NTHS Counseling Blog and News Outlet

2016-01-06T09:07:00.000-08:00

It is National Scholarship Month, which means high school seniors are being exhorted to scoop up free money for college.

What they are often not told is that scholarships won from corporations, nonprofits and other “outside” sources can reduce — dollar for dollar — the grants and cost-reducing financial aid they might get from colleges.

Students with financial need should be aware of this potential disincentive before they spend countless hours pursuing scholarships that may leave them no better off. The same scholarships could, however, benefit affluent families by reducing the amount they have to pay or borrow.

Casey Lu Simon-Plumb, a sophomore at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, won more than a dozen scholarships during her senior year of high school, including a $20,000 Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation award.

She thought her winnings would dramatically reduce the $60,000 annual cost of attending the school.

Instead, the outside money replaced other aid Swarthmore had offered her, leaving her family’s contribution about the same.

Federal rules require schools to reduce need-based financial aid when students win outside scholarships to ensure that their total financial aid does not exceed their costs by more than $300.

Read the whole post: http://www.startribune.com/college-scholarships-are-not-free-money/352032061/

Before You List Colleges on Your FAFSA, Read This

2015-12-21T09:06:00.000-08:00

The rules are changing this year, but the schools you list and the order you put them in can still affect your financial aid.

You probably know that yourincome and assets are important factors in determining your eligibility for college aid. But did you know that the schools you list on the Free Federal Application for Financial Aid, or FAFSA, can also play a role?

When students file the online FAFSA, they can list up to 10 colleges that they’re interested in. Most students list them in preference order.

Statistically, students who are admitted to the college they list first on the FAFSA enroll there about half to two-thirds of the time. For the college listed second, about a third of students will enroll if they’re admitted. For the college listed third, about 10 percent will enroll if admitted.

It’s an open secret that some colleges used this insight in their admissions and financial aid decisions. For example, if a college wasn’t listed in the top three, it might just reject the student to try to improve its “yield,” which has an impact on some college rankings. That led to anomalous situations like a student being admitted to an Ivy League institution but rejected by less selective colleges. (No college has confessed to using FAFSA position in its admissions decisions because it is illegal under federal privacy rules concerning FAFSA data.)

To prevent future abuses, starting with the 2016-17 FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will no longer share your list of colleges with the schools receiving your FAFSA data. But your list will still be available to state aid agencies, and some states require that students list an in-state public college first to qualify for state aid. So the order in which you list your colleges remains important for financial-aid purposes.

Read the whole post: http://time.com/money/4124705/fafsa-listing-colleges/

Understanding the 2 Types of College Financial Aid

2015-12-17T18:30:00.000-08:00

My family and I just returned from Charlotte, North Carolina, where my two boys competed in and won their first Jiu-Jitsu tournament. On the ride home, one asked if he could get a college scholarship if he continued to win tournaments.

That reminded me how important financial aid is for most families. Almost all parents can benefit from understanding their options before their children apply.

Let’s explore the two different types of financial aid.

How Divorce and Separation Can Affect Financial Aid

2015-12-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

When students apply to college, there are many forms to complete. And if they are applying for financial aid, the FAFSA is No. 1 on the list. This form asks the obvious questions: name, date of birth, Social Security number, address etc. It also asks questions about parents’ financial information to determine financial aid eligibility.

If you are separated or divorced, this part of the FAFSA raises many questions:

How will colleges treat the income of two separate families?

Which parent’s income is used for determining the expected family contribution, or EFC?

Do both parents have to report their incomes?

What do the words “custodial parent” mean?

Read the whole post: https://www.teenlife.com/blogs/how-divorce-and-separation-can-affect-financial-aid

Why German-Style Education Is Coming To America

2015-12-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

Minnesota State Senator Terri Bonoff gets a lot of requests to attend ceremonial openings. But when Swiss-German manufacturing company Bühler asked her to cut the ribbon at its new apprenticeship program, it sparked her interest. Based on the German dual system, Bühler’s apprenticeship program brings in trainee-hires as full-time employees with benefits, and partners with a local college to provide its trainees with classroom instruction – alongside the experience they are gaining on the job.

Health sciences is one of the four key areas in the PIPELINE project

It was the first time she’d heard about the dual system – which seamlessly combines education and real world work – but on a subsequent trip to Germany, Senator Bonoff found out more. In the German dual system, students spend a significant amount of time in the workplace before they even graduate from high school. After high school, many students transition directly into jobs at companies where they’ve already apprenticed; the result being that they enter the job fully versed in the necessary technical skills, soft skills and familiarity with the workplace culture.

Read the whole post: http://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholaswyman/2015/11/22/why-german-style-education-is-coming-to-america/

7 Questions You’ll Be Asked About College Over The Holidays (& How To Respond!)

2015-12-04T09:03:00.000-08:00

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: the holidays! The joy will be spread amongst the world through holiday music, festive décor and (dreaded) family dinners, but there may be one thing dampening that joy: questions about college. Your family may take the awkward in-between dinner courses silence to focus on your upcoming life transition, even though there are so many other topics to cover.

It may seem awkward to have all the attention on you, and you may even get tripped up on how to answer everyone’s questions, but fear not! HC talked to Christine Logel, social psychologist and assistant professor of social development studies at the University of Waterloo, to give you all the best responses to both answer or avoid all the questions thrown at you.

Read the whole post: http://www.hercampus.com/high-school/7-questions-you-ll-be-asked-about-college-over-holidays-how-respond

Experts Weigh In On Common College Application Mistakes

2015-12-01T17:30:00.000-08:00

A lot of high school seniors are applying for college right now, and some of them are likely making mistakes on their applications that are sending them straight to the trash.

Most colleges recommend high school students start thinking about the college application process as early as their freshman year.

“The whole college admissions process, the application process, everything has changed dramatically. A lot of people think that it’s just the GPA or it’s just the SAT score, but getting into the college of your choice goes well beyond that,” teacher Deann Scherer said.

New research from the National Honor Society finds that a majority of college admissions officers say participating in extracurricular activities gives students a competitive edge, but that doesn’t mean just sports.

They’re most impressed by students who’ve done long-term volunteer work in their community.

View the whole post: http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/11/19/experts-weigh-in-on-common-college-application-mistakes/

What Is a Research University? Part I

2015-11-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

If you are hoping that your children ultimately attend a university, the schools on your dream list are probably all research institutions

Universities with the best-known brand names fall into this category. If you look at the top 50 national universities in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings, for instance, it’s likely you will recognize the names of all or nearly all of them. At the top are Princeton and Harvard and roughly 50 spots down are schools like Boston University and Tulane. You surely recognize those names too.

In contrast, it’s unusual for most Americans to recognize the names of any liberal arts colleges. Perched at the top of U.S. News’ liberal arts college rankings are Williams and Amherst colleges, which you’ve probably heard of. But the name recognition disappears quickly on this list. Schools making the top ten list include Bowdoin College (ME) and Carleton College (MN) while at the 50th spots are Denison (OH) and DePauw (IN).

It would be an unfortunate mistake, however, to assume that because research universities are better known and more popular that they will automatically be the best option for your children.

Before you can determine whether a research university is the best choice for your child, you need to understand what these institutions offer.

FAFSA filing dates are changing, beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, and that could affect parents' finances Now that college application season has begun, it’s time for students and families to consider college costs and how they’re going to pay them. The key to college financing is the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which every school, both public and private, uses to calculate how much aid is available for a particular student and which all government student loans — for students and parents — require before dispensing any funds. “Everyone should complete the FAFSA,” Mark Kantrowitz, Publisher of Edvisors.com, a website offering advice on planning and paying for college, and author of six books on the topic. Even returning students who didn’t get any financial aid the previous year should complete the FAFSA, says Kantrowitz, explaining that changes in student assets or parents’ income could impact the amount and type of financial aid available. “You can’t get money if you don’t apply, so always apply,” says Kantrowitz. “Even if you don’t qualify for aid, FAFSA is a prerequisite for unsubsidized federal Stafford loans and federal PLUS loans, which are available without regard to financial aid.” (Related: 15 Best Paying Jobs for College Business Majors: 2015) In a far-ranging webinar on “Filing the FAFSA,” Kantrowitz laid out some tips on filing the FAFSA and updates on changes that students, their families and financial advisors should be aware of: File the FAFSA ASAP. 1. File the FAFSA ASAP. This year, that means as close to Jan. 1 as possible – the first date the latest FAFSA will be available. Even if you don’t know where your child will be going to college and haven’t filed your tax return for the previous year, file early, says Kantrowitz. “The earlier you file the FAFSA the better off you will be,” he said. You can update the income data after your income tax form is filed. There are several reasons to file sooner than later, all related to the early bird getting the worm. “Nine states offer aid on a first come, first serve basis until the money runs out, three states have February deadlines, and 11 states have March deadlines,” Kantrowitz explained. In addition, he noted, colleges get a fixed allocation for federal supplement education opportunity grants and federal work study. “When the money runs out, there’s no more.” And some colleges have two deadlines for financial aid – a preferred deadline and regular deadline. File by the preferred deadline because more money will be available then. “Students who file the FAFSA in January, February and March tend to receive more than twice as much grant dollars as on average as students who file later, and they get more money the earlier they file, in January instead of February, in February instead of March, etc.” said Kantrowitz. The final deadline is June 30. File Two FAFSAs in 2016 2. File two FAFSAs in 2016. The federal government has changed the starting date for filing the FAFSA beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, moving it back from January 1 to October 1 of the previous year. In 2016, then, families can file the FAFSA for the 2016-2017 academic year as early as January 1 and the FAFSA for the 2017-2018 academic year as early as October 1. The earlier October 1 start date reflects a change in the base tax year used in future FAFSA filings. Instead of reporting the previous year’s income on the FAFSA, families will report the income from two years ago starting with the 2017-2018 academic year. They will no longer need to update their filing with the actual data from their tax return because they will be using a tax return that has already been filed. That has implications for how parents handle their finances. Adjust income for the new, earlier FAFSA filing date 3. Adjust income for the new, earlier FAFSA filing date. Since FAFSA will look back two years instead of one, parents of high school juniors this year should try to minimize the income they report on their tax return. “Offset capital gains with losses or don’t realize any more gains that you can offset with losses,” Kantrowitz advises. “In the future don’t make changes during [your kid’s] junior year but in the sophomore year of high school” because of the new income reporting lookback. Kantrowitz also advises parents to pay down debt, maximize retirement plan contributions, defer income and retirement distributions until after your student graduates — whatever can be done to reduce reportable assets. And he warns against setting up trust funds to reduce reportable income. “Trust funds mostly backfire even if they include restricted access to principal,” says Kantrowitz. Use the IRS Retrieval Tool to report income 4. Use the IRS Retrieval Tool to report income. Not only does this save time but it also reduces the odds of delays because the numbers won’t be subject to verification, says Kantrowitz. In the meantime for the upcoming 2016-2017 academic year he advises that parents estimate income using their latest tax return filed or 2015 pay stubs, then update that data with the IRS Retrieval Tool after the 2015 tax return is filed. Get an FSA ID 5. Get an FSA ID. Before parents or students can file a FAFSA they need a Federal Student Aid ID, which can be obtained at the fsaid.ed.gov website. This ID replaces the PINs that students and parents used previously because it is not tied to Social Security numbers, birthdates and other personal data and therefore considered more electronically secure. Double-check everything. 6. Double-check everything. “Nothing will delay a FAFSA faster than errors or omissions,” says Kantrowitz. Use legal names for parents and students, check social security numbers, addresses, etc. And note that every reference to “I” or “You” refers to the students, not the parents or FAFSA preparer, if one is used. File the FAFSA Electronically 7. File the FAFSA electronically. This allows parents and students to receive results in a few days which will include the Expected Family Contribution that schools base financial aid on and that government loans require. The FAFSA can be sent to a maximum 10 schools; after that, schools can be switched out with more names. Starting in the 2016-2017 academic year, FAFSA will not share the list of colleges on a student’s FAFSA with other colleges they have applied to. That could help students qualify for admission and financial aid because some colleges have used the list of students’ preferred schools when considering their applications. Since some college ratings lists consider the percentage of accepted students who then enroll, a college was more likely to turn down a student who ranked it a low priority. --- Related on ThinkAdvisor: 15 Best Paying Jobs for College Business Majors: 2015 30 Best Paying College Majors: 2015 15 Cheapest Colleges With Best Job Value Top 13 Colleges Whose Grads Earn the Most: 2015 Close single page viewReprintsDiscuss this story Bernice Napach By Bernice Napach Senior Writer ThinkAdvisor @Think_Napach Share this story

2015-11-01T08:22:00.000-08:00

Posted from: http://www.thinkadvisor.com/2015/10/25/college-planning-7-steps-to-filing-the-fafsa?page_all=1

FAFSA filing dates are changing, beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, and that could affect parents' finances

Now that college application season has begun, it’s time for students and families to consider college costs and how they’re going to pay them. The key to college financing is the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which every school, both public and private, uses to calculate how much aid is available for a particular student and which all government student loans — for students and parents — require before dispensing any funds.

“Everyone should complete the FAFSA,” Mark Kantrowitz, Publisher of Edvisors.com, a website offering advice on planning and paying for college, and author of six books on the topic. Even returning students who didn’t get any financial aid the previous year should complete the FAFSA, says Kantrowitz, explaining that changes in student assets or parents’ income could impact the amount and type of financial aid available.

“You can’t get money if you don’t apply, so always apply,” says Kantrowitz. “Even if you don’t qualify for aid, FAFSA is a prerequisite for unsubsidized federal Stafford loans and federal PLUS loans, which are available without regard to financial aid.”

(Related: 15 Best Paying Jobs for College Business Majors: 2015)

In a far-ranging webinar on “Filing the FAFSA,” Kantrowitz laid out some tips on filing the FAFSA and updates on changes that students, their families and financial advisors should be aware of:

1. File the FAFSA ASAP. This year, that means as close to Jan. 1 as possible – the first date the latest FAFSA will be available. Even if you don’t know where your child will be going to college and haven’t filed your tax return for the previous year, file early, says Kantrowitz. “The earlier you file the FAFSA the better off you will be,” he said. You can update the income data after your income tax form is filed.

There are several reasons to file sooner than later, all related to the early bird getting the worm. “Nine states offer aid on a first come, first serve basis until the money runs out, three states have February deadlines, and 11 states have March deadlines,” Kantrowitz explained. In addition, he noted, colleges get a fixed allocation for federal supplement education opportunity grants and federal work study. “When the money runs out, there’s no more.” And some colleges have two deadlines for financial aid – a preferred deadline and regular deadline. File by the preferred deadline because more money will be available then.

“Students who file the FAFSA in January, February and March tend to receive more than twice as much grant dollars as on average as students who file later, and they get more money the earlier they file, in January instead of February, in February instead of March, etc.” said Kantrowitz. The final deadline is June 30.

2. File two FAFSAs in 2016. The federal government has changed the starting date for filing the FAFSA beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, moving it back from January 1 to October 1 of the previous year. In 2016, then, families can file the FAFSA for the 2016-2017 academic year as early as January 1 and the FAFSA for the 2017-2018 academic year as early as October 1.

The earlier October 1 start date reflects a change in the base tax year used in future FAFSA filings. Instead of reporting the previous year’s income on the FAFSA, families will report the income from two years ago starting with the 2017-2018 academic year. They will no longer need to update their filing with the actual data from their tax return because they will be using a tax return that has already been filed. That has implications for how parents handle their finances.

3. Adjust income for the new, earlier FAFSA filing date. Since FAFSA will look back two years instead of one, parents of high school juniors this year should try to minimize the income they report on their tax return. “Offset capital gains with losses or don’t realize any more gains that you can offset with losses,” Kantrowitz advises. “In the future don’t make changes during [your kid’s] junior year but in the sophomore year of high school” because of the new income reporting lookback.

Kantrowitz also advises parents to pay down debt, maximize retirement plan contributions, defer income and retirement distributions until after your student graduates — whatever can be done to reduce reportable assets. And he warns against setting up trust funds to reduce reportable income. “Trust funds mostly backfire even if they include restricted access to principal,” says Kantrowitz.

4. Use the IRS Retrieval Tool to report income. Not only does this save time but it also reduces the odds of delays because the numbers won’t be subject to verification, says Kantrowitz. In the meantime for the upcoming 2016-2017 academic year he advises that parents estimate income using their latest tax return filed or 2015 pay stubs, then update that data with the IRS Retrieval Tool after the 2015 tax return is filed.

5. Get an FSA ID. Before parents or students can file a FAFSA they need a Federal Student Aid ID, which can be obtained at the fsaid.ed.gov website. This ID replaces the PINs that students and parents used previously because it is not tied to Social Security numbers, birthdates and other personal data and therefore considered more electronically secure.

6. Double-check everything. “Nothing will delay a FAFSA faster than errors or omissions,” says Kantrowitz. Use legal names for parents and students, check social security numbers, addresses, etc. And note that every reference to “I” or “You” refers to the students, not the parents or FAFSA preparer, if one is used.

7. File the FAFSA electronically. This allows parents and students to receive results in a few days which will include the Expected Family Contribution that schools base financial aid on and that government loans require.

The FAFSA can be sent to a maximum 10 schools; after that, schools can be switched out with more names. Starting in the 2016-2017 academic year, FAFSA will not share the list of colleges on a student’s FAFSA with other colleges they have applied to. That could help students qualify for admission and financial aid because some colleges have used the list of students’ preferred schools when considering their applications. Since some college ratings lists consider the percentage of accepted students who then enroll, a college was more likely to turn down a student who ranked it a low priority.

4 Vocabulary Strategies for the Redesigned SAT

2015-10-29T08:20:00.003-07:00

Posted from: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-admissions-playbook/2015/10/26/4-vocabulary-strategies-for-the-redesigned-sat

By now, you are likely well aware that the SAT will change in 2016. These changes will not be cosmetic – the new exam prizes complex understanding rather than rote memorization.

At one time, teachers and tutors could reasonably recommend that a student study for the SAT by memorizing arcane vocabulary words. This is no longer a winning strategy. Instead, the redesigned SAT emphasizes the importance of words in context. Here are four prep strategies to help you prepare for this new challenge.

[See if you can separate SAT and ACT fact from fiction.]

1. Strengthen your understanding of the questions: Consider the sample vocabulary question that appears on pages two and three of this informational bulletin. The question, which concerns a topic that will one day be relevant to test-takers, asks readers to choose the best definition for "intense" given the context of the passage.

All four options are valid substitutes for "intense," but B is the correct answer.

Why is this example important? It demonstrates the redesigned SAT's commitment to using words that students will often encounter in college classrooms, and it emphasizes the use of context clues over memorization. Given the shift in structure, it is crucial to use up-to-date study materials.

[Check out eight sample questions from the new SAT.]

2. Update your vocabulary lists: Words like "intense" are tier two words – that is, they are words that are commonly used by mature speakers and writers. Tier three words, which the College Board previously drew from for the SAT, are those that have limited or narrow applications.

There is insufficient space in this blog post to provide you with a set of tier two words to review prior to your exam date, but a brief Internet search will uncover a number of terms that can guide your studies. Once you compile a list, create flashcards that include all possible meanings for each word.

Next, write sentences that use each definition appropriately. Keep your list handy as you write papers for your classes, and try to incorporate these words into your assignments.

Writing can help you set the words in your mind, which may make them easier to recall under stress. As an added bonus, you will also have an impressive arsenal of vocabulary words to deploy if you register for the optional SAT essay.

3. Read often: The redesigned SAT did not just change its vocabulary terms. It also changed the kinds of texts that they appear in.

The texts will include literary works, as well as historical and scientific documents, some from the 19th and 20th centuries. Unless your high school is uncommonly rigorous, or you are preparing for AP exams in American history or literature, you may have limited exposure to such writings.

[Focus on building analysis skills for success on the new SAT essay.]

The best way to prepare, then, is to simply increase your familiarity with these works. Choose a book from an earlier era, such as "The Great Gatsby," and mark any words that are unfamiliar to you.

Better still, mark any words that look familiar, but that do not quite fit the context. Look these words up in a dictionary, and write down the sentence in which you encountered the word. You can then use that sentence when studying.

4. Practice identifying context: As you complete various practice problems, keep context in mind. The redesigned SAT will not just ask for definitions, it will also ask you to select a portion of a passage that supports your answer. In other words, it is not sufficient to determine the meaning of a word – you also have to be able to justify your answer.

One way to approach this difficult project is to write justifications for the correct answers to sample problems, as well as arguments against the other answers. In the question cited above, for example, you could note that "emotional" is not correct since the passage is dispassionately discussing trends in employment.

Don't Ghostwrite College Application Essays

2015-10-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-joseph/dont-ghostwrite-college-application-essays_b_8191866.html

Recently, I have traveled to schools, college fairs, libraries, and many homes to help kids with their college applications, including their college application essays and/or personal statements. While I brainstorm essay topics with them and provide some guiding questions for their drafts, I do not write or rewrite the essays for students. I view the brainstorming, drafting, and revising process as a part of essential self-awareness development for sixteen to eighteen year olds. This process truly works, and the non-ghostwritten essays that result are truly reflective of their capabilities as thinkers, writers, and ultimately successful college students.

All students, regardless of socioeconomic status, struggle with this process. It is not natural, and it is often the first time they have had to advocate for themselves in writing. For many students, rather than accept the necessity of the drafting process and their parents desire for the "perfect essay," they often turn to tutors, parents, or older siblings.

These essays stand out--but for the wrong reasons. They not only reveal language unnatural to today's teenagers but also indicate a thought process, writing structure, and self-awareness that come only with adulthood. These essays put admissions officers on alert, as they can immediately identify ghostwritten essays.

So here is my plea to those working with teenagers on college application essays.

1. Their discomfort in writing college application essays is a natural part of the application process. They have rarely if ever been asked in or out of school to write first person narratives advocating for themselves. This process is initially awkward for many kids, especially since they live in an increasingly superficial world, where they share every surface moment with pictures, videos, or group chats. We need to help them understand the application process is a way to explore their deep unique passions, accomplishments, and goals. Learning how to write these essays is challenging, yet powerful.

2. Application essays are part of a larger process. The essays alone will not get an applicant admitted to colleges and/or scholarships. They are part of a larger process that requires applicants to present a full picture of who they are and what they offer a college. These essays should complement their applications. They should share and reflect stories about their unique qualities and experiences that will help colleges learn even more reasons why they belong on their campuses. Any non-applicant who writes or re-writes an applicant's essays needs to realize that the essays must match their applicants' grades, activities, recommendations, other application essays, and yes, test scores.

3. Colleges want authentic essays or personal statements. Several times a year I present with college admissions officers on college application essays. Time after time, they share their desire for student-written pieces. They often share ineffective pieces -- the majority are adult written. Colleges have worded their prompts to help guide students. Many post sample essays and tips on their websites to help students and families understand what they are seeking. What you see is a plea for applicants to write their own essays that share unique stories.

4. Rather than write or re-write essays, spend your time with helping to prepare resumes and brainstorming. Students need more help with realizing what they have accomplished and the different kinds of stories they have to share. Every applicants needs a resume as they never know when someone will ask for one. Often preparing these resumes leads to great essay topics. In addition, conversations about their leadership and impact help students identify their own power and potential.

5. Great essays are specific, not general. As kids write the essays, they need to realize most prompts ask for specific stories and examples and then reflect on them. Please ask kids to make sure their essays are so specific that only they could have written it. Students need to include specific examples and to focus on the major implications--specific, recent, and positive.

6. Great essays take time and drafting. We need to allow the kids to learn how drafting is essential to great writing. Each draft, which I now term layers, helps them increase the clarity of their story and its implications.

7. These essays are not formal analytic essays. College application essays are personal narratives, not the typical analytic papers they write in high school. They need to explore this process and learn that application essays use specific visual examples to reveal universal themes about the applicants. While they should have a beginning, middle, and end, they do not need formal introductions or conclusions. Rather they often can start in the middle, and then work their way to bigger picture, in a process, I term: Into, Through, and Beyond. Students need to learn this writing form as they will be asked to write this way in college, often in freshman writing classes.

8. Use essays as an opportunity to teach students how to advocate for themselves. Essays and personal statements need to show specific ways college applicants have made a difference already in their lives and in their communities. Applicants need to "humble brag" about themselves. Often these essays are the only written texts an applicant may present to a college. They need to learn to advocate for themselves, and what better way through these essays.

Ghostwriting application essays devalues the entire process. College application essays offer a great process for seniors, especially those who are very busy, to learn more about themselves, what they offer colleges, and ultimately what colleges offer them. Let them draft and re-draft. Let them layer in key qualities and reflections. Then watch as great authentic essays emerge.

The One Big Danger of Applying to College Early

2015-10-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

http://time.com/money/4037378/danger-college-early-decision/

It might make it easier to get in—but harder to pay the bill.

You know the adage about the early bird and the worm. It holds true in college admissions too.

Applying early can boost your odds of acceptance by up to 30 percentage points, roughly the same as scoring 100 points higher on the SAT, according to research by Harvard professor Christopher Avery, co-author of The Early Admissions Game.

But while an early application might make it easier to get into college, it could also make it harder to pay the bill.

There are two main ways to apply early: early decision (ED) and early action (EA). With ED, which is considered a binding contract if you’re accepted, you apply to just one college, usually in November. You’ll get a yes or no sometime in December, a couple of weeks before the regular admissions deadlines.

EA, which isn’t binding, lets you apply to multiple schools. You’ll hear back in January or February but don’t have to commit until later in the spring.

EA won’t have much impact on your acceptance or aid prospects, but it might make sense if you can’t bear the tension of waiting to hear. So the more important question is whether it makes sense to apply ED. Here are some guidelines.

Apply early if …

• You’re pretty sure you’ll qualify for ample financial aid. One problem with early decision is that your aid offer could come months after your acceptance letter. If the aid package doesn’t meet your needs, you can be released from the contract. But that could leave you scrambling to apply to other colleges.

For an estimate, use the net price calculator on the college’s website. Bear in mind that your actual aid could swing a couple of thousand dollars in either direction, says Kathy Ruby, director of financial aid at College Coach, an advising service.

If you know how much you can afford to pay, your dream school’s net price is in that range, and you aren’t concerned that another one might make you a better offer, applying early decision can make sense, says Robert Massa, vice president of enrollment and institutional planning at Drew Universityin New Jersey.

Some colleges will provide more definitive estimates for students considering ED, says Chris Hooker-Harris, dean of admissions and financial aid at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. So it’s worth asking. About half of potential ED applicants at Muhlenberg decide to go through with it after getting this “early read” on their aid, Hooker-Harris adds.

• Money is no object. If you can afford your dream school regardless of aid, go for it. Early decision might improve your chances, although probably not by 30 percentage points except at certain elite private colleges. At most schools, the difference is closer to 10 percentage points. To get an idea of the potential advantage, ask about the school’s early acceptance rate and how much of its freshman class is filled that way.

But wait if…

• You’d be happy at any of several schools. Applying ED means you’ll lose the opportunity to compare aid offers from different schools or to use an offer from one as a bargaining chip with the others. “If the primary driver of the decision is ‘Who is going to make me the best deal?’, then early decision may not be the best route,” Hooker-Harris says.

• You want more merit money. If you’re hoping for merit aid, you could be better off waiting. Every school hands out its non-need based aid differently. Some colleges hold back a portion of their merit aid until spring to use as an extra incentive for students who are still undecided.

College Admissions: 5 Majors You Need to Choose Before You Apply

2015-10-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

http://www.golocalprov.com/lifestyle/college-admissions-5-majors-you-need-to-choose-before-you-apply

Cristiana Quinn, GoLocalProv College Admissions Expert

If you want to major in the Health Sciences, you would be smart to make that decision before you begin applying to college. Photo: Emory University

While many students will apply to colleges with a major designation of “undecided”, there are pitfalls to doing that. In larger universities, it can be VERY difficult to switch from the colleges of arts and sciences into the business or engineering college. Other times, a major like nursing or physical therapy may be filled and not have openings after freshman year. Occasionally, students will not even think when they are applying to a college that the school does not offer some of the majors that they may want to pursue. For instance, very few colleges have architecture at the undergraduate level. Thinking all of this through is critical before you finalize your college selections and fill out your apps. Here are some of the majors that usually require you to apply as a freshman or you will miss out.

Engineering

Engineering is usually found at full service universities as opposed to liberal arts colleges, so targeting the right schools is important. Most universities have a specific college of engineering to which you must apply as a freshman. Many will allow students to enter as an undecided engineering major and then determine an exact discipline after taking the introduction to engineering class. So, while you usually don’t need to know if you want to specialize in civil, mechanical, electrical, biomedical or industrial when you apply, you do need to know that you want to be an engineer. Math SAT scores and GPA are very important in the engineering admissions process. Most programs are also looking for students with calculus and strong biology, chemistry and physics grades. Some programs also require SAT II Subject Tests.

Architecture

Undergraduate architecture programs are few and far between. So, if you think you may want to pursue architecture, your college list needs to be focused on those colleges. Many of the programs require a studio art portfolio and prefer high school calculus and high SAT Math scores. Sitting for the AIA exam does require a Master’s degree today, and some universities offer a 5-year streamlined program.

Health Sciences

If you have aspirations to become a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech pathologist or pharmacist, you usually need to decide that before you apply to college. While you may be able to pursue these professions later at a Master’s level, most undergraduate programs require that you apply as a freshman. It is usually very hard to transfer into one of these majors once you have matriculated at a large university. Most programs in these areas are highly selective and look for strong math scores on your SAT. Some require a math and/or science SAT II Subject Test. Keep in mind, that many of these professions (with the exception of nursing) require a Master’s degree, and some universities offer combined programs which can shorten the total number of years you spend in school. Check with each college before you apply to understand the duration of the program, the degree you will receive and your total costs.

BFA Programs

If you want to major in studio art, music, theatre or dance, there are two options, a BA or BFA program. A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is considered a terminal degree whereas a Bachelor of Arts degree is often followed by an MFA (Master of Fine Arts). BFA programs are very rigorous and are typically more selective than BA programs. They usually require an audition or portfolio review for acceptance. Students audition or submit portfolios during the admissions process, and the exact requirements vary from college to college. This means that students need to hone their craft for several years before applying, create an artistic resume of their accomplishments, and spend the summer after 11th grade putting together audition or portfolio materials.

Business

Larger universities usually have a college of business. While some allow students to transfer in after freshman year, others have very few spots open sophomore or junior year. That means that your best chance to pursue a business degree is by acceptance to that major as a freshman. Keep in mind that many business colleges within a large university are more selective than the college of liberal arts. Admission committees are usually looking for a higher GPA, high school calculus and strong SAT scores.

Cristiana Quinn, M.Ed. is the founder of College Admission Advisors, LLC which provides strategic, college counseling and athletic recruiting services for students.www.collegeadvisorsonline.com.

3 Ways U.S. Colleges Evaluate Applications

2015-09-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

"It was confusing."

That's how Rinat, a third-year gender studies student from Almaty, Kazakhstan, described his experience preparing applications to U.S. universities. "Every university had different applications, different deadlines, different things I had to send to them."

Rinat's impression of the U.S. university application process is not unique to international students. U.S. high schools students can also be confused by the differing requirements and processes involved in a college application. The complexity of applications, and the processes that universities use in reviewing applications, is as varied as the nearly 4,000 institutions of higher education in the U.S.

[See the 2016 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings.]

It can be helpful to understand why applications can differ so much from one university to the next. Typically, a university admissions office tries to answer a key set of questions when reviewing an application.

First, they want to know that there's evidence that the student has the academic readiness to undertake studies at that school. Second, they want to know that the student's educational and growth goals are aligned with the missions, goals and ethos of the particular university. Finally, the university tries to determine if the student's presence on campus will provide a positive contribution to the university's learning environment and community.

These factors are extremely specific to each institution, and universities in the U.S. have developed several admissions models to help answer them.

There are three common models of admissions employed by U.S. universities: open admissions, threshold admissions and holistic admissions.

Open Admissions Model

The open admissions model does not require standardized test scores such as the SAT or ACT. Nor does this model ask applicants to submit personal statements or recommendation letters. This admissions model is most commonly used by community colleges in the U.S.

"Open admission exists for those institutions with a mission to provide equal access to a variety of educational backgrounds," says Dawn Wood, director of international programs at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa.

Woods points out that colleges with open admissions models provide higher education opportunities to students who may require additional academic preparation, students who are seeking vocational or technical education, or students interested in reducing the costs of a four-year degree through transfer partnerships with bachelor's-degree-granting universities.

[Watch out for five college admissions mistakes international students make.]

Threshold Admissions Model

Universities which use threshold admissions models are those who publish very clear standards of admission. They tend to provide a minimum required GPA, SAT or ACT score for admission, but will likely not request a personal statement, essay or letters of recommendation. This admissions model is used by many U.S. colleges and universities, and is common among public institutions.

Chuck May, director of admissions at the University of Missouri, believes that transparency in the admissions process is the hallmark of threshold admissions. "We are a selective university, and in making our admission criteria very clear, we're able to be open with students as to their likelihood of admission, from the start of our communication with them."

May says this model allows his admissions team to begin to explore whether or not the university is a good fit for a prospective student at a much earlier point in the college search process, "because we are most likely to receive applications from students who have already researched our academic standards for admission, and know where they fit in relation to those measures."

[Take this quiz and see if you're ready to apply to U.S. universities.]

Holistic Admissions Model

Selectivity is also a tenet of the holistic admissions model. Where this process is employed, a university is more likely to provide the average academic profile of the previous year's admitted class. This gives some insight into what GPA and standardized test scores may be competitive for admission.

Additionally, holistic admissions will often require that applicants provide an essay and recommendations from teachers, counselors or other community leaders.

Seth Walker, associate director of international admissions at Indiana University—Bloomington, feels that the holistic admissions approach allows the school to consider the broader experiences of an applicant. "When we read an application, we hope to get a sense of what's brought that student to where they are today."

Walker says this model allows their admissions team to compose a class that is both strong in academic ability and diverse in experience.

Students can get a sense for which model of admissions will be used to review their application by visiting the admissions website of a university. It's important to know that many universities will employ some combination of these models.

Rinat offers this wisdom he received from his uncle, who suggested he think of his college applications like going on a date: "You ask questions, they ask questions, in the end you both have to decide if it's a match."

Rinat says that was the best advice he received.

9 Ways to Find the Best College for You

2015-09-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

From: http://time.com/money/4025938/find-the-best-college-for-you/

Build your own personalized college rankings using these important criteria.

Lots of magazines and websites publish lists of the “best colleges.” But those general purpose rankings may not put enough emphasis on the factors that are most important for you.

Finding a college that will be the best value for you is a little like choosing the best-value car. It won’t necessarily be the cheapest. It’s the one that will take you where you want to go in life at the most reasonable price.

MONEY’s annual Best Colleges list ranks schools based on 21 factors in three key categories: educational quality, affordability, and the career success of graduates. You can use many of these same criteria to identify the schools that will provide the best value for your particular student and financial situation. Here’s how and where to find the information you need.

QUALITY OF EDUCATION

1. Check on graduation rates. Research shows that graduation rates are the single best indicator of a college’s quality; students who don’t receive adequate support or don’t think they’re getting their money’s worth are more likely to transfer or drop out. Colleges are required to report their six-year graduation rates. Look for a rate of no less than the median for similar schools: 48% at public colleges and 58% at private ones.

HOW TO FIND IT: Collegeresults.org allows you to compare 4-, 5-, and 6- year graduation rates for your target college and similar schools. If your target college isn’t in the top half of the Collegeresults.org comparison, consider some schools that are above it.

2. Compare class sizes. Research shows that personal attention from professors pays off: Students who are mentored by a professor are 50% more likely to thrive in their careers, according to Gallup research. One good indicator is the percentage of each school’s classes with 20 or fewer students.

HOW TO FIND IT: Look up your colleges on Collegedata.com. Click on the academics tab.

3. Look beyond test scores. The average ACT or SAT scores of incoming freshmen will help you see how you’d stack up academically compared with other students. But even more important than those numbers is how well the college helps its students exceed expectations, given their academic and economic backgrounds.

HOW TO FIND IT: The MONEY College Planner gives each school a “Value Added” grade. A’s or B’s generally indicate better graduation rates and alumni earnings than other schools with similar students.

AFFORDABILITY

4. Maximize your merit aid odds. More than 90% of colleges give some merit aid. Your chances of getting a substantial amount will be best at private colleges where your grades and test scores put you in the top 25% of applicants.

HOW TO FIND IT: Collegedata.com provides information on the number and size of different kinds of aid awards. The premium search filters on theMoney College Planner allow you to build a list of schools that meet your criteria and are generous with need-based and/or merit-based aid.

5. Know your real cost. Don’t pay too much attention to the college’s official cost of attendance. Nearly 60% of students pay less than that. What you want to focus on is net price.

HOW TO FIND IT: Use the net price calculator on each college’s web site for an estimate of what you’ll have to pay based on your family’s income and resources. If you want to compare several colleges’ net prices at once try CollegeAbacus.org.

6. Calculate the full cost of a degree. Look beyond freshman year to calculate what each college would cost you for the four, or possibly more, years it could take to earn a degree. The best colleges graduate students in 4.5 years or less.

HOW TO FIND IT: The MONEY College Planner shows the average net price of a degree at 700+ colleges, based on factors including how long it takes students to graduate.

STUDENT OUTCOMES

7. Expect strong job help. An active, well-staffed career services office can help students write résumés, practice for job interviews, and connect with influential alumni. Colleges should have at least one career services staffer per 1,000 students, and follow industry standard best practices.

HOW TO FIND IT: Call or visit the career services office to ask.

8. Investigate internships. The best colleges help students get internships, which not only provide real-world experience but also increase the odds of landing a good job after graduation. Students who have had paid internships, research shows, are 70% more likely to get a job offer than those who had no internships or who had only unpaid internships.

HOW TO FIND IT: Call or visit the career services office to ask what it does to help place students. Also ask how many internships—especially in your major—are paid.

9. Check up on alumni earnings. The salaries of recent grads are a good indicator of how much employers value a degree from a particular school.

HOW TO FIND IT: Payscale.com lists average early and mid-career earnings for the graduates of most large colleges. Generally, your choice of college has greater impact on early career earnings than on mid-career salary, so that’s the more important number.

2015-09-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

When it comes to applying for college, it seems like everyone who has ever attended college thinks that they're experts on everything pertaining to the matter. They want to give you advice on everything from where you should apply to how you can write the perfect essay.

While we appreciate our parents’ glowing testimonies about our value as potential students, we can’t really write an entire essay with them. Depending on the number of colleges that you are applying to, it is very likely that at least one of your choices will use the Common App. Here are five tips that will make for a spectacular essay and a stress-free collegiette.

1. Pick a prompt that speaks to you

If you have to write an essay, you might as well pick the one that you will feel the least inclined to fall asleep while writing. Of the five prompts, there is sure to be one that you can make your own. Here are the 2015 Common App essay prompts:

Some students have a background, identity, interest or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Out of the entire application, the essay portion is the best place to showcase your uniqueness and let your personality speak for itself. It is important that the prompt that you choose to write on is the best reflection of who you are as opposed to who you think you should be to impress the college. “Students should approach the Common App essay with the knowledge that it’s the one chance that the students are going to have to get themselves noticed and differentiate themselves from their competition,” says Dan Lipford, an Educational Consultant at Score at the Top Learning Centers & Schools. What might seem ordinary or unimpressive to you might just be the thing that sets you apart from the thousands of other applicants and give you a beneficial edge.

2. Take risks with your opening

From writing stories in elementary school to writing essays in high school, we have always been taught that the first few lines are the most important in grabbing the attention of the reader. When writing your Common App essay, the importance of having a riveting introduction is magnified. Judi Robinovitz, the founder and co-owner of Score at the Top Educational Centers & Schools, emphasizes the importance of starting off strong. “Zing ‘em with the opening," she says. "Forget the topic sentence – put it further down in the essay. Avoid at all cost a bland opening statement.” An exciting opening not only ensures that the reader will be interested, but that they will read your essay in its entirety.

“The typical admissions officer who's going to tasked with reading a given student's app is also going to be tasked with reading hundreds, if not thousands, of other students' apps, and if that officer's attention isn't caught almost immediately with the essay's opening, he or she's not going to read it with any enthusiasm and might not finish reading it at all,” says Lipford. Be the essay that the admissions officer looks forward to reading until the end.

3. Show don’t tell

The “resume” portion of the Common App already showcases your academic achievements, community service and extracurricular activities. Therefore, try to give the reader new material. As important as your AP classes and 10 years of ballet are, it is also important to hone in on what you are passionate about.

In the essay portion, you are free to be as creative as you would like to be in answering the prompt and relaying your story. “Sensory details make an essay come to life and bring out your keen eye and other personality traits," says Robinovitz. Descriptive, colorful essays are memorable and it is better to “share through vivid imagery and show, rather than tell, a story," according to Andrea Nadler, the Associate Dean of Admission at Hofstra University. Be imaginative in the way that you communicate your life outside of the classroom.

4. Focus on the how, not the what

As previously noted by Judi Robinovitz, it is perfectly fine to put a topic sentence further down in an essay if it means making the opening sentence powerful. However that means that following your opening, you must elaborate and explain the significance of what you have written about. In the Common App essay, it is more beneficial to focus on the how instead of the what. “Don’t concentrate as much on whathappened, but rather on the impact on your thinking, outlook, feelings, spirit, etc.,” says Robinovitz. The details will reveal your enthusiasm and passion for the topic even if you don’t come right out and state it.

5. Answer in full

This one seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes we get so wrapped up in talking about one part of the prompt that we completely forget that there is a second part to it. While a couple of the prompts just ask you to describe a specific accomplishment or personal event, most of them have multiple questions involved that you need to answer. “Be sure to answer the whole question,” says Nadler, in order to avoid an incomplete response. Once you have finished your essay, it doesn’t hurt to re-read the prompt and your essay to make sure that you have answered it in full. Don’t detract from a stellar essay just because a piece of the prompt wasn’t accounted for.

Countdown to College: Application options can be confusing

2015-09-13T16:30:00.000-07:00

From: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/education/article34100148.html

It would be easy to assume that with the increase in the popularity of online applications (www.commonapp.org and www.universalcollegeapp.com) that a variety of decisions would be streamlined for college applicants. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case.

Colleges appreciate the benefits of the common applications, but many of them want to differentiate themselves. That’s where the variety of application deadlines play a critical role. The college application process is full of acronyms, but none seem more confusing than those associated with application deadlines: EA (Early Action), ED (Early Decision), ED 1 (Early Decision, first deadline), ED 2 (Early Decision, second deadline), SCEA (Single Choice Early Action), REA (Restricted Early Action) and RA (Rolling Admissions).

Early Action is a great gift for the well-prepared student. Students must submit their complete application by an earlier deadline, typically Oct. 15-Nov. 15.

The big perk here is that students receive notification of their acceptance, rejection or deferral much earlier, in many cases by Dec. 15. The best benefit is that EA is not binding, so students may apply to multiple schools EA and can even apply to one school Early Decision (ED), which is binding. Students who apply EA and are accepted are not required to notify the college of their decision until May 1.

Early Decision (ED), Early Decision 1 (ED 1) and Early Decision 2 (ED 2):

ED is straight-forward. You apply early – typically there’s a Nov. 1 deadline – and you’re notified early, typically by Dec. 24. If you’re accepted, it’s binding – you must go. Since it is binding, you are only allowed to apply to one college ED. But now a small number of colleges have added an ED 2, with a January deadline.

ED 2 is frequently used by students who applied ED elsewhere and were either rejected or deferred. Colleges love students who apply ED. It allows them to have a better grasp of their numbers and how many students they’ll need to accept in regular decision. Many colleges have a surprising bump in their ED acceptance rates compared with regular decision.

There are trade-offs with Early Decision. Yes, the numbers can be very appealing, but families need to understand that the applicant pool for ED is typically stronger. ED applicants are frequently athletes, legacy students, development cases (where the family has donated a lot of money), etc.

Since the ED decision is binding, once students are accepted ED, they are asked to withdraw their applications from all the other schools where they applied. Applying ED eliminates any possibility for a family to compare financial aid offers or to even find out about need-based or merit-based aid at other schools.

Early decision is a big decision.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/education/article34100148.html#storylink=cpy

What makes a good college list?

2015-09-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

From: http://www.examiner.com/article/what-makes-a-good-college-list

The fall of the senior year is the best time to put the finishing touches on a solid college list. At this point, hopefully students have had the opportunity to visit a few colleges, talk to friends who have moved on to new places and had the important conversation with mom and dad about where they might spend the next few years. Now is the time when counselors will work with students via Naviance or provide other resources to help them track student lists and application progress. With many deadlines falling in December and January, counselors want to make sure students are narrowing down the list and submitting materials before the holiday break.

Seemingly every admissions season, colleges experience record application numbers. The Common Application and general hype around college admissions leads students to apply to ridiculous numbers of colleges. At the end of the process, students may end up with few options or with colleges that simply aren't financially possible for their family. With those considerations in mind, below are a few suggestions for helping your student create a well-rounded college list.

1) Number of Colleges. A solid and well-rounded college list should include between 7- 10 colleges in total. There should be 3-4 "safe" colleges, 2-3 "match" colleges, and 2-3 "reach" colleges. Every counselor has a different definition of what these categories mean, but the standard definitions are as follows:

Safe - The student is in the top 25% of admitted students to this college based on their academic profile.

Match - The student falls within the middle 50% of admitted students.

Reach - The student is in the bottom 25% of admitted students OR this is a highly selective university (fewer than 30% of applicants are admitted).

Ideally, students will feel comfortable and excited about all of the colleges on their final list and should not just include colleges at random. When application fees average $50 and students may have to pay to send test scores or additional documents, the cost of applying can add up.

2) Financial Feasibility. Counselors and parents should help students with this part of the college research and use it as a time to educate students about loans, budgeting and expectations. If students will be expected to take on loans and/or get a job to help finance their education, mom and dad should establish these guidelines. For families who require need-based financial aid, the college list should include colleges that meet a high percentage of this need through grants and scholarships, not just loans. For wealthy families that will not qualify, the college list should include colleges which award merit scholarships to top students. Students should check-in with their counselor to identify appropriate colleges. Families can also seek this information out on their own using sites like Big Future, College Navigator, Common Data Sets for each college and visiting the college's financial aid and scholarship websites.

3) Location. Students should always include at least one college in their home state or within a short drive, if possible. This provides options in case a family situation arises which requires the student to be close to home. Additionally, a local college option may end up being the most affordable if the student is able to live at home or live off-campus with a friend.

These are only a few of the many aspects students and parents should take into account when creating a college list. Cultural and social fit, majors offered, location, size and employment statistics are are few of the other factors that should come into play. These are a bit more difficult to research and pinpoint, of course. However, students do have the opportunity to visit colleges for admitted student events in the spring if they want to experience that college culture first hand before making the big decision.

Vocational Education might be the right course

2015-09-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

From: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/03/college-guide-vocational-education/

For most students, post-high school education means just one thing: a degree from a four-year college.

In the fall of 2014, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 68.4 percent of high school graduates from the preceding school year were enrolled in college, with two out of three of those attending four-year schools.

It’s what Tim Lopez, a counselor at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, sees in the majority of the students at his school. They’ve been on a college path, have worked to keep up their grades and are keeping their opportunities open for higher education.

“Most of them have it in their mind that they’re going to go to a university, and they try to pursue that,” said Lopez, who has been at the school for more than a decade. He estimates that 40 percent of Eastlake grads immediately go to four-year schools.

However, four-year schools aren’t the only educational option, and Lopez works with many students to select a different path.

Many students choose to go to two-year community colleges. Nearly half of all undergraduate students in the United States are enrolled in two-year schools, reports the American Association of Community Colleges.

Others choose trade schools to learn a specific job to prepare them to join the workforce. In 2010, after the recession played havoc with the job market, enrollment in mostly private trade schools jumped by nearly five times from the pre-recession era, reported the Government Accountability Office.

Students that go that route have found success. According to Business Insider, vocational schools are seeing job placement rates close to 100 percent since the recession began, with average starting salaries of more than $40,000. According to a New York Times story, 27 percent of vocational school graduates now earn as much or more as students who graduate with a four-year degree.

Vocational education has long been popular in Europe, but often has been thought of as a lower form of education in the U.S. — a bias that is proving harmful, said Mark Phillips, a professor at San Francisco State University, who wrote a commentary for the Washington Post in 2012 headlined, “Why we need vocational education.”

“Many of the skills most needed to compete in the global market of the 21st century are technical skills that fall into the technical-vocational area,” he wrote. He suggests the United States focus on raising vocational education to a higher level to boost jobs, production and our economy.

Helping students

For those high school graduates who decide not to join the military, enter their family’s business or go straight into the general workforce, Lopez helps point students in the right educational direction.

“Say they want to go into being a hairstylist or something that you wouldn’t think needs a college education, then those are the kids we might spend time with and say, these are the kinds of programs that are offered and these are where you can get the training,” he said.

He recalls one student telling him that he wanted to be an auto mechanic, so Lopez helped direct him toward a private trade school in Arizona that fit his needs. He directed another student, interested in becoming a hairstylist toward the cosmetology program at San Diego City College.

One thing Lopez believes is important is to expose students in high school to career surveys and career interviews with members of the community to help them determine their interests and goals. That can help students decide which type of school is best for them — two-year, four-year or specific trade school.

Community college: With skyrocketing costs of higher education — and no jobs guaranteed for those with four-year diplomas — attendance in the nation’s 1,132 two-year schools in 2012-13 climbed to more than 4 million (full-time) and 3 million (part-time), reports the American Association of Community Colleges.

Students are able to live at home and cut costs while getting their undergrad requirements out of the way, or focus on practical, job-oriented certification programs in such fields as nursing, cosmetology, computers and auto mechanics. Some schools, such as San Diego City College, offer apprenticeship programs in contracting, plumbing, heating and air conditioning and electrical work.

Community colleges also offer a transition period for students to continue their education while trying to decide what to study at a four-year school.

One caveat, however: with budget cuts, community colleges have been unable to offer the number of classes they once did, meaning some students haven’t been able to get the classes they want. Lopez says some former Eastlake students have told him that has delayed their progress toward transferring to a four-year school.

Trade school: The number of these schools has grown rapidly as more students have turned toward them as a way to find work in a specific field (such as cooking and computer programming or tech), so students need to do their homework when selecting one.

The U.S. Department of Education provides a database to check on the accreditation of schools at ope.ed.gov/accreditation. If schools are accredited, students can be eligible for a variety of scholarships and loans.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the most popular vocational programs (in order of participation) are: business, health, trade and industry and technology.

Why Colleges Want Ambitious and Dynamic Students

2015-09-10T11:15:00.002-07:00

from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeannie-borin/why-colleges-want-ambitio_b_8096356.html

The college admissions process can be overwhelming for many families considering the competitive nature of admissions as well as the many variables high school students must take into account: challenging curriculum, strong essays, excellent standardized test scores (in most cases) and remarkable recommendation letters to name a few. In addition to students presenting these factors, it is essential for students to distinguish themselves, stress their additional activities and present themselves as ambitious and dynamic students.

It is not the quantity of activities presented but the depth and continuity of a few activities demonstrating focus and sincere interests.

Colleges want to accept students they believe will become actively engaged on their campuses. Once students have the required grade point average and test scores, admission officers look for those items that will set a student apart and enrich their incoming classes. Colleges want ambitious and dynamic students who will explore and take part in many campus activities. Their goal is to create a well-balanced class with students who have exceptional talents.

Although not everyone is a leader, it is important for students to have activities that encourage them to take on responsibilities, create new clubs and bring innovative ideas to campus. High school students may start out as a member of a club and rise to be president by the time they are seniors, for example.

Students who are active on campus tend to enjoy their college experience more with few if any reasons for transferring to another college. Colleges want to establish strong retention rates. So, they like students who remain productively engaged in campus activities. Colleges consider involved students as eventual alumni who may be potential contributors to that college.

Students should know that if their high schools do not offer the types of activities that interest them, there are countless community resources that can be researched. Remember that although grades, scores, essays and recommendations count, it's also the student's participation in things that the transcript does not reflect that also matter in admission decisions. Activities do not need to be directly related to the high school. Colleges want to know what students like to do in their free time. It is okay to list hobbies in which students are involved whether building computers, photography, cooking, learning magic or anything that demonstrates learning, enthusiasm, initiative and continuity.

The purpose of the activity resume is to give college officers better insight on the student, as they do want to learn as much about them as possible.

Ways for Parents, Students to Revise College Application Essays Together

2015-06-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-admissions-playbook/2015/06/08/ways-for-parents-students-to-revise-college-application-essays-together

College application essays are intended to provide insight beyond the impersonal numbers of test scores and academic transcripts. Recommendation letters can provide a third-party perspective, but the essay is a student's best chance to speak directly to the gatekeepers of higher education.

A great essay can lead to a coveted acceptance letter, but a great essay involves careful planning and execution – including substantial editing. This revision process is one area where parents can be of help to their students. If this is your first time applying to colleges with a student, here are several editing tips to keep in mind.

1. Develop a timeline that includes editing days: A strong essay cannot be written and revised in a single day. It is essential that students begin their essays well ahead of schedule in order to allow ample time for revisions and reconsiderations.

Starting two to three months before the earliest application deadline is not unreasonable, nor is beginning the summer before senior year. Since college applications generally fall outside a high school student's class load, parents are key to ensuring that there is ultimately time for essay editing.

With a due date that is several months away, your student may be tempted to postpone work on his or her essay until the last possible moment. You can avoid this by setting realistic goals together,including a timeline for finishing an outline, a draft, a first round of revisions and a final essay. Students can check in with their parents to provide updates on a weekly or biweekly basis.

2.Flesh out the details: My mother loves telling the story of how, when I was three, she left me unattended for "just a minute." In that minute, I managed to not only find a spectacular mud puddle, but to lead my younger brother in a full-body art project that involved squeezing as much mud as possible through a nearby window screen.

When I was 17 and working on my college applications, I would have never considered using this story in an essay – it was just a way that my mother had a good laugh at my expense – or so teenage me thought.

Consider, though, the plight of the admissions officer who must read thousands of variations on, "I demonstrated leadership by becoming treasurer of the junior class council."

Imagine, amidst a sea of such essays, a personal statement that opens with an anecdote showing that this person is capable of self-reflection, and that he or she possesses a sense of humor, an early aptitude for leadership and a developed sense of self-expression.

The goal during revision is for parents to help ensure that college application essays move beyond the simple recitation of events. Once your student settles on a thesis, think of small stories that illustrate that argument. The "big" narrative – the tournament victories, the scholastic achievements and the test scores – will already be in the application.

It is the small moments that make for wonderful stories. These are the same moments that might not occur to a student looking toward adulthood, such as showing kindness to a stranger, offering to share a treasured toy or displaying an unexpected feat of willpower.

3. Focus on audience: College application essays are written by high school students, but they are read and evaluated by adults. Thus, the challenge is not just to write a meaningful essay, but also one that speaks to the intended audience.

A well-crafted essay that avoids slang and other forms of teen speak can demonstrate maturity and superior writing skills. One way parents can help with the revision process is to act as a filter. In other words, they can highlight expressions that perfectly suit the tone of a college application essay, or identify those sentences where different phrasing could make a far more effective point.

4. Always remember to strike a balance: Both too little and too much parental involvement can harm a student's final draft. A student's college application essay is his or her opportunity to speak directly to a school, so parental suggestions should be limited to more general observations.

For example, parents can point out places where the purpose of the essay is unclear, or underline paragraphs where the wording is awkward. Be sure to praise the sections that work, and discuss why they work. Do not restructure an entire introduction or conclusion.

Parents need to remember that college application essays are their child's chance to shine. By the end of the revision process, you should have learned something about your student. If you have, this is a great indicator that the complete stranger who will ultimately read this essay will learn something too.

How To Lose Your College Financial Aid

2015-06-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nataliesportelli/2015/06/08/how-to-lose-your-college-financial-aid/3/

When deciding which college to attend, students consider factors such as academics, prestige, location, and size. Even though these features are all important when making a final decision, for money-conscious families, a financial aid package is often the deciding factor.

Although seeing the right number on paper can be exciting for students and parents alike, there are almost always strings attached to the award. Financial aid can help students afford college, but it is not free money and families may find that keeping those dollars from freshman to senior year is more difficult than they anticipated.

Financial Aid Fails

In the frenzy of reading acceptances and financial aid letters, families may not consider the conditions under which the money is being offered. “The requirement for maintaining eligibility, so you can continue receiving a financial aid award, is something people don’t pay attention to,” says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Edvisors.com and author of Filing the FAFSA.“Families don’t usually look at the award letter in too much detail and often the letters are really confusing.”

Once they get to college, students on financial aid can’t slack off or they could be out thousands of tuition dollars. “The number one way students lose aid is their grades,” says Kantrowitz. To remain eligible for federal and college financial aid, students typically have to maintain at least a C average and be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which means that they are on track to receive their degree within a set time frame (3 years for an Associate’s degree and 6 years for a Bachelor’s degree).

Fall below a 2.0 GPA, and the aid can disappear. If students get their grades up, they may regain their aid, however this task may prove challenging. “It can be difficult to improve your grades when you’ve had some other reason to fail courses like illness, injury, and death of a relative,” says Kantrowitz.

Outside of the classroom, students must maintain a good record to keep their aid. “You cannot be convicted for sale or possession of illegal substances if you’re on federal aid because you can lose your eligibility.” Upon release, most eligibility limitations are removed, but if the charges were for a drug or sexual offense, access to aid could be limited.

When accepting a financial aid award, students and their parents may not consider the possibility of a worst case scenario and fail to look into the strings attached to their package. “Families may not pay attention to disclosures because they may not be in the financial aid packet, but they are always in the college course catalogue,” says Kantrowitz.

What’s Not In The Letter

Students and their families should be aware that the initial number they in their award letter is not guaranteed for all four years. Financial aid is awarded on a yearly basis so if circumstances change, financial aid will change. That means that aid can fluctuate based on what families report on the FAFSA. If parents make more money one year, they may see a decrease in their package. If they make less another, they may see more.

Financial need is determined by subtracting Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from Cost of Attendance (COA). But EFC is not actually a number. “It’s not a dollar amount, it’s an index of eligibility,” says Paul Wrubel, cofounder of TuitionCoach.com. “Colleges aren’t under a moral obligation to give you a specific amount of money.” That’s why, he says, financial aid offered at one college can be drastically different than at another, even though the FAFSA is identical. So, EFC can be very expensive speculation.

When first receiving notification of an award, families may not understand what kind of monetary support the school is actually offering. Colleges are free to adjust financial aid packages during matriculation, frontloading the grant money and then later reducing it and replacing it with loans. “When you accept an award and there is grant money involved, you should do whatever it takes get a letter saying that if a student progresses normally you should get that grant money every year,” says Wrubel. “If you don’t secure grant money then you’re just eligible for more student loans.” Students can be in danger of graduating with loans they didn’t know had if they do not clearly understand what kind of support the school is offering them.

Financial aid letters can also offer work study compensation as part of the package. However, that money has to be earned. Students get paid for hours logged during their work study and that is considered part of their EFC. If they do not work the set amount of time, they will not earn the total amount of work study compensation offered. Often, too, they may find these paychecks go towards personal expenses that arise, rather than their tuition bill.

When Financial Aid Doesn’t Work

Often, financial aid packages aren’t enough to cover all the costs of going to college. “Typically financial aid covers tuition and room and board, but sometimes miscellaneous expenses aren’t covered,” says Felicia Gopaul, a certified financial planner who started the College Funding Resource. “Things like transportation or a new computer are costs students and parents don’t necessary know about upfront.” These fees as well as extra charges for certain classes or printing are other add-ons that may arise.

Students should also be aware that they can amass interest on loans in their financial aid packages. If they don’t pay interest on their loans during school, it will go on their loan balance and they will have to pay the extra charges after graduation. “Most of the time students just ignore the interest on their loans because they can defer making payments on them while in school,” says Gopaul. “They don’t understand the impact it will have on their finances if they let interest accrue.”

On top of everything else, students may not be prepared for the personal and fiscal responsibility that comes with taking on loans associated with financial aid. “There is an inclination with some students to live beyond the student lifestyle because oftentimes they think of student loans as free money and sometimes take out more loans than they need,” says Gopaul. “They continue to live like mom and dad are supporting them and not necessarily understand that those are costs that they’re going to pay back.”

Although financial aid can support a student’s dream of attending college, it can also present a number of hurdles and make false promises of college’s true affordability. If they don’t do their research, students and their parents could be paying the price of their financial aid long after they receive a diploma.

How to Deal With Your Teen’s Anger

2015-06-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

https://www.teenlife.com/blogs/articles/how-to-deal-with-your-teens-anger

When your cherubic, smiling little person seems to transform into a rampaging angry ball of hormones overnight, it can be hard to handle. While it is common for teens to direct their rage towards the people they feel safest with (that’s you), it is often very difficult for parents to deal with.

Why Teens Get Angry With Parents

Teenagers are dealing with hormones and rapid mood changes, and it is usually mom and dad who bear the brunt of teenage angst and anger. Instinctively, teens know that parents are invariably going to take whatever is thrown at them, which provides them with the perfect battering ram to vent their hostility at the world. To make matters worse, most of us are pretty ill-equipped in knowing how to deal with strong emotions such as rage, and often feel powerless and useless.

There are many underlying causes for anger in teens, such as fear, frustration, sadness and embarrassment. Anger is often triggered by a sense of not being in control, which is a very common reaction for teens who are becoming increasingly mature and ready to face the world, yet are still tied by the constraints of parents.

How to Cope With an Angry Teen

The fundamental rule of dealing with an angry teen is to stay calm yourself. Easier said than done though, right? As the parent you need to be in command, and if you are not in control of your emotions, the situation can quickly spiral. You need to show your teen how to react under times of stress, and if you are furious, hostile, accusatory, or issuing verbal attacks, you are sending entirely the wrong message.

As with toddlers, pick your battles. If something isn’t life-threatening, don’t try to enforce it just for the sake of it. You will also quickly get a good idea of your teen’s anger triggers, and approach these subjects with caution-- and only when you are in the right frame of mind yourself.

If you feel that things are starting to become fraught, then you need to give your teen space; tell them you will leave the room for 30 minutes while they calm down and that you will return to discuss the matter later. Similarly, don’t force the issue when your teen is angry, as this will only magnify the intensity. Giving your teen- and yourself- a breather and the opportunity to calm down will help diffuse a tense situation.

It is also important to recognize the difference between anger and verbal aggression and violent behavior. If you are frightened of your teen, or they have lashed out and physically hurt you, then you will need to seek help. Intense anger and violence are often symptoms of other underlying issues and should be addressed with a medical professional.

Helping Your Teen Deal With Their Anger

Anger is a very scary emotion, for the people on the receiving end and especially for the teen experiencing it. Intense rage in teens is often debilitating, eliciting a sense of being powerless or out of control; it can also bring with it extreme guilt and feelings of self-disgust. Nobody wants to shout and scream at their parents and the wake of anger can leave them feeling confused and upset.

You should explain that anger is a normal emotion and that they shouldn’t feel guilty; however, it is not okay to rage at someone. If you allow it to persist unchallenged, kids will receive the subliminal message that it is acceptable to act in this way, which will only deepen the problem.

Therefore, make it crystal clear that although you empathize with their anger, and get why they are upset, repeated angry outbursts and threatening or aggressive behavior will never be tolerated. Although they often seem to rebel and fight against your rules at every turn, teens need strict boundaries more than ever, so ensure that you enforce consequences, such as loss of privileges, if it continues.

Always talk about their anger and explosive emotions when you are both calm, and try to explore if there is an underlying reason behind their outbursts. Look at positive ways in which teens can healthily relieve their anger, such as through sports, creative activities, or playing loud music; each child will be different, so whatever helps them de-stress is what you need to get them to focus on.

Remember that even enraged teens want their parents’ approval (although they’d never admit it in a million years). It’s not easy dealing with someone who is hostile at every turn, but the message you need to send loud and clear is that you love them, even when they are cross.

College Admissions: Advice to The Class of 2016 From The Class of 2015

2015-06-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

From: http://www.golocalprov.com/lifestyle/college-admissions-advice-to-the-class-of-2016-from-the-class-of-2015

Students receive a myriad of advice throughout the college admissions process from parents, counselors, teachers, coaches and other adults. However, the best advice (and most likely to be followed) often comes from their peers. So, I polled my seniors who are graduating this year and asked them “What one piece of advice would you give the Class of 2016 about the college admissions process?” Here are their answers:

Always go on separate info sessions and tours from your parents because they are way too opinionated. The search is about your preferences, not theirs.
Write your essays during the summer!!!
Don’t believe all the rumors you hear about admissions. Most of them are not true.
Pay close attention to each campus you visit and really see whether you could envision yourself there for four years.
Write great essays that talk about personal growth, situations you have learned from, philosophies, and challenges overcome. These core ideas can be modified to cover a multitude of extra essays on the Common App.
Get your applications in for all early action deadlines. Having at least once acceptance before Christmas really relieves stress.
Remember not to let up in school once you get into your first college. There's nothing more stressful than when you think there's a possibility of getting your acceptance taken away.
Don’t think of your college search as the end-all. College shouldn’t be what you have worked so hard for these past 4 years—consider college just a stepping stone to making a difference in the world. In the future, no one is going to care where you went to college, they’re going to care what you did during/after. College isn’t the goal, it’s a way of reaching your goal. For me, this realization gave me a lot of perspective.

Wise words of wisdom from the Class of 2015. Congratulations to all the graduating seniors!

Building a College List: A Free (cheap) Resource

2015-06-05T07:52:00.000-07:00

From: http://www.thecollegesolution.com/building-a-college-list-a-free-resource/

Creating a college list can be intimidating.

And it’s no wonder since there is a lot riding on drawing up a solid list of promising colleges and universities.

Getting it wrong can lead to students being miserable at their schools. It also is a reason why so many unhappy undergrads end up transferring to different institutions.

In extreme cases, creating a poor list can also lead to the same fate as an unlucky teenager in San Diego during the most recent admission season.

The teenager applied to some University of California campuses as his “safeties.” Right there that was a mistake. The UC campuses, including Berkeley, UCLA, and lesser known ones like those in Davis, Irvine and Santa Cruz should never be considered safety schools!

This teenager also applied to his “dream schools” that included a lot of prestigious brand-name institutions back East. He didn’t get into a single one.

He is now working with a college consultant to find schools – at this late date – where he could start in the fall. Believe it or not, there are many schools that are still accepting applications because these institutions did not meet their freshmen admission goals. You can find some of them at the college openings list on the website of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, but there are others that are still accepting applications, but they don’t want to be on a public list.

I am mentioning all this because I wanted to share a wonderful free (for a few days anyway) resource to help you as you pull together that all important college list.

Michelle Kretzschmar at DIY College Rankings (an excellent website packed with lots of helpful advice and resources) has created an ebook that can help entitled,Creating College Lists: Your Guide to Using College Websites to Pay Less for a Better Education.

Michelle released the ebook on Amazon today and it will be free to download through May 25. I’d urge you to check it out and also spend some time on her website.

Here is a description of the book that Michelle provided me:

This book does something that no other college search book does, it shows you how to use college websites to create a better college list. After reading the book you’ll know:

How to start a list of colleges to research when you don’t have any idea of where to go
How to expand your list of colleges to research when you do have some idea of where to go
How to quickly find out what is distinctive about a college
What are the critical elements of a college website that you MUST pay attention to and why
Where to find a college’s Net Price Calculator and what to look out for
What kind of tools are available for you to follow colleges

This book is for anyone who wants to start researching colleges but just doesn’t know how to start.