Tag Archives: college experts

Uncategorized, Wednesdays parent

In This World of College Experts

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world of college expertsMy heart is heavy today because we have lost a colleague and a friend, Wendy David-Gaines. She passed away yesterday after a long, hard-fought battle with ovarian cancer. She helped thousands of parents face life before and after college with her book, Parents of College Students Survival Stories. She and I collaborated each week on Wednesday’s Parent, giving advice for parents from two different perspectives. We co-hosted one week a month on #CampusChat sharing advice and helping parents.

She gave her time, her advice, her talent and for me, her friendship. She was a true parent advocate. She helped countless parents on Twitter and Facebook deal with college-related problems with little or no reward for her expertise.

Wendy would never say she was a victim of ovarian cancer and never craved the spotlight. She was an advocate for early detection, a fighter who searched for anything and everything that might help her overcome this disease, and someone who valued life and her family above all else. She will be missed.

If you are so inclined, please give to this worthwhile cause and leave a comment if you were a “cyber” friend of Wendy or she was of help to you along your college journey. I’m sure her family would love to know how she touched your life.

Uncategorized

College experts that warm my heart this Thanksgiving

 

Happy ThanksgivingAs I was thinking about a post for Thanksgiving I began thinking about all the college experts I am thankful for. Their encouragement and expertise has contributed to my parent readers and helped many parents of college-bound teens this year. If you’re not acquainted with them, you should be.

Wendy David-Gaines

This woman is my hero, in more ways than one and her expertise on parenting college-bound teens and keeping your sanity is second to none. Every Wednesday we collaborate on a relevant parenting topic. If you haven’t seen her blog, read her book, or read her articles at Examiner.com, you’re missing out on some extremely valuable information.

Celest Horton

Celest is committed to helping parents by creating podcasts at “How to Pay for College HQ”. She interviews experts in the college process, giving parents tips on how to maximize the best tools and find the money to pay for college. She’s a mom (and a great one, I might add). Just ask her kids!

Jodi Okun

Jodi is my go-to financial aid expert and the host of #CollegeCash on Thursday evenings. She has partnered with Zinch to provide parents with an affordable course, “A Parents Guide to Making College More Affordable.” She’s a great friend and a valuable expert source for parents.

Paul Hemphill

Paul is every parent’s friend. He dispenses the cold, hard truth about the college process. If you haven’t watched his YouTube videos, you’re missing out. He recently launched a new blog, “The Ugly Blog” that dispenses the information parents need to hear.

The team at Zinch

The team at Zinch works day in and day out to help students find scholarships and provide information to help parents with the college prep process. Their weekly scholarships and their matching scholarship service put them at the top of my list for a go-to scholarship matching site.

Monica Matthews

Monica is a mom and a scholarship superstar. She has been able to send her kids to college by finding scholarships and applying using her time-tested technique. If you don’t have her book, “How to Win Scholarships”, it’s a must-have for every parent who wants to finance college with scholarships.

The parents

If you’re a parent of a college-bound teen, I’m thankful for you as well. You struggle to juggle your life, your finances, and all the college prep steps involved in applying to colleges. In my eyes (and in the eyes of your college-bound teen), you’re superstars!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and enjoy your break with family and friends. Thank you for your continued support this year and into next.

 

college guidance, parenting

Your parent arsenal-strength for the journey

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It’s Friday and Twitter’s Follow Friday event reminded me that there are so many parents out there in cyberspace looking for help along the college admissions journey. Here’s a short list of helpful “parents” (along with myself, of course) that you should bookmark, follow and tap into on Facebook for the best encouragement and parent support along your journey.

Jane Kulow (@CvlKulow)

Jane is a parent of college-bound teens and the owner/author of a blog that has chronicled her admissions journey with her kids (Dr. Strange College-or how I learned to stop worrying and love the journey). Her blog is jam-packed with great information, parenting encouragement and tips to help you sift through all the information you are bombarded with during the college admissions process.

Nancy Berk (@NancyBerk)

Nancy is also a parent who has survived the journey and written about it in her “hit” book, College Bound and Gagged. Nancy gives parents a comedic break by helping you laugh at yourself and your kids during this stressful time. There’s nothing better than a little laughter to ease the stress and help you see the bigger picture.

Z. Kelly Queijo (@collegevisit)

Kelly is the mastermind behind Smart College Visit, a website providing you with information and resources to help make the college visit a success. Her tools to help you plan your college visits provide parents with all the resources they need in one place. Her cool “mobile app” for Virginia Tech is the first of it’s kind!

Monica Matthews (@AidScholarship)

Monica is a parent herself and she is the scholarship guru, finding scholarships for her sons and teaching parents to do the same. Her simple ebook, How to Win College Scholarships, walks you through the process step by step.  She also blogs, giving parents tips and scholarship updates on a regular basis.

Paul Hemphill (@vcollegeadvisor)

Paul learned the hard way that colleges aren’t necessarily a parent’s friend. His frustration with the admissions process during his sons’ journey, prompted him to help other parents and students learn the secrets to take charge during the journey and “win” in this highly competitive process. His video series is second to none and every parent needs to arm themselves with his arsenal of sage advice.

This is just a short list of parents out there offering you help along your journey. Be an informed parent and tap into their advice and wise counsel. Parents helping parents–what better way to survive the journey?

 

 

college planning, social networks, Uncategorized

12 College Experts I would like to meet in 2012

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This past year I have met and established some wonderful friendships and collaborations on Twitter. I had the privilege of meeting Jenn Cohen of Sheldon Word Nerd this past summer. I thought it might be fun to list the college experts who I would love to meet IRL (in real life) in 2012. If you aren’t following them already, I’ve included the links so you can!

Akil Bello-This guy cracks me up and is the genuine article. His SAT advice is spot on and he’s quite a wordsmith. I would love to sit down with him and discuss the merits of Manilow’s music (and how he feels about internet shysters trying to rob parents of their hard-earned money).

Kelly Queijo-Kelly is my hero because she walked the 30 mile Komen walk for me and my mom. Not to mention she hosts #campuschat AND has the best go-to site for college visit information. She and I have been Twitter friends since her site launched.

Nancy Berk-Nancy is every parent’s friend and quite the comedian. Her book, “College Bound and Gagged” left me rolling on the floor laughing. I would love to be a guest on “Whine at 9”!

Eric Clark-Eric, my man. A great dad and an educator with a vision to help tutor EVERY student across the country with his Quincy Tutoring network. He’s been one of my biggest supporters and I him.

Wendy David-Gaines-The ultimate POCSMom and a colleague. She approaches the college journey with humor and ideas to reduce the stress while helping parents with support and encouragement throughout the journey.

Monica Matthews-Monica is a parent too but an absolute EXPERT on college scholarships. I wish I would have had her book when my kids went to college. She rocks helping parents and students find and apply for scholarships.

Elizabeth King-Elizabeth writes the most pithy articles about test prep and the value of education. She’s an all star in my book!

Paul Hemphill-My Boston buddy and good friend. Paul and I believe that parents are the customers and colleges should rise up and take notice! Plus, he’s the best at marketing students for college. He gets an A+++ for being a parent advocate.

Jane Kulow-Jane is on the college journey with her kids and visiting colleges as we speak. Her blog ROCKS for parents who are going through the process because you get a real-time parent’s perspective.

Jeff Sheely-Jeff’s common sense approach to financing a college education made me a fan from the first time I met him on Twitter. His College Money blog gives parents and students the BEST advice about debt, student loans and financing a college education.

Gil Rogers-Gil is the first admissions officer I met on Twitter and he helped me answer many a parent’s question. Now he works for Zinch (my fav college related company) and his stellar social media savvy makes him an all-around guru.

Fuji Fulgueras-Apart from teasing me about my Manilow fandom, Fuji is a college admissions counselor and a respected expert. He can answer any questions about college admissions and is always helpful to parents when asked.