Should I Study Abroad?

While a lot of college students weigh the decision to study at a college in-state or out of state, there’s a third option that is rarely considered – Should I study overseas or abroad in a different country?

At a time when students around the world flock to the US to go to college, it may seem like an odd time to consider going to college in other countries, but for some students it makes sense.

Advantages

Going to college in another country can give students a certain edge in later life, particularly if they are selecting certain courses of study. If they’re interested in cultural studies, languages, journalism, or history, picking a college in another country can give the student opportunities to immerse themselves in a different culture that may provide a more rounded learning opportunity.

Similarly, studying overseas can be an excellent way to build a unique resume for future career opportunities. Amongst a stack of US-based college resumes, a student who can list a reputable international college may stand out.

Finally, an education abroad can be a happy medium for students who are eager to travel and may be weighing a decision between taking a year off to explore the world vs. going immediately into a college education.

Disadvantages

Researching schools inside your own country is stressful – now imagine that you’re doing the same around the world! Between language, distance and time zone difficulties, it’s often hard to get a true picture of a college you’re considering on the other side of the world and campus visits are (as you might imagine) substantially more expensive to undertake.

Additionally, international students frequently pay much higher premiums for college educations than domestic students and face more stringent application processes. Although the currency exchanges may offset some of that higher cost (depending on which country you’re looking at) expect to pay much more for tuition, in addition to travel costs and possibly living expenses.

Also of concern is the quality of education that you will be paying for – while a degree from Cornell is immediately understood by most American employers, a degree from an unknown school in another country may be met with skepticism after graduation.

Finally, consider whether you are going to be able to meet the challenges of living far from family, and often with less contact with people who speak your native language. While studying abroad can be exhilarating, it’s also more difficult.

Tips for Sample College Essay Questions

If you’re a top-notch high school student with strong grades, chances are that one of the skills that got you to that position was your ability to write a good essay. Fortunately, college admission essays give you an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your skills and win entrance to the ideal college of your choice.

Here are 3 questions from a standard Common Application, and some tips that college admission officers will be looking for:

#1 Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

The word “evaluate” is tricky – you’re not simply being asked to recount your experience with some terse facts and storytelling; you’re being asked to dissect the situation with insight and introspection. Be sure to demonstrate why the item you’ve chosen was of personal importance and include any background information about yourself which is relevant to its impact on you.

#2 Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.


While it may be tempting to simply take a current news item or popular topic and write an essay on the general public opinion of it, the real key to writing this essay well is the “importance to you” part. College admission officers are looking for insights into your personality, as well as your ability to write cohesively and engagingly. Choose a topic that’s close to your heart to write the best possible material.

#3 Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
While the word “indicate” may throw you off, what college admission officers are really looking for is your clarity in describing and characterizing the person and why you felt they were influential to you. The influence may have been positive (“My hero is…”) OR negative (“I learned what not to do from…”), but ultimately you should be able to adequately bring to light key elements of the person and his/her actions and tie those elements to your own personal character to illustrate that influence.

Summer Jobs for High School Seniors

As students wrap up their Junior year and prepare for their last year of high school, the long summer months may seem like an excellent reprieve from testing and studying. While I recommend that students take time to enjoy their summer vacation, it’s worth noting that these months provide an opportunity to not only earn money for upcoming college expenses, but also to round out your fall college applications. Here are some job ideas that can help you on both fronts:

Tutoring

Tutoring is an excellent way to keep your studying skills fresh and demonstrate that you are committed to education. With three years of high school under your belt, summer may be a good time to offer your help to younger students and make some extra cash. Consider which subjects you’re especially good at (B+ or better) and which you have a passion for (as it can be difficult to teach subjects that you don’t enjoy yourself), and then post your name in your high school guidance office or around the neighborhood to offering tutoring.

Sports Training

Are you a particularly good athlete, or have an interest in kinesiology?  Consider offering sports training or joining a sports league that allows high-school aged coaches or officials. Being involved in sports demonstrates to college officials that you’re a team player and you have demonstrated leadership skills – both positive attributes in a college applicant.

Internships

If you’ve narrowed down your focus to a particular industry or job area, internships are a great way for you to get a true taste of what your future career may look like. Don’t be afraid to approach companies in your community which match your interests and ask about paid summer internships – often businesses are looking for summer students to help cover vacation time taken by full-time employees.

Service Jobs

It may not sound glamorous, but taking a service-oriented job such as retail customer service or waiting on tables can still round out your skills and demonstrate that you can be relied on to be a good worker. Larger corporations such as McDonald’s often have student give-back programs including grants or scholarships that you may be able to apply for as well. Additionally, service jobs are more likely to be able to be carried part-time through your final year of high school (and beyond!) which gives you an additional few months to make money for college.

The New Parent’s Guide to 529 Plans

Congratulations! You’re either expecting your new bundle of joy in the upcoming months, or you’ve recently had a new addition to your family. In either case, chances are you’ve thought of your child’s future and dreamt of hugging them in their cap and gown as they graduate from a top level college.

College planning often begins at birth for families, when the pressures of time and interest rates can be applied to maximize how much the family can save for a future college education. Whether you yourself went to college, or you simply recognize that you want the opportunity to be available to your child, savings started early are a significant boost.

The most common vehicle for college savings are 529 plans. Simply put, 529 plans are the federal government’s way of allowing you to save your money and allow it to grow tax-free for your child’s education, and ensuring that funds that accumulate over time are tax-free when withdrawn. Best of all, most states (including North Carolina) give you an annual tax credit which would reduce your taxes owing when you make regular contributions.

How Do We Enroll?

Simply contacting your local bank or financial advisor is likely to put you on the right path, but in North Carolina, you can also consider talking to The College Foundation of North Carolina at http://www.cfnc.org/index.jsp

Who Can Enroll?

Any relative of a child can enroll on their behalf. Often times, grandparents opt to enroll their new grandkids in 529 plans, helping the parents with long-term savings needs and also drawing their own tax benefits on retirement incomes.

What Can 529 Savings Be Used For?

529 plans are intended to be used for all college expenses, not simply tuition. The list of eligible Qualified Higher Education Expenses includes tuition, fees, books, room and board, and supplies for school.

Beware Of….

There are two things that 529 contributors should be wary of:

Fees-Often banks and financial advisors will charge a premium for managing your educational investment fund. Be sure to inquire about fees before signing with any advisor.

Penalties-If your child doesn't go to college (or, best-case scenario- he/she receives a full scholarship) you may face penalties for withdrawing money for non-educational uses from the 529 plan, including a 10% premium and having to pay taxes on the money you withdraw. However, 529 funds are transferable-if you have a niece or nephew who can benefit, you may be able to transfer the fund to them tax-free.

529 plans are a very cost-effective and simple way for parents to prepare for their child's education. The earlier you start, the better you and your child will be prepared. And on 12 or years or so, I'll forward to helping him or her with their college applications needs.

How Important Are College Campus Visits?

One of the frequent questions I get asked by parents and students is “Do I really have to go visit the campus?” With most colleges offering full multi-media presentations on their websites, including virtual tours, it may seem like a waste of time to visit the campus itself, especially when consider an out-of-state or remote college.

Here’s why college campus visits still make sense:

Videos May Not Tell the Whole Story

Keep in mind that the virtual tour you watch has likely been shot in ideal circumstances and edited to show the campus to its best advantage. What the video may not show is crowded study space at the library, long line-ups at the cafeteria or book store, or poorly maintained classroom spaces. Similarly, you may see something in the video that worries you, such as ongoing construction in the background, only to find on your visit that it’s no longer a concern.

You Need to See More Than the Campus

Unless your child is planning on living in residence and will never set foot off campus  except to go home at Christmas (rarely the case), you and your child will want to get to know the residential and commercial area around the college. Is the area safe? What are the transit options? Is there easy access to a local bank/grocery store/pharmacy, etc? Your child will be spending the next several years living in this area; take the moment to consider if the general community is a good fit.

It Goes Both Ways

It isn’t just that students should go to campus visits to see the campus; it’s that the campus visits give admission staff a chance to see the students. Your child has a golden opportunity to meet with upper-year students in the same program and ask questions, or to be introduced to professors and make a positive first impression. Demonstrating interest and enthusiasm during a campus visit can be a key factor in the college admissions process later on.

Campus visits may be time consuming, especially if you haven’t narrowed down your focus to a short list of top-choice colleges, however it’s invaluable for making the decision as to what college is best for you.

Weighing the Costs of College Consulting

Parents recognize that having a child admitted to a top choice college is a significant stepping stone to later success for the student. College graduates have broader career opportunities, higher earning potential, and a significant social and networking boost as they launch into the “adult” world.

It’s not surprising then that more and more parents are choosing to work with a private college consultant during the critical final years of high school. College is often the second largest financial investment for a family, after buying a home. And just as most families use a realtor when buying or selling a home, it can pay to have an objective and experienced third party advisor to help navigate the process.

The Costs of College Preparation
Getting into college is a great deal of work and stress, not only for the student but often for the parents. Test preparation, extracurricular activities, private tutoring, and summer educational opportunities can all help your student become a high calibre college applicant, but come with associated costs in energy, time and money.

Parents often struggle to decide which of these activities are going to result in the biggest “bang for their buck” in assisting a student with college applications. It can be heartbreaking to find that both the student and parent didn’t choose the right courses, activities or opportunities during high school to ensure that the child will get into the college of their choice.

Making the Right Choices
College consultants can help parents and students mitigate the costs associated with college preparation by helping the student focus on the right choices for successful college applications.

The discussion begins by helping students and parents answer the top question – which college is best for the student? Parents and students often take a different route when considering this issue – simply looking at a list of prospective colleges and deciding what is a “good enough” school for the student, instead of finding an ideal match. A college consultant brings experience with and information about prospective colleges that families might otherwise have to spend hours researching, which immediately lowers the time investment for parents and students.

Once the students has established a short list of “best choice” colleges in their particular field of study, the college consultant can work with families to develop a blueprint for success – choosing the best activities and courses of study that will ensure the student is well prepared when Senior year comes around. Parents save on time and energy by having a reliable partner in the quest for a successful college admission, and frequently save money as they’re able to channel funds into the most appropriate activities to help their child.

Ultimately, just as with working with a real estate agent, a college consultant can be a significant time, labor, and stress-saving resource for families. When facing the second largest financial investment your family will make, it’s worth considering whether a fractional investment of those funds should be devoted to college consulting to make sure that the process goes smoothly with the best result for your child.

Resisting the Temptation to Be a Helicopter Parent

There are some phrases coined for certain parent personality types at colleges and universities throughout the country. One common token term is the "helicopter parent."

The Helicopter Parent - The Persistent Hoverer

A helicopter parent is one who hovers closely over their child's activities whether their child needs them or not. While their intentions are good, this interference can actually impede the progress of their child in school and other endeavors.

Attending college is an entry into adulthood, and this is a time when students need to start making most of their decisions themselves. Sometimes they will make the wrong decisions, but failing teaches success and is a necessary part of the life experience.

This is not to say taking an active interest in your child's education is a bad thing. Actually, research has shown that students whose parents take an active role in their child's education are better performing students.

So when does enough involvement become too much?

A common indication of helicopter style parenting includes statements such as, "We are planning to major in English," meaning both you and your student. Other examples include contacting your child's professor about their progress or communicating directly with their academic advisor without your child knowing about it.

A Perfect Balance

Finding the perfect balance between taking an active interest in your child's education and hovering too intently over them can be a challenge, but it is essential to understand the difference if you want your child to have the best chance of success.

While this may be hard to believe, some parents continue this hovering activity even after college graduation, going so far as to interfere in their child's professional life. Human resources departments at many businesses have become all too familiar with this behavior in recent years, even so far as parents attempting to negotiate their child's salary.

The important element to keep in mind is that if your involvement level is such that you are making the decisions rather than the student, you may be hovering. In order to mature, your child has to deal with life circumstances that land in their path. Removing the obstacles for them is not helping them; it is preventing their development into capable and mature adults.

Keeping an active interest in your child's education and life in general is an admirable parenting trait. Just keep things in perspective and remember that sheltering your young adult from life's circumstances is not helping them learn to survive.

Your student's college years are a time for them to come into their own and learn to make decisions and work through problems themselves, although they will most always seek your valuable advice occasionally and when they do, feel free to give it to them.

Considering Financial Aid Awards

Early April marks the arrival of financial aid award letters from colleges across the US. You may be happy to see that your student is eligible for assistance with college expenses, but the complexity of financial aid awards often leaves parents scratching their heads to understand their options. Here are some simple steps to help you make decisions about your financial aid options:

Understand the letter thoroughly. Although it’s tempting to simply skip to the end of your letter to see the theoretical maximum that your student can receive, be sure to read the details of your financial aid award. Often portions or the entirety of the amount may be in the form of loans which must be paid back after graduation.

Consider all the costs. While most colleges provide an estimate or guideline for average student costs (including tuition, books, living expenses, etc), that average may not apply to your student. The only way to be sure is to prepare a budget for your student, including expenses that may have been left out, such as entertainment, travel expenses to get home, athletic fees, or more extensive reading list purchases.

Be upfront about financial changes. If things have changed for your family since you first applied for your financial aid (such as a job-loss or illness) which may affect your overall family income, be sure to communicate the changes to your Financial Aid officer and ask for a review of what you may be eligible for. Often families discover when they complete their taxes that their earnings were lower than they had expected the previous year, which may make them eligible for greater financial awards.

Pick and choose. Financial aid awards are frequently a combination of grants, scholarships and loans. Consider whether the grants and scholarships are sufficient for your needs and if you can say no to loans, thus avoiding graduating with debt.