Mom-Approved Tips: Is Cheating Wrong?

June 9, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer

The answer to that question is easy: YES! But do our teens believe that and why are so many of them cheating, especially on standardized tests?

I watched a news program last night chronicling a cheating scandal. Last week I heard a story about someone who figured out an anomaly in standardized tests to get a perfect score. In each of these instances, their cheating was never discovered and they went on to go to college.

These stories made me wonder—why are our teens cheating? Is it pressure to achieve standards that are unattainable? Is the peer pressure over college so overwhelming that they will do anything to excel over their fellow students? Or is it just easy to do because there are no consequences?

A recent poll

According to a recent ABC News poll of 12-17 year olds, cheating among teens is “widespread if not endemic. And it usually works.” Here are the results from the poll:

7 in 10 say at least some kids in their school cheat on tests
6 in 10 have friends who have cheated
1 in 3 says they themselves have cheated
1 in 8 say “most” kids in their school cheat on tests
Among 12-14 year olds, 23 percent admit to cheating
Among 15 year olds, 36 percent admit to cheating
Among 16-17 year olds, 43 percent admit to cheating
8 percent believe that in order to get ahead in life you have to cheat from time to time
90 percent say cheaters will lose out in the long run
96 percent say their parents would rather have them do their own best work, regardless of the grade, than get good grades if it means cheating.
Most say cheaters don’t get caught
Nearly all teens in the survey said cheating was wrong

The survey also found that teens who hang out with cheaters are more likely to be tempted to cheat and cheat themselves.

The parent factor

Interestingly, communication on the issue is in short supply: just 1/3 of kids say they and their parents have had a serious discussion about cheating. Kids who have spoken about it with parents are no less likely to have cheated than those who haven’t. Still those who are the most likely to say they’ve cheated (16-17 year olds) are the least likely to say they have talked about the issue with their parents. Just 27 percent say they have done so, compared with 41 percent of 12-13 year olds.

Deterrents

Rather than a serious talk from parents, teens say that better teacher involvement and greater risk of getting caught could serve as deterrents. One third of the teens say they would be more likely to cheat if they knew they would never get caught, suggesting better enforcement could help curb the practice.

In a seemingly related result, almost as many teens, nearly three in 10, say they’d be more likely to cheat if they had a teacher who didn’t seem to care about their work. Teachers who develop student loyalty — as well as those who guard against cheating — also may be better-equipped to prevent it.

Grade pressure seems less a consideration. Fewer, 14 percent, say they’d be more apt to cheat if they thought other students were cheating and by being honest they’d get a lower grade. About as many, 16 percent, say they’d be more apt to cheat in a class they thought didn’t matter as far as their future.

No consequences

It’s clear from the survey that consequences play a huge role in the decision to cheat. As long as you don’t get caught, it’s ok to do it. The real problem is that cheating teens usually grow up to become cheating adults—they got away with it in school; they can get away with it as adults.

At the very least, parents should be talking to their teens about cheating. Here’s a good list of 10 reasons why cheating is wrong. I especially like #8 and #10.

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

Scholarships for All Ages

June 6, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer 3 Comments

Most parents, and students, believe that you have to wait until senior year to apply for scholarships–believing the theory that all scholarships are for seniors in high school. That theory is incorrect. There are scholarships for all ages from children, to middle school, to high school (even before senior year). The hard part, however, is finding them.

None of the online scholarship databases includes information about college scholarships that are available only to children under age 13 because of federal privacy laws. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA), 15 USC 6501, and the Children’s Privacy Protection Final Rule, require web sites to obtain “verifiable parental consent” before collecting, using or disclosing individually identifiable information from children under age 13. This effectively prevents online scholarship databases from matching students under age 13 with college scholarships. Because of the difficulties in obtaining consent, all of the scholarship databases avoid the problem by omitting scholarships for underage children from their databases and refusing to register users under age 13. That makes it difficult for parents to find scholarships in that age group.

Today’s post gives you an alternative to searching–links to many of the scholarships available; because it’s NEVER too early to start the scholarship search and application process. Summer is the best time to begin the search and start preparing your scholarship folder/notebook/file.

Bellhops: A Lifesaver for Parents on College Move-In Day

June 5, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer 2 Comments

College move-in and move-out day used to be left up to the parents and students. I’ve certainly done my fair share of lugging furniture, luggage, appliances and bedding up and down several flights of stairs. Even if there was an elevator, waiting your turn when hundreds of students are moving in is a useless cause.

Happily, two Auburn University grads saw the need and started Bellhops to solve the mass moving needs on college campuses in a short time period. They provide college kids for small-scale moving help all over the country. In fact, they are operating in 121 cities. They have over 100 student ‘Bellhops’ in each of their cities which allows you to book them on-demand. Instead of creepy day laborers or craigslist strangers, Bellhops are just great college kids that are ready to treat you like family and take care of your grunt work.

They do everything from loading and unloading to full-scale moves across town, and they are AFFORDABLE! What a great way to put your local college students to work.

Inc.com describes Bellhops’ company philosophy and how it works:

The company has grown from 2,000 to 10,000 employees in just one year by establishing an autonomous workforce. And it’s this autonomy that Bellhops cites as the source of its impeccable customer service.

Bellhops hires City Managers from major colleges and universities throughout the country and then contracts directly with recruited students, or “Bellhops,” to execute small residential moving jobs in their city. All the Bellhops have direct access to a company-wide job board and can “grab” jobs either as the Captain or Wing-man. The Captain manages and coordinates the move with the customer and gets paid a higher wage.

Bellhops are able to execute moves year-round and have complete autonomy over their schedule, who they work with, and how much money they make.

According to co-founder, Cameron Doody, “People don’t just want a job anymore; they want a fulfilling job,” he says. “Fulfillment at work comes with the freedom to make decisions and own your position. Employee empowerment breeds elevated customer service, because everyone treats their job like it’s their own company.”

If you have a college-bound student moving on campus in the fall, give these guys a try. You can book everything online in one simple process. Your legs, arms and backs will thank you!

They gave me a coupon code for 5% off: CountdownToCollege. Pass it along to friends and family–I’m sure you know plenty of parents who could use this service.

Check them out here! www.GetBellhops.com

parenting, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Two Kids; Two Types of Students

June 4, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer

If you have more than one child, odds are they are different. One may excel academically and the other may struggle. Parenting both types of students is a challenge for parents, especially if there is competition among the two. I know. I had one of each in my home for 18+ years.

When you have both types of kids, they should be parented differently. You can’t expect the student who struggles to bring home A’s on every report card; and you can’t compare them to the A student. Each has their own academic style and learning capabilities. It doesn’t mean, however, that the student who struggles can’t excel; and it doesn’t mean that the A student will never bring home a B or C.

The “A” Student

Living with an “A” student can be challenging. It doesn’t seem like it would be, but it is. Most students who excel academically are hard on themselves. They see grades as a part of their self-worth. If they don’t make the grades, they have failed. Perfectionism among this demographic is common and often causes all kinds of emotional issues. So much is expected of them to achieve excellence. One college graduate described what her life as an “A” student was like:

“I wanted to dance. Throw a football. Watch a movie, or get in a car and see the world instead of vicariously traveling through stacks of assigned books. Occasionally, I tossed my pen aside and went out, but these instances were rare, and I usually felt guilty about my abandoned pile of work reproducing with each passing second. At the time, I didn’t know why I put so much pressure on myself. My parents didn’t push me. My professors tried to tell me to lighten up and go have some fun. I could only respond, “Stop dishing out so much work.” I could only give it my all, or give nothing. Now I understand that I was a classic perfectionist who had yet to discover how to define my inherent worth without my achievements. Because I didn’t know how to define myself without my perfect grades, I was terrified of failing, and “failure” meant anything less than perfection, causing me years of undo stress.”

“A” students often can’t play, relax or see the lighter side of anything. Their focus is on attaining the highest GPA in their class and this, and only this, is what life is all about. This type of student, more than any other, needs to understand that apart from the grades, they are accepted and loved.

The “C” Student

If you have a “C” student in your house, you have probably tried everything to get their grades up. You’ve tried yelling, punishing, grounding and bribing them into making “A”s. You might have compared them to their brother or sister who is an “A” student. But believe it or not, the “C” students are the happiest. They may struggle in school and force you to have many parent/teacher conferences, but many average students become successful in college and in life.

Robert Kiyosaki, author of “Why “A” Students Work for “C” Students”, urges parents to lighten up. Kiyosaki believes that the school system was created to churn out ‘Es’ / Employees… those “A Students” who read well, memorize well and test well… and not the creative thinkers, visionaries and dreamers –entrepreneurs-in-the-making… those “C Students who grow up to be the innovators and creators of new ideas, businesses, applications and products.

The book urges parents not to be obsessed with their kids’ “letter grades” (“good grades” might only mean they or the student themselves were successful in jamming a square peg into a round hole…) and focus, instead, on concepts, ideas, and helping their child find their true genius, their special gift. The path they can pursue with a love and true passion.

It’s easy to label our kids: he’s smart, or she’s beautiful, or he’s an “A” student, or she’s just an average student. Be careful when you do that. Kids need to, first and foremost, enjoy their education experience. They can’t when there is too much pressure to excel or they are compared to others who have “met the grade” so to speak. Take the advice from valedictorian: it’s not the grades that matter, it’s the person you become that’s important.

Read Wendy’s Post: Parenting the Superstar and the Struggler

________________________

Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

The bonus is on the fourth Wednesday of each month when Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT. We will feature an expert on a topic of interest for parents of the college-bound.

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from parentingforcollege to pocsmom.com and vice versa.

App Tuesday, test prep

8 Vocabulary Apps

June 3, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer 1 Comment

Summer is upon us and it’s the perfect time to bone up on vocabulary for the standardized tests. And since your teens are never without their smartphones, here are seven vocabulary apps they will always have available to work on their vocabulary.

1. Vocabador

Vocabador is an inexpensive ($1.99) all purpose vocabulary app that allows users to study 400+ vocabulary words by using digital flashcards. The words are categorized by difficulty so that you can start with the easier material and work your way up. The flashcards include audio pronunciations, the part of speech, the definition, antonyms, synonyms and a sentence that puts the word in context.

2. MindSnacks

MindSnacks is a free app that is a game based design offering 9 games to help users practice their vocabulary. Geared mainly towards SAT-takers, but the app-makers also label it as appropriate for PSAT and GRE as well. Offers 500+ words and phrases, and even includes games that focus on antonyms. The app has a learning algorithm that tracks your progress and adjusts to help maximize your learning. A fun, easy to use, and effective app.

3. SAT Vocab

SAT Vocab app uses a technique that they call “confidence based repetition”, which is essentially a repetition method at particular time intervals. Users can rate how well they knew an answer (did it come to you easily or did you struggle/guess?) and then repeats the concepts you need to learn more. Offers 1400+ flashcards with 300+ word elements (prefixes/suffixes, etc), and the ability to browse and search for certain words.

4. Vocabulary.com

The Vocabulary.com app, a perfect tool to access at any time, is your personalized adaptive learning game. The dictionary was written for humans, by humans. Look up a word, and you’ll read a friendly explanation that you’ll actually remember. It’s as if your favorite teacher were explaining it to you. They include clever usage tips and thousands of real-world example sentences that’ll show you how words live in the wild and will make you more confident about using them yourself.

5. VocabAhead

VocabAhead combines words and their meanings with visual cues and contextual sentences to deliver a media-rich and highly memorable experience. Each word is supplemented with pictures, sounds and stories. This makes it easy to learn and fun to remember. With over 1000 words in the application, students get a wide choice of high-frequency SAT words with which to enhance their language skills.The application also has a built-in self-testing feature whereby students may quiz themselves as and when ready. Students can learn and remember new words on the go in small manageable time chunks instead of being tied down to academic paraphernalia.

Get the app

6. IntelliVocab

If you’re a logophile or want to boost your vocabulary for a competitive exam like the SAT, IntelliVocab is a fun, almost addictive way to do so. The app quizzes you with multiple choice questions on word definitions, synonyms, and usage. When you answer questions incorrectly, the AI makes a note of it and then asks you about those words again later, in different contexts (e.g., instead of asking you to choose the straight definition, it’ll offer a fill-in-the-blank test).

Mom-Approved Tips: Don’t Neglect the College Visit

June 2, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer

A few years ago, I wrote an article for Smart College Visit about the importance of the college visit: Don’t Pick a College Sight Unseen:

As a parent of two kids who attended college, I learned a very valuable lesson: never pick a college sight unseen. The rules that apply to any major purchase are even more important when making the decision to invest thousands of dollars on a college education. You would never buy a car without test-driving it, or move into a home without taking a walk through and getting a home inspection. Based on my experience with both my kids, I can tell you that your teen should never accept admission to a college without getting a feel for the campus and campus life.

You can read the entire story about my kids and how the visit made all the difference here.

Added to that, I would urge you make a college visit BEFORE applying to any college. That’s why I was excited to be invited to participate in a chat hosted by U.S. News and Education.

On Thursday, June 5, U.S. News Education will host a Twitter chat to help parents and students make the most of college visits. The chat will cover a range of topics, including how to prepare for a college tour, questions to ask on campus and how the experience can shape the college application process.

Who: U.S News Education will moderate a panel of college visit experts, including admissions staff from Boston College (@BostonCollege) and Ohio State University (@futurebuckeyes), Z. Kelly Queijo, CEO of Smart College Visit (@collegevisit), and me (@suzanneshaffer).

What: A Twitter chat on college visits. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #CollegeVisit.

Where: http://tweetchat.com/room/collegevisit

Why: Campus visits are an important step in finding the right college fit, and both parents and students can benefit from seeing a school in person.

While resources like the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings can offer data about a school, interacting with current students and staff members is one of the best ways to gauge whether a college is a potential match. This chat will provide parents and students with tips from experts to make the most out of the college visit experience.

Uncategorized

Helping Your Child to Budget Effectively

May 31, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer

One of the daunting feelings that come with parenting teens is the sense that they are reaching a point where they don’t need you anymore. Yet, while they may be acquiring independence on many levels, a worrying number still don’t know how to budget. Teaching them this is one of the last great gifts you can give. It will help them avoid financial disasters, set them up for a more successful life, and help to protect your own finances by ensuring you don’t have to keep bailing them out.

Set an example

As with so many other things, the first way a child begins to learn about budgeting is by watching you. Make sure there are lots of opportunities for this. It can be as simple as taking your kids to the supermarket and putting them in charge of working out which products offer the best value. Look at receipts with them and discuss what was a bargain and what wasn’t. If you’re thinking of buying a larger household item, ask them to search on the Internet for good deals and then discuss what they find. Make sure they’re present when family budgets are being drawn up, and ask them for suggestions. Children are always more interested in learning when they can see that it’s empowering.

Provide an allowance

Kids need to learn how to manage money before their lives depend on it, so provide them with an allowance. Initially this can just be a small amount of money for sweets or comics, with the lesson being that spending it all at once means no treats later in the week. As they get older, shift the allowance to a monthly pattern (so it resembles a paycheck) and make them responsible for more and more of their own things, such as buying clothes, sports gear, music and gas.

An allowance system only works if it has a hard limit. Don’t be tempted to bail your kids out if they mismanage it, no matter how much they beg. After all, it’s better for them to be miserable about missing out on a band they want to see now than it is for them to be unable to pay for food when they get to college.

Discuss college outgoings

One of the reasons young people often get into financial difficulty when first at college is that they’re not aware of all the things a budget needs to cover. Before they leave, go over this with them and draw up a ledger that outlines the most important concerns (reflecting what’s important to them as well as to you). If you didn’t go to college, bear in mind that money will be needed for things like books as well as living costs. Make sure your figures are up to date.

Look to the long term

A kid going to college provides a good opportunity to talk about long-term financial issues and the importance of choosing a major that will lead to a good career. This doesn’t necessarily mean aiming for the most lucrative careers because it’s about balancing something realistic with something your child will enjoy enough to stick at. If your child wants to pursue a direction with no clear career path, discuss the importance of making practical plans and being able to take care of things like health insurance. Make sure it’s understood that you won’t always be around to help.

Emergency options

If the worst comes to the worst and, despite all your efforts, your child runs out of money at college, remember that you can always use a service like Trans-Fast remittance to transfer emergency funds at speed. Sometimes teenagers are hit by expenses no one could have predicted and they shouldn’t have to suffer for that. If they’ve simply been careless, make it clear that the money is a loan.

Scholarship Friday, scholarships, Uncategorized

Scholarship Friday: Summer Scholarship Search Tips

May 30, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer

The lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Kids are out of school. Families take vacations. The last thing anyone wants to think about is scholarship searching. But wait! According to Monica, The Scholarship Mom, summer is “primetime” to search and apply for scholarships. And it makes perfect sense. Everyone is playing and your college-bound teen is hard at work (well maybe not that committed, but he’s putting forth some effort). A college-bound teen’s work is NEVER done!

Here are a few summer scholarship search tips to help your teen on the path to finding big scholarship bucks over the summer (and it’s not just for upcoming seniors):

Sign up on some search engines that match you to scholarships

You might as well maximize your time by letting the search engines match you with scholarships. Complete the questionnaire and you’re on your way to locating all kinds of scholarships.

Devote some time each day to checking your email for scholarship matches

Now that you’ve registered on the search sites, you’re going to get daily emails. Read them. It does you no good to let them pile up in your inbox. That’s the way you miss application deadlines.

Devote some time each day to searching

Decide how much time you can devote each day to searching (parents can help). If you’re teen gets overwhelmed, start with 20 minutes a day. If he’s motivated, reach for an hour. And don’t just look online. Research local organizations to discover scholarship opportunities.

Apply for at least one scholarship a week, more if possible

Once you’ve done your searches, start applying. Set yourself apart by submitting a killer application packet. Then wait for the money to roll in.

With a little effort, a ton of organization, and some stellar detective skills those scholarship awards should start rolling in. The first one is always the most exciting!

admissions, websites

50 More College Prep Websites

May 29, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer 19 Comments

college prep websites
Recently I posted an updated version of 56 college info websites. Following are 50 more college prep websites to help with college prep and more.

Financial Aid

1. http://www.howtopayforcollegehq.com – Weekly podcast to help parents pay for college using debt free strategies.
2. https://collegeabacus.com – A financial aid calculator to help compare college net price calculators and determine the cost of college.
3. http://costoflearning.com – This tool gives college applicants and their families insight and clarity into understanding the TRUE cost of college.
4. http://www.collegemoneyman.com – A podcast with information for parents and students about financial aid and scholarships.
5. http://www.financialaidletter.com – Read real college financial aid award letters and get tips on decoding and translating them.
6. http://www.customcollegerankings.com – A powerful yet easy-to-use tool to help find and compare colleges.

College Searches

7. http://www.collegemeasures.org – Makes available key data through websites enabling users to make smarter college decisions.
8. https://statfuse.com – This tool helps students determine their chances of getting in to a specific college.
9. http://www.ctcl.org – College That Change Lives supports a student-centered college search process providing information on colleges that indeed change lives.
10. http://collegelists.pbworks.com/ – Wiki lists of all kinds of search criteria about the college search.
11. http://www.collegedata.com – An online tool to search for colleges, calculate your chances, track admissions, search for scholarships and more.
12. http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ – Get all the data and information on colleges before you make your college list.
13. http://www.collegeview.com/index.jsp – A search engine allowing you to choose specific categories related to college and gather information for the college list.
14. http://www.collegefactual.com – Find a college and a major that fits your student with an affordable degree you can use.
15. http://www.ratemyprofessors.com – Search and rate professors and scope out new ones for the upcoming semester; explore comprehensive database for school ratings, reviews and more.

College Planning

16. http://www.parenttoolkit.com – A toolkit that helps parents keep track of their child’s educational journey from PreK through high school.
17. http://www.sreducationgroup.org – Comprehensive information for students about their options for school.
18. http://www.ubind.co – A site where you can tour universities, bind with recruiters and plan for college.
19. http://www.college-connections.com – Expert college advice and educational consulting services to empower students for admissions success.
20. http://collegeappwizard.com – This tool walks you through each step of the college planning process and helps you organize all the information in one location.
21. http://collegeprepready.com – A college success coach that helps parents and students transition into college, providing them with tools to enter college prep with a competitive edge.
22. http://jlvcollegecounseling.com – College counselor who helps families through the college admission process.
23. http://www.collegeright.com – Helps students become savvy college shoppers and empower them to take control of the application process.
24. http://collegeconnect.info – Personalized college planning, guidance and support.
25. http://www.ivywise.com – Admissions counseling empowering students to reach their academic goals.
26. http://www.sixstepcollegeapplication.com – Admissions counseling with free downloads for parents and an excellent blog.
27. http://internationalcollegecounselors.com – Personalized college advice and counseling.
28. http://www.bestcollegefit.com – Advice for parents and students from an expert offering a blog, events and workshops.

Test Prep / Tutors

29. http://directhitseducation.com – Books and course to help prepare you for standardized tests.
30. http://www.edupath.com – An online test prep service that lets parents follow their teen’s training and progress.
31. http://www.mytowntutors.com – A tutoring resource for parents and a place where tutors can register.
32. http://preppedandpolished.com – In person or online tutoring and test prep to help with college admissions.
33. https://grockit.com – An online test prep service for students with personalized learning and analysis.
34. https://benchprep.com – Test prep platform offering interactive courses and personalized learning.

Scholarship Searches

35. http://scholarshipopportunity.org – A series of books and a search tool that features a comprehensive list of scholarships, internships, and fellowships for all demographics.
36. https://www.scholarshipexperts.com – A scholarship directory and search engine to help parents and students find free college money.

Essays

37. http://www.collegeessayorganizer.com – A search tool that delivers essay topics and helps students organize all essay questions in one place.
38. http://www.collegeessayguy.com – Free resources, one-on-one essay sessions, online webinars, and in-person workshops to help with the college essay.

Social Media

39. http://www.socialassurity.com – Helps teens, college students and athletes optimize their online presence.

Parent Information, Advice and Blogs

40. http://www.road2college.com – A blog for parents giving the scoop on college admissions and financing.
41. http://teenlife.com – Their mission is to help teens and their parents find and participate in meaningful learning opportunities (also provide an excellent blog with topics related to college prep)
42. http://knowsymoms.com – A place for college parents and pre-college parents to gather and read stories and advice from other parents. and get college advice.
43. http://www.collegeadmissionbook.com – Great information for parents and students about college admissions.
44. http://www.pocsmom.com – Expert insider advice from a parent on college prep and the parent role in the process.
45. http://www.morethanatestscore.com – A must read blog from Zinch for parents and students who are heading to college.
46. http://blog.thecollegeplanninggroup.com – Excellent blog with information for parents and students about college admissions.
47. http://www.collegeparents.org – A place for parents of the college-bound to ask and find answers about the college prep process.
48. http://www.harlancohen.com – Get advice from the author of several books about college and a mini-course for parents.

Textbooks

49. http://simplebookswap.com – Buy, sell and swap used textbooks with local students.

Study Abroad

50. http://www.semesteratsea.org – A multiple country study abroad program with credits that transfer to college.

social networks, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Teen Social Media Lifestyles and Outcomes

May 28, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer 2 Comments

Social media is the malt shop of the 50’s, the drive-in movies of the 60’s and 70’s, the mall of the 80’s and 90’s. Today it’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, SnapChat and Vine. Kids aren’t tethered to physical hangouts any longer. They can gather, communicate and share their life experiences on social media. This makes it easier to make friends and expand your circle, but it is a double-edged sword. It’s not just your friends that see what you say and do, it’s anyone with a computer or smartphone and an internet connection.

A new study from Kaplan has found that 31% of college admission officers check social media to see if an applicant would make a good fit at their educational institution. That number is up by 5% from last year.

Here are four teenage archetypes, their social media lifestyles, and how social media might affect their college admissions chances:

The Garbage in-Garbage Out Teen

She posts every single thought that comes into her head. The picture she paints in social media with her posts, tweets, videos and photos isn’t a true picture is not very appealing. She posts tacky photos, uses foul language, and blasts anyone and everyone who dares to challenge her. It’s not a pretty picture and certainly not one that would be appealing to colleges.

Why? Take the high school student, for example, that posted on her Twitter account that the info session at a particular college was lame and used the college’s hashtag when doing it. She was probably just trying to be cute and post a comment that would get a response from her followers. But guess what? It came back to bite her—ADMISSION DENIED!

The Teen Braggart

This guy loves to bloviate. He brags about his conquests, his love life, his hook ups and just about every other thing he does in high school. He’s full of himself and everyone knows it. Nobody believes anything he says and everyone ignores most of what he posts. This can translate into a “hot air” admissions applicant.

Why? Colleges are looking for students with substance and credibility. They check social media to verify what’s submitted in an application. If this guy follows his pattern, his application will be as much bull as his posts and colleges will catch him in lie after lie. The results—ADMISSION DENIED!

The Teen Seeking Popularity

This teen wants more than anything to be popular. She posts pictures all kinds of questionable behavior. She comments on other posts and pictures just to boost her popularity. She counts the number of likes her photos receive on Instagram and tweets get retweeted on Twitter. She’ll find the most outrageous thinks to upload to Instagram and her YouTube videos are an effort to gain popularity among her peer group. This might pose a problem when applying to college?

Why? Colleges want to know the “real” you, not someone you think people want you to be. This type of behavior tends to conflict with a student who is pursuing academic excellence. Wrong picture = ADMISSION DENIED!

The College-Bound Teen

This guy has it together. He knows that what he posts in social media is a direct reflection on his character and his goals and aspirations. He knows that if he wants to paint an accurate picture, his posts should line up with his resume. If he talks about volunteering in the summer, he knows that he should post pictures on Instagram of that activity. If he discusses his strong commitment to academics, he knows that he shouldn’t tweet about hating school. He respects authority and communicates that in social media. Colleges look favorably on this type of student.

Why? A student who demonstrates strong character and has consistent image in social media shows colleges that he is the real deal. The result—ADMITTED!

As social media continues to be a platform students use for communication, colleges will turn to it more and more for additional information about the applicants.

Ready Wendy’s post: Making Social Media Work for You

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Tonight’s #CampusChat at 9PM ET addresses social media and how it affects the college application process. Join me (@suzanneshaffer) and Wendy (@pocsmomhttp) as we host our monthly #WednesdaysParent with guest Alan Katzman of Social Assurity (@socialassurity), a company founded to help parents and teens evaluate and correct their social media presence before applying to college.

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A recent poll

The parent factor

Deterrents

No consequences

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College Scholarships for Children

College Scholarships for Kids

20+ Smart Scholarships for Kids Under 13

College Scholarships for Middle School

Top 190 scholarships for High School Freshmen,

Scholarships for Age 13 and under

Scholarships for Elementary and Middle School Students

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The “A” Student

The “C” Student

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Set an example

Provide an allowance

Discuss college outgoings

Look to the long term

Emergency options

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Sign up on some search engines that match you to scholarships

Devote some time each day to checking your email for scholarship matches

Devote some time each day to searching

Apply for at least one scholarship a week, more if possible

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Financial Aid

College Searches

College Planning

Test Prep / Tutors

Scholarship Searches

Essays

Social Media

Parent Information, Advice and Blogs

Textbooks

Study Abroad

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The Garbage in-Garbage Out Teen

The Teen Braggart

The Teen Seeking Popularity

The College-Bound Teen

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Helping parents with all aspects of college prep