We are hosting a [FREE] College Prep Jump Start Webinar for Parents! We want to take the STRESS out of preparing for college. This FREE webinar is ideal for parents with current 8th – 11th grade students. (Make sure you read til the end to learn about our giveaway!) 

Tuesday, May 10^th at 7 pm Central

Peace of Mind is Just a Click Away: Reserve Your Spot Now

In this free webinar, you’ll find out how to…

• Avoid the stress involved with preparing for the college and scholarship application process.
• Reduce the financial burden of higher education.
• Ensure your student’s applications are competitive.
• Identify your student’s interests, passions and unique qualities so that they can effectively focus their time during high school (while also having fun).
• Encourage your student to take initiative and get involved in the process of planning for college (which will also boost their confidence).
• Stay organized and avoid the overwhelm of planning for college.
• Make sure you don’t miss out on scholarship opportunities.

The webinar will be presented by Jordan Schanda, Co-Founder of ScholarPrep®

My mom and I created ScholarPrep® out of our personal experiences with the college and scholarship application process. It became obvious through our experience that parents and students needed a little help to ensure that they would be prepared to fill out applications without all the stress we experienced.

Reserve your spot and then SHARE to win!

We are giving away:

• 25 ScholarPrep Curriculum Editions ($25 value each)
• 5 Portfolio Editions ($55 value each)
• 1 College Prep Mentoring Package ($800 value)

How to Enter:

Anyone who shares our webinar sign-up page on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram will be entered to win! All you have to do is tag us @ScholarPrepOrg and use #ScholarPrepWebinar

Good luck and see you May 10th!

The post Free College Prep Webinar appeared first on ScholarPrep.

This is a guest blog post written by our friends at Admitster. They work to help level the college admissions playing field by guiding students and parents through the complex world of college admissions, offering free online tools and affordable advising and tutoring services along the way.We encourage you to learn more about Admitster and check out the original post!

It was not so very long ago that I was standing in line at the grocery store, waiting to pay, when a headline on a nearby magazine caught my eye. It read: “Homeschool Got Me Into Harvard – Why The New Road To The Ivy League Just Might Lead Through Your Living Room.”  Really! See?

Here’s the article. From it, we learn that the girl on the magazine’s cover is named Claire Dickson. She was homeschooled throughout her childhood and, you guessed it, is now a member of an elite university’s freshmen class (Cough! Harvard! Cough!). The article also informs us that about 2.2 million students in the United States are homeschooled (i.e. about 3.4% of the American student body), and that this number is steadily growing. Further:

“To find out what elite academic institutions think, I call Matt McGann, director of admissions at MIT. He’s entirely optimistic: “The homeschooled students in our population are a great addition to the MIT community. They are students who are more likely to have designed their own education curriculum, and they may be more independently motivated to learn,” he says. “I think as the nature of homeschooling has evolved, colleges are seeing more and more homeschooling applicants who are appropriate for this environment.””

Another recent article, this one from NBC News, states, “While the percentage of homeschooled applicants is still tiny, admissions officers say their applications often stand out.” Let us not forget “that uniqueness is kind of the hidden currency of college admissions“! Indeed, more and more colleges, on their admissions websites, have information aimed specifically at homeschooled teens, as they work to further diversify their student bodies. See, for instance:

• Amherst College
• Bennington College
• Bowdoin College
• Bryn Mawr College
• Bucknell University
• Caltech 
• Colorado College
• Davidson College
• Dickinson College
• Duke University
• Emory University
• Goucher College
• Grinnell College
• Hampshire College
• Harvey Mudd College
• Hillsdale College
• Lewis & Clark College
• MIT
• New York University
• Oberlin College
• Princeton University
• Stanford University
• Swarthmore College
• Syracuse University
• Tulane University
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Richmond
• Vanderbilt University
• Wheaton College
• William & Mary
• Yale

It is clear from these examples, and many more, that when homeschooled students apply to college they generally must comply with some additional requests, such as scores from SAT Subject Tests, a school-specific homeschooled information form (for instance, this one from Wheaton College), an additional application essay, and/or additional letters of reference. Admissions officers, of course, also expect to see applicants’ high school transcripts. Homeschooled students can meet this demand in different ways, for instance, in the manner suggested by Hillsdale College:

“Official high school transcripts come from a homeschool clearinghouse, guild, or association. If transcripts are unavailable, we encourage you to consider FastTranscripts.com, offered in concert with the Home School Legal Defense Association.”

Furthermore, as Amherst College points out on their admissions website, “The Common Application also provides students with the Home School Supplement to the Secondary School Report. Wehighly recommend that homeschooled candidates submit the Home School Supplement in addition to the Secondary School Report and other required forms in the Common Application.” Curious to learn more about the Home School Supplement, I reached out to The Common Application for more information. They responded, “Once the home school counselor is assigned and ‘home school’ is noted in their account, they will then be required to answer a supplement in the Secondary School Report that is to be submitted with their transcripts, testing, etc.” Nice!

Also of note:

• Admissions committees are oftentimes curious to learn more about why the decision was made to homeschool the prospective candidate – the college application essay can be a great opportunity to elaborate on these experiences!
• Colleges will likely ask prospective students who have been homeschooled for a guide to the curriculum that the student used. Some schools, such as Vanderbilt University, will provide homeschooled applicants the option of completing a curriculum summary, such as this one, which they helpfully provide.
• Some schools, such as Bowdoin College, will strongly recommend that the prospective student, as part of his/her application process, have an interview.
• Other schools, such as Bucknell University, “encourage home-schooled students to enroll in a college summer program during the summer before their senior year, or enroll in a college course junior or first semester senior year.” Be aware that some colleges ask for these types of experiences, and then plan accordingly!

All in all, colleges will consider applications from homeschooled students on a case-by-case basis, and different schools will have different requirements for these non-traditional applicants. As Dartmouth College states on their admissions website, “Dartmouth receives many applications from home school students, and our holistic review process means we consider each applicant within the context of their educational environment, community, and opportunities.”

While homeschooling alone won’t get a student admitted to college (admissions committees will be looking to see that there was a strong homeschooling environment, one that provided the student with opportunities to excel academically and otherwise, and that the student is motivated and bright), those who have been homeschooled should be aware of the fact that opportunities for higher education abound. Do the research on the admissions policies at different colleges, work hard, and be sure to tell your unique story when the time comes to apply! And, of course, if you need any guidance or support along the way, Admitster can help you to own your journey to college!

The post Homeschooling and the College Admission Journey appeared first on ScholarPrep.

This is a guest blog post written by our friends at Admitster. They work to help level the college admissions playing field by guiding students and parents through the complex world of college admissions, offering free online tools and affordable advising and tutoring services along the way.We encourage you to learn more about Admitster and check out the original post!

One of the admissions trends highlighted in Harvard’s Turning The Tide report is that colleges are increasingly looking for students who have “real world” experiences, such as those who have pursued internships, interesting summer opportunities, and engagement with volunteer programs that have challenged them and fostered in them a greater sense of self-understanding and worldly awareness. Colleges are also increasingly valuing students who have an abundance of experience in a particular activity. In other words, you don’t need to fill in all 10 boxes in the Common App’s activity section in order to demonstrate involvement. Admissions officials would rather that you seek out fewer, but more meaningful, opportunities. We often refer to these types of sustained, real-world experiences that promote personal and intellectual growth as demonstrating depth over breadth.

Here are some examples of opportunities that will help you to establish some depth of experience, but be aware that many of them require immediate action!

Job Shadowing: One way to show your interest in a field (for example, medicine) is to look for either programs or opportunities that allow you to shadow a professional, getting a good sense of what they do on a daily basis simply by being at their side. Arranging a job shadowing opportunity can be as simple as contacting someone you know. For instance, if you’re an athlete who has had surgery, reach out to those doctors and therapists who have helped you. Furthermore, many local hospitals, like Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital, have specific job shadowing programs available. Do some research to find similar programs at organizations in your local area – it’s a super experience!

Community Internships: Check out museums, local governments, schools, and non-profit organizations for internship opportunities. Many have established formal summer programs for high school students. Furthermore, oftentimes an education or program director is willing customize an opportunity for a bright and motivated student, so don’t be shy about reaching out to these individuals. You can also look into programs like United Way’s Youth Venture for opportunities to create a community service program of your own, and get funding along the way!

Summer Programs: There are many excellent summer programs out there, many of which are hosted by colleges and universities that can help you to explore an interest in greater depth, for instance, taking college-level coursework in your potential major. Are you looking for an experience in the arts? Consider Skidmore College’s Summer Program. Perhaps you’re interested in visiting a major city and studying journalism or urban studies? Check out George Washington University‘s pre-college program in our nation’s capital. Would you consider taking math and science classes at a prestigious university? Johns Hopkins Program for Talented Youth offers courses and programs in engineering, computer science, and biology, to name but a few examples. The point is that there are many programs to explore, and at schools both local to you and further afield. However, the applications are due soon! Admitster’s admissions experts can help you to find great-fit programs and to prepare those applications!

Immersion & Service Learning: Many students are interested in world languages and may be curious to explore travel opportunities during the summer months. Study abroad experiences are a great way to move beyond comfort zones and be exposed to new cultures! The good news is there are many language-based programs that use service learning to help high school students have meaningful experiences abroad. For instance, Amigos is a program that connects environmentalism, volunteering, and immersion language learning, and they are accepting applications now!

The bottom line is that you should cast a wide net when considering different summer opportunities, drawing on resources in your local community, using personal connections, and exploring summer programs geared towards high school students. Beyond doing your research, you should also be organized and ensure that you meet deadlines and other program requirements. In fact, researching and applying to these types of programs is great practice for employing skills that you’ll use when applying to college. All in all, engaging in meaningful summer experiences will help you to both develop as a person, exploring your interests and passions, and will also be rewarding when the time comes to apply to your top-choice schools!

The post Meaningful Summer Experiences appeared first on ScholarPrep.

This is a guest blog post written by our friends at Admitster. They work to help level the college admissions playing field by guiding students and parents through the complex world of college admissions, offering free online tools and affordable advising and tutoring services along the way.We encourage you to learn more about Admitster and check out the original post!

Like anything in life, the key to being ready for whatever is heading your way is, you guessed it, to prepare! Today we turn our attention to the ACT Writing Test. You’ll be happy to know that it isn’t rocket science. Learning about what to expect before test day can go a long way towards boosting your scores. Below, you’ll find a few keys for unlocking the secrets of the ACT Writing Test!

To begin with, you should know that the ACT Writing Test is optional. That being said, chances are good that at least one of the schools to which you’re intending to apply will require it, so I would recommend planning for the writing test. To find out if your prospective schools require the writing section or not, simply click here!

Secondly, you should know what to expect regarding the format of the test. In a nutshell, you’ll be provided with three different perspectives on an issue and it is then your job to “state and develop” your perspective, while also taking into consideration all three of the viewpoints that have been provided. However, when preparing for a standardized test, knowing “the nutshell” version of what is expected of you is not enough – take the time to become familiar with the specific directions that you’ll encounter on test day. In the case of the ACT Writing Test, one potentially tricky thing to be aware of is that the directions are twofold and are found in two different locations. On the front page of your writing test booklet you will see the following:

On the second page of your test booklet, however, you will find your Essay Task – “Write a unified, coherent essay in which you evaluate multiple perspectives. In your essay be sure to: analyze and evaluate the perspectives given; state and develop your own perspective on the issue; and explainthe relationship between your perspective and those given.” Be sure to address these three requirements in your writing!

Now, plan accordingly.  Remember, you have forty minutes to read the prompt, brainstorm, plan your response, and write your essay. I recommend using the first (and crucial) 8-10 minutes to read the prompt, brainstorm, and plan. If you can do these tasks well, then actually writing your essay will be a breeze! After the crucial first 10 minutes, use 25 minutes to write your essay, and then the final 5 minutes or so to proof-read and edit your work.

Tips!

• In tackling any sort of test or academic task, it’s always useful to know what the grading criteria are. This is The ACT Writing Test Scoring Rubric. It may not be the most exciting reading you’ve ever done, but by going through the rubric you will know exactly which requirements must be met in order to earn top scores on the four grading domains of Ideas & Analysis,Development & Support, Organization, and Language Use. Along these lines, know that two examiners will mark your essay – each will give you a score of 1-6 on the four aforementioned domains and then their scores will be added together. This means that your highest possible score on the writing test is a 48 (i.e. both examiners give you a 6 on all four criteria) and your lowest possible score is an 8 (i.e. both examiners give you a 1 on all four criteria). To see how these raw scores are then translated into your scale score, see the end of this post for score conversion information from the ACT.
• Imagine that you are an examiner, reading countless essays, and reading them rather quickly. What would you look for in the writing? One of the most important things, in my estimation, is that you make it abundantly clear in your introductory paragraph which perspective you are supporting, while also acknowledging the other perspectives. In doing so, paraphrasing each of the perspectives (rather than writing them out word-for-word from the prompt) is a nice way to show the examiners that you have a good understanding of the different viewpoints.
• In terms of which perspective to support, I highly recommend that you choose one of the three perspectives that have been provided. You are free to come up with your own perspective, of course, but you’re only setting yourself up for more work, as you must now explain the relationship between four different perspectives rather than three! Remember, you only have forty minutes from start to finish.
• You should think of specific examples to both support your own perspective and to counter the others. You can use examples from history and from the current day – just be sure that your examples support your points! Remember, one of the writing domains being assessed by the examiners is Development & Support, and appropriate examples are key to the development of your ideas and support for your claims.
• Regarding the organization of your essay (another writing domain being assessed), keep your essay to a standard four or five paragraph structure – introduction, body, conclusion. This is not the time to be creative. You are instructed to write a cookie-cutter-type essay and should proceed to do so. One possibility is:
  • Intro paragraph – Introduce all three perspectives and let the examiner know, beyond a doubt, which perspective you support.
  • 2nd paragraph – Evaluate one of the perspectives you are not supporting, and use specific examples to develop your ideas and support your claims.
  • 3rd paragraph – Evaluate the other perspective that you are not supporting, and use specific examples to develop your ideas and support your claims.
  • 4th paragraph – Evaluate the perspective that you do support, and use specific examples to develop your ideas and support your claims. Be sure to explain the relationship between your perspective and the others! This paragraph will likely be a bit longer than paragraph 2 and paragraph 3, since this is your chance to really provide support for your own perspective.
  • Conclusion – Bring it all together, touching once again on all three perspectives and making the case for the perspective that you support.
• Throughout your essay, pay attention to the language that you’re using! Essays that earn 6s onLanguage Use include word choice that is “skillful and precise”, sentence structures that are “consistently varied and clear”, and a formal tone that is “strategic and effective.” When you’re using your final five minutes to revise the essay, be sure to pay particular attention to spelling and grammar.
• Finally, practice, practice, practice!  The ACT has released two official Writing Test questions. For the first prompt, on the topic of intelligent machines, click here.  For the second prompt, on the topic of public health and individual freedom, click here and go to page 53.

Remember, a little preparation goes a long way. Happy writing!

p.s – As promised, The ACT Raw Scores to Scale Score Conversion Table:

The post Preparing For the ACT Writing Test appeared first on ScholarPrep.

Getting organized is the first step to helping your student get accepted to the college of their dreams and earn the scholarships to pay for it. This essential step will ensure that your child’s college or scholarship applications are complete – that nothing is forgotten or missed.

The best way to do this is with a physical organizer. Yes, we live in a digital world, but the most effective way to keep your monthly commitment to planning is to have that physical component. You will need physical copies of letters of recommendation, resumes, cover letters, and other application documents. On top of that, research shows that writing down your commitments and goals by hand will actually help you accomplish them. The Organizer is the tool that you will keep on your desk at home as a physical reminder to sit down with your student each month to do a little planning and goal setting. The ScholarPrep Organizer was designed specifically to help you prepare for the application process without any stress! It ensures your student’s applications are complete and it saves time!

So you’re probably wondering, if getting organized is just the first step, what’s the second?

Well, to answer this, we first need to answer a more important question.

What is the ultimate purpose of an application?

Here are some answers we often hear from parents and students:

• Get accepted
• Set yourself apart from other applicants
• Paint a picture of who you are
• Tell them why they should pick you
• Demonstrate you deserve the scholarship

These are all correct! An application really has one job and that is to answer the reviewer’s questions. The tricky part is that they might have several questions. When they read through the application, they may want to know:

• Why should we pick you over another applicant?
• How did you make a positive impact on your community?
• What have you done over the last four years?
• How did you spend your free time in high school?
• What makes you unique?
• What value would you add to our college or university?
• Why do you deserve this scholarship?

So, how do you do that? How can your student clearly demonstrate who they are and what sets them apart? How can they know that their application is doing its job to the fullest?

When we created the ScholarPrep Organizer, it was to give parents and students a tool for getting organized. Now we have created a solution specifically to help students and parents navigate this second part of the process. In July 2016, we will be launching an online course to help you pinpoint exactly how you can make sure your child’s applications stand out! By helping families through the planning process, we have gained an appreciation for the fact that every student is different and every situation is different, so, while our Organizer can help everyone get organized, it can’t answer your specific questions about how your child should be spending their time during high school. Let me give you an example:

I recently had a mom ask me how her son could get more volunteer experience. He had been involved in a couple of school fundraisers and volunteered at a 5K, but she was having a hard time motivating him to get more involved in community service. After we talked through all of his interests and skills, it became obvious that he was not interested in doing more volunteer work like this and it would be a constant battle between them if she kept pushing him to. The good news is, he didn’t need to do volunteer work that he hated! Not only would that create conflict between them, it also wasn’t going help create a more impressive application. Instead, I suggested that he take his skills and passion for computer science and turn that into a volunteer opportunity, by helping a local nonprofit organization update their website. This way, he would enjoy the community service, build his skills and demonstrate leadership experience at the same time!

Now this parent in particular is one of our mentoring clients, which means we work one-on-one with her and her son every month to create the best possible application so that he will get accepted to his top choice school and earn the scholarships to pay for it. We love being able to provide individualized support to our parents and students. So, we have taken our new course one step further by including a college planning session with an experienced ScholarPrep Mentor in our premium course bundle. Choosing this option will allow you to ask questions about your student’s specific situation and interests and get one-on-one support while you create a custom college prep plan!

Our brand new course will take you through several modules and brainstorming activities developed to help you and your student answer those exact questions we listed above – ultimately you will discover what to include on the applications to demonstrate that your student is the best applicant! Over the first of seven modules, we will walk you through the details of the ScholarPrep System. We will get into the importance of making a monthly commitment to planning and reveal exactly what activities students should be recording so that they are prepared to fill out applications. We will also give you valuable tips and information so that you will know what to expect from the application process.

Then we will get into some brainstorming activities that will help your child identify how they should be spending their time during high school.

This is the only way to ensure impressive college and scholarship applications.

You will see real examples of applications, resumes, and essays. Finally, we will help you create a custom college prep plan and give you resources for easily implementing your plan and tracking your progress!

Below is a sneak peek of the curriculum. We use an amazing online teaching platform that allows you to access the course from anywhere at any time so that you can work through the material with your student at your own pace.

Until the end of June, we are offering a special pre-enrollment discount! If you sign up for any of the course levels by June 30^th, you will receive $25 OFF. Just use the promo code EARLYBIRD25.

We are offering three different course levels, so that you can pick the one that will work best for you and your student. Our Essentials Course is the 7-module course that you see above. We also have the Essentials Course Bundle which includes one of our comprehensive ScholarPrep Organizers –the ideal companion to the course! Then we have our Premium Course Bundle, which includes the Organizer and a 30-minute planning session. We recommend picking one of the course levels that includes an Organizer because having that physical component is the only way to take advantage of the comprehensive tracking and organizational part of the system we have created for you.

Before you enroll, I want to share what one of our clients recently had to say after working with us:

“It was great for my son to meet and hear from someone— that is not one of his parents— about the importance of community involvement and some of those things he is lacking. At the same time you gave me peace of mind in knowing that while we are barely getting started, we are on the right path.”

The key thing here is that peace of mind. That’s what we hear most often, because so many parents just don’t know where to start or what to do. The great thing about this course is that we walk you through the entire process so that you know you aren’t missing out on anything.

We are here to ensure that your student will be prepared to compete for acceptance into the college of their dreams and earn the scholarships they need to pay for it, but this is a limited time offer. The price of this course and the bundles will go up after June 30^th. By enrolling now, you will receive our $55 Organizer, life-time access to our college planning course and a one-on-one mentoring session for just $172. This is a small investment to make for peace of mind knowing that you have done everything to ensure that your student will be prepared.

CLICK HERE TO ENROLL IN THE COURSE

The post Learn how to create impressive college and scholarship applications appeared first on ScholarPrep.

Did you know that you should prepare for college as soon as your child graduates 8th grade? This is when they officially become high school students, which means anything they do from that day forward can be included on a college or scholarship application.

How do you prepare for college?

You have probably googled something along the lines of “how to prepare for college.” If so, then you know, there is a ton of information out there on what parents and students should or should not be doing to prepare. This can be so overwhelming!

We have created a 5 Step Guide to Preparing for College to help you start planning! By using this free guide, you will know how to help your child prepare for the application process without stress, without getting overwhelmed, and without missing out on any opportunities! Instead of trying to sift through all of that information, quickly learn how to use our simple 5 step process for setting goals, tracking information and staying organized!

SEND ME THE GUIDE >>

Here is a sneak peek of the guide:

With this guide, you will learn how to help your child prepare for college in 5 easy steps! 

1. Tracking
2. Commitment
3. Information
4. Questions
5. Storage

Find out what to expect from the application process and how to keep everything organized. By using this free guide, you will know that you and your child are doing everything possible to prepare for college and scholarship applications, which will mean:

• Less college debt!
• Acceptance to better schools!
• More self-confidence!

Before you get the guide, you should know that this is NOT a simple reading assignment. Our system will require you and your student to make a commitment to planning, but don’t worry, the guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Why is it important to prepare for college?

As a parent, you probably already know that students are graduating with more debt than ever before. On average, last year’s college graduates came out with over $35,000 in student loan debt. ScholarPrep was created to help students get into college and earn the scholarships they need to pay for their education!

SEND ME THE GUIDE >>

The post Free 5 Step Guide to Prepare for College appeared first on ScholarPrep.

Because the ACT/SAT are standardized, they are one of the primary ways that colleges and universities directly compare students. For this reason, it is important that you prepare for these tests and set a realistic goal for the score you want to achieve.

Keep in mind: the difference of only a few points can mean the difference of several thousand dollars.

To help you prepare, we have created this simple 8 step plan for navigating the standardized testing process.

Step 1: Research

Look at the admission requirements for the schools you are interested in attending. Identify the score you need to compete for acceptance to these schools. You should be able to narrow it down to a range.

Step 2: A little more research

If you want to compete for scholarships, you may need an even higher score than is required by the college or university. Most college websites will list the scores needed for their scholarships as well. Don’t forget to search online for outside scholarships available.

Step 3: Set a goal

Based on all of your research, set a goal for the score you want or need.

Step 4: Take the test

We recommend taking the test at least once as practice. It helps you get comfortable with the format and it will reduce some of the anticipation and stress you feel the next time you take it.

Bonus Tip: Test registration is easily completed online and allows for results to be viewed more quickly, as well as at a later date. Keep your login information stored in a safe place.

Step 5: Assess your performance

After taking the test, identify your weak and strong areas. You may also want to take additional practice tests to help you figure out which sections need the most attention.

Step 6: Study

There are many philosophies out there on how to best prepare. You will need to figure out what works best for you. We suggest you start by focusing on your weakest and strongest sections. Depending on what those sections are and the reason you struggle or excel, you may need to practice testing techniques and strategies or you may need to focus on learning the subject material. Online resources are a great place to get started, such as free practice tests or resources and tips for increasing your score.

Step 7: Keep taking the test

After you have studied for the test and seen improvement in your practice test scores, take the test again and maybe again. We are firm believers in the fact that just taking the test will help you increase your score, because you will get more comfortable with the format and your strategies.

Bonus Tip: Keep hardcopies of all standardized test results together in one place.

Step 8: Celebrate or reassess

Hopefully after following these steps you have achieved your score goal! If so, congrats! If not, you may need to seek additional support from a experienced tutor. If you still haven’t seen any improvement in your score, you may need to reassess your goal.

Remember, your standardized test scores are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to college acceptance and earning scholarships. There are many other ways that you can wow application reviewers with your talents and passions.

Please let us know in the comments below how these 8 steps have worked for you. Do you have other advice on how to prepare for standardized testing?

The post How to Navigate Standardized Testing appeared first on ScholarPrep.

This is a guest blog post written by Suzanne Shaffer, who counsels parents in the college admissions process and the importance of early college preparation. Her blog offers timely college tips for parents and provides parents with the resources necessary to help their college-bound teens navigate the college maze. Her expert college advice articles and guest posts can be found at numerous sites related to the college admissions process. You can also find her on Twitter (@suzanneshaffer) and Facebook (parentcollegecoach). Her college advice has been featured on Huffington Post, Yahoo Finance and U.S. News College. She is an author and contributor for The University Parent Guide to Surviving Freshman Year and College Bound and Gagged. She is the parent college coach expert for Smart College Visit and TeenLife Media.

These books for parents should provide great summer reading and future reference as your teen heads to college in the fall:

Naked Roommate: For Parents Only

If your child is starting life in college, there’s a surprise around every corner…But that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared! This book is a witty and wise guide to everything you need to know about the college experience. Harlan Cohen, America’s most trusted college life expert, delivers the best advice, facts, stats, tips, and stories from parents, students, and experts across the country to ensure that you and your child will have an incredible and meaningful college experience.

Parents of College Students Survival Stories

Wendy David-Gaines, the author, is famous for exposing the cliches about college. After giving the cliche, she gives you the “POCS reality”. In her book, Wendy does this effectively by compiling actual parent stories. The stories (both from pre-POCS and POCS) are simple, light-hearted, often humorous and an easy read. But here’s the clincher–they provide parents with added insight into each individual situation.

University Parent Guide to Supporting Your Student’s Freshman Year

This guide is divided into time segments throughout your student’s first year of college: summer, early fall, late fall, and spring. Each division provides parents with all the information they need help their student through each segment of the first year of college.

The summer segment (Get Ready), deals with topics related to the changes you will face as your role changes, what to expect at orientation, roommates, budgeting, and campus culture. The fall segment (Settling In), discusses topics like move-in day, greek life, parent visits, and how to deal with struggling students. The late fall segment (Adjusting), deals with care packages, holidays, diet and exercise, studying abroad. The spring segment (Looking Forward), talks about sophomore topics like housing, student stress, transferring and student loans. The final chapter gives you areas to write down phone numbers, important dates and a typical 4-year checklist.

Secrets of a Financial Aid Pro

Jodi Okun’s book launched today and the presales put it on the Amazon #1 Best Seller list. This book is more than help for financial aid questions. In it you can find out how to give your student the financial skills they’ll need for life, with talking points and scripts to help you with important conversations you need to have before college. Jodi provides parents with expert advice and in this book shares her experiences of helping parents pay for college.

Letting Go: A Parents’ Guide to Understanding the College Years

This bestselling guide has already helped hundreds of thousands of parents over the past decade, and it remains one of the best guides for parents of new college students. Now in its fourth edition, this guide is based on the real-world experiences of students and parents. It’s filled with practical, compassionate, and timely college tips for parents going through the college experience.

Don’t Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to the College Years

This book offers a whimsical, humorous, but also practical guide for parents with college-bound children. Featuring real-life examples and dialogues, the author provides parents with need-to-know fundamentals as their student goes off to college.

You’re On Your Own (But I’m Here if You Need Me)

Many parents struggle with setting the appropriate boundaries for their college students and this book can be a big help. Marjorie Savage has some of the best college tips for parents on how to respect a student’s boundaries while still providing emotional support.

From Mom to Me Again

When her children left for college, Melissa Shultz was certain that she had prepared them well for their new lives-but her own life was a different matter entirely. Her house was empty, her purpose unclear. If her life was no longer dominated by the day-to-day demands of being “Mom,” then who exactly was she? And how would she ever move forward? Shultz’s struggle with the empty nest and the transformation of her marriage, friendships, career, and ultimately herself, is part memoir and part self-help guide.

How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success

In this book, Julie Lythcott-Haims draws on research, on conversations with admissions officers, educators, and employers, and on her own insights as a mother and as a student dean to highlight the ways in which overparenting harms children, their stressed-out parents, and society at large. While empathizing with the parental hopes and, especially, fears that lead to overhelping, Lythcott-Haims offers practical alternative strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success.

Debt Free U

Zac Bissonnette has seen the currently flawed system first hand. He’s a contrarian, and his book is packed with studies and statistics to back up his analysis. It’s a magical combination that college-bound students and their parents should read, even if there’s plenty of money set aside to pay the tuition tab. There’s no harm in learning ways to get the biggest bang for your buck and the best education available at the same time.

The post 10 Books for Parents of Soon-To-Be College Students appeared first on ScholarPrep.

Can you believe it’s already August? Where did this summer go? Hopefully it flew by because you were having fun on summer vacation, working a summer job and spending much needed time with family and friends. But, it’s almost time for a new school year to start, which means it’s time for a little planning and goal setting.

I love new beginnings.

They give us the opportunity to reflect and dream about what we want to accomplish in the upcoming school year.

• Do you want to challenge yourself academically?
• Maybe you want to focus on gaining more leadership experience.
• Perhaps this year you want to focus on giving back to your community.

Take just a few moments to think about what you want to accomplish this year. Think about your passions and career aspirations. What can you do this year to build your resume and demonstrate who you are when it comes time to fill out those college and scholarship applications?

Ask yourself these questions and then set some concrete goals for the upcoming year.

• What am I passionate about?
• How do I like to spend my free time?
• What do I enjoy doing?
• What makes me special or unique?
• What are the three most interesting things about me?
• What do I want to be when I grow up?
• What will set me apart from other applicants?

When you’re done, let us know in the comments below what you’ve decided to focus on and how you will be challenging yourself this year!

The post Back to School Reflection and Goal Setting appeared first on ScholarPrep.

This Tuesday, we have six Top Tweets to share with you to make planning for college just a little bit easier. Whether your student is just starting high school this fall or you’re on your 15th campus tour this year, we hope we can offer a little insight and reassurance on your college bound journey. 

For our rockstar athletes out there, here are some great tips and questions to ask when planning for any summer showcase events. Good luck!

How to rock a #sports showcase this #summer https://t.co/Y0MgyHNzoj

— TeenLife (@TeenLifeMedia) August 9, 2016

Okay, parents. This 10 Tips list is packed full of helpful information about paying for college. Tip #5 is research, research, research. Honestly, I think that should be the title of the article. A little work and due diligence will ensure that neither you, nor your student, end up with crippling debt at the end of their college career. Check out the full post and start learning everything you can today.

10 Tips For Helping Parents Pay For College – https://t.co/HB371p8muF via @rd2college

— Monica L. Matthews (@AidScholarship) August 9, 2016

Lauren is a standardized test guru! Follow her tips for planning and executing the dreaded ACT practice test. These 9 tips will make sure you get the most value possible from the exercise. She even includes some test-taking tips and tricks and a FREE practice test. Happy studying!

9 Tips for Taking a Stellar #ACT Practice Test https://t.co/6MxgtJUyUE #testprep #admissions

— Lauren Gaggioli (@HigherScores) August 9, 2016

Writing your application essay is intimidating, but don’t overthink it.  Key takeaway here: when you write your essay, tell a meaningful story that without your essay the admissions officer would never know. What about you is unique and meaningful?

Our friends at @wowwriting show you how to make your essay stand out from the crowd! https://t.co/Jzy8fubNLD pic.twitter.com/Ndq5Or90aO

— Magoosh SAT & ACT (@MagooshSAT_ACT) August 8, 2016

What on earth is demonstrated interest? If you’re like most parents and students, you probably have no clue. Sure, we can make an educated guess: the amount of interest a student has demonstrated? But how is it done and is it important? Apparently, it is. Read the full article to learn about “showing a college some love.”

@HuffPostEdu What Exactly Does A College Mean When It Talks About 'Demonstrated Interest?' https://t.co/pDhuFSm3xS

— College MatchPoint (@CollegeMatchPt) August 9, 2016

Creating an impressive resume is a necessary skill at any age. Whether you are searching for a job, applying for college or competing for a scholarship, your resume can speak volumes. Check out this article for tips on creating the perfect resume. Warning: video is set to autoplay. But, its a great video!

2016 Career Guide and resume tips from Money Magazine – know how to market your key strengths to the right employers https://t.co/s2ciDSDOAh

— Roadmap for College (@Roadmap4college) August 9, 2016

Enjoying our Top Tweets Tuesday? Let us know in the comments below! What was your favorite tweet?

The post Top Tweets Tuesday – Issue #1 appeared first on ScholarPrep.

This is Issue #2 of our Top Tweets Tuesday Series where we share the top college prep tweets we’ve come across to make planning for college just a little bit easier. Whether your student is just starting high school or you’re on your 15th campus tour this year, we hope we can offer a little insight and reassurance on your college bound journey. 

The financial side of preparing for college is often the most stressful. Parents and students need to sit down early on in the college search process to ensure that everyone is on the same page about finances. Luckily, there are some great tools out there to help you figure out how much you will be expected to pay for college (read the article for the links and more info). One thing we want to stress on this topic: having this conversation very early is the best thing you can do for your family. If a student is interested in a college that is out of the budget, then they will know early on that they will need to work very hard to try to win scholarships to cover the cost. Or they will know that they need to consider some other schools that have a more realistic price tag. This conversation doesn’t need to be a dream crushing conversation. It’s purpose is to ensure that everyone in the family understands what is expected of them as they prepare for college. Read the full article below:

Discussing finances with your #collegebound child. https://t.co/wWiMWX8lGa #PayingForCollege

— Jessica Velasco (@Admissions411) August 15, 2016

These 8 steps to crafting your best college essay will walk you through a simple process to help you get started and ensure your essay is the best it can be. The videos build on the great tips they provide. We love the brainstorming exercise idea: start by listing 3 positive adjectives you would use to describe yourself. Read all 8 tips at the link below:

Make your college application essay the best it can be: https://t.co/klcTPhLVyb

— The College Board (@CollegeBoard) August 15, 2016

If you have a student who will be starting college next fall, be sure to double-check your state and school financial aid deadlines. With the FAFSA becoming available on October 1st this year (instead of the typical January release), some schools have changed their priority deadlines for financial aid. October 1st is not the deadline; that is determined by the college or university. However, it is important to keep in mind that aid is awarded based on when you file your FAFSA. Essentially, it is first-come, first-served. Read the full article to ensure you understand these changes:

Mark your calendars! @FAFSA has moved up their date for applying to October 1st this year. https://t.co/MwUtpudy1u #financialaid

— BreakThroughTestPrep (@BTTestPrep) August 15, 2016

For those of you who have a summer internship, make the most of it before summer is over! How can you do this? In a nutshell: keep up the good work, take initiative, do a little reflection, and ask for a letter of recommendation. Read the full article for details:

4 ways to make the most of your #summer #internship before it ends: https://t.co/JtQNgOyjHN

— University Language (@CampusCommons) August 15, 2016

First-generation college students (and their parents) may face some unique challenges related to planning for college. This article does a great job of bringing this issue to light and offering some concrete and valuable tips for navigating the process. Read the full article to find out what you can do to help your future first-generation college student:

5 Ways To Help First-Generation College Students https://t.co/sybnlDsdwi pic.twitter.com/wwHBE9aV8w

— Admissionado (@Admissionado) August 15, 2016

Don’t forget to take college fit into account during your college search. It’s not all about location, size and cost. Students, and parents, need to consider the fit between the school and the student’s personality. Consider the academics, bureaucracy and general environment of the school. Read the full article for tips on assessing college fit:

One issue of fit that doesn’t appear on most college planning checklists is beating the intimidation factor…. https://t.co/uTLG3uC3qI

— Megan Dorsey (@CollegePrepLLC) August 15, 2016

The simplicity of this tweet is a great reminder: applying for scholarships should be treated like a job. Every hour that you spend during high school preparing for college, every time you write an essay, every tedious scholarship search you do has the potential to result in money for your education.

A $500 #scholarship requiring 250 words pays $2.00 a word! Nice return! Check out https://t.co/paTcItv0QC now! pic.twitter.com/yXOtGB3mw4

— Scholarships360 (@scholarships360) August 16, 2016

See you next Tuesday!

The post Top Tweets Tuesday – Issue #2 appeared first on ScholarPrep.

This is a guest blog post written by Suzanne Shaffer, who counsels parents in the college admissions process and the importance of early college preparation. Her blog offers timely college tips for parents and provides parents with the resources necessary to help their college-bound teens navigate the college maze. Her expert college advice articles and guest posts can be found at numerous sites related to the college admissions process. You can also find her on Twitter (@suzanneshaffer) and Facebook (parentcollegecoach). Her college advice has been featured on Huffington Post, Yahoo Finance and U.S. News College. She is an author and contributor for The University Parent Guide to Surviving Freshman Year and College Bound and Gagged. She is the parent college coach expert for Smart College Visit and TeenLife Media.

College interviews are stressful. But with a little preparation and some positive action, you should be able to ace the interview and place yourself on the college’s “accepted” list.

Do the Research on the College

Most college students go to a college interview without a solid understanding of the college and what it offers for students. Make sure to take time to surf the college web site, social channels, blogs, etc. in order to have efficient knowledge of the college.

Dress for the Interview

The question about what one should wear will have an affect on your first impression. In other words, if you do not get dressed for the college interview and take it seriously, you can’t expect them to take you seriously.

Find a way to stand out

Admissions officers interview multiple candidates every day. Find a way to stand out. Ask a thoughtful question. Engage in conversation. Exude confidence. All of these factors will help you create a positive impression.

Be yourself

This seems like an obvious piece of advice, but admissions officers want to get to know you. They don’t want to see a version of who you think you should be, but hey are looking for someone that will add to their freshman class. Be yourself and give that that someone. Your essay should be an extension of the interview as well. Seek help if necessary fromWorldEssays.com, but don’t pretend to be someone you are not.

Ask Your Own Questions

A successful interview is not about just sitting in a room and giving prepared answers to the admissions officer’s questions. This is a great chance to learn more about the college and its environment. Prepare a list of thoughtful questions before your interview and find the right moment to ask them.

Follow Up 

Don’t forget to follow up after the interview. Ask for a business card and send a personal thank you note when you return home. This will keep you on the admissions officer’s radar.

Finally, interview at the colleges in which you are a “perfect fit”. These colleges will see you as an added value to their community and be more likely to offer you admission.

The post 6 College Interview Secrets appeared first on ScholarPrep.

This is Issue #3 of our Top Tweets Tuesday series where we share the top college prep tweets we’ve come across to make planning for college just a little bit easier. Whether your student is just starting high school or you’re on your 15th campus tour this year, we hope we can offer a little insight and reassurance on your college bound journey. 

The College Essay Guy is the ultimate go-to resource for all things college essay related. We love this post because it gives students the opportunity to take a look at a REAL essay. After getting lost in the example, you can click the link at the end to see the College Essay Guy’s analysis of why this essay is great and how it illustrates the 5 essential principles of writing a good essay. Check out the post!

5 Essential Elements of a Great College Application Essay https://t.co/SxdGsjoqvr https://t.co/OPjbGixIUJ pic.twitter.com/7U5SF28u8w

— College Essay Guy (@CollegeEssayGuy) August 22, 2016

This one really got us. We still aren’t quite sure if this is a typo or a clever tactic for grabbing our attention. Intentional or not, it worked! We just had to know what they did! Check out the article for some practical tips to prepare for college.

4 things I did in #college that made #highschool easier https://t.co/4sZukGNaHp

— TeenLife (@TeenLifeMedia) August 23, 2016

First off, it is essential that parents and students understand the “superscore” concept. Second, you need to know if you will even get to use your superscore. Check out this post for a downloadable list of all colleges and universities who accept ACT superscores.

True or False: Not all colleges and universities superscore the #ACT. Find out: https://t.co/NxdQ2gvRvP #Collegbound pic.twitter.com/YvD7NQlINI

— The Princeton Review (@ThePrincetonRev) August 16, 2016

We absolutely love the simplicity of this tweet. Kim, great minds think alike! We have been talking about this all summer! Students need to be reflecting on their experiences, journaling and then using these insights to write a great college essay!

At its core, the college essay is really all about reflection. @wowwriting

— Kim Lifton (@kimlifton) August 19, 2016

Wondering if your student should enroll in AP courses? Find out what other parents have to say about the experience – good and bad. Check out the post to read the thoughts, concerns and insights of parents in the Grown and Flown community.

AP Courses: Parents’ Perspective https://t.co/N3i061EeCj via @grownandflown

— Susie Watts (@yourcollegepro) August 19, 2016

Homeschooling your student can present unique obstacles and opportunities when preparing them for college. Lauren always does an amazing job interviewing college prep experts on her podcast, and this is no exception. Listen to the full episode to find out what a homeschooling mom of 7 had to say about the college admission process.

How to get your #homeschooled student into #college with @karen_trina.https://t.co/2BNYT1Uxiw#edchat #collegebound #homeschool

— Lauren Gaggioli (@HigherScores) August 19, 2016

Have a great week and see you next Tuesday!

The post Top Tweets Tuesday – Issue #3 appeared first on ScholarPrep.

Extracurricular activities are an essential part of a college or scholarship application.

Scholarship committees are NOT merely looking for the applicant with the best grades and the highest test scores. They want what most people call a “well-rounded student.” However, there are a few misconceptions about what this means.

Well-rounded doesn’t mean that you are a member of every club at your school, only attending the monthly meetings. It also doesn’t mean that you must have multiple interests.

How about we give you an example:

Let’s say that you’re interested in tennis and that you play on your high school tennis team. In the off-season, you join a traveling team that competes across the region, run a tennis camp at the local boys and girls club, and even have your own business during the summer giving lessons.

Even though tennis is only one interest, you would definitely fit that well-rounded description because you have turned that interest into several activities that extend far beyond your school involvement.

Scholarship committees want to see that you are dedicated to your passions and that you are willing to take initiative to turn them into other opportunities. The tennis example demonstrates just that, as well as the fact that you have the ability to make connections with others in order to make this happen.

On the other hand, it’s great to have multiple interests. Say you play on the tennis team, but aren’t involved in all of the other ways mentioned above. It would be just as impressive to balance that with other organizational involvement, such as the math team and choir. Just make sure that your involvement has depth.

Wondering what activities to pursue?

Start my making a list of the things that interest you. Any interest can be turned into an extracurricular activity.

• If you like to garden, start a gardening club, a community garden, or organize an annual seed swap.
• If your passion is music, start a band, host a radio show, or hunt down bands to play for a local charity event.

These examples all demonstrate depth, which is exactly what scholarship committees are looking for when it comes to extracurricular activities.

Tip: Be interesting! Think about the type of activities at a typical high school: sports, math team, debate team, science club, chess club, newspaper, yearbook, etc… These are the extracurriculars that scholarship committees see every day. If you have an unusual passion or talent, pursue it! This is an opportunity to stand out from the crowd, as well as demonstrate those characteristics mentioned above: dedication, initiative, and depth.

It’s important to start exploring your interests early. This will allow you to try out different activities and narrow it down to the ones you’re really passionate about. The more time you’re involved, the more opportunities you will find, which means more depth.

Bonus: If you follow this advice, then you will most likely earn some distinction in your area of interest in the form of honors or awards. Similarly, leadership experience is a highly sought after characteristic for scholarship recipients. By getting involved in extracurriculars, you will come across many opportunities to demonstrate your leadership abilities.

Let us know in the comments below: What is your favorite extracurricular activity? How are you demonstrating depth?

The post The Purpose of Extracurricular Activities appeared first on ScholarPrep.

This is Issue #4 of our Top Tweets Tuesday series where we share the top college prep tweets we’ve come across to make planning for college just a little bit easier. Whether you’re just starting high school or you’re on your 15th campus tour this year, we hope we can offer a little insight and reassurance on your college bound journey. 

According to our friends at Admissionado, the key to making your essay stand out is to take risks, but not bad risks. Read the article to learn more about the types of risks you should avoid when trying to write an essay that isn’t boring.

Avoid Taking These 3 Risks While Writing Your College Application Essays —> https://t.co/JY2NUwOXFW pic.twitter.com/QIwFpl7gED

— Admissionado (@Admissionado) September 5, 2016

Practice, practice, practice. This is key to achieving your score goal on the ACT. If you want to get an idea of how you will do on the test, schedule your own practice test at home. Convince a couple of your friends to join in and have your parents run the exam like the real thing. Use this FREE practice test, which includes some helpful tips and strategies for preparing.

Want to prepare for the ACT test? Here's a full-length, free practice test: https://t.co/typiD1EUXk #ACTprep pic.twitter.com/rnoMqMwA1v

— ACT Prep Academy (@myprepacademy) September 5, 2016

If you are taking the ACT this weekend, here is a simple reminder of what you need to bring with you on test day (and what not to bring)!

Taking the ACT on Saturday? Make sure you have everything you need on test day: https://t.co/8K9JhTlBrW pic.twitter.com/DKZHohh3qE

— ACTStudent (@ACTStudent) September 5, 2016

We LOVE giveaways and we love sharing them with parents and students. Want to win a full year of AdmitSee, a 6-month online test prep subscription, six one-on-one personalized college tours, and $100 worth of essay feedback? If you are a high school junior or senior, all you have to do is visit the link below and enter before Wednesday September 14^th! Good luck!

Enter #collegeapps giveaway this Labor Day to win test prep, essay editing services & more! https://t.co/FcpYn0XreS pic.twitter.com/FdODUQwein

— AdmitSee (@AdmitSee) September 5, 2016

We recommend that students start their list of potential colleges as early as possible. But once you have a list started, how do you narrow it down to the schools where you will apply? Check out this great post from The College Board on managing and categorizing your college list.

Overwhelmed by your #college list? Narrow it down with tips from @MyBigFuture: https://t.co/JnNacwMfXZ

— AP for Students (@APforStudents) September 5, 2016

Its that time of year when seniors are starting to stress over their college essays. So, here is another great article about taking risks with your essay to help it stand out. We love the focus on taboos/guidelines that will help you decide what to include, or what might be crossing a line.

3 big college essay taboos—and when to break them anyway https://t.co/DcTkUnVpFc via @MONEY

— Marilyn G.S. Emerson (@EmEdConsulting) September 5, 2016

Have a great week! See you next Tuesday!

The post Top Tweets Tuesday – Issue #4 appeared first on ScholarPrep.

This is a guest blog post written by our friends at Student Caffé, a free, inclusive resource for current and prospective college students. They offer in-depth articles on becoming a competitive college applicant, discovering four-year schools or less traditional alternatives, preparing a college application, and finding and applying for financial aid. Student Caffé is motivated by a firm belief that higher education should be accessible to anyone in the United States who wants to learn, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, race, religion, income bracket, immigration status, military service, disability, etc. We encourage you to learn more about Student Caffé and check out the original post!

So you received a couple of acceptance letters and with them, some less-than-ideal financial aid offers. Maybe one school gave you a lot more money than the other, but the school that is shortchanging you is your top choice. Without more money, going to your dream college might not be a possibility. The good news is this: You’re not out of options yet.

There are two types of appeals that you can make to a college. It’s important to use the word “appeal,” not “negotiation,” because financial aid officers aren’t in the business of negotiating. It sounds cheap, almost as if you were bargaining for a bag of spices or goods at an art fair. Financial aid and admissions officers can, however, be in the business of reading appeals. Isn’t that really what a college application is, when you think about it?

Change in circumstance appeals.

A change in circumstance appeal may help you explain any drastic financial situation that has affected your family since your FAFSA was first submitted. It could include anything from a parent losing his or her job to a family member getting sick and having to deal with high health care bills. If your town experienced a natural disaster and your family lost everything, you are a good candidate for a change in circumstance appeal.

This type of appeal is also known as professional judgement. In fact, Congress has given college financial aid offices the right to reevaluate student awards in extreme cases. As a result, the decision of your school’s financial aid office is final. If you receive a no, you cannot appeal to anyone else. Be polite and do not try to gain the sympathy vote. Though a financial aid officer may be sympathetic to your situation, putting on airs and exaggerating will not get you anywhere.

If you have experienced a change in circumstance and would like to request a professional judgement, contact the financial aid office. Have the following ready:

• A written appeal detailing the change in circumstance
• Details on how much the financial situation has changed
• Projected costs (if the circumstance is ongoing)
• Documents proving the situation

Typically, change in circumstance appeals are more successful than matching appeals, which you can read about below. Ron Lieber wrote in a 2014 New York Times article that Occidental College approved one-third of appeals and Cornell University approved about half. Those statistics aren’t too bad, and if you meet the criteria for the appeal, you may be given enough money to make college possible.

Matching appeals.

Matching appeals go like this. A student receives two financial aid offers. One of them is better than the other one. The student then shows the better offer to the college that didn’t award him or her with as much money in the hopes that it will raise its award to match the better offer. It’s easier to make a matching appeal than a change of circumstance appeal, but be prepared for a no. This type of appeal isn’t typically very successful.

The process is easy. You bring your financial aid award letter from a competing institution to the attention of financial aid officers and ask them if there is anything they can do for you. They may not help you, in which case you need to reevaluate your finances, check for any other sources of aid, and possibly take the school off your list. However, in some cases, they may agree to increase your financial aid award.

The amount of increase can depend on many factors: whether the competing offer was for need- or merit-based aid, the caliber of the competing institution, and the cost of attendance at each school. Ivy League schools typically match offers from other Ivies. The decision to grant a matching appeal, however, is up to each institution. There is no law or act of Congress that forces a school to do it. Still, it’s better to test your luck and be pleasantly surprised than not try at all.

What if there still isn’t enough money?

This is not a fun situation to be in, but it does happen. If you haven’t had any luck with appeals, you can try a couple more things before giving up. Calculate how much money you will need to make college possible, then consider the following options:

• If you haven’t qualified for work-study, ask the financial aid or campus employment office if there are still any on-campus jobs available for students.
• Check out the town to see if any local businesses are hiring college students for part-time work.
• Recheck local, state, and country-wide scholarship postings. New scholarships are created all the time, and you never know what you might’ve missed the first time around. Apply for anything and everything.
• Depending on how much money you need, you could consider crowdfunding.

Funding your education is tough, especially with tuition rates that seem to keep climbing. Keep your chin up and be persistent. Your perseverance just might pay off.

The post How to Afford College when the FAFSA Doesn’t Foot the Bill appeared first on ScholarPrep.

This is Issue #5 of our Top Tweets Tuesday series where we share the top college prep tweets we’ve come across to make planning for college just a little bit easier. Whether you’re just starting high school or you’re on your 15th campus tour this year, we hope we can offer a little insight and reassurance on your college bound journey. 

We’re all about planning, which is why we love this article about creating a semester plan to stay on top of test prep. Our favorite part is step 3, make it fun! Planning and studying doesn’t have to be serious and stressful. Find a way to make it fun. Reward yourself! You deserve it!

Struggling to fit #TestPrep into your busy school schedule? Here are 4 ways to effectively prioritize it: https://t.co/EczadScyFg #SAT #ACT

— Varsity Tutors (@varsitytutors) September 13, 2016

Building your college list is an important step in the college planning process. If you’re just starting out, this task can seem intimidating. Check out this straightforward guide on how to create your college list (complete with a printable pdf)!

How to Create a Great College List https://t.co/HaZ8EWcWE2 pic.twitter.com/R0PT0uf86v

— College Essay Guy (@CollegeEssayGuy) September 13, 2016

Hey parents! If you’re wondering how you can help your child manage stress in high school, check out this great article from Your Teen Magazine. They give you six practical ways that you can support your student, which means less stress for everyone!

Don't let #highschool stress ruin this school year! 6 Ways Parents Can Help: https://t.co/cg8QhGJvuP #stress pic.twitter.com/8kpG6CsZ8n

— Your Teen Magazine (@YourTeenMag) September 13, 2016

No one likes a late fee. If you plan on taking the ACT in October, make sure you’re signed up by Friday!

The registration deadline for the October ACT test is this Friday, September 16. Register now & avoid the late fee: https://t.co/ZM6vLlUBpG

— ACTStudent (@ACTStudent) September 13, 2016

If you’re starting your junior year, you’re probably already starting to feel the pressure to get serious about planning for college. Here is a list of six things you should be thinking about and checking off your list this year. If I could add a number 7, it would be to relax and enjoy the process

High school juniors–>Put these 6 "to-dos" on your college list https://t.co/R29QMFV0YN pic.twitter.com/xJA9rmyQrt

— SmartCollegeVisit (@collegevisit) September 13, 2016

See you next Tuesday!

The post Top Tweets Tuesday – Issue #5 appeared first on ScholarPrep.

Work experience looks great on a college or scholarship application because it demonstrates time management and responsibility if a student is able to work, maintain their grades and stay involved in other activities.

Should all students show work experience?

Not all students will have work experience during high school. This will depend on your specific situation. If you’re heavily involved in sports, extracurricular activities and community service, you won’t necessarily need to have much, if anything, for this section.

On the flip side, some students may have to work throughout high school, not leaving them much time to get involved in other activities. The work experience section of an application allows reviewers to gain a better understanding of how you spent your time in high school.

If working a job interferes with your ability to participate in extracurriculars, it is even more important to keep a detailed log of your work experience and highlight this in the writing portion of your application. Again, the purpose of your application is to paint a picture of who you are, how you spent your time and what makes you unique.

What type of work can be included?

Now, when filling out this section, keep in mind that only legitimate jobs should be included. Do not list money you made for chores or babysitting your siblings.

However, you can include more than your typical paid jobs. If you are planning on attending a vocational school, or pursuing a career that encourages job shadowing, track those hours in this section, even if they are unpaid. Internships are another type of experience that should be tracked in this section even if the position is unpaid.

TIP: Keep pay stubs or other documentation in your ScholarPrep Organizer in order to track relevant information, including hours, pay, and dates of employment.

One question we hear a lot is: What type of job will look impressive?

You do not have to have a prestigious job to include it on your application, bagging groceries and even that fun summer job at the pool can demonstrate work ethic and dedication. Don’t worry about trying to become what you think might look impressive on an application. Embrace your strengths, weaknesses and the reality of your situation and utilize every component of the application to showcase you’re authentic self.

BONUS TIP: Ask your employer for a letter of recommendation. Keep copies of these letters for future use, or a boost of confidence

What are your thoughts? Do you thinking having a job in high school is important? What type of work experience are you listing on your applications? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Should Students Work in High School? appeared first on ScholarPrep.

This is Issue #6 of our Top Tweets Tuesday series where we share the top college prep tweets we’ve come across to make planning for college just a little bit easier. Whether you’re just starting high school or you’re on your 15th campus tour this year, we hope we can offer a little insight and reassurance on your college bound journey. 

Students: be mindful when making your college list and including safety schools. When you put a college on your list, imagine how you would feel if that was the only college where you were accepted. Make sure those “safety” schools would actually be a good fit for you. Read the full article to learn more about what to consider when picking your safety schools.

Don't consider a school a "safety." It should still be a good-fit school that you'd be happy to attend. https://t.co/KTTqYE8azB

— IvyWise (@IvyWise) September 19, 2016

College fairs are a great resource for students as they prepare for college! Here is a checklist to make sure you make the most of them instead of leaving feeling overwhelmed or with even more questions.

College fairs are great opportunities to meet college reps & get important info. Make the most of them: https://t.co/6KeYNm5hn8

— BigFuture (@MyBigFuture) September 19, 2016

You will probably see a post like this in our top tweets for the next month or so. This new change in the financial aid process is very important. Parents and students need to be prepared to fill out the FAFSA as soon as October 1st rolls around. Are you ready?

A3: Students + parents will use tax info from 2015. This is referred to as the prior-prior year #MillennialMon pic.twitter.com/FqHP0Z3zgh

— LA Cash for College (@lacash4college) September 19, 2016

This article provides some great insight on what colleges want to see from applicants. It confirms the trend we have been seeing in recent years: who are you, what are you passionate about, and how are you engaged in your community? Read the full article to see the application questions.

Yale’s new application questions give away the key things elite colleges want to see from students https://t.co/G2Khrws6gh

— Student Caffé (@StudentCaffe) September 20, 2016

They had us at “start early” and “get organized.” If you are looking for a simple roadmap to getting accepted to college, this is a great article! We have been talking a lot lately about tip #2 – know yourself. This is essential to your success during the application process. Students need to figure out their interests, strengths and passions. Read the full article at the link below.

https://t.co/bbBKCZCN6D has some excellent tips for students
15 Quick Tips for Getting Accepted into Collegehttps://t.co/OSufp9sKyV

— Go To College Fairs (@gotocollegefair) September 20, 2016

Have a great week and see you next Tuesday!

The post Top Tweets Tuesday – Issue #6 appeared first on ScholarPrep.

We received such great feedback from our College Prep Jump Start Webinars in the spring that we are offering another webinar this month all about HOW TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE.

Students who start planning for college in 9th grade will be more prepared to apply to the college of their dreams and earn scholarships to pay for their education.

Learn everything you need to know in our free webinar for parents on September 29^th at 7 pm Central time. This webinar is ideal for parents with kids in 9th – 11th grade.

CLICK HERE TO SAVE YOUR SPOT

We will walk you through the best way to prepare so that after the webinar, you will know how to:

• start tracking the information you will need for applications.
• keep everything organized to avoid stress and overwhelm.
• make sure your student doesn’t miss out on scholarships.
• ensure your child will be ready to fill out applications.
• reduce the financial burden of college on your family.

The webinar will be presented by Jordan Schanda, Co-Founder of ScholarPrep®

My mom and I created ScholarPrep® out of our personal experiences with the college and scholarship application process. It became obvious through our experience that parents and students needed a little help to ensure that they would be prepared to fill out applications without all the stress we experienced.

CLICK HERE TO SAVE YOUR SPOT

The post LIVE WEBINAR: HOW TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE appeared first on ScholarPrep.