All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

college planning, parenting

Why Apply for Financial Aid?

financial aidFinancial aid can be a confusing part of the college application process. Even if you can afford to pay for college, it’s a good idea to learn what aid is available and apply for it. You aren’t obligated to accept it, but most students qualify for some form of aid and, if it’s available, why not use it?

What is financial aid?

Financial aid is intended to make up the difference between what your family can afford to pay and what college actually costs. With college tuition rising rapidly, more than half of the students currently enrolled in college receive some sort of financial aid to help pay for college. The system is based on the premise that anyone should be able to attend college, regardless of financial circumstances. However, students and their families are expected to contribute to the extent that they are able.

There are two types of aid: need-based, and non need-based. Need-based aid includes grants and scholarships that are issued based on the family’s ability to contribute to education costs. Non-need-based aid is allocated solely based on availability, not need.

There are three main types of financial aid: grants and scholarships, loans and work study.

What is “free” money?

Not all aid is equal and the best aid is the aid you don’t have to pay back. It’s like getting a huge coupon of savings to use for your college education.

What types of education loans are available?

Not all college loans are equal.

There are two types of government-based loans: subsidized and unsubsidized. Subsidized loans have lower interest rates and are awarded based on the student’s financial need with interest deferred until after graduation. Unsubsidized loans are awarded without regard to financial need with interest payments beginning immediately and regular payments due after graduation.

What is work study?

The Federal Work-Study Program provides a method for college students to earn funds to be used toward their education. The program is based on financial need and students must be accepted into the program to qualify which is determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA.

What is the FAFSA and do I need to file it?

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and you should apply if you want any chance to receive federal and state student grants, work study, loans or merit-based aid. If you don’t complete the FAFSA, you can’t apply for student loans. Colleges also use these figures when determining financial aid eligibility for grants and scholarships. Plus, many states use your FAFSA data to determine your eligibility for their aid.

The FAFSA is available on Oct. 1 of every year and you should complete it as close to that date as possible in the fall of your senior year. Aid is dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis. The sooner you apply, the more likely you will receive a portion of the financial aid pie.

What is the EFC?

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is how much money your family is expected to contribute to your college education for one year. Typically, the lower your EFC, the more financial aid you will receive. Factors such as family size, number of family members in college, family savings, and current earnings (information you provide on the FAFSA) are used to calculate this figure. Once your FAFSA is processed, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) with your official EFC figure.

You can calculate your EFC by visiting FinAid.org.

What is an award letter and how do you use it?

As the offers of admission arrive from colleges, the financial aid award letters will follow. They can be confusing and vague. Added to the confusion is that every award letter is different, making it hard to easily compare them side by side.

Thankfully, there are tools available and information to help you look at these letters for what they are: the college’s pitch for you to accept their offer of admission. You are in control of this process and you hold the cards. It’s your decision to accept or reject their offer based on the amount of aid they are willing to give you. Money, in this situation, is everything.

If a college wants you to attend, they will back it up with money. No money means their offer is probably based on filling a quota and expecting you will decline to attend. And you should. Who wants to attend a college that doesn’t value you as a student?

For details on the types of free money, educational loans, how colleges use the financial award letter to hide their agenda, read the original full article I wrote at TeenLife Media:  A Beginner’s Guide to Financial Aid and How to Get It.

college planning, parenting

Are Your Pressuring Your Child Too Much to Study?

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studyCollege is a very important decision. It could affect your child for the rest of their lives and it could even mean the difference between them getting the job of their dreams and not. Of course, as a parent you may feel pressure here as well because you only want the best for your child and you also want them to do well. The last thing that you want however is to put additional pressure on them because if you do then you may end up doing more harm than good and this is something that you will want to avoid.

You Criticize Too Much

If you find that you criticize more than you praise then this is a clear sign that you are putting too much pressure on them. A lot of parents tend to ignore a lot of positive behavior because they don’t think that their kids need praise for being good because they need to be pressured so that they can be great. This is not the case at all, so if you know that your child is putting in the work, don’t be afraid to reward them. Take them out shopping, or even grab a coffee and catch up on news that revolves around something other than college. When you do this, you can give them a break and you can also show them that you support them regardless. After all, the last thing that you want is for your child to feel as though if they fail, that your love for them will disappear.

Micromanaging

If you are a high-pressure parent then you may find that you micromanage your child when they are trying to study. You may ensure that they are doing everything right and you may even go above and beyond when it comes to getting them study resources. Although at times, there may be nothing wrong with this, you do need to make sure that you are letting them study by themselves. If you don’t then they may find it hard to study alone when they go to university and when they are away from home, this is the last thing that you need.

You Believe Every Situation Is Going to Alter their Life

If you find that you are constantly telling your child that nearly every situation is do-or-die then this can cause you major issues. You don’t need to tell your child that this is their one-shot and you don’t need to put them under any more pressure than they are already under. This is especially the case for gifted and talented students and the main reason for this is because they already understand the consequences of their actions. They are also already aware of their potential and what they could go on to achieve, so you don’t need to keep reminding them that every time they get a lower score on a test, that they are compromising their own chances. After all, this may not even be true, because there are so many resources out there designed to help those who do score badly on tests, to re-try or even take an alternative route.

parenting

Driving: An Adult Responsibility Your Student Should Master

drivingWhen your kids decide they want to drive, it’s normal to want to approach them about driving especially if you have prior experience. It’s a fantastic opportunity to spend time with your kids and it can be a brilliant bonding experience. If they’re interested in learning to drive, then here are a couple of the most important things about driving that you should pass down.

  1. Seatbelt First

There are many depictions of driving in films and media where people just don’t use their seatbelts. In fact, your kids may have rode in a car where the driver didn’t request everyone to put on their seatbelts, nor did they bother to check if everyone was wearing them. This is typically because they feel safe driving shorter distances, especially if there’s no traffic. However, it’s incredibly dangerous to forget your seatbelt and it’s something you need to drill into their head as soon as possible.

  1. Watch Other Cars, Not Just Yourself

Defensive driving is the best way to avoid a talk with your car accident lawyer.. If you don’t want to end up in an accident, it’s vital that you teach your kids the importance of not just watching their own cars, but the cars around them as well. This will train them to be mindful of other drivers and also helps them identify problematic drivers before they have a chance to accidentally crash or strike your child when they’re driving in the future.

  1. Cars Are Not Fashion Statements

With influence from pop culture and media, your kids might have this idea that cars are a fashion item and they need to get the latest and greatest models and brands. In fact, with the rise of Tesla’s electric cars and talks about saving the environment becoming popular in schools, they might be more willing to purchase a vehicle in the future because of the brand, not because of the features. Instead, teach them that used cars are acceptable and there are plenty of fantastic vehicles that feel great to drive instead of just looking fancy.

  1. Distractions Are Bad

Distractions, such as talking on the phone, answering a text message or even changing the music, are bad. You need to teach your kids to keep both eyes on the road, ears on the road and hands on the wheel. Even something like talking to their friend in the passenger seat could cause distractions especially if they’re looking to face them when talking, so make sure to highlight the importance of avoiding distractions.

  1. You’re the Example

If you decide to teach your kids how to drive, then remember that you’re the role model for them. You need to do everything you teach them or else they’ll create the connection that you’re teaching them something that you don’t actually believe in yourself. So if you’re going to teach them about distractions, don’t make an exception for yourself. If you’re going to drone on about seat belts to ensure they learn, then don’t neglect the seatbelt yourself.

parenting

Finding the Best Car for your College Student

carNow that your student is all grown up and off to college, it’s perhaps time to have that chat about buying a car. Undoubtedly, it’s going to make his or her life way easier when they have to be on time for classes – and it also gives them that sense of extra responsibility that we often need in order to actually grow up.

You may have your own doubts, though, which is understandable. It’s hard enough to see them jet off to college and leave the house they grew up in behind, but now they’re going to be fully independent. They don’t even have to ask you for a ride anymore, and it’s hard to say if this is a good thing or not.

Here is a handful of expert advice on what to look for when buying a car for your teenager. That way, you can feel a bit more confident about your decision.

#1 Focus on parenting rather than technology

You can buy your teen the fanciest car with all of the technology in the world, but it’s really no replacement for good parenting. You need to have that chat with your teenager long before they’re able to drive a car of their own and make sure that, even if they’re not experienced enough, at least they know how to handle the vehicle.

Some features may be helpful, though, such as a text alert when your teen is going over the speed limit. That way, you’ll be able to let them hear it when they’re back home – and you can lecture them even if you’re not in the car with them.

#2 Buy a boring car

Like all parents should know, the best car for your teenager is one that is boring and slow. Flashy colors and an engine that’s made for speeding is really no option for an inexperienced driver – no matter how cool it would make you seem as a parent.

Remember that you can find great prices on used cars online, by the way, so that you don’t have to spend money on buying a brand new one. Have a look at Kelly blue book value to estimate the price of a car you have your eyes on, and make sure that it’s a big, boring, and slow one.

#3 Skip phone-to-car features

While technology certainly is making it easier for us to use our phones while driving, it’s not really the safest feature for inexperienced drivers. You should definitely pass on those Apple Carplay features or general phone-to-car interfaces as they just make it way easier for your teenager to get distracted while driving.

Let them know that focusing on anything else than the road is a big no, and set an example by avoiding the features yourself while driving. That way, they’ll never be able to use it against you later on.

 

college guidance, college planning

Missed Opportunities: How My College Mistakes Impacted My Adult Life

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  1. Today’s guest post is from Kyle Grappone, a youth motivational speaker and book author. His aim is to inspire High School and College students to think differently about their futures, take advantage of their opportunities, and answer the question: “What type of person do you want to become?”.  

________________________________________________________________________

collegeAttending college is an amazing opportunity that not everyone gets a chance to experience. It’s an opportunity to learn more about the world around you, make new friends, and create a career path that will lead to success and fulfillment. It indeed is a chance at a better life. It’s customary for successful alumni to give speeches or write articles about everything they did right in college and how to emulate the success they had. High School students often have guidance counselors and family members dispensing well-intentioned but typically routine advice on how to be successful. Tips such as go to class, study in the library, and get plenty of sleep usually top this list. The issue is that the part that gets left out is the long-term impact there college choices will have on the rest of their lives. Furthermore, the well-intentioned adults giving this advice are usually the same voices this student has listened to for years and has begun to tune out. It’s time someone who wouldn’t be considered an “ideal success story” talks about these topics and the long-term impact they can have on your life.

I slept through most of my time in High School. Okay, I didn’t actually sleep, but I wasn’t fully present either. I coasted through High School and was accepted to a small school in upstate New York. When I was getting ready for college, I had plenty of people telling me all sorts of advice. I can’t recall what they were saying, because I really wasn’t listening. I was focused on being on my own, partying, and doing all the fun college stuff I saw in movies. The next four years flew by. I had a lot of fun and made a lot of friends but, just like high school, I didn’t try as hard as I could. I didn’t try because I wasn’t aware of what was coming next in life. I was unaware and unprepared for that next step called “The Real World,” and I had no idea how my poor choices were impacting my future. Without knowing what was waiting for me after graduation, I had no idea what opportunities I should have been taking advantage of.

So, while I graduated on-time as a double major, I did so with no idea how to write a resume, interview for a job or figure out what I actually wanted to do with this degree I had just paid a lot of money to obtain. I also did not realize how much left I had to pay or how those pesky interest rates on my loans actually worked. I was 22 years old and lost. I was entirely unprepared for this world I found myself in. My first job out of college was working part-time at Bed Bath and Beyond. This position was followed by a minimum wage warehouse job and a low-paying educational position. Eventually, I recovered and found my passions and better-paying positions. However, my poor choices and lack of understanding and caring regarding my future left an impact that I still feel to this day. Here are a few pieces of advice from a college graduate who knows what happens when you don’t take advantage of what’s right in front of you. 

Make A Plan

When you are older, and preparing to make a life-impacting decision, you make a plan. You decide what it’s going to entail and what you want the result to be. College is a series of life-impacting decisions, so there should be a plan regarding why you are going and what you want to get out of it. Why should an 18-year old sit down and make a plan the summer before college instead of going to the beach? They should make a plan because it will help them choose the right major, pass there classes and ultimately set them up for success in the real world. The better prepared you are, the happy you are going to be. Decide what you want the outcome of your college experience to be and right down specific actions you are going to take to make sure you will achieve the outcome you desire.

Going To Class Is Your Job

It may sound boring, but learning is the reason you are at college. If you are not interested in learning more and challenging yourself, then you should stay at home and save yourself a ton of money. Attending class is not always fun. It’s work, and that’s the way you should treat it. It’s essential that you are not only attending class but participating and learning. The more you learn now, the less you will have to catch up on when you are trying to apply for jobs after graduation. Also, developing habits such as waking up early for class, adding value by participating, and studying on a regular basis are the building blocks for a strong work ethic. A strong work ethic will be noted and rewarded with better-paying positions and opportunities. A well-paying career can often lead to a happier life and less financial stress.

Learn What Networking Is

Networking is a word that you will hear a lot when you are in school and beyond. What does it actually mean? Educators will give you an educated and sophisticated explanation, but I will provide you with a blunt one. Networking means meeting people who can help your career. It means finding people who are currently doing what you want to be doing and asking a lot of questions. It means learning from those who have come before you. It also means creating relationships with people you can count on to give you advice or recommend you for a position you are applying for. The more help you have in your job search the better your odds of landing a better position, creating a  better career, and a living a better life.

Forget The Money, Take The Internship

My last regret turned pearl of wisdom is about internships. Almost every major requires one, but most students don’t know how this seemingly menial work will help them in the future. Most students get caught up on the fact that they have to work for free. I can’t say that I blame them because no one wants to work for free. However, it’s crucial someone points out that money is only one form of payment. If you approach an internship correctly, it can pay you in ways that are more valuable than cash. It can pay you in experience. You’ll need that experience on your resume when you and dozens of other fresh college graduates are applying for the same job. It can also pay you in references. Actual people who can vouch for the type of employee you will be and the value you can bring to a company. Working for free while you can lead to a lot more money when you need it the most.

College can be a fantastic time in a student’s life, but there are plenty of people and content who can cover all that stuff. The goal today was to show the importance of taking advantage of your time in college because it will have a lasting impact on your future happiness and life. If you are a parent, I invite you to share this piece with your high school student so they may be better prepared than I was.

About Kyle

His book, To The Next Step, is an instruction manual for High School and College students to achieve the goals I listed above. You can learn more about my book here: www.publishizer.com/to-the-next-step

Website: www.kylegrappone.com

E-Mail: Kyle@KyleGrappone.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KyleGSpeaks/

Twitter: @KyleGSpeaks

Instagram: KyleGSpeaks

careers

Ideal Careers for your Strong Student Leader

leaderIf your child has excellent leadership skills or wants to develop them more, it might be time to start looking at colleges and careers that are suitable for passionate leaders. Children and teenagers have plenty of opportunities to build their leadership skills through the years, and there are some interesting college majors and careers they can explore too.

Business and Entrepreneurship

For people who want to take the lead in their career, working in business or becoming an entrepreneur is often a top choice. It opens up opportunities for them to climb the career ladder and to both use their leadership skills and put forward their own ideas.

Education

Working in education is a good way to use leadership skills to inspire others. There are lots of ways to work in education, teaching different ages and different subjects. You might teach children or adults, ranging from being a school teacher to passing on your area of expertise to people looking for a new hobby or teaching key skills like the English language.

Legal Careers

Working in a legal career as a lawyer or another legal professional presents plenty of opportunities for leadership too. However, it’s likely to be in a different way to how someone might lead a class of people or even a team in an office. Leadership in the legal profession could involve working with a team or with someone one-on-one.

Nonprofit Organizations

If your child is interested in doing good in the world, they might be interested in the leadership skills necessary for working at a nonprofit organization as outlined in this infographic.


Infographic Design By USC

careers, parenting

Helping Your Student Find the Right Career Path

career pathChoosing a career path is something that everyone can feel pressured to do, and often from a young age. The truth is that many people never really know what they want to do “when they grow up” and can often change careers several times. But finding a path into a first career can still feel tough. By helping your child to find their way, you can encourage them to start with the right college choice.

Explore Their Interests

A career doesn’t have to be based around something that you’re extremely passionate about. However, exploring your interests and the things you enjoy can help you to find something that you would be good at. You can help your child to explore their interests and what careers they might relate to.

Research Potential College Options

Taking a look at available college options that might help your child explore their interests and their strengths can help them find their career path. You might consider colleges that have plenty of support for exploring careers and opportunities for work experience and internships.

Traits and Characteristics

Your child’s characteristics and personality traits can play a big role in their exploration of what sort of career might suit them. If they already have something in mind, it can help them decide whether it’s the right choice for them. Finding out what their personality type is can give them some good guidance on whether a certain industry or role could be a good idea. For example, some personality types are better suited to certain tasks in sales roles as explained in the infographic below.


Infographic Design By University of Alabama Birmingham

college guidance, college prep, parenting

Starting Early: Parenting for College

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parenting for collegeWhen it comes parenting for college, this may be something that you start to think about as parents when your kids start high school. Now, for some people, this will be way too soon – because you have all of four years before they are due to go. But, when you are looking to prepare your child for college, you may find that the more time you have, the better! However, you could even look to start this earlier. While you may not be able to start the application process, there are a lot of different things that you can do with your parenting to really help your kids along the way. If this sounds like something you’re keen to do with your middle school children, here are some tips to help you.

Nurture, Don’t Smother

Now, when you have high aspirations for your child, and you really want them to be able to do well, you may find that you can be a bit pushy. It’s only natural. And you probably think that this is the best thing for them. But, this can often lead to you smothering them. When really, you need to be thinking about nurturing your children instead. Make sure that you’re supporting them and not suffocating them. As they need to be able to grow and develop independently.

Enhance Their Skills

When you’ve been able to get the balance right, you’re then going to want to make sure that you can really work on their skills. Here, you can encourage them from the sidelines. Make sure that you’re encouraging them to practice, study, and really push their abilities. But you cannot do it for them. Try to get them to try out as many different things to help you work out where their key skills lie.

Provide The Best Environment

You’ll then want to make sure that you can create the best possible environment for your children to develop in. Not only should this mean that you have a happy home, but that they have everything they need. Here, a desk in their room or a bed with desk like the kids beds from Cuckooland is a great option. You want them to be able to study as much as possible, in a comfortable environment.

Go The Extra Mile

You may also find that it’s going to be largely useful for you to be able to go the extra mile for them. Maybe they need further development in a few key areas, or you just want them to be able to advance as quickly as possible? Hiring a private tutor could help you here. You may also want to make sure that you are available to take them to different commitments and to support them from the sidelines too.

Guide Them To Flourish

Lastly, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re guiding your children as much as possible. Just like you don’t want to smother in point one, here you don’t want to control. Yes, you may have thought that you wanted your child to be a lawyer or a doctor, but what if their strengths lie in sports or the arts? Make sure that you are in tune with their natural talents and guide them to flourish. This will help them to not only find success with their studies and college, but to lead a fulfilled life too.

 

move-in day, parenting

A Different Perspective on College Move-in Day

college move-in dayIt’s that time of year again. Parents are moving their brand-new college students into college dorms. Tears are flowing. Anxiety abounds. Parents have dreaded move-in day for months and sadness permeates just about every single post on social media.

I do remember crying; but not because I was sad. I was joyously happy. Both my children were attending college. I thought it might not happen. Finances were tight from caring for an elderly great aunt and an aging father. We were living paycheck to paycheck and I knew if college were to be a reality, my children would have to score some hefty scholarships and merit aid. Both of their senior years were stressful.

My son wanted to attend a military academy, but his grades just weren’t good enough. Knowing we couldn’t pay for college, he made the choice to join the Marines out of high school so he could use the GI Bill funds to attend either during his service or after serving his four years.

My daughter’s grades were superior. Two years later, I knew that we had to focus on scholarship applications and choosing colleges that met a major portion of our financial need. She was admitted to a prestigious college in Boston with enough merit aid and scholarships to pay for her education with minimal student loans.

All this to say, I had a completely different perspective on college move-in day. It was not only a dream come true for each of them, but a dream come true of mine as well. After all the struggles and the stress, both of them were attending college.

I just couldn’t be sad, because this is what I felt:

Extreme pride

My daughter worked so hard to get into college in Boston. It was her dream from the time she was a little girl. And she did it. My son knew what he had to do to achieve his goal and he served his country while earning money for college. I couldn’t have been prouder of both of them.

A sense of accomplishment

We did it. It wasn’t just their success. It was ours as parents as well. We supported them through the entire process and we were finally seeing the fruit of our hard work and perseverance. It was no small feat for either of them or for us knowing the roadblocks and struggles we encountered.

Hope for their future

They were both, in their own way, pursuing their education and securing a solid future in the workforce. It’s what every parent wants for their children—a better life and a secure future. College would be that for each of them and I was hopeful that after four years we would rejoice when they were gainfully employed at a career they loved.

Excitement for the adventures they would have

Both would be attending college in Boston, a city full of activity, sports, history and populated with college students. My daughter wanted to pledge a sorority and study abroad. My son was excited to learn all about Boston and the history there while he pursued a History major. What better place than the place where our nation began? I knew they were facing some grand adventures and travel. I knew they would may forever friends. I knew that college would change them in ways I could never imagine and I would get to share in that growth as I watched and participated at times.

Joy that I got to be a part of this monumental day in their lives

Move-in day was certainly chaotic for both my children. My daughter moved into a freshman dorm where she didn’t know anyone. My son moved into an apartment with strangers. But they weren’t the least bit anxious or hesitant. It was exciting to meet their roommates and their parents. It was fun to participate in the parent events and do some last-minute shopping. We made the most of the few days I was there and I was so happy I got to be a part of it.

Anticipation for the next chapter in our lives

Even though my great aunt and father were still living with us, I knew we would be childless for the first time in our lives. I looked forward to traveling, going out on dates together, attending parent weekends, and getting to know one another again. I was also anticipating having a new kind of relationship with my adult children as they mature and grow independently away from home.

All this to say—cry those tears, feel the loss, and grieve a little on move-in day. But while you are at it, celebrate what that day means. Shed a few tears of joy and anticipation. The next chapter in your life, whether it’s an empty nest or simply one less child at home, can be exciting for you and for your family.

campus security, dorm life

Keeping Your Student’s Valuables Safe

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valuables safeMove-in day is approaching and students are deciding which items to take to college and which should be left behind. Knowing the nature of a college dorm room, students are hesitant to  take anything valuable with them to college. Even with supposed secure dorm entrances and locks on doors, most students do not take advantage of these safeguards.

Students allow other students to enter dorms without a key card and often leave their doors open or unlocked when going to class or other campus activities. No matter how conscientious your student is, they can’t count on a roommate to follow the same guidelines. Laptops, expensive textbooks, iPhones and other electronics are easily stolen in an instant if left unattended or secured.

This genius invention from a parent who met their student’s need is a must-have for any college student. It’s easily assembled by the student and it’s affordable–worth every penny you will spend. Watch the video below to see how it works and click the order button afterwards. Your student will love how easily it’s assembled and how it doubles as a computer stand, charging station and night stand while keeping valuables safe.