COLLEGE TIP: Reclaim wasted time during your classes...

Let’s face it. Not every class is going to require your utmost concentration. Sometimes teachers babble. Sometimes they reiterate what you already know. What percentage of class time requires your complete, focused attention? For some classes it’s 90%. For others it’s 20%. If you aren’t actively learning during class, you’re wasting ...time. If a class is really challenging, sit in the front and soak up every word. But if a class isn’t challenging you, then sit in the back, do homework for other classes, and pop your head up every once in a while to see if there’s anything worth jotting down. Always have a book open, so when your hippie professor goes off on yet another nostalgia trip about the 60s, you’ll have something productive to do.

What to Bring to College

It’s an exciting but sad day, packing the stuff in your room at home to take to your new home - college. As simple as this seems it is quite a challenging process. I have seen dorm rooms overflowing with junk that will never be used, as well as several students who have had to borrow everything from their roommate or new neighbors. You don't want to be on either end of that spectrum, but somewhere in the middle. Space is usually at a premium, so efficiency is the goal.

I'm going to __________in the Fall. So, what should I bring?

The first thing you should do is call your roommate and coordinate what each of you is going to bring. There is nothing worse than having two refrigerators but no TV or, worse still, two of everything!

Here is a list of things that will likely come in handy during the year. Not all of them are a must, but hopefully there will be some in this list that you hadn’t thought of.

• Television
• DVD player
• NetFlix membership
• Microwave
• Refrigerator (or a micro-fridge combo unit)
• Cell phone with good service/coverage where your college is. Another good thing to do is to use prepaid T-Mobile cell phones to stay in touch with friends and family. That way there are no surprises when the bill comes!
• Digital camera to capture all your new friends and fun
• I-Pod/MP3 player/Stereo with a docking station
• Computer (preferably a laptop), with peripherals
• Three prong extension cords
• Power strip/surge protector
• Sports equipment (football, volleyball, basketball, and any other type of ball)
• Desk Lamp
• Alarm Clock (maybe two)
• Laundry bag or basket
• Laundry soap
• Stain Remover/stain stick
• Knowledge of how to do laundry or money to pay someone else to do it
• One or more rolls of quarters (for laundry, the coke machine, tolls, etc.)
• Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover
• Sewing kit (needles and thread, safety pins, two-sided tape, etc.)
• Eating utensils (preferably plastic)
• Cups and plates - plastic or styrofoam (washing dishes in a community bathroom isn't fun)
• Twin XL Bedding - Most dorm beds measure 39 x 80 – so you will need extra long twin sheets, mattress pads and featherbeds. Blankets tend to be longer but for comforters an extra long twin is helpful to avoid cold toes twin xl comforters range from 66 x 90 to 68 x 92.
• Anything to decorate your room and make you feel at home
• Iron and small ironing board, starch
• PDA/organizer/planner
• Backpack
• College clothes (leave the high school T-shirts and letter jackets at home)
• Bike and a (good) bike lock
• Fan (campus housing may have poor air circulation)
• Bath towels, soap, robe, etc.
• Personal hygiene items (toothpaste, deodorant, etc...)
• Shower shoes, flip flops, or Crocs
• Shower caddy for toiletries (if you have a community bathroom)
• Small can-opener and bottle opener
• First aid kit, including Band-aids, antibiotic ointment, ace bandage, etc.
• Tylenol or other pain reliever
• Umbrella
• Raincoat
• Rain shoes/boots
• Pictures of family, friends and/or pets
• Your insurance card/health insurance information
• Phonebook from your hometown (so you can call and order flowers for your Mom on her birthday, etc.)
• Insurance agent contact information
• Friends and family contact list
• Swimsuit(s)
• Workout and/or sports clothes
• “Dress” clothes (guys, this means at least a blazer and one or more ties)
• “Grubby” clothes (who knows if you’ll go clean up along the highway, paint someone’s house or need to play football in the mud)
• Confidence
• Positive attitude
• Textbooks - You don't have to buy them from FROM your school. Affordable college textbooks are available online. Savvy college students have realized they can now rent college textbooks instead of buying, in order to save money on books.

More importantly, what you should leave at home!!!

• Pets (Fish are marginally okay)
• High school memorabilia and letter jackets
• Full size refrigerator (rooms are only so big)
• Fire arms – even if you hunt or shoot for sport (regardless where you live at college, the security is likely not as good as it was back home)
• Expensive clothing and accessories (This is the real world, theft does occur)
• Out-of-season clothes (your closet is only so big). If you live a great distance from your school, bring a light jacket and some long sleeve shirts for when the weather changes unexpectedly, and for cold buildings.
• Personalized license plate from your car - You don't want to give strangers information about yourself
• Jewelry you don't wear often
• Your car if you can - it's much cheaper and you won't have to fight for parking spots

What should I major in college?

Consider these Aspects when Choosing a Major in College

As you begin looking into choosing a major in college, please ask yourself a few questions before you pick a college major:

• Do you work well with people and thrive in a busy, fast paced environment?
• Do your strengths lie in computers and technology?
• Is it imperative that you work in a field where you are able to help people?
• Do you enjoy hands-on work?
• Would you like to work outdoors?
• Do you enjoy working with children?
• Would you like to travel?
• Do you want to live in a city or a rural area?
• Would you like to work with animals?
• and others…
  
  

These are all important questions that you need to ask yourself as you begin choosing a major in college.

Choosing a major in college and ultimately deciding on the type of field that you go into could determine what college you end up attending. It is important to take into consideration the cost of attending different colleges, the area in which each college is located, the social environment of the college, and what additional extra-curricular services are offered at each school. Most importantly, though, is making sure that you are choosing a major in college that suits you and is something you can see yourself doing for years to come.

Homesickness: How to Help Your Child

While your child was counting down the days until she left for college, you were doing a countdown of your own, one tinged with sadness because your "baby" was leaving. On the fourth day of her independence, something strange happened. She called, crying, saying she was homesick and wanted to come home. You prepared yourself for hearing stories about her meeting all kinds of new people and even staying out much too late, but you never prepared yourself for this.

How Did This Happen?

Don't panic. Homesickness is a very common reaction for a first-year student to have. Keep in mind that even though your child was really excited to go away to college, she just moved away from everything comfortable and familiar. Freshmen are in a strange place where they may not know anyone. They are living with strangers, trying to find their classes, doing their own laundry, and eating food that isn't quite home cooking.

In addition, in high school, your child may have been a big fish. Now the pond is exponentially larger, and she probably feels very small. That is a lot of change to manage overnight, and your child is bound to feel overwhelmed and to miss her old life. However, you can rest assured that homesickness is almost always temporary.

What You Can Do

Now the 500 miles between you and your child feel more like 500,000. "What can I do? I'm so far away," you think. In fact, there's a lot you can do to help. Here are a few strategies to help your child adjust.

Validate your child's feelings: Tell your child that you understand and agree that it must be hard. While telling her not to worry because everything will be okay may be true in the end, it will help her more to know that you agree this is a big deal and that you understand it is really difficult.

Let your child vent: Your child is meeting new people and having many new experiences and may be overwhelmed. One of the most important steps to working through homesickness is talking about the feelings this difficult period brings. If you think your child needs to vent, ask questions to prompt her, but if she doesn't want to share, don't push it. This may only make her feel more overwhelmed. Just let your child know that you are available if she wants to talk.

Tell your child that homesickness is normal: Your child may think she's the only one feeling homesick. Let her know that she's not alone. Even the kids down the hall who are always laughing and who seem to be doing great probably have moments when they feel homesick.

Encourage your child to seek out campus resources: Suggest that your child talk to a resident advisor or a university counselor who is trained to talk about feelings of homesickness.

More Strategies to Relieve Homesickness

While homesickness often cures itself, you can suggest several other strategies to hasten the process.

Create a home away from home: While you aren't there physically, you, other family members, and friends should be there in photos decorating your child's dorm room.

Phone-home night: Set up a specific day and time each week to talk to your child. While your child knows that she can always call you in times of distress, it will help to know that she has a constant in her life that she can count on in this time of uncertainty and instability.

Communicate often and in different ways: In addition to phone-home night, make sure that you email and snail mail often. Everyone who's away at school loves to receive mail and small packages. Send clippings from your home newspaper, photos, and home-cooked desserts. Encourage your child to talk to her high school friends about how they are coping.

Encourage your child to make friends: Suggest that your child go to dinner at the cafeteria with a roommate or someone on her floor. Tell her to attend dorm activities and campus clubs. If she follows your suggestions, she is likely to meet people with similar interests. The more social opportunities your child seeks out, the better her chances of meeting people and feeling more comfortable in her new surroundings.

Adjusting to college life takes time. The best thing you can do is be supportive and tell your child that you miss her too. Before you know it, the homesickness will have dissipated to the point that she will be calling to say that she's not going to make it home after all, because he's doing something with friends at school. Then your challenge will be managing your disappointment, but that's a separate topic.

When should I apply to college?

College Application Calendar

There’s a lot to keep track of when you’re applying to college. Your child can use this calendar to get an overview of the college application process and its important deadlines.

It is only a general guide and does not apply to all colleges. Consult application materials, admission offices and institution websites for the specific requirements and deadlines for each college.

Remember to also check the financial aid calendar, to make sure your child meets those important deadlines.

The Summer Before Senior Year

• Visit colleges that interest you. Get the campus tour schedule. Arrange an on-campus interview with an admission representative.
• Create a resume — a list of your accomplishments, activities and work experiences. Your resume can help you complete your applications and essays.
• Keep a college calendar of all admission deadlines.
• If you plan on competing in Division I or Division II college sports and want to be eligible to be recruited by colleges, register with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Eligibility Center.
• If you took AP^® Exams in May, look for your AP score reports in July.
• Register early for fall test dates for the SAT^® and SAT Subject Tests™.

September

• Contact your school counselor — your counselor plays a big role in helping you get into college. Meet to talk about your college plans and review your transcript.
• Finalize your list of colleges. Be sure you list "safety" colleges, as well as “probable” and "reach" colleges. Review college applications and informational materials. Organize materials into separate files by college.
• If you plan to apply through an early decision or early action program, get started on your applications right away. Deadlines for early applications tend to be in November.
• Begin working on your college essays. Think of topics that focus on your experiences and make you stand out from the crowd.

October

• Ask your counselor, teachers or employers for letters of recommendation. Give them plenty of time to meet your deadlines and be sure to provide them with stamped and addressed envelopes.
• If you take the SAT or SAT Subject Tests this month, make sure your scores are sent to each of your colleges.

November

• Submit early decision and early action applications on time.
• Work hard at completing your college essays. Proofread them rigorously for mistakes.
• Follow up to ensure that letters of recommendation are sent on time to meet your deadlines.
• Send applications as early as possible for colleges with rolling deadlines (that is, admission decisions are made as applications are received).
• If you take the SAT or SAT Subject Tests this month, make sure your scores are sent to each of your colleges.

December

• Try to wrap up college applications before winter break. Make copies of each application before you send it.
• If you take the SAT or SAT Subject Tests this month, make sure your scores are sent to each of your colleges.
• Contact the financial aid office at the colleges on your list to see what financial aid forms they require.
  
  

January

• Have your counselor send your first-semester grades to colleges that require a midyear grade report.
  
  

February

• Contact your colleges and confirm that all necessary application materials have been received.
• Continue to perform well in school and don't get senioritis; colleges want to see strong second-semester grades.
• Register for AP Exams you want to take in May.
  
  

March

• Read carefully any admission decisions that arrive this month; some may require action on your part.

April

• Read carefully any admission decisions and compare the financial aid award letters that arrive this month; some may require action on your part.
• Make a final decision, and mail the enrollment form and deposit check to the college you select before the May 1 enrollment deadline (for most colleges).
• Notify each of the colleges that accepted you but that you will not attend of your decision, so that your spot can be freed up for another student.
• If you’re on a waiting list, contact the admission office and let them know of your continued interest in the college; update them on your spring semester grades and activities.

May

• If you take any AP Exams, make sure your AP score report is sent to your college.
• Study hard for final exams. Most admission offers are contingent on your final grades.
• Thank your counselor, teachers, employers and anyone else who wrote letters of recommendation for you or otherwise helped with your college applications.

June

• Have your counselor send your final transcript to your chosen college.
• If you plan on competing in Division I or Division II college sports, have your counselor send your final transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Summer

• Make travel plans; book early for the best prices.
• Shop for items you need for college.
• Make sure to sign up for first-year orientation.
• Plan your first-semester courses. Choose subjects that interest you and may become your college major.

College Application Checklist

Step 1 – Get your list of colleges together.

You can’t apply to college until you know what schools you want to apply to. Take some time to research various schools websites. Request additional information – brochures, catalogs, etc.

Talk with your family, they know you best. Run your list of potential schools by them to get their opinions and take their thoughts into consideration.

Once you come up with your final list, make sure you visit the campus. Campus visits are the best way for you to tell if a college is truly the best fit for you.

Step 2 – Gather the applications.

Now that you’re ready to apply to the 5-7 schools on your list, you should make a list of all the schools and their application deadline.

If you send in your application after the deadline, then it won’t be accepted. Don’t risk this! Take the time now to get those application deadlines down.

Step 3 – Fill out the applications.

Carefully read all of the application instructions first! Once you’re done, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Have you answered all the questions?
2. Is your handwriting legible?
3. Have you proofread the application for grammar and spelling errors?
4. Did someone else proofread it?
5. Did you sign it?
6. Did you include the application fee? Or did you include the application fee waiver?

Step 4 – Transcripts & ACT/SAT Scores.

Your application will require you to have additional supporting documentation to verify your grades, class rank, and score on standardized exams.

In order to make sure you have everything, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Have you sent your official high school transcript to each college?
2. Have you sent your ACT and/or SAT scores to each college?
3. Have you sent your SAT Subject Tests scores to each college (if applicable)?
4. Have you sent your Advanced Placement (AP) test scores to each college (if applicable)?

Step 5 – Get references & Write essays.

Recommendation letters and college admissions essays are a huge part of the college application process. Before submitting your application, answer the following questions:

1. Have you completed all the required essays?
2. Are you comfortable with the quality of your essay? (If not, solicit feedback from others)
3. Have you given your personal reference form to your guidance counselor?
4. Did your guidance counselor send your personal reference letter to each respective college?
5. Have you given the required forms to your other references?
6. Did they complete them and send them to each respective college?

Step 6 – Fill out Financial Aid forms.

When applying for financial aid, you have to fill out the proper forms. Before submitting your application, answer the following questions:

1. Did you complete the FAFSA form? (fafsa.ed.gov)
2. Did you complete PROFILE?

3. Did you complete any private scholarship forms that you wanted to apply for? (www.YCLscholarship.org)
4. Did you complete all school-specific scholarships (if applicable)?

Step 7 – Schedule the interview.

Do any of the schools on your list require you to have an interview? If so, make sure you call them to have it scheduled. In preparation for the interview, consider the following questions:

1. Why are you interested in this school?
2. What are you planning to study and why?
3. What will you contribute to the campus?

Once each college has evaluated your application, you will receive a letter in the mail or an email letting you know if you’ve been accepted. Most colleges will send you a letter/email by May 1^st.

In order to submit a good college application, you should follow the steps above. Good Luck! Before you know it, your mailbox will be full of acceptance letters!

10 Questions To Help You Find The Perfect College

There are certain factors that must be considered before choosing a college. After all, this is a huge decision. You’ll be spending the next four years at this college. There are 3 things that you have to keep in mind as you go through the college selection process: school preferences, career plans, and personal needs.

Below I’ll identify 10 questions that you can ask yourself to help you think through these very important things.

Question 1 – What Will I Major In?

If you know for certain that you want to major in physical therapy or zoology, but the colleges you’re researching don’t offer these majors, then you have to reconsider either your major or your college selection.

Question 2 – How Sure Am I About My Major Choice?

A lot of students change their college major at least once during their college career, so selecting a college solely based on your major might not be a good idea. You might be stuck on a major in biology, but then later realize that you want to major in finance. So take some time to really consider how sure you are about your major choice.

Question 3 – Should I Consider A Community College?

Some students just aren’t ready to attend a 4-year college or university. This could be for several reasons…affordability, maturity, fear of homesickness, grades, etc. Whatever the case may be, consider if a community college might be a better option for you at this stage in your life.

Question 4 – Should I Attend A Small or Large University?

If you attended a small private high school, then you might not be comfortable at a large university with hundreds of students in each lecture or you might be ready for a change. Just take time to think about these things…

Question 5 – Should I Consider A Faith-Based College?

If religion plays an important role in your life, maybe you should consider attending a faith-based college. Add this to your list of things to research as you are selecting a college.

Question 6 – Private vs. Public College?

Some students will prefer private colleges, while others will prefer to attend a public college.

Question 7 – Can I Afford It?

You have to pay attention to the price tag and how much money you can afford to spend on a college education before you can make a decision.

Question 8 – How Am I Going To Pay For College?

Will your parents be helping you out with tuition and other expenses or are you on your own? Will you take out any loans? Are you expecting to receive any scholarships or grants?

Question 9 – Will I Live On Campus?

This is another element that will play a role in how much it will cost to attend college. Living on campus can be expensive, so you must budget for this expense.

Question 10 – How Far Away From Home Do I Want To Go?

In what geographic area do you want to attend college? Are you ready to move half way across the country or does the thought of being more than a couple hours away from home give you anxiety? These are all things that you must consider as you go through the college selection process.