare a portfolio.  Athletes must prepare an athletic resume and submit game film to schools.  Students need to request teacher recommendations and follow-up to make sure they were submitted by the deadlines.  Families applying for financial aid face another important set of requirements and deadlines with very high stakes attached.   It’s the rare person who can seamlessly navigate and organize every step of this process.  For many applicants, this process is a complex, confusing maze.

The College Application Wizard takes the confusion out of the process and straightens out the maze to organize, guide and support students along the path to college.  It helps students understand the steps they need to take and take those steps in the right order and at the right time.  It relieves anxiety and takes the stress out of the process for parents.  In the words of a parent who saw the prototype of the College App Wizard, “This is a parent’s dream come true!”

college guidance, parenting

How to set expectations for your soon-to-be college freshman

 

college freshmanIt seems like just yesterday that you brought your little bundle of joy home from the hospital, and now he’s a teenager preparing to leave home and head off to college. Luckily, you’ve done your job well, preparing him for the many trials that he’ll face when you’re not present to guide him. You’ve taught him to respect authority and treat others with kindness and compassion, although you’ve also instilled in him a healthy sense of caution, common sense, and self-preservation. He is confident and capable of caring for himself. So while you no doubt feel sad about his departure, you know that he is well-equipped to handle himself like an adult during his time in school. And yet, he may not be entirely prepared for some of the stresses and pressures he’ll encounter on campus as a college freshman. So as your last lesson before he leaves home, you might want to figure out how to help him set his expectations accordingly so that he’s not blindsided.

Academics

The first area you’ll probably want to address is academics, and they’ll likely be a bit more demanding than high school. Hopefully your teen has taken some AP classes, which are much closer to college-level requirements than standard high school courses. With any luck, the college he attends will accept some of these courses in lieu of general education credits, allowing your child a couple of light semesters to start off. Either way, though, he’ll be better prepared if he has taken AP coursework. However, he needs to understand that the onus is on him to attend class, study, and turn in his homework in a timely manner. This means setting a schedule that includes blocking out classes and study time and sticking to them. As a rule of thumb, every hour spent in class should coincide with approximately three hours of homework/study time.

Social activity

Next you should discuss social pursuits. College is not only a great time to make a new and diverse group of friends and participate in social activities and clubs, but it also provides myriad opportunities to network. However, your student should be prepared for the whirlwind that is social life on nearly every college campus. He could easily get sucked into partying and skipping class, and it’s not a bad idea to discuss the drinking and drug culture that seem to go hand-in-hand with college living. The hope is that your teen will stay away from these activities, which could easily derail his academic progress, but you’re fooling yourself if you think he won’t at least be confronted with such options. Talking it out ahead of time can help him to understand what’s out there and come up with a plan to have fun without hurting himself or others.

Consequences

College is a great time for students to test their independence. But it is also possible that those independent choices, right or wrong, will bring consequences. Remind your soon-to-be college freshman to think before they act and weigh the pros and cons of their decision. Help them understand that they will have to face the consequences of their actions and these consequences often affect their future.

The pressure to succeed in college is high, and it can definitely get to the average college freshman that has left familiar surroundings and a solid support network behind for the first time in his life. He may have his heart set on eventually attending criminal justice graduate programs or obtaining a PhD in medicine, but he’ll first have to make it through the stresses of freshman year. And the best way for you to help your student is to prepare him as best you can for what he’ll face in college. Armed with a plan of action he is more likely to proceed with confidence and go the distance.

college guidance, college majors, college planning, parenting

Should your student attend a public or private university?

1 Comment

 

public or private universityThe student in your household has many schools to choose from when it comes to deciding where to attend college. And while you can definitely use college rankings and other resources to narrow down the list of possibilities, it might help to consider beforehand whether or not a public or private university is better suited to provide the coursework and degree your student needs.

However, you may not necessarily know the differences that separate a public institution from a private one. For all you know, they might offer exactly the same education. In truth, it could depend largely on the school in question, but there are some general features that can help you to differentiate a public university from a private one. Here are some things you’ll probably want to consider before you push the teen in your household to apply to one or the other.

The cost vs the benefits

The first thing you’ll no doubt notice is that private universities tend to be more expensive than public ones, all things considered. This is partially because they offer a certain amount of exclusivity, not to mention everything that comes with it. However, it is noteable that many private universities offer more merit aid because of generous alumni donors. This type of funding allows private institutions to be more selective when it comes to admittance, meaning they may require a better GPA or more extracurriculars or volunteer work than the average university. As you might imagine, the payoffs of getting accepted to one of these schools can be great. Class sizes tend to be smaller so that students receive more individual attention. If your student needs a bit more supervision to stay on track, this could definitely be a benefit of choosing a private institution.

Religious affiliation

In addition, some private universities are also religious in nature. So if it’s important to you that your child continues to receive religious instruction, a private institution, and specifically one that caters to your religion, may be in order. On the other hand, you’ll almost certainly want to make sure that your choice is based primarily on the academic features the school has to offer since the main goal of attending college is to earn a degree that leads to a fruitful career. All the same, many families are drawn to private schools that offer a religious aspect, and this could definitely play a role in the university you opt to send your child to.

Academic programs

Of course, you’ll also have to consider which universities offer the most highly rated programs for the type of career your student is interested in, and you might be surprised to learn that in some cases the public institutions beat out their private counterparts. You should also keep in mind that some schools have clout or connections within specific industries, which means they’re better equipped to offer internships, job opportunities, and even job placement in some cases. For instance, Texas A&M is infamous for their engineering network and the fact that alumni Aggies tend to hire Aggie graduates. Checking these stats ahead of time could help you to determine not only which type of university is better for your student, but which schools, in particular, are preferable.

Whether your student is looking to study medicine in California or head to a Vermont law institution, you need to look into both public and private universities in order to find the school that will provide the best education and the most opportunities. In some cases a public institution can provide just what you’re looking for, and probably at less expense. But often, private institutions offer the benefits of more merit aid, small class sizes, and an extensive alumni network. That’s why it’s important for parents and students to evaluate each university separately and determine which college is the best fit.

study abroad

Top 5 Safety Tips for Studying Abroad

2 Comments

 

study abroadPerhaps the best thing about sending your kids to college is that they are granted so many opportunities to expand their minds, meet new people, and increase their personal marketability. Academically speaking, college prepares young adults for the working world, and socially it can provide them with a vast network of connections to call upon later in life. Further, the time your kids spend in college will no doubt be transformative, helping them to figure out who they are, what they want, and what they believe in. And if they’re lucky, part of that experience will involve traveling to another country as a member of a study abroad program. However, sending your kids off to a foreign land, while exciting, can also be a bit terrifying. After all, they’re young and inexperienced in the ways of the world and anything could happen. So here are just a few safety tips you’ll probably want to impart before your kids head off for a few months of studying abroad.

  1. Plan ahead. There are all kinds of things students must accomplish in preparation for participating in a study abroad program. Aside from taking language lessons and filling out all the application paperwork, they’ll also need to get necessary immunizations and arrange for a passport, both of which could take up to six weeks. They may also need to apply for a student Visa, a work Visa (depending on how long they intend to stay and whether or not they need a job), and an international driver’s permit. In short, a lot of planning goes into spending a semester abroad, and they need to give themselves enough time to get all of their ducks in a row. This will help to ensure that they have everything they need when they travel and that they have no trouble reaching their destination and returning home afterwards.
  2. Learn the laws. It’s important to understand the laws of any country you’re in, and just because students are young doesn’t mean it’s okay to be unprepared in this regard. The local authorities certainly won’t cut visiting students any slack (just look at what happened to Amanda Knox). So take the time to go over pertinent laws with your kids prior to travel and stress that common sense is a must.
  3. Use the buddy system. The nice thing about a study abroad program is that your students will either be housed with a local family or in dorms with other international students. This should help to keep them out of trouble to some degree. But make sure they understand that there are predators looking to take advantage of them because they are so obviously out of place. For this reason it’s wise to have a buddy around at all times.
  4. Verify Insurance. Since medical insurance coverage may not extend to other countries, it’s a good idea to extend your policy or get additional travel coverage for your students. This will ensure that should they need to see a doctor or get a prescription their costs will be covered.
  5. Understand the culture. A lot of social interactions are going to be something of a trial by fire, whether your students are studying history in Italy or preparing for ESL jobs in China. Other cultures have different traditions and standards of behavior. While your students will have to learn some of it on the fly, it couldn’t hurt to take some time to look online for cultural norms in order to avoid inadvertently insulting the natives. For example, Italians may offer warm greetings such as hugs and kisses and they may take offense when recipients pull away. In China it is considered rude to leave any food uneaten, even a few grains of rice in the bottom of the bowl. When students understand such basic cultural differences they are less likely to commit a social gaffe that could result in conflict.

Every college student should take advantage of their college’s study abroad program. The studying abroad experience will undoubtedly change their lives personally, academically, and professionally.

 

admissions, college apps, college costs, college guidance, college housing, college majors, college planning, college visits, dorm life, financial aid, parenting, scholarships, student loans, test prep, tutoring, Uncategorized, websites

Comprehensive List of College Info Websites

11 Comments

college planning

Here’s a current comprehensive list of my picks for college info websites. Do you have any additional suggestions?

COLLEGE BLOGS

ParentingforCollege.com–You will find the MOST information ere olege news. Come here first to find the latest and bhest tools to hn our blog: college guidance, college planning, college coaching, and colelp you navigate the college maze.

TheCollegeSolutionBlog.com–An excellent resource for college-bound teens and their parents: admissions, testing, and financial aid.

UniversityLanguage.com/blog–Great blog articles about everything related to college admissions geared toward students.

GreatCollegeAdvice.com/blog–An excellent resource about the college admissions process providing expert advice helping students map their college journey.

USNews.com/Education–The education channel of U.S. News and World Reports providing the latest news and information related to college.

CollegeBasics.com–An excellent resource for information about college essays, college applications and high school resumes.

InsideHigherEd.com/blogs–Several different blogs related to higher education.

CollegeAdmissionsPartners.com/blog–An expert blog dedicated to helping students find the right college.

CollegeFocus.com/colleges–A virtual clearinghouse of blogs related to college life, parenting, college searches, etc.

Road2College.com–You can find just about any topic related to college prep at this site: financial aid, college planning, student loans, test prep, and more.

PARENT SITES

UniversityParent.com–A site where parents can ask questions, gather information, and download and view college guides and campus newsletters.

CollegeParentCentral.com–A blog created to give parents useful information about college and the college admissions process.

YourCollegeKid.com–A site with parent forums and other college prep tools.

CollegiateParent.com-A site dedicated to providing parents with information for their college students.

FINANCIAL AID

Fafsa.ed.gov–The official government website for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

SallieMae.com/plan–A FREE education investment planner that will help determine college costs, compare college costs, and provides information about student loan repayments.

SavingForCollege.com–Everything you need to know about financing a college education.

FinAid.org–An excellent resource for the answers to all your questions regarding college financial aid.

CollegeFinancialAidAdvisors.com–Help with the college financial aid process.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Fastweb.com–An extensive scholarship search website with a massive database of scholarships, along with articles and helps designed specifically for parents.

Chegg.com–A free service for students and parents where students can showcase themselves, connect with colleges, and search for scholarships.

Cappex.com–The place to go to find merit scholarships and academic scholarships from colleges across the country.

Scholarships.com–An extensive scholarship search engine that helps you search and schedule alerts for deadlines.

How2winscholarships.com–A guide for parents and students on how to effectively apply to and win scholarships.

COLLEGE VISITS

SmartCollegeVisit.com–Created to provide information about college visits, help parents and students plan, and view personal accounts from both parents and students.

CollegeWeekLive.com–A virtual college fair that sponsors free LIVE events with archived presentations, student chats, and college booths.

Youniversitytv.com–Learn about colleges by watching video tours, chat with students on campus forums, post questions and get answers.
CustomCollegeVisits.com–Offer custom tailored to your family’s needs, whether you’re visiting college & university campuses close to home, across the country or from overseas.

COLLEGE PLANNING

Cappex.com–A site created for students to help them simplify their college search, create a profile and search for scholarships.

CommonApp.org–The common application site used by 400 colleges and universities across the country.

PrincetonReview.com–The best value colleges list for public and private institutions across the country.

UPromise.com–UPromise partners return a portion of eligible purchase money back to you. Those earnings accumulate in your Upromise account until you decide to use it to invest in a 529 plan, help pay down eligible student loans or assist with college expenses—all tax-free!

CollegeBoard.com–It’s here you’ll find the CSS Profile application (required by many private colleges), register for the SAT, and read articles about planning for college.

CollegeXpress.com–A search site that groups colleges in categories and provides college “hot” lists (i.e. top college for late bloomers, colleges for students needing a second chance)

VolunteerMatch.org–Find local volunteer opportunities for your college-bound teen and teach them about the importance of giving back to their community with the added bonus of adding that service to their high school resume.

KnowHow2Go.com–A college planning site for college-bound students providing helps and aids from middle school to senior year: interactive and fun!

 BigFuture.collegeboard.org–A planning tool to help parents and students get ready for college.

TEST PREP / TUTORING

TutorsForTestPrep.com–An SAT expert and coach offering tips to help your college-bound teen improve their SAT/ACT scores.

FairTest.org–The site for the National Center for fair and open testing providing information about colleges who do not use the SAT/ACT for admissions decisions.

QuincyTutoring.com–A resource to find a tutor and schedule a tutoring session.

LaunchpadEducation.com–Tutoring to help students with learning disabilities and ADHD.

TEXTBOOKS

ECampus.com—Find textbooks, sell textbooks, search for college supplies and college apparel all on this one site.

Chegg.com–A hub for students to compare textbook prices, study for exams, and choose the right courses.

RECRUITING

NCSASports.org–The college recruiting site for athletes.

BeRecruited.com–If you have a teen that’s a student athlete, they can create an online profile here and help colleges and coaches find them and be recruited.

college visits, orientation, work study

Dorm tips for new college freshmen

1 Comment

 

Female College StudentMoving into the dorm as a college student is exciting— so exciting that germs and bacteria are the last worry on a freshman’s mind. The come-and-go sense of independence, co-ed hallways, late-night weekend hangouts— by sharing such close communal spaces though from the dorm room to the bathroom, immunity from germs and sickness is impossible.

Teach your kid these dorm tips to keep your future college student happy and healthy.

Communicate About Cleanliness

Mix laziness, zero communication, assumptions and passive aggressiveness and you have an ongoing unclean room shared between two people. Encourage your kid to be upfront and communicate with the new roommate by discussing who cleans what and when. Open the doors for discussion and explain that holding in irritations will only worsen the living situation and energy exchanged. Also, your own college student may be the dirty culprit himself. Remind him that a those nasty food plates will bring in bugs and a dirty room will make him sick. Gross!

Stock Up on Sanitizing Wipes

Regularly wiping down the doorknob, microwave oven, computer keyboard and mouse, and other areas that are highly touched eliminates germs and bacteria from growing. Shop for sanitizing wipes in bulk and your college student can just easily take an antibacterial wipe to anything for a quick clean. Whether you prefer Clorox or Lysol, these wipes are an easy cleaning solution for a college student who struggles with maintaining a spotless space.

Use Hand Sanitizer

Public surfaces like the dormitory bathroom door handles and classroom stairway railings are hotspots for germs. Sanitizing these surfaces before using them is a faux pas, okay — and who has time for that anyway? Do the next best thing. Tell your kid to keep a small bottle of liquid hand sanitizer with her. She can discreetly spritz hands after touching something in a public area, especially during cold and flu season.

Keep Multiple Sets of Sheets

Buy several sets of sheets so it’s always easy to put fresh and clean ones on dorm bedroom mattresses. The desire to be clean is likely to be trumped by the desire to not do laundry, or at least frequently. By having plenty of spare sheets, trips to the laundromat are kept to a minimum and the bed stays clean for healthy nights of sleep.

Take Vitamins

College kids live on pizza and chips? Unfortunately, dining hall food choices, dorm room snacks and alcohol aren’t the most nutritious. Make sure your college student keeps his immune system strong by taking a multivitamin daily. Although vitamins can generally be expensive, there are less costly options. Try Vitacost’s Synergy Once Daily Multi-Vitamin for a supplement that is high-quality, reasonably priced and easy to take between classes.

Work It Out

The value of exercise isn’t groundbreaking news, yet emphasize to your kid how staying active improves the immune system. Walking for 30 minutes a day can prevent colds, for instance. Nobody wants to wake up with a sore throat and sit in the germ-infested waiting room at the on-campus clinic. Between cramming for exams and hanging out with friends, the gym can be a place of neglect. During that weekly phone call with your son or daughter, remind them that an active body is a healthy body!

Let’s face it though–rarely do students listen to us or take the time to follow these healthy habits. I know my kids didn’t, in spite of my constant insistence. The best we can hope for is that they grasp onto just a few of these tips. And it’s our right to “remind” them every chance we get!

college housing, college visits, dorm life

5 Tips for taking campus tours

1 Comment

 

campus toursCampus visits are an important part of the college selection process for any student. Higher education is a significant investment of both time and money, and you and your teen should both be proactive about finding the perfect school. When you visit colleges for campus tours, don’t simply follow along silently. Remember these important tips for making the most out of every one of your campus tours.

  1. Give Yourselves Plenty of Time
    Rushing yourselves through a campus tour will defeat the entire purpose of visiting at all. You won’t be able to see everything, and you’ll be so frazzled by the stress of rushing about that you won’t remember anything either. Plan ahead to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy every campus tour at a leisurely pace. Set aside a whole day for excursions to local colleges, and consider planning an entire weekend around your trips out of town.
  2. Explore the Whole Town
    If you’re visiting a college campus in an unfamiliar area, take some time after the tour to explore the whole town outside of campus. Surrounding areas can play a major role in the college selection process. Some schools are tucked away in rural areas with little city life to speak of, while others are situated in the middle of dense, exciting metropolitan neighborhoods. Take your campus tour beyond the campus itself, and explore the surrounding areas to get a sense of where you are and where your teen will be living.
  3. Ask Lots of Questions
    The campus tour is your greatest opportunity to have your burning questions answered. Veteran students and faculty members typically conduct these tours, and they can give you the insider information that can’t be found in web pages and pamphlets. Ask lots of questions during campus tours, and encourage your teen to do so as well. Inquire about anything that springs to mind; computer centers, extra-curricular activities, academic advising or whatever piques your interest. You won’t get another opportunity like this, so let the questions fly.
  4. Request to See Dorm Rooms
    Your campus tour may or may not feature a tour of dormitories and student living spaces or it may be a “model room”. Some colleges encourage prospective students and parents to explore these spaces, while others do not. Whatever the situation may be at your campus tour, request to make a visit to the dorms. If your teen is going to be living on campus, rather than attending an online university, the dormitory accommodations will be a very important deciding factor in the college selection process. A college may have several different options for dorm living, so try to see as much as you can during your visit.
  5. Bring Home Lots of Literature
    Start a catalog of college literature from your campus visits, and bring home as much as you can from each school. Obtain pamphlets and brochures on everything from major programs to financial aid, from international study to career placement. School literature will help you and your teen to remember the details of every campus you visit, making each tour educational and worthwhile in the college selection process.