College students aren’t just gaining an education and future career training, they’re moving to a new community. Parents often express concerns to Creative Marbles that their student is paying more attention to “atmosphere” or “how s/he feels on campus”–not “what do I want to study.” These differences in perspective can create conflict, and also are…
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.
Why More Effort Alone May Not Improve Grades
As students head into the final weeks of the school year, last minute activity to “pull up” a grade is happening in every school. Asking teachers more specific questions, then, “What can I do to improve my grade?”, will help families and students get information that’s useful. Creative Marbles suggests the following tips:
CA College Freshmen Moving Out of CA: A Shift or Temporary Reaction?
Since 2000, 90% more California resident high school grads are choosing to enroll in out of state colleges–both public and private. While speculation from budget uncertainties in California to affordability of out-of-state tuition is circulating as reasons for the trend, Creative Marbles asks, “Are families and students simply approaching college as a consumer purchase, and…
The $1 Trillion Inheritance
The Student Debt total reached $1 Trillion today. What are the costs for future generations and its prosperity? Since student debt is future income brought forward, Creative Marbles suggests thinking carefully about career and major choices to know if a student would be able to afford the monthly loan payments. Also, students need to consider…
Graduated, Yet Still Not Grown Up?
Parents want what’s best for their children. Yet, what is the cost of “the best” for both parent and child? A recent Ameriprise Financial study found the following amongst Baby Boomer Parents (born between 1946-1964) 55% allowed their adult children to move home rent free 71% paid college tuition Yet, 34% say that helping children…
California’s Budget Shortfalls: Consider the Immediate and Long Term Effects
Although California’s budget is challenging CSU officials to “live within it’s means” in the short term, forgoing expenses today can affect the long term quality of education and how the CSU educates students in the future. Delaying purchases on library materials today can affect the resources available to future students, and coupled with phasing out…
Dropping wages = shrinking prosperity?
According the the Economic Policy Institute, from 2002-2012: For male workers: With a college degree: hourly wages dropped 11% to $21.68 With a high school diploma: hourly wages dropped 10% to 11.68 For female workers: With a college degree: hourly wages dropped 7.6% to $18.80 With a high school diploma: hourly wages dropped 9.2% to…
California’s Budget Shortfalls: Opportunity for Improvement?
The reported $3 Billion shortfall in tax revenues for California may mean: Increases to tuition and fees at community colleges, CSU and UC campuses–expanding the overall cost of a college degree in California Continued cuts to services, like counseling and librarians, for K-12 schools. Families may have to increase their volunteer hours to fund-raise for…
College Will Payoff in the Long Term, Right?
Graph Source: Wall Street Journal 4/27/2012
College Degree’s Changing Value
As an update to a recent post, several recent studies show a growing number of children who earned less education than their parents, reversing the trend since 1876. Does this current trend mean a decrease in the living standard of Americans overall, since currently people with bachelor’s degrees earn more over their lifetime, than those…
Lower Student Loan Interest Today = Future National Debt Costs?
In an earlier post, we mentioned the continued political debate about maintaining the current student loan interest rates at 3.4%, instead of the increase to 6.8%, if Congress doesn’t come to consensus before July 1, 2012. Mark Kantrowitz of FinAid and the Wall Street Journal debate whether the short term gain of low student interest…
House Votes to Keep Student Loan Interest Rates Low for 2012-13: A Good Move?
The Wall Street Journal reported that the House today passed a resolution to keep the current interest rate on student Stafford loans at 3.4% for the 2012-13 school year. The Senate is scheduled to vote on a similar bill on May 8th. Without Congressional consensus, student loan interest rates will increase to 6.8% for the…
Fall 2012 UC Admissions More Competitive for Freshmen
The University of California released their admissions numbers for Fall 2012 Freshmen last week. The uncertainty in the state budget and record number of applications or Fall 2012 Freshmen admissions created additional competition and subjectivity in the admissions process. UC Davis Chancellor, Linda Katehi, recently stated: UC Davis refused [Fall 2012] admissions to 1500 or…
Passion + Effort = Success
There is no single action that vaults us into success–only a series of decisions, that may seem unrelated at the time, and continuous effort that define any achievement. In a recent presentation at UC San Diego, Conan O’Brien suggests from his experience: My advice is to find out what your passion is and go wherever…
More on Financial Aid & College Affordability
Here’s a few tips when choosing colleges for application and enrollment, and simultaneously determining how your family will afford the costs: Calculate all 4 or 5 years of costs when determining the affordability of college, not just the first year. College costs during a student’s senior year in college are likely to be at least…