Category: Education/College

Who Wants Some Money?

Ann Nebolon Leave a comment

Dear Teen and Parent,

For college, of course! Anytime I ask a group of teens if they need money for college, all hands go up. That need may vary but it’s obvious that most teens will need financial assistance whether it is loans, grants or scholarships. A loan will have to be paid back, usually 6 months after college graduation. Grants and scholarships are not paid back, they are both free money! But you have to apply and qualify. I like to keep it simple since there are many ways to find money. If you hear about an organization that will find you money for college but it costs money…don’t do it. They don’t have a secret stash of great scholarships or inside scoop on getting a loan. All the info you need is available to you, you just have to look. If you start with the following three simple steps it will certainly get you going.

1) FAFSA: Everybody needs to do a FAFSA. It’s the Free Application for Federal and State Aid. Without this, you cannot access state and federal loans, scholarships and grants. You may think you have enough money for college, but what if you need a loan? It’s better to do the application and be prepared for any need you may have. The cost of college can vary greatly. The loans through FAFSA usually have a much better interest rate and this is where you can get the subsidized loans if qualified. That means interest is not accruing as you go to school. So when you start your FAFSA (Fall of senior year of high school) be sure to read everything and every step. It’s not a difficult application but it helps to be accurate! It’s available October 1 and due by March 1. www.fafsa.ed.gov

2) Private Scholarships: Do a national scholarship search. Use an established website or program. Your high school may use a certain website or program so it’s best to check there first. There are quite a few databases for private scholarships, but I like fastweb.com. It’s one of the largest databases and you can use a filter to find the scholarships that best match you. You may get a list of hundreds so try to give as much information as possible for the best match. Go through the list and find the ones you feel are the best match for you. If they require an essay, write one! You might be able to use the same or a similar essay for multiple scholarships. And many teens will skip the ones requiring essays so you just might have a better chance!

3) Other Scholarships: By “other” scholarships I mean that your school might sponsor some local scholarships and you will want to check those out. At my school, we keep a list of the local scholarships that many of our kids apply to and get! Another “other” is checking with the colleges you are applying to. Many colleges will sponsor their own scholarships too, with specific deadlines. You can find this information by visiting the college’s financial aid website. Do that for each college you have applied to. Many private scholarship deadlines run throughout the school year. Most are available to high school seniors, but there are a few out there for other grades.

It takes a bit of research and work to find money, but think of it as a part-time job. What if you put ten hours into applying for financial aid and you end up getting a thousand dollars????!!! I think that’s pretty good pay! And you may even get more. The people who try and apply usually are the ones who get some money. Funny how that works. So make a commitment to try. Remember that financial aid can vary depending on your family income and even your grade point average. Some financial aid is need-based and some is academic. Some are both! It certainly won’t hurt to try and you definitely won’t get any assistance if you don’t apply. Be sure to check deadlines since these can also vary greatly. Good luck and happy money hunting!

Nothing Wrong With a Little Structure

Ann Nebolon Leave a comment

Painted Desert DawnDear Teen and Parent,

I get so many parents asking me for ideas on what to do to get their teen to get homework or studying done. My first response is…do they have structured time at home set aside to complete school work? What I mean is that when you come home from school, you take a short break, 30 to 60 minutes, then sit down and get to work for 30-60 minutes at a time. This can vary depending on your ability to stay focused. Then take another break, then get back to work. You create 30-60 minute time blocks where you are committed to doing your school work, whether it is regular homework, a project, or studying for a test. You need to figure it around your other commitments at home, like chores and dinner, etc. If you, the teen, set this up for yourself you have a higher chance of it working. Now you need to have a place set aside for you to do your work. It can be a desk in your room, in the family room, or any where away from other distractions. During your structured homework time you absolutely cannot have your phone anywhere near you and certainly not turned on. It is way too much of a distraction. In your break time you can check your phone. If you need to use a computer/internet to do your homework the commitment is not to start communicating with friends. If you need to ask someone something and need to text them, make sure it is always about school. Then get off. Most teens need at least an hour of homework time, so start there. If you find you need more, add some more time in. If the time you need varies from day to day, that’s OK too. Just take your time, don’t rush through it. If you find you have a little extra time left maybe you could be preparing for an upcoming test or getting ahead on a project. The key is commitment. Then when you find you are sticking to the structured plan and getting your work done be super proud of yourself!!! Try it. Maybe you can prove to your parents that you’ve got it handled. Then they just might stop bugging you about getting your homework done! Sounds like it’s worth a try!

What Do You Really Want to Be When You Grow Up?

Ann Nebolon Leave a comment

Rain Puddles
Dear Teen,
So I’ve been thinking. Is a 4 year college degree what YOU need to do your career? Oh, you don’t know what you want to do?? Let’s start there. Maybe if you knew what you wanted to do for a self-supporting career first then you could find out what it will take to get there. There’s an idea! So many more people are going in to college with no idea of what they want to do. Or maybe they know what they want to do and it doesn’t take a 4 year degree. But they go anyways. Their parents insist! If everybody goes to college who will fill those jobs that require technical skill training? Who will fill the jobs like plumbers, electricians, medical office support, etc. I think it could be the people with a college degree but no focus and no job. They just might get over-educated. Now I agree there is value in education for the sake of learning stuff. Absolutely. But when college costs are up do you really want to spend your money on something that might not lead to a self-supporting career? I’m not suggesting this applies to everyone, but it is certainly something to consider. Maybe think first about what you might want to do and then figure out what it will take to get there. You might be surprised to find out you really only need a 2 year degree, technical training, or a certificate program. There are so many options out there. And so many middle sector jobs that will need to be filled and may not require a 4 year degree. There are some good career exploration tools online. Start there to broaden your horizons. You may find some really cool and interesting careers out there that you never thought of! I know there are! Take into consideration what you are interested in and think about how you see your work day. Are you in an office? Working with people, animals, children? Providing a service or creating something? Do you like to be by yourself or work on a team? Are you good at fixing things? Making things? Helping people? The list could go on and on and on…….Find out who you are, what makes you happy and hone in on what you might like to do with your workday. Then figure out what it will take to get there. It’s not that hard. And it’s a whole lot easier than going through 4 years of college with no direction and ending up with a possibly large student debt and a job that does not match your education. Personally, I’d rather know what I’m spending my educational funds on with a goal in mind. So find a goal, figure out how to get there and go for it!

Are You Stressing Out Your Teen About College?

Ann Nebolon Leave a comment

Desert WallDear Parent,
I cannot tell you how many times I have talked with teens who say they are so stressed about the college process. Some of this stress is natural and expected since the life they have known up to this point is going to take a drastic turn. It’s all been so planned out for them…first grade, second grade….ninth grade…twelfth grade…and then what?! They have to start making some critical decisions. And they certainly do not need any added pressure from you. They know it’s hard to get into college and it’s hard to decide where they want to go. So maybe instead of saying things like ” You have to go to a UC (University of California)”, or ” You know, your cousin went to MIT,” or ” Your Dad and I both went to Ivy League schools and we think you should too.” You get the idea. Well, what if the kinds of colleges you want them to go to are not a good fit for them? Think about having conversations around what they want to do with their life and what kind of education it will take to get there. Also consider the type of student they are. Many teens would fit better at a less academically competitive environment and want somewhere that would create less pressure to excel. And there’s nothing wring with that. You want them to thrive, right? You want them to feel successful? Then help set them up for success. Please don’t ever compare them to anyone else…not a friend, not a relative, no one. They simply cannot be compared. Please don’t force them to go somewhere that is not a good fit just so you can tell your friends that they are going to the best college in the universe. Please try to be proud of all of their accomplishments and help them find that best fit. Things to consider: how far from home, cost, size, majors, community environment, housing, other programs the college may offer, does it FEEL right? If they have no idea what they might want to study, then help them find a college that offers a lot, especially in the areas they are most interested. Remember, try not to judge, never compare, support with an open mind and talk about what they want to do with their life. The best part will be helping them get there.

Do You Really Need to Take AP, IB or Honors Level Courses?

Ann Nebolon Leave a comment

Dear Teen,

You can get onto a four year college without ever having taken an advanced level course of any kind. I see it all the time. It’s about meeting the college entrance requirements and challenging yourself to the best of your ability. If you do not take any advanced level courses maybe then think about taking an extra year of your world language, or another science or math course. Get involved with journalism, speech and debate or drama. You can explore your extracurricular opportunities and take that a step farther. You can play your sport all four years of high school, you can volunteer in the community for 100 hours. You can find an internship to explore a career area of interest. It’s about showing that you are challenging yourself and succeeding. It’s about showing commitment and leadership if possible. It’s also about taking advantage of what your school offers because colleges will compare you with what is available to you. It’s about trying things that will build on who you are so that when you go to college, you are ready. Then be sure to never compare yourself to anyone else. You are all apples and oranges and cannot possibly have a fair comparison. So focus on doing the best you can and build on who you are. At the end of the day if you know you did your best and maintained a well-balanced life then you did great! Don’t let anyone intimidate you into to doing more than you can handle. And don’t ever believe you cannot go to college if you didn’t take advanced courses because yes you can!

Four Years of College May Not Be For Everyone

Ann Nebolon Leave a comment

Dear Teen,

There seems to be this crazy push, at least in my community, for all teens to get into college. While this can be a great idea it just may not be for everyone. I like the idea of figuring out what you want to do as a job/career and then doing what it takes to prepare for that job. I know lots of teens have no idea what they want to do but they might have a pretty good idea of what they like, what they are interested in and what they are good at. That’s a great starting point to figuring out a career area of interest. Lots of teens just don’t really like school and the thought of college is overwhelming. Especially if they have no idea what they want to study, or why. I recently saw a video put together by our local community college that clearly showed the trend in the relationship between education and job earning potential. It was also very clear that the trend is showing that there are more and more jobs that don’t even require a four year degree! But they do require some specific training, often a 1 or 2 year training program. The great things about these programs are that the classes are more specific to what you need to know to do the job. While a four year college education is a an awesome opportunity to learn many different things, it might not be for you. So I suggest exploring what you might really enjoy doing for a career and then finding out what it will take to get there. You  might be surprised! And there are tons of career exploration tools available online and at most high schools. Planning ahead may help send you in a direction you enjoy pursuing and help you become a self-supporting member of society.

Start Planning…Yesterday

Ann Nebolon Leave a comment

Dear Parent,

I’ve been recently reminded how important it is to start having a college conversation super early. I don’t mean preparing for college so you can get in, but more about how are you going to pay for it. This conversation cannot start early enough. And once your child has a general understanding about money and finances you can include them in the conversation. Planning means talking about what you feel your family will be able to afford, even without knowing the cost of college yet. Have you been piling money into a college account? If so, you may be in a better place to manage the cost of a college education. If not, it doesn’t mean you cannot afford college. It just means you may have to work a little harder and research a little more to meet the cost and make the right college decision. You may want to research a few different kinds of colleges, instate, out of state and private to get an idea of the cost. You can also run through an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculator to personalize your research even more. There are several good websites you can use to do this calculation. Make this part of your research. Don’t be afraid to find out the real numbers you will be facing. If you know now, you can plan now. This is way better than a big surprise once your teen starts getting acceptance letters! If your teen is just about out the door, don’t worry. There are many ways to finance a college education. There are also many choices when it comes to the right college which should include how much it will cost. So talk now, plan now and don’t be afraid of the future! Have your teen apply to colleges that not only offer a range of difficulty to get into, but range in cost. Then when the acceptance letters and financial aid letters come, you will have some great choices. And a college education will be a reality without a huge financial strain on the student or family.

How to Get Into the Best College in the Universe!!

Ann Nebolon Leave a comment

Dear Parent,

Some of you may be hoping I am going to lay out a plan or formula for success, but that’s not what I will be talking about. For some of you, and you know who you are, it seems like the quest for the right college has become the quest to get your teen  into the best college in the universe! But really, what is the best college? You can read all the reports and rankings but if your child is not ready or doesn’t want that kind of pressure maybe it’s time to ease off. Is this quest more about you and being able to tell your friends and family that your teen got into the best college in the universe? No one needs to know you are reading this so be honest with yourself. Our teens today have enough pressure just trying to get the best grades they can, take challenging courses, join clubs, do extracurricular activities and volunteer with all that extra time they have! Oh yeah, they are also trying to figure out who they are and what they might want to do with their lives, choose a college major, find a career, etc. They do not need the pressure of getting into the best college in the universe. You need to be supporting them in finding a college that is the right fit for them, so they can be set up for success, not failure. I think there are many college environments that get overlooked because they are not at the top of the ranking lists. When in reality many of these colleges offer awesome college educations and preparation for real life. Talk to your teen about what they want, how they feel about the pressure of getting into college and how you can help them in their quest. Once they know they don’t have to get into the best college in the universe if they don’t want to, the pressure will ease, and they just might find a college that fits them best of all.

I’m So Stressed Out!

Ann Nebolon Leave a comment

Dear Teens and Parents,

I feel there has been an increase in teens with anxiety and panic attacks. I started thinking about why this is happening. Why would there be an increase? I came to two main reasons I see as contributors; the pressure to get into a “good college” and overuse of technology.  I hear people say it is getting harder and harder to get into college and I see parents and adults putting pressure on teens to be and do everything they can to be the best college candidate possible. Because it is so hard to get into college!!! OK, that stresses me out and I’ve already been to college. Part of the reason I believe the pressure has increased is because of this kind of message. College isn’t really harder to get into because college has gotten harder to do, it’s because there are more people going to college now and there are not more colleges. This makes getting in more competitive and forces the college entrance requirement averages to go up. So teens and parents researching colleges see that it takes a higher GPA and test scores to get into a college than in past years. Then they think you better do more if you want to go to a good college. Maybe you better do everything! High GPA, high test scores, community service, sports, clubs, etc. As the pressure grows, the stress increases and anxiety may set in. Teens need to focus on doing the best they can. If you know that you have done the best you can and gave all of your activities, obligations, homework your best effort then GOOD JOB! Be proud of yourself and keep doing it! Consistency will pay off. Also, you don’t have to do everything. Find the things that are most important to you, that expand on your interests and then enjoy the experience. If you find your stress increasing, re-prioritize. What do you really need to focus on and what can you let go of? It is so important to maintain a healthy balanced life which includes managing your day. Know when you have reached your limit and re-assess. Everyone has a limit in how much they can handle. So give yourself a break and make sure you are doing what works for you. There is a college for everyone! (See previous blog Who Cares What Colleges Want!)

Now, the other reason I feel is a contributor to the increase in stress and anxiety is that there is too much attachment to technology, social media, texting and smart phones in general. If all day long you are checking your phone to see what’s happening and checking the constant texts and messages then you are constantly being distracted from doing what you need to be doing: like paying attention in class and homework. Everyone needs a little down time and the constant barrage is getting in the way. Try not texting or using your phone in any way for 1 week and see if you don’t feel more relaxed! If you are suffering from stress and anxiety…try being tech free for 1 week and see if it makes a difference. Then re-assess if it’s worth the stress it has caused you. You have complete control over letting technology affect you in a negative way. Isn’t nice to know you have complete control over something?? (See previous blog Please Put Down Your Phone!)

 

Who Cares What Colleges Want!

Ann Nebolon Leave a comment

Dear Teen (and parents),

Really, you should care more about what YOU want. Instead of thinking about doing things because you think that’s what colleges want to see, think about doing things that help you explore who you are and build on your interests. Now that’s a thought! I hear so many people say things like “What should I be doing for college?” or “What are colleges looking for?” While those are very good and appropriate questions, many people seem to think that means they need to do everything so they are a good candidate for college. When the reality is that if you explore things you are interested in and try new things to see what you are good at and what you like…you just might become a great college candidate! Of course you have to get good grades, take challenging courses, and do the best you can on the ACTs and/or SATs. But to add to that, it will be about letting colleges see who you are. They do that by looking at your activities, interests and experiences. So do things that you are interested knowing more about or things that are fun for you! Build on those interests. Seek out new experiences. Don’t be afraid to try something new and see if you like it. That’s how you get to know yourself. All of this will help you decide a direction for your future and that’s what colleges want to see. So having the most community service hours may not be the things that get you in…it may be that you can paint a fairly clear picture of who you are and that a college education is the next step in getting you where YOU want to go! So, yes we really do care about what colleges want…but we care MORE about you being YOU in the process.