All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

admissions, college guidance, college planning

5 Tips for beating back senioritis

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The feeling you get when you you’re accepted to your dream school is one of euphoria! But the realization that there are still months left of school (six if you got in early action!) can put a damper on the celebration. There are AP exams left to take, endless calculus problem sets to turn in, capstone projects to be finished… when all you want to do is relax and hang out with friends.The truth is, almost everyone gets the dreaded senioritis. It’s characterized by a seeming inability to get work done by students who once pushed through projects and assignments in no time flat. The bad news: if you let senioritis get the best of you, you can jeopardize your college acceptance. The good news: senioritis is serious, but any high school senior can beat it. Here are my top five tips:

1. Set aside time each day for homework
You may not have the motivation to study as much as you did BCA (Before College Acceptance) but that doesn’t mean you can ignore homework entirely. One good strategy is to set aside distinct periods of time each day to do homework. If you tell yourself you’re going to work between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., each weeknight and then give yourself from 9 onwards for Facebook, socializing, TV or whatever it is you want to do for fun, you’ll be much more likely to get your work done than if you have an ephemeral goal of “getting your work done” but then don’t have anything concrete to match that to.

2. Study with friends
It’s senior year, it’s time to have some fun with friends who’ll be halfway across the country in a few months… but there’s that nasty project that’s due in the next two days. Studying with friends is a great way to get quality time in with your favorite people, while also ensuring you get your reading done and your problem sets finished. Make it more fun by meeting at a coffee shop or local cafe.

3. Be diligent about due dates and assignments
You may not get every homework assignment 100 percent, but you’ll want to be looking ahead to make sure you have the the big things on your radar — midterms, final papers and projects, big reports, etc. If you plan ahead, you can give yourself plenty of time to both relax and to get your work done stress free.

4. Check in with teachers regularly
Senioritis happens to almost everyone. And your teachers know it’s going to happen. But if you show them you’re on top of things by checking in, following up on assignments you may have turned in late, etc, they’ll be much more likely to be able to work with you in the event you miss something or forget to turn some homework in.

5. Reward yourself
Set out small goals you want to accomplish and then give yourself a reward when you complete them. Maybe for every five calculus problems you finish, you give yourself a piece of chocolate. Or perhaps it’s take a trip to the mall after studying for two hours for an AP exam. You decide the goals, you decide the rewards.

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Laura Oppenheimer works for InstaEDU, an online tutoring company that offers online algebra tutoring, as well as tutoring in hundreds of other subjects, ranging from basic math to advanced econometrics.
Uncategorized

Buying a car for your college student

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college_student_car-400x231When you send your child off to college, you might decide that his newly independent lifestyle warrants a personal set of wheels. Or perhaps you’re looking for a fun and functional high-school graduation gift that he’s sure to get a lot of use out of. In truth, this might end up being a major boon when it comes to travel if your student is attending a college that’s not too far from home since it could allow him to make frequent visits, say on the weekends or holidays, without the added cost of airfare. But whether you’re hoping to see more of your student after he heads off to college or you simply want to provide him with transportation during his time on campus, there are a few things you’ll need to consider before you plop down the dough on a brand new Escalade.

For starters you need to think about your price point. Since you may be helping to foot the bill for college already, the added expense of a brand new vehicle might be more than your current budget can bear. And don’t forget that inexperienced drivers are far more likely to get in accidents (hence higher insurance rates), so purchasing a pricy new vehicle may not be in anyone’s best interest. Although you certainly want your teen to leave for school with a reliable mode of transportation, there are plenty of options that don’t require you to overspend.

For example, you might consider purchasing a certified pre-owned vehicle. Most are only a year or two old, the dealer has put them through a rigorous inspection and repair process to ensure that they’re in ship shape, and many come with a full (or at least partial) warranty. Plus, you’ll enjoy the greatly discounted price. Although it’s bound to be a little more than the average used car, it’s still a lot less than brand new and you’ll get several benefits in addition to a relatively new vehicle.

Another thing to think about is how the car will fit with your teen’s lifestyle. For example, parking on campus is often at a premium, so having a tiny car that can fit in any spot (like a Smart, Fiat, Mini Cooper, or other subcompact) could be ideal. In addition, smaller, lighter vehicles tend to be more fuel efficient, which is good news for the average, broke college kid. Plus, a small car will limit the amount of friends your teen can cart around, hopefully reducing the risk for distractions that lead to accidents. As a general rule, small cars tend to be the best choices for college students.

However, there is one last thing you’ll want to consider before you go through with purchasing a car for your college-bound kid: does he really need it? If your student is living and working on campus, there’s really no need for him to have a car. In fact, he might be better off with a bicycle, especially if you’re not willing to support ongoing costs. Even if he can get discounted car insurance for college students, he might not make enough money to cover that plus registration, maintenance, parking, and gas. There’s no doubt that cars require money that many students don’t have to spare. As for those who live and work off campus, a bike and a bus pass could be just as useful at far less cost. So before you buy a car, keep in mind that it could end up being more of a liability than an asset to your student.

college guidance, college planning, parenting

5 Ways to help your college student stay healthy on campus

Unknown-2Sending your kids off to college is no easy undertaking. Aside from the cost of this venture, every parent will have to deal with the emotional difficulties involved, as well. For certain you will miss the pitter-patter of tiny feet in the house, and even the elephantine stomping and door slamming that no doubt characterized their teenage years. But even worse than the empty nest syndrome could be the endless worry. You’ll fret over little things like whether or not they’re dressing appropriately for the weather, getting enough sleep, and going to class on time. And then there are larger issues like safety, grades, and social acceptance. But the first time your student calls you up complaining of sore throat or stomach flu, you’ll start to wonder how they’ll make it through illness on their own, without you to bring them soup, take their temperature, and pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy. So here are just a few ways that you can help to ensure your kids stay healthy during their time on campus.

  1. Send prescription reminders. Whether your college-age kids take medication for asthma, seasonal allergies, anxiety, a heart condition, or even birth control, you’ve likely been phoning in and picking up their prescriptions for so long that you know exactly when they’re due. So if you’re worried about your student running out of essential medication, consider setting an alert on your phone’s calendar so that you can shoot your kid a text reminder to refill.
  2. Campus meal plan. While you probably had an easy enough time policing your kids’ food choices when they lived at home, since you were the one buying groceries and preparing meals, you’re going to have to accept that you have no control over how they eat on campus. That said, you can provide them with healthy alternatives to eating out and hitting the vending machines for every meal. By springing for a campus meal plan you’ll at least ensure that they have access to healthy choices. It might not stop them from nightly raids on the vending machine, but at least they can get some fresh fruits and veggies or a hot meal when they want it.
  3. Food delivery. There aren’t a lot of cooking options available to students living in dorms, what with limited kitchen amenities (they’ll have a mini fridge and microwave if they’re lucky). But that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to supply them with fresh fruits and veggies, depending on the school they attend. Start by looking for farm co-ops in the area that deliver fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, or if none are available, consider setting up deliveries from a company like Harry & David’s.
  4. Care packages. Plenty of parents are keen to send care packages containing freshly baked goodies and other items that remind kids of home. But you might want to swap out the cookies in favor of healthier fare like dried fruit, nuts, or even homemade trail mix. You could also throw in daily vitamin supplements to ensure that your kids are getting the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy, even if they’re not eating right.
  5. Health coverage. Many insurance providers allow parents to keep their kids insured under their policy up until the age of 26, which means that the average student won’t have to worry about finding their own affordable health insurance until after graduation. But if you want to make sure that your kids take advantage of this coverage, you might think about providing them with a list of plan-approved practitioners in their area (doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, etc.), or even set up appointments for them in the beginning.

You can’t police their every decision or pester them to take care of themselves, but you can provide them with opportunities to make healthy choices and continue their health care while in college.

 

college guidance, parenting

Teaching your college-bound teens about the dangers of drinking and driving

Do you remember when you were a teenager? Likely you can recall bits and pieces, but as you have grown older, wiser, and more experienced, you may have forgotten the particular blend of hormones, peer pressure, and self-discovery that leads teens to experience a sense of both invincibility and the immediacy of everything going on in their lives. You no doubt shake your head, exasperated, when your teens decry your overly careful attitude, but the truth is that you are at very different places in life. Your teens have yet to know the heartache and hurt that have caused you to become so cautious. But you have been where they are, and if you try to recall how you thought and felt at their age you should be able to come up with ways to connect to your college-bound kids on a level they can relate to. When it comes to discussing the dangers of drinking and driving when they head off to campus, it’s imperative that you make an impression.

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A good place to start is by learning all that you can about drinking and driving. You might begin by visiting the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) website to bone up on statistics for teenage drinking and driving. Although you probably don’t want to present the students in your household with a laundry list of rote facts and figures, they could come in handy when you attempt a discussion with your know-it-all teens. In truth, statistics only tell a small part of the story. You’re going to have to get a lot more personal if you want to instill in your kids a healthy fear of what can happen when they choose to get behind the wheel after drinking.

When you sit down with your college-age kids with the intent of discussing the dangers of drinking and driving, the best way to engage them may be to let them do the talking. A hardline, authoritarian stance may work with some kids, but most teens will tune out the moment you start lecturing. Instead, try asking them what they think about drinking and driving. Many will automatically reply that they know it’s wrong and they would never do such a thing. But you can’t end the conversation there. Question them next about how drinking and driving could impact their lives. Ask them if they know what happens when they receive a DUI. That opens the door for you to explain the legal process, including the black mark that will stay with them for the rest of their lives, not to mention the hike in their college auto insurance rates for the next couple of years.

Ask your kids what they think will happen in the event of an accident, not only to them personally, but also to passengers in their vehicle and the driver or passengers of other vehicles. You might even go so far as to have them to consider how they might feel if they hurt or killed a friend, or to imagine the guilt if they ended the life of a child or a family in another vehicle just because they were too stupid or too proud to call a cab or arrange for a designated driver for the night. In addition to the emotional weight of such a situation, they would also face criminal charges, potentially landing them in jail and getting them expelled from school in the process.

Making your kids think about these things and explain them to you in their own words is the best way to ensure that they’re thinking about them when they’re confronted with the prospect of drinking and driving. You won’t always be there to deter them, but you can give them the tools to think for themselves and make the right decision when it comes to drinking and driving.

career colleges, college majors, college planning

Great tech careers for college-bound students to consider

imagesWith the economy slow to recover from recession, many college students are understandably worried about their potential to find gainful employment after graduation. And while there are certainly students who will opt to pursue their dream majors despite the fact that there are currently no jobs available in their chosen field (no doubt hoping that the job market will improve by the time they have a diploma in hand), others are seeking degree programs that not only spark their interest, but lead to careers in related industries that are showing growth regardless of the recession. Technology is one such area of study. Whether your student is interested in computers and computer systems, the growing mobile space, changes in the automotive industry, or green technology, for example, there are many ways that they can turn their interest in the mechanics and electronics we use in our everyday lives into a promising career. So here are just a few paths in the area of tech careers that aspiring college students may want to consider.

As modern technology advances, there is no more promising field than computer science. Whether your student likes getting their hands dirty with hardware or programming is more their style, this field of technology plays a role in nearly every other type of technological advancement of late. Just look at smartphones and tablets, which are slimmer, lighter, and can now stream downloadable content in HD resolution with nary a hiccup. Or how about automotive technologies that connect wirelessly to personal electronics in order to help hands-free communication, or tracking fuel economy so that you can find ways to drive smarter. The point is that a background in computers can not only lead to high-paying jobs in fields like IT, database administration, or software, web, and mobile development, but also in almost any other industry.

Suppose, for example, that it’s your student’s dream to work at a theme park. They could be the person creating software that makes virtual reality rides feel like participants are really on a star ship zooming through space, or on a hang glider hovering over the California landscape. Knowledge of programming could also allow them to run their own business developing games and apps for the mobile space. Or they might wind up working in the film industry creating 3D graphics for movies. Of course, many jobs that require a background in computer technology will only be viable if you have some other knowledge and skills under your belt, as well.

Many engineering positions, for example, from mechanical to civil, will have an emphasis on computer technology but require that your student take a specific degree program in the field of engineering you want to enter. Luckily,engineers are in equally high demand to computer specialists these days. So if your student earns a degree in civil engineering with a minor in environmental studies, for example, they could end up planning residential or commercial buildings for a cleaner, greener tomorrow, or even entire housing developments or urban projects.

They might also go into medical technology. With many doctors and nurses nearing the age of retirement and baby boomers reaching their golden years, the next several years will see a real shortage of trained medical personnel. So this could be a great career path to pursue.

There are tons of potential technical careers just waiting for qualified individuals to fill them. Whether your student wants to become an infographic designer, an automotive computer engineer, or an alternative energy innovator, consider that any of several technology fields could hold the keys to a promising career.

college guidance, dorm life, parenting

Top 5 financial mistakes college freshmen make

Freshmen-BlundersWhen your student becomes a freshman in college they are bound to face a rather steep learning curve on several fronts. For one thing they will have to get used to being responsible for themselves, including how (and when) to eat, get enough sleep, and juggle their daily schedule, from attending classes to doing homework to squeezing in some socialization. But they will also have to learn to manage their own finances, and this can be extremely difficult for students that have never had to set a budget, balance accounts, and pay bills, especially if you, as parents, have offered no friendly advice or training on the subject. But rather than learning things the hard way and potentially getting into debt or screwing up their credit along the way, it’s in your best interest to help them become aware of some common issues that average freshmen face in the area of finance so that they can circumvent them completely. Here are just a few financial mistakes they will certainly want to avoid.

  1. Blowing dough on friends. Whether you are providing them with a monthly stipend for living expenses, they have some loan money left over after tuition and books, or they have a wage-earning job for the first time in their life, they may end up with a little more money in their pocket than they are used to, and the urge to impress their new friends by springing for pizza, treating them to coffee, or buying them tickets to rock concerts could leave your student high and dry with no money for essentials. This is a classic rookie mistake that plenty of freshmen make once or twice. But after living on Raman noodles for weeks, they aren’t likely to make this classic blunder again.
  2. Neglecting bookkeeping. Most students have never had to track their spending, so why would they add such a burden when they’ve already got the stresses of college to contend with? Because they don’t end up getting into trouble with overdraft fees, credit card fines, or angry phone calls from their parents informing them that you will no longer fund them unless they can get spending habits in order.
  3. Failing to budget. Any time you have limited funds (or really, any time at all) it’s important to create a budget so that you always know just how much money you have available and where it’s destined to go. Without this knowledge you could find that you don’t have enough in the bank when it comes time to pay for tuition. Or your bank card may be denied when you try to pay for dinner. Neither sounds very appealing.
  4. Applying for credit cards. Although there are laws in place to protect students from credit card offers that are made to take advantage of their inexperience, only your student can truly ensure that they don’t wind up owing their first-born child to Visa or MasterCard. As soon as they take out loans and start building credit the offers for plastic will come rolling in. Tell them to resist the urge to say yes to every offer that lands on their desk. If they need to use a credit card to actually build their credit, select one that has a low limit (to curtail overspending) and also a low interest rate (one that won’t get bumped up in 12 months). Or consider a card that requires they pay the balance, like American Express.
  5. Ignoring cheaper alternatives. Even though you might be  insuring items you bring to college, it’s probably a good idea not to bring anything too valuable. This includes a car. As a student living on campus they should have no problem getting around with nothing more than a bike or their own two feet. And even if they work off campus they can take the bus for a lot less than it costs to own and operate a vehicle.

Before your student spends beaucoup bucks on things they don’t need, consider that there are cheaper alternatives that could save them from overspending. Teach them the difference between “want” and “need” before they head out on their own.

 

 

infographics, Uncategorized

Does texting hurt grammar?

We’ve all heard the stories from English teachers and college professors–students submitting papers in techspeak format. Here’s a simple infographic that exposes the harm that texting can do to our student’s grammar skills. Click on it to see the full image.

texting

 Provided by OnlineCollege.org under a free-to-use Creative Commons license.

college guidance, college planning, in the news, parenting

Parents should encourage AP classes

The College Board released a press release and accompanying report related to the Class of 2012 Advanced Placement® results. While participation and performance increased compared to the Class of 2011, many High School students with potential for success in college-level AP® Courses still lack access. Parents of college-bound teens should encourage their students to take advantage of AP classes offered in high school. Following is a short excerpt from the press release, along with a link to view the complete report.

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UnknownNEW YORK — Ensuring that all academically prepared high school students have access to rigorous college-level course work that will enable them to persist in and graduate from college is critical for the United States to remain competitive in a global economy — particularly in crucial STEM-related disciplines. Educators are increasingly adopting the rigorous standards found within the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) to help the nation’s high school students develop the critical thinking, reasoning and communication skills that are essential for college success.

Data released today by the College Board as part of The 9th Annual AP Report to the Nation revealed that more high school graduates are participating — and succeeding — in college-level AP courses and exams than ever before. Succeeding in AP is defined as achieving a score of 3 or higher on the five-point AP Exam scale, which is the score needed for credit, advanced placement or both at the majority of colleges and universities.

“By exposing students to college-level work while still in high school, Advanced Placement dramatically improves college completion rates,” said David Coleman, President of the College Board. “Today we applaud those educators who have worked tirelessly to bring the power of AP to more communities and more students than ever before. But we must not forget the hundreds of thousands of students with the potential to succeed in Advanced Placement who don’t even have access to its coursework.  If we hope to achieve our long-term college completion goals, we must ensure that every student has access to a rigorous education.”

Current research on AP course work confirms AP’s comparability to introductory college courses in content, skills and learning outcomes. Research consistently shows that students earning placement into advanced course work based on AP Exam scores perform as well as — or better than — students who have completed the introductory course at a college or university. In fact, students who succeed on an AP Exam during high school typically experience greater overall academic success in college, and are more likely than their non-AP peers to graduate from college and to graduate on time, experiencing lower college costs than the majority of American college students.

The 9th Annual AP Report to the Nation is available at apreport.collegeboard.org.

You can also download the condensed version of the report located within the press release:

National Release _ APRN_FINAL

 

career colleges, college guidance, college planning

Career oriented college–is it a good fit for your student?

images-2Every parent wants their child to do well at college and to enjoy their time studying at a higher education level. With the job market getting ever tighter, however, it’s also important to consider the longer term – what will a child do after graduation?

Towards the end of high school a student may have already identified what sort of career they might like to pursue, and this is a big help in choosing a career oriented college course. Even if a child hasn’t made any definite decision, they may feel a strong affinity for a particular field – arts, business or medicine perhaps? It’s very rare that a child has no clue at all about their preferred subjects, but if this should be the case there are a few things to consider to help them decide which career oriented college is right for them.

Play to their strengths

Just as a coach will select players for a team based on their ability to fulfill the requirements of playing in a particular position – quarterback or goaltender for example – so a child’s school record can provide a useful indication of how strong they are in particular academic disciplines or how adept they are at practical skills, or both. Career oriented colleges offer programs to train students for careers in everything from computer repairs to health care, so checking high school grades against college course contents is a good way to judge whether a particular program is a good match with a child’s previous achievements.

Finding the right course

It’s best to encourage prospective college students to take courses in areas that appeal to them rather than just choosing one their friends are taking. Get them to think about which subjects truly motivate them and suggest they consider classes in which they’re going to be confident, but which at the same time will challenge them. When selecting courses with them, scan the testimonials from current and former students – many colleges publish a selection of these on their website. If students have been impressed by the level of personal interaction with tutors, and by the techniques, resources and materials they have access to, these are good signs that the college is meeting their needs. The initial interview is an important opportunity to ask any questions, for example about course contents, tutoring or proficiency testing procedures.

Career oriented programs 

There are a variety of colleges offering technical, business and medical programs. For instance, medical assistant schools in Miami offer diplomas to students that qualify them for a wide variety of careers, including Phlebotomist Technician, EKG Technician and Medical Assistant; and what’s more medical assistant schools in Miami also prepare students to work in a variety of settings, including medical offices, health clinics, hospitals, laboratories and medical houses.

So contrary to what might be expected when a specific field or discipline is chosen, the benefits of a career-oriented program give your student the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of jobs and workplaces.

college guidance, college planning, financial aid, scholarships

Thinking about student loans?

images-1As college bound teens are thinking about college social life, and perhaps their preferred courses and the subjects that motivate them, parents are often thinking about how to afford the combined costs of tutoring, accommodation, food and study materials. Student loans are usually part of the funding equation and it pays to do some investigating in advance of the time when the money is needed to be able to take advantage of the best interest rates available. Here are a few things to be mindful of when checking out the possibilities for financial aid.

Free money

In some cases students may have access to ‘free money’ – grants and scholarships that are non-repayable – and these should always be investigated first. In fact, there are many thousands of scholarships and grants available through universities and colleges, state and federal governments and other organizations, both public and private. Usually, private organizations and schools award scholarships, while governments provide grants, although some schools also provide grants. An Internet search will normally yield a number of possible sources, and reveal whether a prospective student is eligible for financial assistance.

Choosing the best loan

Once any grants or scholarships and any other types of financial aid have been taken into account, parents and prospective students are in a position to work out the requirements for a student loan. Here again, it is worth looking around for the best deals. For example, some lenders offer competitive rates for courses specific to a career, such as business administration, the health profession or law. The best institutions will lend up to 100 percent of college costs, offer both fixed and variable rates, have zero origination fees and require no in-school payments. In some cases, for example with certain law school loans, the lender will provide a reduction in the debt when automatic repayments are made from a bank account, and may also offer a reduction on successful graduation – read more information about law school loans by clicking here. 

Tips and advice

Parents and prospective students will benefit from working out a strategy to enable them to handle student loans wisely. Establishing and maintaining good credit for young people is an important starting point as this will often be used to make decisions about loans and other types of finance throughout their lives. To reduce student loan costs, one option is to prepay loans. For example, if a loan covers all the student’s costs – living expenses as well as tuition fees – and the student gets part-time work while at college, the additional money could be used to make loan repayments early. When making repayments, students should be encouraged to pay promptly and on time, as penalties for late payment will be reflected in their credit rate.

As well as taking advantage of any rewards offered by the lender, students or parents may be eligible for tax deductions if they have paid eligible student loan interest. A tax advisor will be able to offer guidance and the IRS website is a good source of tax information.