college visits, Uncategorized, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: College Visits and the Illogical

 

college visitsI will never forget Nancy Berk’s chapter in her book, College Bound and Gagged, when she talks about college visits. It only seems fitting as we revisit the student role in the college visit that I share Nancy’s story of a fairly common visit since we are revisiting the student’s role in the college visit today. She calls it “The Tour de Chance” and it goes like this:

Yes, there’s a chance you could land on campus and your teen will refuse to get out of the car. It’s pretty common, totally baffling, and goes something like this . . .

Son: I’ve seen enough; let’s go.

Parent: But we haven’t even parked the car yet.

Son: You don’t think I can tell already? I DON’T like it here.

Parent: But we’re finally here. Let’s get out and look around.

Once the visit is completed, the verdict is in and it’s far from logical. The campus can be breathtaking and the tour guide engaging, but don’t assume your teen’s impression will reflect that. Rejection rationale is not logical or consistent across high school juniors and seniors. Rejection reasons are often bipolar. They include:

  • Too many beautiful students–it’s not normal
  • Too many badly dressed students–it’s not normal
  • Gloomy weather–totally depressing
  • Too much sunshine–totally depressing

During tour experiences, parents wait for logical academic rejection reasons. Instead they are bombarded with reasons related to fashion, temperature, food and architecture. One friend was perplexed by the value her daughter placed on dormitory bathroom configurations.

Still seemingly ridiculous rejection reasons are easier to understand than the vague one most parents hear–“I just don’t like the look”. Teens can’t explain it, but they are 100% certain from “the look” that this college experience will be the worst one.

For more student college visit quirks check out my previous blog: The Student Role in the College Visit

And then read Wendy’s post: Must-know tricks and tips for successful college visits 

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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, college costs

10 Budgeting Apps for College-Bound Teens

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budgeting appsManaging money while attending college can be a constant struggle. You may have limited income due to devoting your time to classroom responsibilities, or maybe you’re living off of student loans and want to keep your expenses in track.

A good budgeting app can help college students keep track of their finances and help them find areas where they can cut back. Most budgeting apps can cover the basics—this article will provide you with five budgeting apps that stand out from the crowd and explain how they can help keep a college student’s budget in order.

Here are 10 budgeting apps for your college-bound teens:

1. Mint.com (iOS, Android)

It’s no secret that college students live on a strict budget. Since they will be managing their own finances and budget for expenses, they need some help. Mint.com automatically pulls all your financial information into one place, so you can have an overall picture of your finances. It manages your checking, savings, loans, and investment accounts (if you have any). It also helps you set budgets and create and track your goals, alerting you when you approach your limit.

2. Toshl Finance (iOS, Android)

Toshi Finance has a simple, good looking interface that is very easy to pick up on. That simplicity makes setting up a monthly budget for college students a breeze—all you need is to input your income and your expenses with reusable tags to get a clear picture of where your money goes.

3. Left to Spend (iOS)

Left to Spend keeps it simple—really, incredibly simple. You set a spending allowance and then subtract from there. No bells, no whistles, just straightforward budget tracking. If you’ve ever tried the “$20 in an envelope every day” budgeting method, this is essentially the digital equivalent.

4. Debt Payoff Planner (Android)

Debt Payoff Planner allows you to find the most effective way to pay back debt, whether it’s student loans or your balance on the emergency credit card. Users can prioritize debt by categories such as highest to lowest balance or highest to lowest interest rate.  It also allows users to see the projected debt payoff date based on payment amounts.

5. Spending Tracker (iOS, Android)

If you simply want to Track whether you have spent more than you have earned then there is nothing else to set up. However you have the option to operate in Budget Mode instead. This will allow you, for example, to set a Spending limit of 500 per Month. You can turn on Budget Mode in the Settings screen. By simply logging all your Expense and Income Transactions you will be able to gain better control over your Spending. You can either enter your Transactions from the Summary screen, or from the Transactions screen. Flexible ‘Recurring’ transactions greatly reduce the amount of work required.

6. Slice (iOS, Android)

This keeps all the details from online purchases in one place, from receipts to shipping information. It even sends a notification when your package ships so you can keep an eye out for the delivery truck if you live off-campus. It also keeps your entire purchase history so you can upload it to a budgeting app all at once.

7. Check (iOS, Android)

Check (formerly Pageonce) is more of a payment and bill tracker than a budgeting app, but keeping track of bill payment for the first time can be tough to get used to, especially with everything else on a college student’s plate. You can pay bills directly from the app, so you’ll never pay a late fee, and even track investments, if you’re particularly ambitious!

8. CheckPlease Lite (iOS, Android)

This straightforward app seems like it was built with college students in mind. If you’re out in a large group and need to split the bill many ways, CheckPlease Lite handles it. It can calculate tips and split the bill up to 100 ways. Dorm pizza or ice cream fund, anyone?

9. Receipts Magic Pro (iOS)

The app has integrated powerful OCR and image processing technologies to keep your data where it belongs – on your own phone! Because of this they don’t need to sell you a subscription plan or charge per receipt. And they don’t need to offer a “free” app that makes money by sharing your purchase history. Receipts Magic Pro saves your money as well your identity. The app allows you to save up to ten receipts, then upgrade to unlimited receipts for .99. We want you to try it out and like it before having to part with a buck.

10. Debt Payoff Planner (Android)

Debt Payoff Planner allows you to find the most effective way to pay back debt, whether it’s student loans or your balance on the emergency credit card. Users can prioritize debt by categories such as highest to lowest balance or highest to lowest interest rate.  It also allows users to see the projected debt payoff date based on payment amounts.

mom approved tips, parenting

Mom-Approved Tips: Coping with the Empty Nest

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empty nest

During our student’s senior year of high school we live in a bubble. All sights are set on one goal—getting into college. Students and parents focus on college selection, college applications, financial aid forms, and then we wait. We wait for the offers of admission to come pouring in and then we compare financial aid packages and help them pack their bags for college.

But wait. Is it really that simple? Hardly. Most parents would say it’s anything but simple; it takes work, commitment and perseverance on both parts—parents and students.

Now that your student has graduated, the reality of the truth hits you—your son or daughter is leaving for college. Are they ready? How will they ever survive on their own? How will you survive and cope with the void that’s there when they are gone? Will they be safe? So many questions and concerns are rolling around in your head.

From one parent to another, survival depends on knowing what to expect, what to look for, and how to respond to your student. Here are 5 tips that should help cope with the empty nest:

1. Give yourself time to grieve (then move on)

It probably seems like yesterday that you were bringing your baby boy or girl home from the hospital and now they are preparing to go away for college. Although you always knew that this day would come and you are so proud of their accomplishments thus far, if you are really honest with yourself, there is a part of you that is also dreading it.

For this reason, there’s a pretty good chance that you will experience some separation anxiety, not unlike grief, when your child leaves the nest–often called “empty nest” syndrome. It’s normal for most parents and so while it’s nothing to panic over (or feel embarrassed about), you should give yourself some time to grieve and then move on with your life.

2. Don’t give in to fear

Boy how things have changed since we went to school in the 70’s and 80’s. They’ve even changed since my kids went in the 90’s and 2000’s. It’s a scary world out there and you would be crazy not to be anxious when your kids leave your care every day. But don’t let them see it; they need to feel safe and secure at school. Even though we know they are at risk, we have to trust that the teachers, staff, and administration will do their utmost to assure their safety.

3. Stay in touch (in moderation)

Before your son or daughter leaves for college make plans to stay in touch. Schedule time to communicate and discuss how often you need to hear from them. Don’t be that parent who tapped into campus security cameras so he could follow his daughter’s every move. Give your child some freedom to socialize, study and explore their surroundings. A text every day, a phone call every week, and face time once a month should be enough to help both of you feel connected.

4. Practice tough love

Don’t rescue them from every difficult situation. You know the term–helicopter parenting. It’s important for them to make messes, get hurt, feel disappointment, and even fail at tasks. This helps them develop life skills, achieve happiness, and be successful–the things we so desperately want to give them. Isn’t that what tough love is all about? Love your children so much you set rules, provide clear expectations, and allow them to fail so they can learn.

5. Watch the money

Money will burn a hole in your kid’s pocket. Before they leave for college have a clear understanding of what you plan to contribute toward living expenses and what you expect him to contribute. Explain the difference between wants and needs. Today’s kids are accustomed to instant gratification; but saving for something teaches them that just because they want something, it doesn’t mean they need it. When they are away at college, this will be the first question they ask themselves before pulling out an easily obtained credit card.

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

Happy 4th of July: Attending a Military Academy

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4th of july

A few years ago my family and I attended the 4th of July celebration in Boston, Massachusetts. It’s an overwhelming experience to stand there while they read the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House. There’s nothing like standing on the bridge in Concord where the first shot of the revolutionary war rang out our country’s desire to be free from the tyranny of the British. It’s one of those surreal experiences that makes you realize the cost of freedom and all the sacrifices our men in military make every day to protect that freedom.

Serving in the military is one of the noblest of sacrifices and each year college-bound teens aspire to attend one of our nation’s military academies. So today I would like to share a previous post about the steps needed to attend a military academy.

Steps to attending a service academy and/or getting an ROTC scholarship

Happy 4th of July and as you’re celebrating remember that freedom only comes when people are willing to sacrifice for that freedom.

 

parenting, websites

5 Simple Rules for College Parents: A Mini-Course

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Today’s college parents are NOW first responders BUT most parents don’t know how to respond!  Harlan Cohen, New York Times bestselling author of The Naked Roommate and The Naked Roommate For Parents Only is an expert at coaching students and parents about the unexpected and often uncomfortable aspects of college life.

I first came in contact with Harlan when he asked me to review his books and fell in love with the information they provided. I’ve recommended the books to parents and students alike because I feel they offer some of the best and most practical advice about college life.

In response to an overwhelming demand for extra help from parents, Harlan created a free mini-course to help parents prepare for the first year in college: 5 Simple Rules For College Parents. The course alleviates stress and helps parents guide their children through this wildly emotional time of transition. All 5 simple rules last about 10 minutes each, or you can watch the entire mini-course for a little over 45 minutes. Harlan’s down to earth way of getting down to the basics of emotions and offering easy to apply tactics makes this mini-course an excellent resource for parents with college-bound teens.

Watch this simple video for an explanation of the course, then follow the link below to signup. Once you sign up you get a password to access the videos; and it’s absolutely FREE!

 

Sign up for this free mini-course here: 5 Simple Rules for College Parents

 

Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Top 5 Posts about Safety

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“If you were my child, I would staple you to your bedroom wall.”
― Myra McEntire, Hourglass

Safety—are we ever truly safe? Every parent has probably voiced the above words or similar ones at some time or another. All we can do is give our kids the tools they need to avoid those situations that put them in danger. And then we have to let go and trust that it is enough.

safetyToday’s Wednesday’s Parent revisits the topic of safety with my top 5 posts about safety:

6 Campus Safety Apps

It’s sad that we live in a time when we don’t feel safe at school. Schools used to be the safest place for kids, protected by teachers and staff and away from predators. Not anymore.

Safety First

Teaching safety begins when your child begins to walk and touch things. “Watch out it’s hot!” “Be careful, you could hurt yourself.” “Look both ways before you cross the street.” When your kids go off to college you worry about their safety. Why? Because you won’t be there to protect them and see that they stay safe.

6 Campus Safety Talking Points

Parenting on good days can be frightening. You never know when some unexpected event will occur and rock your world. It’s impossible to prepare for every unexpected occurrence, but we can take the time to equip our children with the knowledge and the tools they need to keep themselves from falling into dangerous situations.

Are You Concerned About Campus Security

Even though the thought of your child attending college brings forth feelings of pride and anticipation, if they are going to be living on campus, it’s understandable why it may also evoke a certain amount of concern. We all have read the news stories of unfortunate crimes that have happened at various colleges and universities across the country prompting you to investigate the security and safety of your child’s prospective colleges.

School Shootings—What’s a Parent to Do?

Every parent of college-bound teens should ask this question during the campus visit (preferably not in the presence of your student): what systems do you have in place to protect my child in the event of an emergency such as the Virginia Tech shooting?

Read Wendy’s Post: Safety Revisited

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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

10 Study Apps for Students

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study appsInstead of study apps, let’s call these “10 apps to help you get merit-aid scholarships”. Improving your GPA is the best way to qualify for merit aid, and the best way to improve your GPA is to study.

Here are 10 study apps that should help your student win merit-aid scholarships:

1. Quizlet

Offering a wide array of subjects, different study modes and a variety of test prep resources, Quizlet allows students to sign up and utilize its study tools free of charge. Students rave about the ease of using the app and the site, along with the awesome tools that Quizlet offers on them.

2. Study Buddy

Do you have a personal study coach? Now you can with the Study Buddy app. Improve your study habits by keeping track of your study time versus distraction time, get efficiency reports, plus use timers and warnings to get you back on track from those breaks that just linger. The app even notes any phone call interruptions, so you can’t sneak in a quick chat on the clock. The cherry on top? Inspirational quotes to keep you motivated at the beginning of each session.

3. Simplemind+

Sometimes it’s hard to make sense of all the thoughts in your head. Luckily, Simplemind+ is a tool which allows you to create mind maps, collect your ideas in one place and improve your brainstorm productivity. Instead of mundane text versions, the mind maps allow you to visualize and connect your thoughts, plus you can hyperlink, share and export them as needed.

4. iStudiez Pro

Easily navigate the overwhelming aspects of student life like tracking your schedule, daily tasks and keep track of upcoming assignments and deadlines. You can also track your grades and calculate your projected GPA for current and past semesters using a variety of grading scales. In addition, you can back up any data you enter by sending it directly to your email or by syncing to your other iOS devices.

5. Open Study

Free tutoring? Who doesn’t love that? Open Study launched a mobile app in May 2012 that gives students access to study assistance, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,gratis. Students can work together or get the help of a volunteer “hero” to solve challenging homework problems and complete assignments.

6. Study Blue

What happens when you’ve memorized every flashcard and definition, backwards and forward? You can use this app to create a review sheet, to have all the information readily available at your fingertips. But, you don’t have a practice exam in front of you…or do you? With this app, students can quiz themselves on the go, so it’s perfect for studying on the way to class, or for getting that last-minute review in before the exam in handed out.

7. Evernote Peek

Sometimes, when we study, we often give ourselves margins of error, and tend to peek at the answers (even if it’s just a tiny bit!) and tell ourselves that we will know the answer when it comes time for the exam. In order to cater to this tendency, and make it useful, Evernote has produced an app that gives students the opportunity to learn by using the cover to their tablet. By lifting the cover, the answers are slowly revealed, thus providing a more useful and helpful study experience.

8. Flashcards

Bringing an ancient learning method bang into the 21st century, Flashcard+ is perhaps the best flashcards app you can find at the moment. You can create your own flashcard decks consisting of as many cards as you want, free of charge. There are also a number of default decks which test you on things like state capitals and math facts. And if you’re in a study group, you can share these decks with your peers. Check if your college or university already uses this app.

9. iHomework

Before school even begins, you will want to start by getting yourself organized. Keep your courses, school work, grades, to-dos, teacher information, and more right at your fingertips with iHomework. The app is integrated with Questia (www.questia.com), a library that provides you with a wealth of material for researching purposes. Sync information between your iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac with this useful app. In addition, iCloud support is available for those using iOS 6.

10. Study Habits

Study Habits offers more than 30 strategies for developing effective study skills, including memory techniques such as using acronyms, creating charts and diagrams, and teaching others what one has learned. It also tracks your grades and GPA, helps manage your time, and reminds you of classes and assignments.

 

book reviews, parenting

Mom-Approved Tips: Supporting Your College Freshman

 

college freshmanWhether you have a high school graduate heading to college in the fall, or you are working toward that eventual inevitability in the future, you need information about college life and how to support your new college freshman.

University Parent, as it has done in the past, recognized the need that parents have when their student’s head off to college. Knowing how frustrating it can be for parents with questions, concerns and generally uneasiness, they brought experts together to create the University Parent Guide to Supporting your Student’s Freshman Year. You could also call it the “everything you need to know but didn’t know where to ask” guide for parents.

Why create this guide?

Sarah Schupp, University Parent’s Founder and CEO, wanted to sort through issues of parenting college students and created this helpful go-to guide to make parenting afar easier. According to Ms. Schupp, “Studies consistently show that students with engaged parents have far better college outcomes than those that don’t or than those with overly-involved parents. There is a delicate balance between acting as a coach and acting in place of the student.”

Realizing that most parents questions are universal, University Parent published this guide to help parents best support their son or daughter.

What’s in the guide?

The guide is divided into time segments throughout your student’s first year of college: summer, early fall, late fall, and spring. Each division provides parents with all the information they need help their student through each segment of the first year of college.

The summer segment (Get Ready), deals with topics related to the changes you will face as your role changes, what to expect at orientation, roommates, budgeting, and campus culture. The fall segment (Settling In), discusses topics like move-in day, greek life, parent visits, and how to deal with struggling students. The late fall segment (Adjusting), deals with care packages, holidays, diet and exercise, and studying abroad. The spring segment (Looking Forward), talks about sophomore topics like housing, student stress, transferring and student loans. The final chapter gives you areas to write down phone numbers, important dates and a typical 4-year checklist.

Why do I recommend this guide?

I can’t tell you the number of parents who have asked me questions about the first year of college, especially dealing with these specific topics. If you know what to expect and how to plan, the first year will go much more smoothly. This guide gives parents all the information they need in one simple, easy-to-read guide.

Even if your student isn’t going to college in the fall, this guide will help you prepare for that day. As always, I advise parents to be prepared; because preparation prevents panic.

college visits, Guest Posts

Making the Most of Summer College Visits

 

summer college visitsCollege visits can determine what schools you apply to and which one you ultimately decide on as your top pick. Summer college visits allow you the opportunity to visit campuses in a less formal atmosphere and wander around the campus on a self tour. Classrooms may be empty, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting. The college doesn’t necessarily have to be on your list–visits to any college help you formulate the list and give you ideas on what you like and don’t like on campus.

However, paying attention on college tours can be difficult, especially when there is a lot of information to digest. When deciding on a college and looking back on your time at each one, you may even forget important factors that can sway your decision. Here is some advice to get you through each visit and keep track of all the key details.

Make a list of topics to discuss

Before arriving for the college tour, make a physical list of all the topics you and your parents would like to know more about. When compiling this list, keep in mind that general questions about what majors the school offers can be quickly answered by referencing the website. Ask questions about activities, clubs, research, and campus culture.

Ask questions and take notes

During the tour, take notes on anything relating to your major and interests. For example, if you are interested in majoring in biology, pay attention to research opportunities the guide may mention and any labs you tour. If you have not decided on a major, you can ask if there is a program for undeclared students. You will also be going through the freshman dorms, gym, library, and other facilities that are available to students. If you are interested in fitness, the condition of the gym and its equipment may be important to note. Will you be able to study at the library? Will your dietary restrictions be a problem at the cafeteria?

The tour guides may mention the kinds of activities available on campus. They may also know how big Greek life is, or if there are a variety of clubs to join. These are the biggest ways to meet others on campus. If you do not feel comfortable with joining a sorority or fraternity and most of the student body participates in Greek life, that college may not be the right choice for you.

Do some exploring

Once your tour is over, take time to explore the campus and surrounding city on your own. While walking around the school, look at the bulletin boards and posters to get a better idea of the types of events and activities offered.

It can be overwhelming to visit multiple colleges and keep all the information straight. However, by taking notes, the college application process won’t seem as daunting. Once you are done with each visit, reflect on your time and try to think about what you did and did not like about each school. If you have a list of pros and cons before even applying to colleges, you will be better able to determine your college preferences. As long as you are organized, you will be equipped to make a decision.

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 About the author: Priya Sudendra is a senior at University of Colorado and a staff writer for CollegeFocus, a website dedicated to helping students deal with the challenges of college, including housing, finance, style, health, relationships, and transferring from a community college to a four-year university.

You can follow CollegeFocus on Twitter and Facebook.

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

10 GPA-Free Scholarships

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gpa-free scholarships

Not every student is a stellar student with a winning GPA. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want to go to college AND earn scholarship money to pay for their education. Good news . . . there are GPA-Free Scholarships that make it possible.

Following are 10 GPA-Free scholarships that you don’t need to be in the top 10%, a valedictorian, or the best of the best. You just need to want to go to college and put in a little effort.

1. $1,000 Every Month Scholarship from GotChosen

GotChosen is offering a recurring monthly scholarship to help college students. The GotChosen $1000 Every Month Scholarship is easy and free to enter. A new winner is selected every month by a random drawing. Open to all fields of study, the $1,000 must be used for educational expenses, this includes: tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment required for study, or towards repayment of outstanding student loans. Virtually anyone 18 years old or older is eligible to participate. Open to U.S. and international students over 18 years of age, this scholarship asks you to register with GotChosen (painless) and enter the monthly random drawing. Applying doesn’t require a good GPA, essay or long form — just taking a gamble with absolutely nothing to lose.

2. College Week Live Scholarship

CollegeWeekLive believes that a college education is the key to having opportunities in life. That’s why their scholarship will reward students who are working hard to research, apply and choose a college. Winning is easy – all you need to do is login to CollegeWeekLive and visit 3 colleges that interest you. One lucky winner will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship every month. And many other winners may find the college of their dreams.

3.  Chegg Weekly Scholarship

Every week, Chegg gives away $1000 to one high school or college student. Cheng believes strongly in education and works hard to connect students with their best-fit colleges. But they also know that it can be expensive which is they award this scholarship this easy to enter scholarship. Just a short form and answering a question in three sentences and you could add $1000 to your college fund.

4. College Prowler $2000 No Essay Scholarship

The $2,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students and those planning on enrolling within 12 months. The monthly winner will be determined by random drawing and then contacted directly and announced on our Facebook page. One entry per person, but you can come back each month to try again. High schoolers, adults looking to head back to school, current college students and anyone else looking to attend college or graduate school within 12 months.

5. Scholarship Points

The ScholarshipPoints program is free to join and provides you with the opportunity to win thousands of dollars in scholarships each month. Members earn points by doing what they already do online: shopping, reading, gaming, searching, quizzes, polls, and more. The more you do – the more you earn – the better your chance to win a scholarship! Register today and you could be the next $10,000 scholarship winner!

6. University Language $500 Scholarship

What could be easier than uploading your favorite photo? What does college look like through your camera lens? Show University Language Services for a chance to win a $500.00 college scholarship! As a prospective student making college campus visits, you have a lot to take in: the dorms, the classrooms, the cafeteria, the football stadium … not to mention the atmosphere! Whatever it is, submit a photo you’ve taken, along with a description of between 100-200 words on why that photo represents what college means to you.

7. $1000 Cappex Monthly Scholarship

Tell Cappex about yourself and don’t hold back in a simple form to be eligible for the $1,000 A GPA Isn’t Everything Scholarship. This scholarship opportunity will be available at any college or university. Applications accepted for a limited time so apply now.

8. B. Davis Scholarship

This Scholarship is available to all high school juniors and seniors as well as all students currently registered in any post secondary institution. There is no age restriction an this is not an academic scholarship. To apply for this scholarship you will need to write an essay of less than 1000 words on a topic they choose (topics change yearly).

9. Frame My Future Scholarship

Students are asked to submit an original “creation” through an image which expressed what they hope to achieve in their personal and professional life after college. Entries include photographs, poems. essays. collages, drawings, paintings and other imaginative pieces. The entry needs to communicate: This is how I “Frame My Future”, and include a brief accompanying description. Four winners will receive a  $1000 scholarship.

10. American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship

The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) offers $20,000 in scholarships (ten winners at $2,000 each) to the 10 high school students (U.S. citizens or legal residents) whose names pop up in a drawing.

But here’s the kicker: You have to read a six-page document on the fire sprinkler industry and take a ten-question multiple choice test. It’s open book and each correct answer scores you an entry into the drawing (10 is the most entries you can have). You even get a chance to correct wrong answers, which doesn’t happen often with tests.

Helping parents navigate the college maze