tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283945652011-12-14T19:04:46.825-08:00This is a blog dedicated to providing information to parents who want to get their child into college. It will provide tips on scholarships, admissions, internships and a plethora of issues related to college life.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.comBlogger861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-90926762454129736352009-07-21T19:27:00.000-07:002009-07-25T12:41:37.911-07:00

President Obama is ramping up funding to community colleges. This is great for those people looking to start their education and keep costs down. I know community colleges get a bad rap from the other higher ed folks. But community colleges always get the low end of the stick when it comes to funding. With the additional funding, perhaps they can finally meet the needs of the population they

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-69702248858887805722009-01-17T13:25:00.000-08:002009-01-17T13:26:27.849-08:00

February is financial aid month. By the way the FAFSA form in now online!!!

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-45298176825150991582009-01-17T13:17:00.000-08:002009-01-17T13:22:18.922-08:00

“…We must make sure that people who have the grades, the desire and the will, but not the money, can still get the best education possible.” --President Barack Obama Now more than ever it is important that everyone receive an education. We have seen unprecedented job loss. Many of those losing jobs have an education. But what an education affords you is options. And many people that have lost

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-65020486235665529912008-06-04T07:48:00.000-07:002008-06-04T07:52:45.024-07:00

This is a very serious matter. Parents should take a look at what might happen to their students in the wake of the current credit crunch. And it is still growing. By this time next year, we will be talking about how our children's education has been hijacked.Banks Avoid Lending to Less Competitive CollegesBy Jonathan D. Glater, The New York Times 02 Jun 2008 04:34 AM ETSome of the nation’s

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-44884298535628614822008-04-17T15:15:00.000-07:002008-04-17T15:22:29.306-07:00

I've been watching the student loan issue for the past several weeks. It has gotten worse since I last blogged. Therefore, it is going to take a greater toll on students this fall than first expected. When this country is suffering from "brain paralysis", we can't afford to disenfranchise anyone willing and able to go to college. Here is the lastest article out on MSN.com regarding the issue:

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-76716706010788638342008-03-24T14:00:00.000-07:002008-03-24T14:22:06.268-07:00

Where I live, the deadline for financial aid is March 10. What people don't realize is that the deadline is really for state aid (grants, scholarships). However, the federal portion (Pell Grants) isn't due until July. Then why try to get people to finish their applications by March? Because the state aid can help supplement what you get from the federal aid if you qualify. Many students miss

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-58214638104040278692008-03-13T15:04:00.000-07:002008-03-13T15:23:00.353-07:00

Seems like the "credit panic" resulting from the recession has finally hit the student loan market. For months now I have advocated trying not to rely on student loans for financial aid. Many people graduate with huge amounts of debt. I realize there are some professionals -- like doctors -- that come out with a lot of debt because of the extended training that is needed. However, if you graduate

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-50431322512529804262007-12-03T08:30:00.000-08:002007-12-03T09:07:11.596-08:00

I was reading about a survey from Learn More Indiana. It found that of juniors in high school without family members who have college experience, 56 percent expect to attend a four-year college and just 31 percent think they can afford it. Some, the survey went on to say, feel as though college just isn't for them.Well, first of all there is money for college. No, the full scholarships are not as

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-29977560860443474722007-11-16T14:05:00.000-08:002007-11-16T14:33:59.408-08:00

I grew up in a heavy manufacturing community. Thirty years ago, high school students who didn't go to college were offered jobs in the steel mills -- and they made very good money. Many of them were able to raise families, were productive members of the community, and retired in good standing. However, the mills downsized and they did it dramatically. In our area, they went from 25,000 jobs to

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-46479044745634046412007-11-07T07:01:00.000-08:002007-12-03T09:08:42.522-08:00

I did a workshop last month for a group of parents about finding money for school. A very enthusiastic parent introduced me to her daughter who was going to the college where I work. The parent explained that her daughter was desperately seeking money for school. I told her about some options and told the daughter to look me up on campus.The other day, the daughter came up to me and asked if I

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-12272990683061941192007-10-18T09:56:00.000-07:002007-10-18T09:56:25.496-07:00

I have had a busy two weeks. I want to thank all the people who attended my workshop (brief as it was) on Saturday, October 13 at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, IN. It was the kick off of Smart Money Week in northwest Indiana. I had a spirited conversation with several parents and a couple of students about how to lower their costs for college.The one thing I wanted to emphasize was there

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-88288220091195860202007-10-07T09:07:00.000-07:002007-10-07T09:43:44.703-07:00

A detail that few parents or students consider when looking at a college is the school's graduation rate -- this can be especially important to minority children. I read information that only 54 percent of students who entered college in 1997 had a degree six years later. The results can be very dismal for minority students. The federal government reports that 57 percent of white students

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-5617952072210738692007-10-02T19:51:00.000-07:002007-10-02T20:30:46.068-07:00

Last week I went to a college fair. I wanted to see what colleges were saying about their schools and how they recruited students. They were giving out information in abundance -- catalogs, brochures, flyers, and forms.It was way too much information for the unprepared. But I did see more students with their parents, which is good. Although most of the parents were overwhelmed, too. That's

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-84239816917113908032007-09-25T10:53:00.000-07:002007-10-02T20:33:09.248-07:00

If the requests I am getting to do workshops is any measure, there is plenty of information circulating for parents about college prep and scholarships for students.I will be at a conference called the Money Smart Fair at the Indiana University Northwest college campus on October 13 at 10 a.m. in Gary, IN. The event is an annual program put on by several financial organizations in the state.

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-63984621686547975372007-09-13T07:32:00.000-07:002007-09-13T07:42:24.932-07:00

I got a hold of a REALLY good calendar. It is called the College Bound Family monthly planner. Inside the calendar are dates for everything. In fact, it has dates and suggestion on what to do to get your child ready for college. It's almost as good as me. It breaks down what you need to do for juniors, seniors, sophomores and freshmen.It is sold in bulk. However, if you are interested,

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-58032741733747291402007-08-23T10:56:00.000-07:002007-08-30T18:36:30.138-07:00

It's time to look for those scholarships that will help your child next year. I found a great site: http://www.scholarshipadvice.org/category/association-foundation-scholarships/. It's called "Scholarship Advice". It lists all types of scholarships by category. I think I will put it in my links list so that people can just go there and find the new and updated ones. It takes a lot of

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-68959400930100822832007-08-19T19:01:00.000-07:002007-08-19T19:29:36.036-07:00

I went to a back to school fair today. Most of the young people I spoke with wanted to be nurses or go into business. When I questioned them about what kind of nurse or what concentration in business, they looked at me with a blank stare or they hunched their shoulders. What I am finding is that students don't know the various levels that careers can provide -- if they even have a clue about

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-76051627997696236622007-08-13T17:58:00.000-07:002007-08-19T19:00:15.268-07:00

I am doing another version of my book. While I was going through it I thought it would be good to review some of the topics that I touched on for the book. My friend Debra was telling me how her son believes that because he has tuition taken care of through a scholarship that he has all his expenses covered for school. So, I thought I would remind everyone of the costs that are associated with

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-27745278641846363262007-08-01T07:37:00.000-07:002007-08-01T08:35:44.679-07:00

I thought I was done on May 5, when Number One Daughter walked through the "halls of ivy" to receive her degree. NOT!Now, we are preparing for graduate school. And while all the things are done for the school (remember we started early) it is now the living arrangements that are an issue. Of course, graduate students don't want to live on campus, so they have to have an apartment. It seems

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-57023821769316639792007-07-24T06:59:00.000-07:002007-07-24T09:08:24.259-07:00

For some students the hurdle to college isn't financial aid or gaining entry. The hurdle will be graduating with a degree within the two to four year time frame.According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 30 percent of all incoming college freshmen require some form of remediation -- meaning taking another class to help them become ready to take a standard college course. Sometimes

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-47467351704607311052007-07-12T14:17:00.000-07:002007-07-12T14:24:18.303-07:00

Got some information on a scholarship at U.S. Bank www.usbank.com/studentbanking. You can apply to be one of 30 high school seniors to receive a $1,000 U.S. Bank Internet Scholarship. Over the past 11 years, U.S. Bank has awarded more than $290,000 in scholarship funding for this program. Scholarship award recipients are selected through a random drawing process. You must be planning to attend an

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-91283919594502992752007-07-03T19:44:00.000-07:002007-07-06T12:15:21.027-07:00

You might be surprised to hear the answer. It is "no". But life long learning is necessary. There are some jobs and careers that don't require a two- or four-year degree. That is becoming less and less true, however. But there are still some jobs and careers that only require a certification or technical certificate to be able to advance to some levels. Of course a two- or four-year degree

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-40285072982416730312007-06-29T08:26:00.000-07:002007-07-06T11:55:46.235-07:00

You probably are asking "what is a millennial"? It is a term used by generational marketing experts to describe someone born between 1982 - 2000. And those of us that are parents of millennials are described as "helicopter" parents -- because we hover around them making sure things are ok. Thus, our children are "coddled". This report comes from an article in last summer's Northwestern University

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-40734859964279931332007-06-25T14:15:00.000-07:002007-06-25T14:28:30.339-07:00

I have been teaching a class online for the past five weeks. I have to say I am a little concerned about the level of reading and writing that these supposedly college students are putting out. Not only are their thoughts convoluted, but they don't know how to write in standard English.I was very surprised to learn that some students believe that writing for online courses (I guess because it is

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-86607088408347225392007-06-05T06:05:00.000-07:002007-06-25T14:30:03.875-07:00

A couple of months ago I alerted you to the fact that some universities had been taking kick-backs from student loan lenders. The kick-backs were in exchange for the schools promoting the lenders' programs instead of giving the students or their parents a choice of lenders. This "scam" was revealed by the attorney general from the state of New York. Although it first appeared in New York, it is

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-23838163779223843072007-05-23T08:49:00.000-07:002007-05-23T09:42:35.122-07:00

I am back from a vacation from blogging. It's been a few weeks since I last sent out a blog. During that time Number One Daughter graduated and was accepted in her master's program with TWO full years of scholarships! We are really fortunate and blessed.I know that some of you already have high school students ready to graduate next year. I keep hammering at you that you cannot delay in

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-40756494262342699192007-05-01T15:33:00.001-07:002007-05-01T15:50:27.716-07:00

Here are a few things that people have asked. I thought I would clean some house today:Parents of high school students are probably thinking that school is about to let out and things will slow down. This is not the time to think like that. It is time to get a jump start on college preparation. Get those applications, look at those catalogues, discuss college choices.If you haven't visited at

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-41196463688593307972007-04-18T11:58:00.000-07:002007-07-05T19:14:15.639-07:00

I would be totally remiss if I did not acknowledge the recent massacre on the campus of Virginia Tech.It is not something that parents want to think about as they send their children off to college. Sending them off is always a little unsettling anyway. You're concerned about their grades and if they will be able to hold their own academically. You're concerned about what type of people will they

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-16603189925233486772007-03-23T19:19:00.000-07:002007-04-02T12:37:04.369-07:00

Welcome back from spring break. I guess everyone has had their spring break by now. Acceptance letters should be coming in by now, too. I want to congratulate students and parents who have received them in the mail over the last several weeks.Number One daughter has decided to go to U of Cincinnati. They offered her money and were really interested in her coming. So, she made the decisions

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-25457479335373328482007-03-16T12:52:00.000-07:002007-03-16T12:57:06.719-07:00

I couldn't believe this when I read it. So I am posting the entire article for your review.New York AG alleges student loan corruptionCuomo: U.S. colleges are taking loan kickbacks, reaping other benefits(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17644168/)Associated PressALBANY, N.Y. - Colleges across the country are taking kickbacks from student loan companies and reaping other benefits while making it

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-90270064102351681572007-03-13T14:49:00.000-07:002007-03-16T13:00:35.581-07:00

Number One Daughter has been accepted by two of her college choices. She has received notice of money from one. One college has given her a deadline of the end of the month to make a decision on whether she will accept their offer.This week she is on spring break, as I assume some of your children are, too. Spring break is a good time to complete all those applications, if you haven't. If you

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-30613157625242395292007-03-06T14:21:00.000-08:002007-03-06T15:11:57.589-08:00

I was talking with a parent in Philly the other day about how her son seems stymied and depressed with the entire admissions process. I told her that it happens. Students get overwhelmed with the idea of going to college, then getting into the right college, then leaving home. I told her that this is a very defining moment for young adults. Well, just when I thought I was through with this

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-24891150247419587982007-02-27T08:47:00.001-08:002007-02-27T08:47:46.241-08:00

I have been reviewing my posts from last year to see if there are things that I need to re-emphasize. I came across the "certificates of completion" post. The certificate of completion is a relatively new option offered by school systems that stemmed from the No Child Left Behind intitiative.It basically is given to students who have not met the requirements for graduation for various reasons.

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-20342452886843095942007-02-23T08:59:00.000-08:002007-02-23T12:24:26.043-08:00

I completely overlooked the fact that this is the new year -- in a sense. I think it is time for a review:I have been negligent. I have totally forgotten to remind you that another way to save on tuition is to get your child to test out of subjects before they go to college through advanced placement tests. I even did this when I was in college in the last millennium. I tested out of six credit

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-58631694470252109862007-02-16T08:42:00.001-08:002007-02-16T08:42:30.627-08:00

The other night I received a call from a parent who wanted to find scholarships for her high school senior. She was just beginning the search. I told her it wasn't impossible, but she needed to do as much searching as possible. Most deadlines for fall scholarships are right now!I also talked with a parent in Pennsylvania whose child was accepted at a school. But when they sent the letter of

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-22924447239452134102007-02-12T12:48:00.000-08:002007-02-16T08:33:07.775-08:00

I get information from friends about programs they have run across. Here are a few:1. O" The Oprah Magazine is looking to hire fall interns in the Fashion and Style Departments. Candidates must be highly organized, detail-oriented and be able to juggle multiple tasks at once. Prior internship experience preferred, but not required. This opportunity is available for college students in need of

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-32000520073992762152007-02-09T12:58:00.001-08:002007-02-01T15:09:01.930-08:00

College Goal Sunday -- It's Super!The Super Bowl is over. Now, it's time for another big event. College Goal Sunday! Don't forget that this Sunday, financial aid specialists will be available all over the country to assist parents with their financial aid questions and forms. Even if you have not filed taxes, it would be worth your while to go if you have financial aid anxiety. Contact any

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-28089553970919278192007-02-01T15:07:00.000-08:002007-02-01T15:09:02.026-08:00

Someone sent me a nice listing of scholarships for African American students. It can be found at Networking at LittleAfrica.com. The scholarships are from professional groups such as the American Bar Foundation, The American Chemical Society, American Dental Hygienists’ Association and from other regional civic groups such as regional Urban Leagues. I hope you find some of them helpful.Score A

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-409404871074018172007-01-26T15:06:00.000-08:002007-01-26T15:22:42.995-08:00

I just finished an outline of how I saved $48,000 when I put my daughter through her undergrad program. I have had so many people ask me what I did. So, I thought I would write something down that is a quick and dirty reference. It's free.I was trying to put it on as a PDF file. I will have to ask my computer person how to do that. But I didn't want to wait until next week, so, if you send me an

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1169049055799517102007-01-23T07:49:00.000-08:002007-01-26T15:00:18.745-08:00

Keep an eye out for College Goal Sunday. It happens throughout the country in February and is designed to help parents fill out the FAFSA form. You can search on the web for "College Goal Sunday 2007". You will find a listing for each state.KnowHow2Go.orgLumina Foundation has joined with the American Council on Education and the Ad Council to launch a new campaign dedicated to raising awareness

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1168883362184460592007-01-15T08:51:00.000-08:002007-01-15T09:50:53.270-08:00

As you know, I am still going through the college fact finding process with Number One Daughter. We took a little ride to Cincinnati this last week to visit the U of Cincinnati. They have one of the better graduate programs in urban planning in the country. I really liked the school and its hands on approach. Plus, their graduates get jobs right out of school -- some before graduation. That

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1167776465657917242007-01-02T14:10:00.000-08:002007-01-02T14:21:05.670-08:00

Happy New Year! This is the time of year when the rubber hits the road, so to speak. It is the time of year when all those students interested in going to college should have most of their paperwork and applications in hand or ready to mail. And its the most exciting time of year, too. The federal financial aid forms are available! (I'm being facetious) Yes, the FAFSA form is available. I

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1165959580297746542006-12-27T19:18:00.000-08:002006-12-27T07:17:26.706-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful and peaceful Christmas!I reminded you last time that this is a good time for your student to begin the application process if he hasn't already. Number One daughter has been working on graduate school applications and took the GRE before she came home for the holidays. Just as I told her, one of her references forgot to send in a letter of recommendation to one

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1166473684222774442006-12-18T12:22:00.000-08:002006-12-18T12:28:04.243-08:00

The Society for College and University Planning publishes a report every year covering trends in the education environment. No surprise about the financial situation of students in college. We've talked about this in past blogs, but here it is in black and white:Students are graduating with debts that would astonish the previous generation.• Fewer entry-level positions with bachelor’s degrees

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1149621679002726512006-12-12T13:20:00.000-08:002006-12-12T13:09:57.686-08:00

The holidays are approaching and you know what that means! Your child will be out of school for at least two weeks! That should you give you plenty of time to do some work on finding scholarships and completing applications and essays. If you haven't already turned in your applications, this is the time to do it! Also make sure you are ready to fill out those federal financial aid forms.

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1164837117317075912006-12-05T15:00:00.000-08:002006-12-05T13:52:05.456-08:00

Taking SAT's more than once really does pay. My friend Valerie encouraged her son Andrew to take the SAT's twice. I told her that by taking them twice, he would probably increase his scores from the first time. Andrew didn't do badly on his first try, but he wanted to better. So, he took the test again earlier this fall. To his suprise, when he received his scores, he had increased by an

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1164656551225113872006-11-27T11:31:00.000-08:002006-11-27T11:42:31.236-08:00

As I was talking to my friend Valerie, whose son Andrew will be graduating high school this year, I mentioned to her to make sure she visits the campuses Andrew is interested in attending. She said she was going to make sure she visited during the open house dates. But I told her don't just wait for the open house dates, go whenever she could. I didn't do any open house dates. I simply chose a

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1163692303277620402006-11-16T07:43:00.000-08:002006-11-16T07:57:35.940-08:00

Have you seen the 2007 US News and World Report College rankings? They are available and you can either buy the magazine or go to their website. There is limited use on the website unless you subscribe. But you can find out which colleges have the majors and concentrations you or your child are interested in, information about the college, tuition and fees information, and other basics. For

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1162926875628619762006-11-07T10:24:00.000-08:002006-11-07T11:18:25.253-08:00

Remedial programs are designed to help students who may not be quite ready to enter into the regular college academic program. These courses are designed to help "shore up" the student's skills primarily in writing and math. What most people don't know going in is that these courses don't count toward the degree. They are simply offered to assist students get ready to take the more rigorous

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1162336795553200872006-10-31T15:17:00.000-08:002006-10-31T15:33:55.476-08:00

This is an appropriate Halloween Story!This comes from the Lumina Foundation for Education from a report from the College Board:College prices for in-state students at public, four-year institutions are up 35 percent from five years ago, according to the College Board's 2006 report on college pricing, Trends in College Pricing 2006. Although the rate of growth appears to have moderated in the

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1160429865091693812006-10-26T19:23:00.000-07:002006-10-26T07:30:48.560-07:00

What is a great present for someone who is having a baby? Or as a birthday or Christmas gift for a child that is considering college? Instead of buying those high priced shoes, MP3 players, purses or jewelry, why not give something that will at least retain its value. Give an education fund. The Cloverdell Education Savings Account (formerly called the Education IRA), allows contributions of

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1161182282983303762006-10-17T03:32:00.000-07:002006-10-31T15:23:46.690-08:00

I went to a great seminar on financial planning last night. One of the topics of course was how to we should save toward big expenditures -- like college. But one of the things that the financial planner said was to be up front with your children about how much money you have to put toward their education. She said she was told all her life that she was going to go to college. But when she was

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1160430187378815932006-10-09T15:37:00.000-07:002006-10-09T14:46:56.203-07:00

I don't know how I missed this during the summer but, the government has released additional funding for students in what is considered "critical areas". I know this will help some of my friends who are majoring in a foreign language. Get ready to apply for these for next year!The U.S. Department of Education says:"U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced the upcoming availability

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1159543554836043842006-09-29T08:20:00.000-07:002006-09-29T08:29:33.830-07:00

I was at a workshop last week with admissions and marketing people. We had a speaker to talk about the ways in which high school students communicate. And also ways in which they would like admissions people to communicate to them. The person giving the presentation was Brian Niles from a company called Target X. It was an interesting presentation. He said that most high school students

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1151948117863670462006-09-23T21:12:00.000-07:002006-09-23T09:18:24.126-07:00

You should be looking for scholarships this time of year. Reviewing whether you meet hte requirements or can meet them by the time the deadlines are due.When looking for financial aid and scholarships, there are several terms that parents need to understand. If a scholarship says that it is “need based” and you do not qualify for financial aid under the terms of FAFSA, then more than likely

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1158610756374301742006-09-18T13:30:00.000-07:002006-09-18T13:19:16.503-07:00

One of the reasons people choose higher education after high school is to open up their career choices. There's a lot of pressure to make a decision about a career before attending a college or university. Even after you get there, you might not be sure that the career track you have chosen is for you.Take time to investigate the types of careers that you can enter. For example, a person

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1157934471837881612006-09-12T15:22:00.000-07:002006-09-12T15:14:22.646-07:00

Last year my daughter called me and told he she had lost her wallet -- with every shred of identification she had inside of it. My mind immediately created a scenario where someone found it and had taken her identity, along with her bank cards, and was running joyously through some store creating huge bills and ruining her credit. We've all seen those funny commercials about identity theft.

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1157585887751958632006-09-07T08:09:00.000-07:002006-09-06T16:38:07.823-07:00

A couple of days back I mentioned that students should be looking at the ACT or SAT schedule to make sure that they get the tests done in time to re-test if they don't like their first score.However, some colleges don't use the SAT or ACT at all. Some colleges use what is called an assessment test. These aren't really "tests" at all. They help "place students into appropriate courses". This

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1157335957522794452006-09-03T18:56:00.000-07:002006-09-03T19:13:30.723-07:00

I hope that you all have a wonderful Labor Day! This is a perfect time to search the web and get organized in your scholarship search, college searches and admissions research.On Thursday, August 31, USA Today had an article on how state colleges are turning away citizens of their own state. They are doing this because in-state tuition is lower than out-of-state tuition. With the cutbacks in

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1156803527432094002006-08-28T15:15:00.000-07:002006-09-06T16:42:06.736-07:00

Here are some new scholarships. This and other scholarships are located on Blackstudents.com. Check them out! Also, you can sign up to get weekly updates from this site. It provides some good info.Community Service-Based Grant For Single Parent Women This grant is awarded to professional single parent women with outstanding student loan debt who contribute to their community through volunteer

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1156728535805566412006-08-27T18:20:00.000-07:002006-08-27T18:28:55.840-07:00

If you have noticed, my sidebar is missing. Well, not actually. It has moved all the way down. I have been trying to fix this problem. The subscriber bar is also down there. I have tried removing links to see what caused it. So far no luck. In the meantime I have eliminated some links and will add them back one by one. Stay tuned.I was talking with one of my parents and she said she didn't

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1148402964767244692006-08-24T08:00:00.000-07:002006-09-06T16:45:17.836-07:00

I just love the smell of books in the fall! Yes, everyone should be headed back to the ivory halls. Number One Daughter is packing to head back to campus and our high school juniors and seniors are preparing for new academic challenges. Let's get serious. It's time to take those tests! You know the ones...ACT or SAT!Practice and Review offered by the College BoardGet ready for the SAT with

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1148527881262223882006-08-16T14:00:00.000-07:002006-08-17T11:13:46.790-07:00

This was an interesting article just released today. The definition of an Ivy League school seems to be changing. This could be because there will be about 2.1 million more college students by the year 2010 (I learned that in a workshop the other day)and everyone wants the cream of the crop. But here's Newsweeks' list: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14325172/site/newsweek/ There may be some in your

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1149528138988547822006-08-11T10:18:00.000-07:002006-08-12T19:25:06.296-07:00

Most of the deadlines for scholarships for the fall have passed. I fell behind. So, even I can make mistakes. You have to always check those deadlines! We missed a very good one called the Harry Truman Scholarship. This was for students interested in government and public service.But on a good note, my daughter has come back from England! She made it back before all the craziness. She spent four

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1154208047587719062006-08-07T16:00:00.000-07:002006-08-07T16:05:38.310-07:00

I took a mini-vacation last week. Then, I realize this week that I had not posted the blog I wanted to send out last week. So, here it is:I have officially dubbed August as "Get Ready For College Month" and I have begun to promote this -- for both entering college students and high school students. We'll see what comes of it! Keep watching.High school parents and students, your goal this year

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1148914631457720872006-07-25T18:08:00.000-07:002006-07-29T14:38:45.323-07:00

School is about to start again! Can you believe how quickly the summer has gone? In just a few weeks high school students will be heading back to class. I hope parents of high school students -- especially those with juniors and seniors -- are ready to get their student "ready" for their transition into higher ed. I assume that everyone that reads this blog is trying either get their child or

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1153767635648910922006-07-24T09:42:00.000-07:002006-08-28T15:24:53.180-07:00

I found this link that helps determine if an online university is "up to snuff" so to speak.diplomamillpolice.asp">http://www.geteducated.com/services/diplomamillpolice.aspIt promotes itself as "A FREE accreditation verification service for those seeking online and distance learning college degrees."The site gives a well-organized listing of accredited online programs. I found it very helpful.

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1153616714898455552006-07-22T17:58:00.000-07:002006-07-22T18:07:24.693-07:00

I told you that I had asked my daughter what things a college student should take or know to do when they go to college. She gave me the following:Things to bringCopies of important documentsCopy of key to car to dorm / apartment (if legal) give to TRUSTED personPhoto AlbumsFavorite dvds/cds and stuffDigital cameraPhone cards/cell phoneThings to do once at school- Find people from your area in

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1153183083172901212006-07-17T17:25:00.000-07:002006-07-19T16:49:48.116-07:00

Many colleges and universities offer their students the option of taking classes online. They are the same classes that would be offered onsite, but are offered through the computer.We talked about online universities a couple of blogs back. What I am talking about now is "regular" colleges or universities offering some of their courses online. Some colleges offer entire programs online for the

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1149545917431656702006-07-14T20:15:00.000-07:002006-07-14T09:00:31.716-07:00

Here is a comment I got from one of our readers Valerie in PA:Q. I Am reading my back-log of your blogs. Although I had a fellowship to return to school, I did have some loans and I did not consolidate. No one ever really explained to me that Stafford was federally subsidized and that it would change. I saw the rate was 4.something and thought that was pretty good and was preparing for my

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1152665574820630582006-07-11T17:50:00.000-07:002006-08-28T15:28:00.663-07:00

There are a number of ways that you and your student can cut the cost of college. One way is for your student to take college courses while they are in high school. Many academically strong high school students take advantage of dual credit options which allow them to take college courses that fulfill high school graduation requirements and, at the same time, give them college credit. What this

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1152325999507200272006-07-07T19:21:00.000-07:002006-07-07T19:37:21.270-07:00

Number one daughter is off to England! She will be studying at Oxford, no less. Students have so many more opportunities to travel abroad than my generation. Schools expect that students will do some overseas travel before they graduate. Many more colleges are putting together trips that provide educational credit as well as a cultural experience. Look for opportunities for this type of study

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1151946368202119802006-07-03T10:03:00.000-07:002006-07-03T12:57:30.550-07:00

I have developed a page at http://www.geocities.com/klissell/CollegeLinks.html that lists scholarship links. I will update them as I get new links that I think are interesting. You get the updated links by clicking on the link in the sidebar. The links are "generic" in the sense that they provide general scholarships for students throughout the country.But don't forget to search out those local

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1151596399767429892006-06-29T08:45:00.000-07:002006-06-29T08:53:19.810-07:00

I have been corresponding with a young man who lives in my area and was searching for scholarships. He told me that he received several based on some tips I gave in my book. Just yesterday he really gave me some information about his background which I didn't know. He only recently came to this country from Puerto Rico. When he came, he didn't know English. I was taken back. He has now

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1151507330621284332006-06-28T04:33:00.000-07:002006-06-28T08:08:50.693-07:00

I have been looking at various online universities recently. One, because I was interested in getting another degree and two, because I wanted to see how these universities work. Flexibility and accessibility seem to be the lure for many people considering using online education. I, for one, would have to relocate to get my doctoral degree in my field. However, I could stay at home and work

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1149546674916802122006-06-22T18:30:00.000-07:002006-06-22T18:18:48.646-07:00

Several students from my area went to a small college in the South for their education. What happened while they were there was the school lost its accreditation. Other students I know have chosen schools that were not accredited from the beginning. Accreditation is the primary means by which colleges, universities, and programs assure quality to students and the public.You need to make sure

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1150305486514362172006-06-20T15:22:00.000-07:002006-06-29T09:13:21.520-07:00

My daughter and I traveled to the University of Illinois at Chicago this past weekend. She is interested in their graduate program in Urban Policy. I think she might go there. We spoke to the woman who is the assistant to the director of the program and she explained about assistantships, fellowships and all the other manner of financial assistance. Fortunately, these types of financial

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1148065608695885552006-06-18T19:48:00.000-07:002006-06-20T10:05:29.420-07:00

TIP OF THE WEEKHeard last week that student loan interest rates are going up! They are expected to go up to about 7%. That's the highest they have been in quite awhile. If you already have loans, the best thing to do is to consolidate to get the best interest rates. The deadline is June 30. And you don't want to wait! http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060618/

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1149543557458529932006-06-13T19:20:00.000-07:002006-06-13T19:26:23.753-07:00

I just heard on my local TV station that students are graduating from college with more debt. They stated that while tuition has been raised, the amount of grants and federal aid has not increased. Meaning more students are taking out loans. This is a potential disaster when combined with credit card debt.There was a report put out by Nellie Mae, a prominent lender of educational loans, about

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1149540885380524032006-06-09T18:47:00.000-07:002006-06-09T18:37:19.903-07:00

I asked my daughter what are some things that students need to know when they go to college -- from the student's perspective. She gave me an extensive list which I will share in subsequent messages, but the one thing that she said was to tell students NOT to spend their refund checks from financial aid.If a student receives federal or state financial aid, sometimes they receive refunds. The most

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1148395690075802192006-06-07T15:45:00.000-07:002006-06-09T18:22:09.353-07:00

Don't forget to send in your comments!I would encourage parents not to "trip" when it appears that your student is not moving as quickly as you would like when it comes to the admissions process. Well, don't think it is going to stop after they graduate. My daughter is now looking at graduate schools. Guess who was sitting there helping her find, decipher and try to decide her next career

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1149110287344224932006-06-03T10:25:00.000-07:002006-06-05T20:08:19.996-07:00

COMMENTS WANTED!I need your comments to make sure this blog will stay informative and relevant to your needs. I am here to answer your questions and serve as the high school parent's guru.SUMMER FUNOh boy! Have I got a hot read for you! No, it's not the latest steamy, romance novel or suspense thriller. It's a report by the National Association of College Admissions Counselors! The NACAC has

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1149027145512494102006-05-30T15:10:00.000-07:002006-05-30T15:27:37.143-07:00

I wanted to add more information about my last post. My friend Jon, who is going to go to college this fall (and has received some scholarships! Yeah!) said he knew people at his high school that have fallen into this unexpected trap -- not receiving enough credits to graduate. I had a talk with several admissions people at a local college who said there were parents trying to register their

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1148528685366660592006-05-27T14:52:00.000-07:002006-05-30T13:28:20.130-07:00

TIPWhen you are offered a scholarship from a college or university, ask what the scholarship will cover. Many scholarships only cover tuition. But there are other fees that still may need to be covered such as lab fees, activity fees, bus fees, and technology fees. Also, if your child goes to a residential college or university, the scholarship may not cover room and board. Civic and private

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1148246413131114632006-05-21T14:11:00.000-07:002006-05-22T14:37:09.960-07:00

Here's a good timeline that you can use to get your college planning underway. The timeline below comes from Sallie Mae’s College Answer site (http://www.collegeanswer.com/). This site is one of the destinations for getting a head start on preparing for college.September · Obtain applications from the school, your guidance counselor, or online.· Make copies to use for rough drafts/practice.·

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28394565.post-1148057863407152272006-05-19T09:23:00.000-07:002006-05-22T16:35:24.900-07:00

Welcome to College Guide For Parents. I started this blog for parents who have children about to enter college. When my daughter entered high school, I began to panic about getting her ready for college. My issue centered on getting the money for college. For some parents the issue is getting their child in the mindset to go to college. And for others it is getting them academically ready for

Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13709270806754634158noreply@blogger.com0