Living With a College Roommate

Freshmen generally share rooms with other incoming students, so it's always a good idea to find out as soon as possible who that other person might be. For most high school students beginning college, it is a severe culture shock to go from a home with plenty of space to a tiny room that is shared with someone they've just met.

Avoiding a Bad Situation

Many new college students lose the desire for higher education based on less than happy experiences with roommates and living in cramped quarters. From a parent's standpoint, making the situation appear as positive as possible is a help, but meeting the person who will be sharing the living accommodations early is also beneficial.

If it is possible, the new students should meet each other somewhere besides their room when they are moving in. They will probably make a better friendship if they don't see each other for the first time under the stress that comes with moving into a dorm room.

An arranged meeting between the two or talking on the phone can better help them understand what resources they can share since the room won't accommodate all the items they are used to having at home. School will begin much more smoothly if the roommates aren't spending so much of the early time trying to decide how to perform basic functions.

College Roommates - Budgeting Through Sharing

One of the toughest challenges for college freshmen is controlling their budget because many of them have no experience with it. If roommates share some of the expenses with each other, and can do so amiably and fairly, both can save some money.

Many times young people go through four years of college with the same friends, and that can begin with the freshman roommate. If the relationship works out, both gain a friend and someone to confide in during some trying times that ultimately come with higher education.

When a parent leaves their child at college, they don't want to be concerned with how he or she will cope with the new person sharing a room with them. A little pre-planning can make a big difference in how that experience turns out.

FAFSA - Where to Start When Seeking College Funding

An important group of letters every parent should be aware of when considering college for their children is FAFSA. The free application for federal student aid is available online, but if you don't get your name in the hat early, there might not be any funds left when the bell rings on the first day of school.

It may seem that the paperwork for college grants and financial aid are made so that no one can understand how to successfully apply and obtain assistance. Something as simple as a tax return can stop the wheels from turning and place you back at square one. If you wait until the April 15 filing date to send in your tax return, you miss getting your application in early and having the best chances of obtaining college funds.

You can conveniently find deadlines for filing by visiting www.fafsa.ed.gov/deadlines.htm at the FAFSA website. All you need to do is select your state from the drop-down menu and what college your child plans to attend. Keep in mind that your application should be submitted early.

Who Gets the Scholarships?

Scholarships offered in your area are often aimed at the top three percent of the graduating class. What this often means is a few students may get many of the scholarship offers, but they can't possibly use them all. In some cases, the scholarships that are turned back in go to other deserving students, but many times the money goes back into the fund until the next award.

Not landing in the top 3% in no way indicates that your student is not college material. It simply means you'll have to work a little harder to get funding assistance for college expenses.

If your child is not in that upper level, you may be able to find out what happens to scholarships that are not awarded due to default. If you only have time to apply to a limited number of programs, it would be better to spend your efforts on those who will definitely fund the scholarship to someone.

Apply for as many grants and scholarships as you can and as early as possible. Those who obtain college funding assistance are the ones who spend the extra time and learn everything they can about FAFSA.

Building the College Student

A family should function as a unit, but sadly, many only exist as individuals with entirely different lives, living under one roof. Parents are expected to raise children to be responsible adults, not to pamper or cuddle them without furnishing any direction.

The real determining factor of a prepared college student revolves around control and freedom.

How well your child performs and adjusts to campus life has much to do with their life and upbringing in the years prior to that time, and it is essential to start early when preparing a youngster to grow into a responsible and successful adult.

Begin Teaching at a Young Age

From an early age, children should be taught that life is made up of times of both responsibility and fun. The understanding of the balance should begin no later than when a child begins to attend kindergarten. The biggest mistake a parent can make is to believe that because a child is small, they are not old enough to begin to learn responsibility.

Despite what some parents might believe, children who are directed to do chores and have regular activities to attribute to the family unit are much better adjusted and more prepared to meet the responsibilities and challenges they will encounter throughout life. It is also impossible for an individual to appreciate play time if they have never had any exposure to work time.

A Balanced Individual Makes a Better College Student

Children who learn the facts about work early give the least problems later, and they also typically work harder in school. When a child has the proper work/play balance in place, life as a parent becomes less stressful, and more time can be devoted to finding the best opportunities for the child.

Preparing a teen for college begins at the start of the structured education program, not in their junior or senior year of high school. Here are some tips about how better to create a responsible college student starting in the young years.

1. When teaching a child responsibility, begin with tasks that are easy but necessary. Brushing teeth, combing hair, dressing, and other simple tasks are the beginning of larger and more complicated tasks to come.

2. Always suit the chores and responsibilities to the age of the child. A job too complicated for the individual will result in a sense of failure and a negative attitude regarding the assignment of future tasks.

3. Praise them for a job well done, but constructively correct them regarding any inadequacies. A job that offers no reward even when done well can be a disappointment to a youngster, and reward does not necessarily have to be monetary.

4. Relate work at school with work at home to indicate that they are both important to the betterment of the child.

5. Make sure there is enough time for recreation and give as much freedom in that capacity as is reasonable in conjunction with other responsibilities such as homework and studying.

Picture a child even at the younger ages as an intelligent human being who has reasoning and the ability to make decisions. Remember that learning comes incrementally and requires loosening of the reins throughout the formative years.

When that young person is ready to leave home for college, it matters not that you still see the small child, as long as you have created the responsible adult prepared for the challenges and tasks that come with campus life.

Three Simple Rules for College Assistance

For many years in America, it has been possible for almost anyone to receive higher education assistance if they pursued it. With decreasing programs and cutbacks in funding on many fronts, it might seem like that time has now passed.

Many students and families are predisposed to allow college financial assistance opportunities to slip by because they worry that their chances are slim for receiving any funding.

It is still very possible to find grants and low cost loans for college education. Scholarships and grants are always the first and primary objective, but never rule out student loans because they are well worth the expense for the advantage gained in the hiring market.

How to Find College Assistance

There are three simple and basic rules to follow when looking for scholarships, grants, loans, and other student assistance. Aside from the student working toward the best possible grades, these rules are most important in the process of seeking higher education assistance for most families.

Start Early

As you may have already found out, it is never too early to scout out the available help programs and learn the earliest dates that you can apply and what you will need to send with any application.

Preparing in advance assures you of meeting all required deadlines and having everything on hand that is required for a complete application. Most all applications for government assisted funding will require income tax returns, so the sooner you can file your current year return, the better.

Identify the Targets

With the available tools and resources for finding assistance, there is no reason for anyone not to locate acceptable programs to apply for. Where are they?

1. The first place to begin is at high school. Staff and student counselors know the primary avenues because of their experience, and most programs regularly notify schools of student assistance opportunities.

2. Online is the best possible place to find information, phone numbers, and contacts.

3. National organizations and industries often have tax-deductible grants for higher education.

4. Begin with the FAFSA federal student aid website and make your application as early as possible for the upcoming year's funding. The application deadlines vary by state, and their website has the information you'll need for applying online.

5. The state government offices can direct you to any earmarked funds for student assistance.

6. Most colleges and universities have private scholarship opportunities. Be sure to apply for any scholarships you are eligible for at the schools you wish to attend. Most of these opportunities can be reviewed online.

Make yourself a list of every available program, what each one requires from you in order to apply, and the application deadline.

Persevere

No one will tell you that it is easy to land the perfect grant or loan for a child's college education, but it certainly won't happen if you don't continue to follow up and provide everything that is required for each agency with which you apply and in a timely fashion. Stay true to the course and you should be successful in your search for college funding assistance.

Learning Your Learning Style

Ironically, one of the most important skills that you will develop over the course of your high school career is the ability to learn effectively and efficiently. At the same time that you’re learning facts, figures and content in your classes, you should also be paying attention to the learning methods which best suit you and help you retain information for future call back.

While course material is delivered in the same method for all students in a class (generally a mix of lecture, exercises and out-of-class reading assignments), how each student absorbs information may vary dramatically.  Learning which learning style gives you the best results can help you not only in high school but throughout your college years.

The Visual Learner

Visual learners do best when they can see material being presented. If you’ve ever found that reading a book with long paragraphs of text causes your attention to wander, while text books with clear illustrations, diagrams or charts immediately help you understand concepts, you may be a strong visual learner.

Visual learners may also find that they do best in lecture settings where they can watch their professors, being able to relate the material being discussed with the body language and facial expressions being used. During individual study, they often “see” their teacher’s delivering the content again in their minds.

For best results, visual learners should sit at the front of a lecture hall, rather than the back, in order to avoid visual distractions. They also benefit from detailed note taking including diagrams, or using mind-map style note taking during both lectures and individual study.

The Auditory Learner

Auditory learners find it easy to process and recall material delivered via lectures, and may learn best by engaging in conversation about a subject. Auditory learners often do well in study groups or discussions, but find that individually they struggle to recall diagrams or charts, or read a great deal of text without having hearing a lecture on the subject first.

Auditory learners may study best if they can record lectures for future playback. They frequently take fewer notes than visual learners because they can easily recall subjects that have been discussed. Additionally, audio books (books recorded on CD or downloaded as audio files) can be an invaluable tool to get through long-form content like novels.

The Kinesthetic Learner

Kinesthetic learners find that they learn material best when they can engage with the subject matter in a hands-on way, or are able to take some action while they’re learning. Kinesthetic learners may struggle to be a passive audience during a lecture, but find that they easily absorb information in lab settings or when they’re able to move around the classroom.

Unfortunately for kinesthetic learners, the lecture hall can be a very difficult environment to learn in. Kinesthetic learners may need to use a variety of creative methods to absorb information, such as recording lectures for playback while engaged in a physical activity like walking, reading out loud and acting out content from books, or doing hands-on experiments to understand concepts in science and math. 

Comparing Graduation Rates

I remember taking a particularly hard course in college, which started rather ominously. The professor stood up in front of his new class, looking up into the stands of students and said “Ladies and gentleman, I want you to look at the student on your left. Now look to the student on your right. Now understand that only one of the three of you will graduate from this program.”

Whether the professor could see the future, or whether he just knew about his own college’s graduation rates, I’m not sure, but the fact is that he turned out to be almost right. Less than half of the people with whom I started my college career went on to finish at the same time I did.

Although colleges are required to publish their graduation rates, generally it’s not a number that most students and parents consider when looking at which colleges to apply to, but they probably should. High percentages in the 6-Year Grad Rate of a school may indicate a few things including:

 – that the college is particularly stringent about admissions to make sure they only find students who are genuinely likely to succeed,

- that the college has good support systems which ensure that students have all the resources they need to succeed in their programs, including good study areas, access to peer mentors, and a strong sense of community.

- that the college offers a good range of courses designed to allow students to select the best fit studies for their interests.

- that the college offers good financial aid past the second year, to allow under-privileged students the opportunity to carry on studying when they may have dropped out because of finances at other schools.

Lower 6-Year Grad Rates don’t necessarily mean that the college is a poor choice, of course, particularly if your student is well disciplined, strongly interested in their chosen major, and has thoroughly researched which courses he or she is going to take over the full 4 years of his or her program.

College graduation rates can be found directly through the admissions office of most colleges, or you can compare 2008 results only at www.collegeresults.org.

3 People You Need To Make a Successful College Application

College applications are stressful. College seniors often fret and re-write their applications many times before they get them just right, and even then, it’s a long agonizing wait until they find out the results of their efforts in the form of acceptance or rejection letters.

If you’re a high school Senior, you’re not alone in your applications, however – there are three critical people involved in every college application.

Your Guidance Counselor or College Admission Consultant

Where do you start your college selection process? Probably at the guidance office or with your college admission consultant. These folks are here to help you find the perfect college fit for your unique skills and interests. With more than 70% of college students changing their majors or (worse yet!) transferring colleges during their studies, an experienced advisor is your key to discovering which colleges you should be most interested in before you apply and helping you select the best course to gaining admission.

Your Recommendation Source

Most, if not all, college applications require you to gain at least one excellent recommendation from a reputable source – either a teacher, a counselor, or a character recommendation. Recommendations aren’t difficult to gain, but a well-written and well-qualified recommendation makes a huge difference on your college application. Whether you seek this recommendation in your school’s faculty or outside in the community (a previous employer or someone with whom you’ve done volunteer work), the person who gives you an excellent recommendation is worth their weight in gold.

Your Parents

Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Parents are the best cheerleaders for your college success, and a necessary resource for choosing and gaining admission to your top choice college. Parents will provide the financial information you need to seek and obtain financial aid, take you to college campuses for visits, and encourage you during your Senior year during your application process.

Effective Tips for Studying

Spring is in the air, and with it comes proms, sports tournaments… and final exams. If you’re  struggling with your study habits, consider these simple tips for effective study sessions.

Set the Stage

A clean, tidy and distraction free zone for studying is important. Have everything you need on the desk. Put away what you do not need for the study session. Seeing reminders of other assessments or domestic bills may increase your anxiety and distract you.

Pick the Right Time to Study

Study according to your body-clock. Are you sharpest in the morning or at the evening? Schedule your most difficult materials when you are mentally at your best, and schedule the easier ones when you are mentally less efficient.

Fuel the Study Machine – Your Body

Avoid eating a big meal before a study session. Too much food will send your body into a ‘rest’ mode. On the other hand, don’t starve yourself either. Frequent small meals are best. Drink plenty of water during a study session, especially when you feel sluggish. Caffeine may help you to stay awake, but it can increase your anxiety – use it in moderation.

Give Yourself a Break

It is important to take a break before you feel tired and lose your concentration completely. Regular breaks, at least once an hour, helps to sustain your concentration. If the work is not going too well and you have difficulties in concentrating, you may need a long break and go back to it later. When you take a break, take a few deep breaths and get more oxygen to your brain: try walking around and doing some light stretching for a few minutes. It will help to release tension in your body, and help your circulation.