If Proposition 30, a tax increase initiative on the November ballot, doesn’t pass, CSU students and their families could be faced with an additional 5% tuition increase mid-school year, on top of the 5% increase that was instituted for before the Fall 2012 school year started. Similarly, UC students and their families are facing a…
Huh? A School Profile? What’s that Got to Do with My College Application?
The school profile comes through the counseling office and is sent as part of the counselor’s recommendation to private universities, as part of a senior’s college application. Often, its included alongside the Secondary School Report, as part of the Common Application. Why does this matter?
MAAAAIL CALL: ‘Tis the Season for College Brochures
This time of year glossy, thick papered brochures in big 8.5″ x 11″ envelopes, with personalized letters from colleges in far off places–like North Dakota and Ohio–as well as more known places, like Los Angeles or Seattle, begin arriving by the mailbox full to high school seniors all over the country; not to overlook the…
What?!? Colleges Possibly Going Bankrupt?
The changes to higher education and its price in California are partially in response to the recent state funding cuts. Students (and their families) are being asked to shoulder more of the costs of their education–in the form of increased tuition and fees, parking costs, per campus student activity fees etc. At the same time,…
Making the Most of Back to School Nights
Making the most of Back to School Night is a tricky proposition–especially for middle and high school parents, who may only spend 10-15 minutes in each of their student’s 6 classrooms–not much time after the teacher completes her/his presentation and 20 other parents are asking questions. Plus, Back to School Night is usually 2-3 weeks…
Guest Post: Budgeting for the College Years
By: Lisa Dalton, California parent of a senior at the University of Oregon, and sophomore at Washington State University _________________________ With two kids in college, both at out of state universities, friends and neighbors ask all the time, “How do you do it?” The answer is planning, financial education, and sometimes hard choices.
How Common is the Common Application Essay?
In this podcast, Art Baird and Jill Yoshikawa, our company’s educational experts, generously share their 10-years of experience to help students write competitive college admissions essays within the context of the Common Application. They define an effective outline for drafting this complex autobiography. For more helpful information, please also read: Storytelling Season is Around the…
College: Path to Adulthood?
“We treat our kids like adults when they’re children, and we infantilize them when they’re 18 years old.” –Jean Twenge (The Atlantic, July/August 2011) We routinely hear parents share concerns as their grown children are preparing to leave for college that laundry and food and budgeting–basics of managing life–won’t be done, nor learned. (Rarely, do…
Math May Not Be as Solid As You Think
Math problems may have one answer–yet not only one solution.
Student Debt = Future Income Spent Today
Know the terms (i.e. repayment, interest rates) and possible consequences of taking student loans for college–essentially bringing future income into the present. (FYI: colleges are not obligated to disclose the terms of the loan BEFORE accepting them as part of a student aid package. Students MUST ASK. Also, students are not forced to accept student…
Reverse Study Abroad: International Students in the U.S.
Before choosing a college in the U.S. understand not only the educational and academic experience, understand the social environment of the university and its location. Understanding how the local community will support and incorporate international diversity can help students transition and focus on their academic pursuits. U.S. students consider the same issues when choosing colleges…
ACT & SAT Test Prep is Not Like Studying for a Regular Test
Preparing for the ACT or SAT is two fold: content review and building test taking skills. The ACT and SAT are unlike other tests students regularly take for high school classes. For example, rarely does a math or science teacher give a multiple choice exam, so students need to be familiar with solving math problems…
The Journey of our Youth
I recently watched the movie, White Squall, directed by Ridley Scott and stars Jeff Bridges as the captain. The movie is based on the real events of the people involved in the year-long school-at-sea program on the brigantine, Albatross. The program is set up to provide students with sailing lessons, alongside college preparatory courses. Besides…
Working With Financial Aid
Financial aid from the university doesn’t work like mom & dad’s checkbook. Although mom & dad may share their concerns, generally they’ll continue sending money when kids ask or need. However, financial aid offices may not be so lenient.
ALERT: Common App Change for Counselor Recommendation
The Common Application is allowing counselors to opt out of submitting a personal recommendation, as part of the Secondary School Report (i.e. the Counselor Recommendation) for Fall 2013 applications. Why is this change significant?