I have been slowly reading Dickens’ “Great Expectations.” Inspired after a recent night’s reading, I went to the microphone to record my thoughts on the possible conundrum of creating expectations that are too great to meet and yet, too painful not to be met. I offer another approach to the turmoil of setting expectations, when…
Category: Education
College Rankings: What Are They Worth?
College rankings and lists are not lacking–Forbes, US News & World Report, Washington Monthly, Newsweek–just to name a few. And, for families already wondering about a kid’s chances of college acceptance, after 12 years of thinking and re-thinking every class, homework assignment and academic opportunity, not to mention the hours spent at sports practices, dance…
Prudent Fiscal Planning (Part 5): What I Am Worth
Now that we understand income, expense and net income–which we arrive at by subtracting expenses from income in any given period–we are now ready to look at the balance sheet, which few understand, but is essential when trying to get a truer understanding of one’s net worth. Everyone’s fiscal interactions with others, which happens everyday…
Fail to Succeed?
Steve Jobs on Failure: I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter into one…
The Separation Between Parent and School?
There was no required class called, “Parent Involvement” during my teacher credentialing and graduate program at Harvard. No where in my teacher certification for both Massachusetts and California was I required to prove I could work with parents or community. Yet, I entered the classroom, with my credential, at 24, a mere 8 years older…
The Cross Between Science & the Creative Arts
What says that science and creative arts are opposing intellectual pursuits? Watch the following for new ideas: From Harvard Medical School
To Cheat: Not A Simple Decision
To Cheat: to deprive of something valuable by the use; to practice fraud or trickery of deceit or fraud (Merriam-Webster.com) If deprive means to withhold, what is missed in the end by both the withholder and others? What possibilities could have been realized or ideas built? In a student’s mind, what is the value that comes…
Thinking Outside the Box to Pay for College
What are you willing to risk to pay for college? Would you seriously consider these alternative methods of paying for college? If it sounds too good to be true, definitely take a second (or a third) look. From the Wall Street Journal, 7/31/2012
Location, Location, Location: Keystone to College Selection
To tour or not to tour? What activities should be arranged when visiting colleges and new cities? These questions and more are answered by Art Baird & Julie Nguyen, Creative Marbles CEO & CFO respectively, in the following podcast, after their return from visiting Chicago area universities. For more information, listen to our previous podcast.
Who’s Responsible for College Bills?
Why do parents expect to pay the entire bill for college? Often, parents tell us that they want their kids to apply for scholarships and are frustrated, if that doesn’t happen. Yet, they’ll move forward with paying for college. Is it a parents’ responsibility to ensure the bills are paid for college, without at least…
Guest Post: Parent to Parent Advice about College Applications
Norman’s daughter will be starting her Freshman year at the University of Washington in Fall 2012. He offers the following perspective, having just completing the college application process: _________________________ Applying for college is an exciting time for every family. It represents all the hopes and dreams that your student has had since he or she…
Before Choosing Transfer Admissions…
The Community College Transfer option to a 4 Year College, while seeming to save money in the short term, can include other costs. Currently, community colleges in California are challenged to service their students, given the budget reductions from the state. At the same time demand is rising for space in California community colleges–300,000 students…
Eventually…May Be the Key Lesson to Learn
Learning is a combination of asking questions for clarification, quiet reflection to understand the meaning of the words spoken and action to test the lessons of what was heard. A possible re-examination may be needed to review the lessons and revise its application. Sometimes, this cycle repeats multiple times over many years. (Or as I…
UC Tuition and Fees: Up, Up and Away
Anyone involved in the University of California over the past thirty years knows one thing for sure: The tuition and fees for the UC has gone in one direction–UP.
Sidewalk Surprises
Look around every once in awhile. Other people’s good ideas can infuse your own.