College Planning

When Students Move On…What’s a Parent To Do?

All across America, students are moving into their college dorms and saying goodbye to Mom and Dad. Though years have been spent preparing teens for this moment, not much thought has been given to helping parents acclimate to this new transition in their lives. So, what are parents to do when their child goes off to college and they feel the loss?

First, realize that this is normal. You have been caring for and protecting your child for 17 years or more and it’s only natural to feel a little lost and a bit sad.

The College List, Part II – 6 Research Tips to Help you Pinpoint the Best “Fit” Schools

Congratulations! If you are reading this, you probably already have a preliminary college list. So, what comes next? Research, research, more research…and a college visit.

Before you begin your research, construct a Word document, for the purposes of recording pertinent information about each school. The form should include the criteria that are most important to you. Headings might include:

The College List OR Where do I Want to Spend the Next 4 Years of My Life?

Compiling your first college list can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when there are over 3,000 post-secondary options. So, how do you figure out which colleges or universities are best for you? Before you can construct a viable college list, you have to know who you are and what you want from your college experience. Though figuring this out is not always easy, if you ask yourself some key questions and do your research, you will end up with some excellent college options.

Here are 5 questions to help you define your college list.

Helicopter Parents – How to Stop Hovering

We have all heard the term, “helicopter parent,” but few of us will admit to being one. Why? Simply, because we don’t want to believe that we hover over our children, swooping in to rescue them whenever we see trouble ahead. Instead, we justify our behavior by declaring, “Isn’t it a parent’s right to want the best for our children?” Of course it is, and we shouldn’t have to feel guilty about it. But sometimes, we need to step back and re-evaluate our parent-child relationship within a new framework. As our children grow, so must we. So, how can we be helpful during the teen years without taking over?

To Visit or Not to Visit – That is the Question

From time to time, parents tell me that they are planning to visit colleges only after their teen gets accepted. While I understand that it is costly, as well as time consuming, when it comes to making a decision about whether or not to apply, there is nothing more important than a college visit. Why? Well, there are several reasons. One is all colleges tend to look the same in their glossy promotional materials, but they often look different in person. Two, students often have to write an essay addressing why they want to attend a college or university, and that is much easier if you have visited. And three, talking to current college students gives you valuable insight into student satisfaction.

School’s Out for Summer!

In 1972, Alice Cooper’s classic song became an anthem for all school children looking forward to the lazy days of summer. We enjoyed the long, sunny days and made the most of them by staying outside from dawn till dusk. We rode our bikes everywhere, built forts from construction scraps and ran through the sprinkler to cool off. Those were the days when kids’ lives were a little more carefree.

Today, summers are more planned. 

Summer vacations and college visits

How do parents fit in college visits and summer vacation? Why not combine the two? There are many states that have a ton of colleges and universities, as well as interesting activities to entertain the family. On the Today Show this morning, Katherine Cohen of Ivy Wise mentioned just a few cities to check out: Boston, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles.

Visiting colleges is one of the most important steps in the college identification process. 

Rising Seniors: Now is the time to work on your essays!

What do you think slows down the application process more than anything? Yep, that’s right, the completion of the college essays. That is why summer is a good time to start writing! Begin the process by reading some essay tips from the New York Times article by Alan Gelb, author of “Conquering the College Admissions Essay in 10 Steps.”

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/tipsheetgelb/