college costs, parenting

Cash management strategies for college-bound students

 

cash management strategiesParents hope the basic principles they instill on their kids – honesty, confidence, work ethic and compassion – will accompany them to college. After that, those life-enhancing habits that usually come through experience are just a bonus. Stable cash-management strategies are among the most elusive traits for high schoolers. While some work their first jobs in high school, college-bound students struggle with long-term budgets, disciplined spending and volunteer restraint.

Your child will learn money-management strategies one way or another. Why not start preaching disciplined financial values early? You could save her countless nights of eating ramen for dinner. Whether your pride and joy struggles with credit card spending, paying bills on time or maintaining a budget, these cash management strategies will enhance your child’s college experience.

Budgets Don’t Budge

According to Bankrate.com, 40 percent of American adults don’t have a budget. With the country drowning in debt, it’s time parents re-embrace the basics of sound personal finance. Rule number one: draft a budget. Structured spending is particularly important in college, where books, clothes, sporting events and parties threaten to suck the life out of any bank account. Whether on scholarship, working or receiving allowance from home, the ability to allot a set amount of money for life’s necessities is an invaluable skill.

Emergency Plastic

No parent wants their kids to be poor, hungry and alone at college. While such a scenario is unlikely, many react by shipping their scholars so-called “emergency” credit cards. By the time they reach their final year of college, 91 percent of students have at least one credit card, according to CBSnews.com. While you envision this card as a last resort, your child may see it as a remote portal into your wallet. If your child has a credit card, discuss the proper uses and potential consequences, such as a late-payment penalties, interest and a poor credit score.

If It’s Broke, Fix It

Experience is the best teacher. As your kid enters the next chapter of his life, maybe its time to cut off the allowance upon which he has depended. Working teaches the value of a dollar and instills a heightened sense of responsibility. According to Kansan.com, students who work part-time jobs get better grades than students who do not work. As they balance work and school, students develop time-management skills and build their resumes.

It Rains at College

The last thing a college student wants to think about is a financial safety net. After 18 years of living with parents, students relish the chance to break free of restraint, restriction and reality. Life happens in college and a savings account can be a vital safety net. Teach your child the merits of saving for a rainy day. You probably have every intention of supporting them financially in a time of need, but later in life, they’ll be on their own. Or, worse yet, they will “boomerang” home after college. Better to learn that lesson with room to fail.

admissions, college guidance, college majors, college planning

The 10 Most popular college degrees

 

college degreesCollege is meant to be one of the most important stepping stones in life. The education students receive is designed to give them knowledge, experience, and a considerable leg up on the competition. Students are expected to become masters at their professional pursuits. Yet it should be noted that not all degrees are created equal. Some of the most popular degrees create well rounded individuals that are fit for many different careers within their professional aspirations. The top ten most popular college degrees are largely proponents of this sort of developmental flexibility.

1. Business Administration:
Those who are versed in business administration are often very adept at performing a number of different tasks in the workplace. You learn how to budget, plan, direct, and manage a number of different organizations.

2. Psychology:
This degree is for the people who wonder about what makes them tick. Psychology majors learn about cognition, intelligence, emotion, and disorders. They can do everything from teaching or researching any of the incredible processes made in the human mind.

3. Nursing:
Nursing may be the strictest degree on the list. After all, if you’re looking to be a nurse, you have a good general idea of what you want to do. Helping people and assisting doctors are major draws to the job. But there is still wiggle room. There are different types of nurses (pediatric, geriatric, etc) that deal with different issues and environments.

4. Biological Science:
Biology is literally the study of life. Everything from microscopic organisms to the entire ecological landscape of the planet resides in this pursuit.

5. Education:
Those who become education majors often have creativity, patience, and compassion. Their goal is to teach and inspire the next generation. There are a number of different topics to become proficient in and teach. This major gives students the tools to become inspiring educators.

6. English Language and Literature:
Many people feel that English class was the bane of their pre-college existence. Many find themselves thoroughly enjoying this major that encourages communication and literary comprehension. This major creates new generations of writers, readers, reporters, and thinkers.

7. Economics:
Economics is the study of scarcity and choice. How and why people choose to spend their money and time. The major can deal with anything as small as the individual to as large as the entire planet’s economic structure.

8. Communications:
Communications majors are well sought out in business, public relations, and government. Why? Because they know how to spin an amazing tale and keep people enthralled. Through learning and understanding the different modes of communication, these majors prepare themselves for diverse career options down the road.

9. Political Sciences:
This isn’t just the study of a political structure. This is the study of current events and how it shapes the world. Political sciences prepare people for careers in a number of places: academia, government, and even in multinational corporations.

10. Computer and Information Sciences :

This is one of the fastest growing fields in the world today. As more and more businesses become technologically advanced, the number of people who require computer sciences majors will exponentially increase. What’s amazing is that this boom is expected in nearly every field.

Each of these degrees aim to foster a roundness in graduates that will promote overall success. After all, the aim of receiving a college education isn’t solely to become adept at retaining information. Teaching relevant knowledge isn’t the only important duty a college performs. It’s also about trying to create a student that is well versed and learned across the spectrum each degree represents. Choosing the degree that works best for you is the first action you take before leaping across to this great stepping stone of life.

_______________

Author bio: Steve manages a college paper writing service at www.solidessay.com, which helps high school and college students with their homework assignments.

college guidance, college planning, financial aid

4 Often Overlooked Ways to Afford Higher Education

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piggy bankThese days, the cost of higher education can be close to the cost of a new house, so if you’re planning to send your child or if you intend to go back yourself, you’ll need to do plenty of saving and lots of planning. Keeping spending in check is a good strategy to help save money for school, but there are several other ideas for financing education. This post will cover four sometimes-forgotten ways to afford higher education, including scholarships for military dependents, getting certification in lieu of or before getting a degree, attending classes online so you can still work while in school and going for shorter programs, like those that take a year.

  • Scholarships are available for military dependents. If one or both parents served in the military, if your spouse serves or served, or if you are a military parent looking for ways to send your child to school, don’t overlook military dependent scholarships. Ranging from a few thousand dollars to full scholarships, these aid packages aim to assist families of servicemen and women in their pursuit of higher education. There may be additional requirements for eligibility; for example, some scholarships are for students attending specific colleges or universities. Others limit eligibility to certain branches of the military or to specific ranks. 
  • Will a certification course help you reach your goals? The way to your dream career might not be via university after all. Do some research into your chosen field and you may find that, depending on the profession you plan to pursue, a certificate is the only requirement to get an entry-level job in your area of expertise, and you’ll be able to work your way up from there. Even if you know you’ll need a bachelor degree or more at some point, perhaps a certificate now would allow you to earn more money at your current job and save up for your college tuition. Certification courses are much shorter than degree programs, can often be completed after working hours or on weekends, and generally cost much less than you’d pay for a semester at a university. Also, military veteran’s scholarships will apply to many certification courses, just as they will to university tuition and fees.
  • Attend classes online so you can work at the same time. Online learning is here to stay. Advanced e-learning software and methodology makes studying for your certificate or degree over the Internet a hassle-free, timesaving option for higher education. The nature of online classes allows you to fit learning into your schedule on your own terms. While you’ll still have to pay for a quality online course, the money you’ll save by being able to earn money while you study will help offset the total cost, and you’ll also save on transportation and student housing costs. If the courses you wish to take are relatable to your current job, have a discussion with your manager or human resources department to see if your employer will be able to offset (or even, pay for) your online studies. Even if your company’s budget doesn’t extend to helping fund your courses, your manager may be able to help you arrange your schedule so you have more time to complete course work for assignment deadlines, for example.
  • Choose a series of shorter programs. Slow and steady wins the race. If financial or time constraints make pursuing a degree unattractive or impractical at this time, talk to an academic counselor about following a series of shorter programs that would eventually lead you to the degree, or the level of demonstrated experience, that you’ll need to land your dream job and embark on the career you want. Depending on your individual goals, it could be wise to first complete some certification courses and then take a series of online or night classes that will count toward a two-year degree. From there you can go on to pursue a four-year degree.

 _________

About the Author: Kelly Novack is committed to educating individuals about the accessibility of education in the digital era. She is especially interested in distance learning tools and the growth and development of online courses in adult education.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, parenting

Helping your child choose the right college

 

prepare for college

As a parent, you may have fond memories of your college years. Perhaps you were not able to attend college and you are excited your child will have opportunities you didn’t have. You may also have strong opinions about where your child should attend college, what they should study and what type of study format the institution follows (for instance, online versus on-campus).

Ultimately, your child is the one who will have to register, attend classes, keep their grades up, graduate and translate their education into a rewarding and lucrative career. Find a balance between your opinions, and your child’s interests and goals when working together to choose a college.

Decide on a Basic Field of Study

If your child has no idea what they want to pursue for a career, then often the best choice is to locate a two-year college where your child can get their basic coursework out of the way. In the meantime, they can work with a career counselor to take skills tests and narrow down their choices to a field of study that will work for them. However, if your child knows what they want to study, then that can dictate the colleges you research.

Set Your Budget

Once you have narrowed down your child’s interest to a range of possible majors or one major, set your budget. This tells you how much you can contribute to your child’s college education and how much must be financed through loans, work-study programs, grant and bank-funding. Setting your budget means having an open and honest conversation with your child about what your budget will and won’t cover. You can discuss at this time whether your child may want to take the summers off to work and earn money toward their education, carry a part-time job while in school or other means of funding as well.

Discuss Learning Style

Another important aspect of helping your child choose the right college is to determine their learning style. Some people learn very well in a self-paced format, such as at an online institution where they can take classes around their work schedule. Other people have trouble learning unless they are in a “live” classroom setting surrounded by the interaction of others students and professors. Choosing the right learning environment will be key to your child’s college success.

Create a List of College Prospects

Once you have identified basic elements such as budget, learning style and field of study, create your list of college prospects to research. You and your child can make a spreadsheet to evaluate each college based on a series of factors important to you both. This makes it easy as well to track application and admission requirements, required fees, financial aid options and more — all will aid you in your child’s final selection.

Apply to Your Chosen Schools and Fill Out the FAFSA

Once you have narrowed down your choices to the top three to five schools, apply to each school. You will need to help your child fill out the FAFSA (Federal Application for Free Student Aid) to qualify for financial aid through the school’s financial aid office.

Visit Colleges Again

Once your child has been accepted at one or more colleges, visit these schools again if they plan to attend on campus. This way, your child can decide on the best fit in terms of school size, campus environment and other factors that will influence their decision.

By following this step-by-step process, you and your child can find the best college for their interests and budget. In the future, if they choose to apply to graduate school for a leadership degree or another program, they can use a similar process.

 __________

About the Author: Mary Wilde is mother to three college-aged kids. She has used the techniques in this article to help each child find the perfect college for their interests, needs and goals. 

college guidance, college planning, Uncategorized

High School Students Test Drive College

 

Here is an excellent program designed by the Columbus College of Art and Design that offers students the opportunity to test drive college courses related to their interests. Sounds like a great idea!

___________________

COLUMBUS, Ohio (February 25, 2013) – Deciding on a college is one of the most important decisions teenagers and their parents will make. This is especially true when considering an art and design school because of the focused curriculum.

college previewFortunately, before teens make this investment in their future, they can take a test drive of a potential college, career and often a new part of the country. Columbus College of Art & Design offers students entering grades 10 to 12 in the fall a three-week college emersion experience in art and design with the College PreView program.

“I knew I wanted to pursue art, but hadn’t chosen a college or area of study, “ said Lillie Templeton, who traveled hundreds of miles from her home in Wadesboro, N.C. to attend CCAD’s College PreView the summer before her high school junior year. “It was a great experience, helping confirm my desire for an fine arts education, exposing me to different majors and giving me ideas for possible career opportunities.”

Teens live in CCAD residence halls, take classes taught by college faculty, meet professional artists, exhibit their work, explore Columbus and its art scene and have an option of extending their experience with an excursion to New York art galleries. They learn about everything from fashion and interior design to advertising and graphic design and animation to photography. Students earn three college credits for participating in the program.

CCAD also offers a Discovery Club for those entering grades 7 through 10. Students explore their creative self in a fast-paced, weeklong residential art camp. Starting their artistic journey early allows them to make even better college and career choices.

Students and parents interested in learning more about College PreView or Discovery Club can visit www.ccad.edu/ce/cp. Photos from the programs can be viewed and downloaded at http://flickr.com/gp/77678141@N07/SDeuA2/

 ______________________

ABOUT CCAD

Columbus College of Art & Design, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest private art and design colleges in the United States with 1,350 undergraduate and graduate students. CCAD offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fine Arts. Undergraduate students choose from nine majors: photography, industrial design, advertising and graphic design, animation, illustration, fine arts, fashion design, interior design and cinematic arts. www.ccad.edu

admissions, college guidance, college planning, websites

Online college resources for parents

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Recently, I prepared a list of what I believe to be invaluable college resources for parents online. I’ve found these resources to be helpful during the college admissions process and can vouch for the quality of the information they provide. This is not an all-inclusive list, but some of my favorite go-to resources. After all…”we get by with a little help from our friends”.

Youtube

Researching Colleges
SAT Prep tips
90 second videos to help students and parents with admissions
College Auditions
Tips for students who will be auditioning for an arts (music, theater) college

Parent help sites

Student Advisor
Guides and an App to help parents with the admissions process
University Parent
A comprehensive site for parents with tips and guides

Blogs

Dr. Strange College
A parent’s perspective step by step through the college journey
The College Solution by Lynn O’Shaughnessy
Info on admissions, aid, and great advice on how to choose the right college
Admissions Game
Comprehensive info for parents and students with Q&A available
SAT Tutoring Blog
Tips from the writer of “Outsmarting the SAT”

Tutoring

ADHD tutoring-Jennifer Cohen
If your student is ADD/ADHD this is the BEST tutoring available
Quincy tutoring network
Network of tutors to help in school
Hoot.me
Use facebook to connect with other students and get help with homework

Sat prep

Bell Curves
Exceptional SAT/ACT prep company focusing on diversity with integrity
Word Nerd
The BEST way to study SAT vocabulary in preparation for the test
Revolution Prep
Hosts a tutoring season on Facebook–giving great tips

College searching

Student Advisor
Offers free guides for parents and students on all college topics
The College Board
Great site for students to begin their college search
College Prowler
by students for students–info on college campuses to help with the college search
College Application Wizard
Plan and organize your college search

College visits

Smart college visit
Plan your trip, book your travel, get insight about college visits
Join Parent Advocate program to get/give expert advice
Welcome to College
Find schools, review the school info, read and give peer reviews and even schedule and keep track of visits
College Week Live
A virtual college fair where students can talk to other students and admissions counselors online

Scholarships

Zinch
Cappex
Fastweb
How to win college scholarships
Scholarships 360

Admissions

CollegeData
Gives parents and students help with choices, admissions tracking, and percentages to gauge admissions
College Navigator
Stats on colleges for parents and students to compare cost, aid awarded, acceptance rates and export results into a spreadsheet
Ask a question about college
Type your question in the box and get answers from experts
Unigo
Advice from college experts and students with a Q&A platform

Financial Aid

College Affordability and Transparency Center
FinAid
College Money Insider
The best info on loans, repayment, and financial aid advice
College Financial Aid Advisor
Help for parents and students with the FAFSA and finding financial aid

College Recruiting

NCSA Sports
Learn about the college recruiting process and how it works
Be Recruited
Register and get in touch with coaches and recruiters

College Tax Tips

College Tax Guides
Bone up on all the tax information you need to know about college-related expenses.

College related chats on Twitter

#campuschat
#collegechat
#collegecash
#collegebound
campus security, college housing, parenting

5 College safety tips for women

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college safety for womenCollege can be an adventurous, validating and exiting time in a young woman’s life. Unfortunately, there are predators out there that put many of these young women’s innocence and lives in danger. According to statistics, college women are most in danger of being sexually assaulted or raped – up to 20% more likely. The numbers are staggering and college women are far more susceptible than other women in our society. While this is a sad and heartbreaking truth, there are a number of ways that women can stay safe and protect themselves. One of the best ways to do this is to be less vulnerable as possible and to be completely aware at all times. Here are 5 college safety tips for women.

  1. Always be prepared. It might be smart to take classes in self-defense. In many communities there are basic combat training programs that can teach a young woman what to do in the frightening instance that someone is trying to attack them. They will learn how to preform chokeholds, assault prevention tactics, and even learn how to use certain common items, like car keys as weapons. It might also be smart for young women to carry pepper stray in their purses.
  2. Always travel with one or two other people. If you are at a party, make sure to walk home with a friend or two. Or ask someone that you can trust to take you home, either by walking or by car. Most incidents of attacks and sexual assaults happen to women who are walking home at night, alone.
  3. Always be alert. If you are walking home alone and it is getting dark, be extremely aware of your surroundings. If you hear a sound or if you think someone is following you, immediately call the police or have your phone ready to dial 911. If you do get attacked, at least the police will be on the way to protect you and apprehend the suspect.
  4. Always keep an eye on your drink if you are out at a party or a bar. There are too many instances where a young college woman will be at a party, goes to the restroom and leaves her drink unattended. This can make you highly susceptible to a date rape scenario, because there are people just waiting to drug your drink in order to render you incapacitated. It can be extremely frightening for a young woman to wake up in completely unfamiliar surroundings and not know how she got there or if she has been taken advantage of. Go to a hospital immediately if this happens so that you don’t destroy evidence that can be used against your attacker and be sure to mention you have Florida health insurance or health insurance from any other state and you believe you have been attacked,
  5. Lastly, don’t ever be afraid to call the campus police to escort you back to your apartment or dorm room. It is always better to be completely safe, than sorry in the instance that you are out late and need to walk home in the dark. You’ll thank yourself when you are safe and sound in your room.
dorm life

5 Common dorm life issues

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dorm life issuesDuring your first or second year of college you will undoubtedly be living in student housing – in a small cramped room with a roommate you will be forced to get to know. However, it isn’t all bad: you can learn a lot from your roommate, you get to decorate your room according to your own personal taste and you will have a lot more freedom than if you were living at your parent’s house. Yet, there might be some issues that you should know about before you move in.

Here are 5 common dorm life issues:

  1. One of the biggest dorm life issues is cleanliness. Most of the time it is an issue of clutter, but sometimes it can be an issue of germs too. You might have a roommate that just can’t organize their side of the room and it is inching closer and closer to yours. There might be dirty socks and underwear not put in a hamper – either yours or your roommates. You might also have plates and cups covered in old food. Because a dorm room is so small it is easy for it to get messy and unorganized, so it is important to take measures every day to keep it clean.
  2. You might also have a roommate you don’t get along with. This can be incredibly frustrating, because you will have to live within ten feet of this person for up to a year or more. There are a number of ways to rectify this situation, like having a set of rules or guidelines. If it gets so bad that there is no solution for peace in sight, you can always discuss the problem with the dorm resident assistance and/or request a room change and more often than not they will find someone else that fits.
  3. Another common issue is privacy. When you are sharing a room with someone in a hall with dozens of other students, you will no doubt run into a situation where someone accidently walks into your room, or your roommate walks in, without knocking. College can be a time of a lot of exploration so this can end up being a bigger issue than you think. However, there are a number of preventative measures you can take to let people know you want some private time, like putting something on the door handle or developing a schedule system with your roommate.
  4. There is also the issue of a dorm room being too unbearably hot or cold. In the summer time, colleges might run the AC system at full blast, which can end up being incredibly uncomfortable, especially at night when it is too cold to sleep. The same goes in the winter, when the heat is on full blast. A good way to prevent this is to have the college contact HVAC services so they can control the temperature in the room.
  5. Lastly, mold can be another big issue. Because many dorm rooms are small with not a lot of ventilation, mold spores can start to grow and cause some nasty health problems. If you notice mold around the vents or in the dorm showers, let the dorm RA know so that the administration can correct the problem.
college planning, parenting

5 Great discounts for college students

 

student discountsThere are many benefits to continuing academic studies, difficult as it may be. The long term payoffs are obvious, but there are several ways young adults can use their status as college students to make their lives easier in the present. Businesses everywhere understand the difficulties of managing finances during college, and many offer discounts to students. Discounts for college students like these can be a boon to any college student, especially in a rough economy where money is tight.

  1. Tech Benefits
    Going to school without a computer today is feasible, but some would consider it academic suicide. Students need access to current technology in order to get ahead in school, and computer manufacturers understand this fact as well as anyone else. Many leading companies offer competitive discounts on their computers and other tech products. Students can save hundreds of dollars on computers from Apple, Sony and other leading brands by inquiring about discounts. Students who purchase directly from Microsoft can get the Office Academic suite at a greatly discounted price. All students should take advantage of these offers.
  2. Cell Phone Contracts
    It can be difficult to keep up with cell phone bills, especially in an era of data plans that are driving up rates across the board. Luckily, student discounts can help alleviate this strain. Almost all major cell phone service providers offer a student discount, and many customers may be eligible for these benefits depending on their schools. T-Mobile offers discounted rates to students registered with StudentRate.com, and other companies offer discounts based on school affiliations. Everyone should be sure to inquire about student discounts on cell phone service.
  3. Auto Insurance
    The student driver has an especially difficult life. Dealing with campus parking and sky high gas prices would be enough, but insurance compounds the problem significantly for students and parents alike. However, doing well in school can be its own reward in this case. Most auto insurance providers offer a good student discount. By sending transcripts and reports of good academic performance to auto insurance providers, students and their parents can get greatly discounted monthly rates.
  4. Entertainment and Education
    Students can’t spend every waking moment of their lives in the libraries and lecture halls, but fortunately there are plenty of discounts available for experiences that can be both fun and educational. Almost all movie theaters offer a special discounted price for students. Museums usually have similar offers as well, often granting students free admission. Students who are interested in music, dance and theater can also get discounted prices on admission to exciting concerts and shows. Students should always inquire about discounts like these before paying full price.
  5. Shopping
    When shopping for school supplies, students can benefit from visiting local retailers and inquiring about discounts. Art students, for example, are often offered discounts on their expensive supplies when they visit shops and supply stores near their schools. Plenty more information about free items and student discounts can be found here and all over the web. No student should ever go shopping without this knowledge. Discounts like these can make any students life a whole lot easier.

 

college planning, dorm life

Organizing and packing for college

 

packing for collegeOne of the most exciting times in any young person’s life is right before they head off for their freshman year in college. For many, it is their first time living on their own on a college campus and that means figuring out how to live independently of their parents’ daily assistance.

So, as you’re helping to get your kids get organized and packed up for college, we wanted to provide you with five handy tips that can help you to help them make the process as easy as possible. Check these tips that will help while packing for college:

  1. Prioritize. There aren’t many dorm rooms that have a ton of space and even fewer that won’t require your child to have a roommate (especially their first year there). So, one of the first things that they must do is decide what absolutely must go with them and what can stay at home. When it comes to things like clothes, remind them that they can always come home during a break or holiday vacation to swap out items based on the seasons of the year.
  2. Purchase what can’t easily be bought there. Piling up on things like toiletries and food doesn’t make a whole lot of sense; those items can be easily purchased at a local grocery store or oftentimes, even on campus. Instead, focus on buying things like bedding, a mini-refrigerator, a laptop and any other items that they will absolutely need and would prefer not to share.
  3. Speak with the roommate. Encourage them to discuss ahead of time with their roommate who is going to bring things like a television, a mini-frig, an iron and ironing board, a microwave and cleaning supplies for the room. In many cases, it just takes up more space than is necessary to have duplicated items in one small space. If for whatever reason, the roommate is not willing to share, then make a quick Target or Wal-Mart run with them in between helping your child to unpack their things.
  4. Don’t buy in bulk. While providing for an entire household, buying in bulk is oftentimes a good idea. But, when purchasing things like laundry and cleaning supplies for one student in one dorm room, it can prove to be a waste of money and space. So, get big boxes or bottles of things rather than purchasing in bulk. If they use the items wisely, it can last them for months at a time.
  5. Pack smart. When it comes to packing up things like clothes, dishware (or plastic ware) and miscellaneous items (such as a First-Aid kit, mattress pad, hangers and laundry supplies), although you could pack everything up in some eco-friendly storage boxes and then put some adhesive labels on them, don’t forget that you can also be a bit more creative. A couple of ottomans are ideal for putting things into, plus your child can later use them as extra storage space/seat for their dorm room. You can also go to the Container Store to get storage cubicles. You can unpack all of the items that you put in them to transport to school and then place them under their bed until they need them again at the end of the semester.