“If I don’t get a high score on the SAT (or ACT), I’m never getting into college, then I’ll be a total failure, all these AP classes will have been for nothing and I’ll be homeless!” Many of the juniors and seniors (and their parents) we advise sense some variation of this stress–which is a…
Author: Jill Yoshikawa, Ed M, Partner of Creative Marbles Consultancy
Jill Yoshikawa, EdM, Harvard ’99, a seasoned, 25 year educator and consultant, is meticulous in helping clients navigate all aspects of the educational experience, no matter the level of complexity. She combines educational theory with experience to advise families, schools and educators. A UCSD and Harvard graduate, as well as a former high school teacher, Jill works tirelessly to help her clients succeed.
“College is too expensive” or Is It?
Multiple kids maturing to college age, shrinking retirement funds, loss of home equity, loss of personal wealth, plus annually rising college tuition and costs…no wonder middle class families are concerned about financial aid. When families assume all children will graduate from college, the question is, “What is the family’s collective (this includes all siblings, not…
“I Don’t Get It”: How Teens Ask for Help
Getting help isn’t as simple as asking the teacher, although usually the first suggestion parents make when a teenager doesn’t understand the assignment. Teenagers may not have been taught to identify the problem, to know what exactly the student is asking. Then, there’s the humbling of oneself to admit there’s a lack of knowledge (not…
What’s Planted in the “Garden of Your Mind”?
Mr. Rogers, an oldie but goodie, teaches us once again….
Winds of Change Blow in California’s Higher Education Systems
Look for changes to the California Community Colleges (CCC) and California State University (CSU) system as the chancellors of both organizations, Jack Scott & Charles B. Reed, respectfully, retire in 2012. Also, UC Berkeley’s Chancellor, Robert Birgeneau, will retire on Dec 31. Change may be what’s needed, as California again faces shrinking state funding and…
College Freshmen: Starting Over or New Adventure or Both?
Moving away from home and starting classes at a new school both uncharted territory for anyone, yet will occur simultaneously for college freshmen all across the country in the next few months. Whew. Talk about cause for sudden mood shifts. Here’s some advice, as the transition continues through the summer months:
Arrrgh! What Information about Colleges Should Be Paid My Attention?
The most recent U.S. Department of Education statistics about the states the Fall 2010 freshmen class comes from is telling for prospective applicants and their families, when seeing the data from different views.
Oh, No! Summer Reading!?!
Summer reading is a fact of life for honors and Advanced Placement students. Parents dread the looming clashes to complete summer reading. Students dread summer reading period. Yet, the assignments inevitably are finished–perhaps not the quality expected, but done. Here’s a few tips to reduce the stress:
Summer and the College Essay
Every summer, several parents of soon-to-be seniors contact Creative Marbles to ask about finishing college application essays before the next school year starts. In parents’ minds, the thinking goes, “Summer’s a totally unstructured time. Less distractions with school work and after-school activities. The college essay is essential to a competitive application, and I want my…
Alternatives to College: “The Road Not Taken” or Emerging Reality?
The good news: There are alternatives to attending college right after high school. The not so good news: pursing an alternative path, like a “gap year” community service project, is still “the road not taken” and requires the courage of standing out from one’s peers–both for students and their parents.
When Considering Student Loans…
A student loan, well any loan, is future income brought forward. While there are consequences to debt, the key is being educated to the realities of repayment in the long term (i.e. opportunity and financial costs) and being rigorously honest in the intermediate term about the value of the college education your debt is purchasing.…
What’s a College President Got to Do with Me?
Prospective students and their parents would be smart to investigate the view of the presidents at colleges they’re considering for application to know if they share values and the college will be able to help the student reach his/her individual goals, since college presidents’ views regarding the role of colleges varies depending on the type…
Home for the Summer
College students moving home for the summer can be an adjustment for everyone–parents, students, siblings. A little thinking and running conversations can help smooth the 3 month vacation.
What Successful College Students Do
No student starts college expecting to NOT graduate; yet the most recent statistics indicate the college completion rate is 55% within 6 years of enrolling full time in a 4 year college. So, what does make for success in college, including a timely (and actual) graduation?
Future Success + Financial Constraints = College?
More families, and younger, are asking Creative Marbles about financial aid and paying for college. Parents are facing difficult choices between supporting multiple kids through 4 years of higher education and saving for retirement, while confronting the challenge of encouraging their children to dream big, yet understanding the realities of financing that educational dream.