Packing for College

It’s that time of year to collect the essential items for college.  Find out the layout of the room and what items are approved by the college to bring into the dorm. Some schools allow small refrigerators, but not microwaves.  It’s never too early to start shopping for the essentials. Contact your roommate ahead of time so you don’t duplicate items. If you have the space, buy in bulk when you can. Save on costs by bringing your own “munchies.”

What to Take…

  • Sheets, mattress pad, towels, pillow, and comforters with under the bed storage containers
  • Bathroom supplies—shampoo, deodorant, soap, toothpaste and brush, flip-flops, other personal toiletries, and cleaning supplies Read more helpful hints on what to pack for college.

Tips For Parents Adjusting To An Empty Nest

Do you find yourself taking a trip down memory lane while your child excitement builds as they pack the car to head off to college, start a military career, or get their first apartment? You may feel shaky, sad, confused, or relieved. Parents react differently to an empty nest. It is a time of change, a time to look at your child’s needs and your needs. It can be a fresh beginning. Here are several tips to help you cope with this period of your life.

Rest. Take some time for yourself while you adjust to the change and try to figure out how you really feel. Drastic changes may only cause regret later, so hold off on the redecorating.

Exercise. If you find yourself sad or depressed, exercise is a way to lift your mood. Find a friend or work out buddy to help you start a new routine. Avoid those fatty foods, chocolate and cocktails. Opt for a round of yoga, aerobics, weight training, and healthy eating.

Reconnect with others. Revisit your relationships. If you are single, you may want to get out and mingle. If you are married and you have spent decades focusing on your children, find new energy to reconnect with your loved one.

Follow your passion. Do you like to volunteer? What about going back to school? Think about taking on some new life-enriching activities.

Set a schedule for communication. Many parents worry that they will lose contact with their child. Even if you text or email, Skype or FaceTime, set a regular phone date with your child once a week. This will ease your mind and give them some sense of freedom.

For more articles on the empty nest, read College Bound: Proven Ways to Prepare and Plan for Getting Into the College of Your Dreams at https://www.college-path.com.

Shop for the Best Price on College Textbooks

Books are not cheap. You may want to shop around if you know what books are needed for the courses you plan to take. Here is a list of websites that might help you with this task.

AddAll – Book search and price comparison.

Alibris.com – Save big on high-quality books.

Amazon is the place where you can save on new textbooks and up to 90 percent on used textbooks. You can also sell your textbooks online.

BarnesandNoble.com – If you order over $25 in textbooks from this site you will not be charged for shipping, but this does not qualify for rented or used textbooks.

BetterWorldBooks.com – Right now the site is promoting a “Bargain Bin Blowout” which allows users to purchase 5 used books for $15.

BigWords.com – This site gather information from various textbook sites and calculates each price as well as the total shipping amount. For more textbook websites click here.

Tips for Middle School Counselors and Parents

Are your students thinking about attending college or training in a fielocker2ld of interest? It is never too early to get started in the process even if it is a few years away. Each student can start positioning himself or herself to get into college by following the college planning timeline as a guide.

School counselors – talk to you students about:

  • Taking courses required for entrance into high school and developing strong study habits.  Each student should take challenging courses and position himself or herself to take advantage of advanced courses in high school in areas of strengths.
  • Teach organization and time-management skills to prepare them to succeed in high school and beyond. Assist with building good study habits. Click here for more tips.

Explain the Value of Cooperative Education Programs or “Co-Ops”

One definition of a cooperative education program is a structured experience which combines practical work and the classroom-based education.  Such programs provide academic credit for job experience to help a student from school-to-work and encourage service learning.

  • Provide an opportunity to learn from some experienced and supportive colleagues in the workplace
  • Gain practical experience while earning a degree and getting a head start in career
  • Student mature, are more experienced, and already respected for accomplishments in co-op work assignments
  • Gain hands-on work experiences in specialized fields like engineering and business, etc. Read more reasons to look at Co-Op opportunities.

Dorm Room Decorating – Conquer the Budget, Small Space, and Ugly, Standard Furniture!

What are the three biggest concerns facing college freshmen when it comes to setting up a dorm room? Working within a budget, coping with a small space, and learning how to manipulate the standard, ugly dorm room furniture.  So, what can you do to a room which you aren’t allowed to paint, with walls you can’t nail objects into, and two-of-a kind beds, dressers and desks? Learn more about how to make your space comfortable, bring a little bit of home with you, and create storage area which is essential.

Quick Tips for Those on a Budget!

  • Can’t paint? Use chalk to draw on the walls – you can erase it later with baby wipes or a dry eraser.
  • Try fabric on walls by using corn starch mixed with water. Apply the mixture to wall, smooth it out and watch how the fabric sticks to it. It’s all natural and comes right off without removing paint. This is an easy way to get color and texture in your room. Click here for tips on decorating a small, boring space on a budget.

What Are the Benefits of Summer Reading?

Summer is a great time to catch up on reading about some of your favorite topics.  It’s time to let your imagination take you on a journey. Reading for pleasure can help turn you into a life-long learner. For some, reading also can be a lot of fun!  It can be a time to get cozy in an environment that is conducive to your reading.  So grab your favorite snack, choose your spot, sit back, and enjoy the story.

What are the benefits? Reading: