Saying Goodbye to Your High School Graduate

Seniors, you are counting down the days until the end of the school year. You wait in anticipation of packing up the car and heading down the road to your new life at college. Everything seems to be the last – the last dance, the last pep rally, the last set of finals, and lastly, saying goodbye to friends and family.

This summer you will be busy packing, texting your new roommate to coordinate what to bring, registering for classes, and spending time with close friends. Meanwhile, your parents are starting to feel neglected. This time is bittersweet for them. Though they are happy to see you pursuing your dreams, they can’t imagine their home without you.

Knowing the bird has to leave the nest, there are a few things you and your parents can do to help each other during this time of transition. Let one another know you love each other and they will be missed, your relationship has been meaningful, and the transition to the next stage of life with be weathered. You are only a phone call or text message away. Read more guidelines to making the most of your time together.

Start Your Year Right with “College Bound”, the eBook, on Amazon!

Yes, it’s true! Over 1,200 active links will be at your fingertips in “College Bound.”cb-2016-17-cvr-only

I wrote “College Bound: Proven Ways to Plan and Prepare for Getting Into the College of Your Dreams” as a guide to help parents and students prepare for what comes after graduation. “College Bound” is written so it will be like having a professional college counselor beside you every step of the way (http://amzn.to/2iG7VEG).

“College Bound” guides you through the college planning timeline, the search and application process, and campus visits, with additional tips and resources. It will show ways to approach counselors, teachers, or moderators to request an effective letter of recommendation, give tips on self-marketing through the college essay, provide suggestions for a top-notch resume of extracurricular activities, and offer advice for taking standardized tests.

  • If you are a budding artist, a competitive athlete, or interested in a military career, or transitioning from being homeschooled to college, this book is for you.
  • If you have special needs or a disability, this book is for you.
  • If you are thinking about learning a trade or attending community college, this book is for you.
  • Interested in understanding the “nuts and bolts” of financial aid and where to find scholarships? This book is for you.mcbp-2016-17-cvr-only
  • Looking for an extensive list of publications and internet resources that is beyond compare? “College Bound” is for you – giving you all these resources and more.
  • I hope you will find this must-read guide helpful and informative, and I wish you all the best as you plan a path to an exciting future.

The companion workbook, “My College Bound Plan,” will keep you organized with all the forms and checklists you will need to proceed through the search and application process (http://amzn.to/2hOZPoX).  It’s like having a counselor available to answer your questions 24/7! It’s a great place to start building your college planning library.

 

48 iPad Apps That High School and College Students Love

Staff Writers from OnlineColleges.com wrote an article that I thought I would share with you.  They noted, “While the laptop remains the tech tool of choice for most high school and college students, many are embracing portable and innovative tablets like the iPad. Since its release in 2010, the iPad has taken the tech market by storm and become a popular, educational and fun tool for both teachers and students alike. It is increasingly infiltrating college education, with some schools en offering free iPads for enrollees.”

“Whether you’re a high school or college student looking for new apps to stock your iPad or someone just curious what kind of appropriate resources are out there, start your search with these 48 great apps. Among them, students will find help with everything from keeping homework organized to finding the perfect first date spot — and just about everything in between.”

Essential Tools

The staff writers shared, “These apps will help turn your iPad into the ultimate productivity tool, whether you’re making a home movie, sketching out plans for a project or writing a term paper.”

  1. Dictionary.com

    Whether you need to look up the definition of a particularly troublesome word, find a suitable synonym or just play around with the English language, this application can help.

  2. Pages

    Apple’s word processing solution for the iPhone and iPad, this application will let you write papers, create newsletters and much more. For 46 more apps, click here!

Graduates: Here is What to Do While On the Waitlist

Re-evaluate your list. Prioritize those wait-list schools.

A Speedy Response. Hopefully you responded quickly and honestly as some schools look at response time to be on their wait-list. Did you tell your college why they would be a good fit for you and why you want to be there?

Be Realistic. Some schools will respond to those on the wait-list and some will not so keep in touch, but don’t overdo it. If you have something substantive and new which has taken place since you last wrote, mention it.  It’s not in your best interest to send weekly or daily emails.

Know that the decision is out of your hands.

Make the best of your situation.

Embrace the acceptances. It’s tough when a dream school defers a student, but being placed on the wait list might be a signal to move on. While there is a chance that a student may be admitted in the late spring or summer, it is best for students to embrace the schools that have accepted them.

A Wild Card. Once your letter is off to the school, focus with all your heart on making your best choice among the places you have been admitted. It is best to treat the wait-list school as a “wild card;” deal with it when you receive it.

 

What are MOOCs and Can I Earn Credit?

Wikipedia defines a MOOC as:laptop home
A massive open online course (MOOC) is a type of online course aimed at large-scale participation and open access via  web. MOOCs are a recent development in the area of distance education, and a progression of the kind of open education ideals suggested by open educational resources.Though the design of and participation in a MOOC may be similar to college or university courses, MOOCs typically do not offer credits awarded to paying students at schools. However, assessment of learning may be done for certification.While there is no commonly accepted definition of a MOOC, two key features seem prevalent:

  • Open access. MOOC participants do not need to be a registered student in a school to “take” a MOOC, and are not required to pay a fee.
  • Scalability. Many traditional courses depend upon a small ratio of students to teacher, but the “massive” in MOOC suggests that the course is designed to support an indefinite number of participants.pedi

Scott Jaschik of InsideHigherEd.com shares breaking news about MOOCs.

Two announcements this week suggest that MOOCs — massive open online courses — will increasingly include a route for students to receive academic credit. Read the breaking news by clicking here.

What is Double Depositing? Is it an Ethical Option?

The clock is ticking down and the April 1st has arrived. High school seniors across the country are checking their email and mailboxes for the admissions decisions from the college they applied to. Many students may receive more than one acceptance. The stress and the cost of college is a major decision, so for students who cannot make up their mind where to go, they may consider double depositing.

What is the definition of double depositing? Double depositing means putting down a deposit, and thus accepting admission, at more than one college.

I often hear, “This decision is not easy!” Or “I love all my schools for different reasons.” Student re-visit their colleges and look to teachers and friends (and even parents) for guidance. So what do they do? Sending a non-refundable enrollment deposit check can cost as little as $100, while at others it can be as much as $500 or $1,000 can be costly, but the student just can’t decide. Read more about the Double Depositing and ethical issues surrounding it.

How to Email a College Admissions Counselor

Check Your Email Address First!

Yes, you were given a formal name at birth and you may be a creative individual who wants to express yourself with a unique email address, but suddenly you realize [email protected] might not be the most appropriate email address to use. Who is your audience? What impression will you leave on the admissions officer?  Every bit of information you reveal tells the college admissions office something about you. I often ask students to think about how their grandparents might react to the address. It may be safer and more appropriate to use your school email address or create one that will be used for all your college correspondence. Read more on clues on emailing your the college admissions counselor.