12 Modern Trends in College Admissions
by Sue Scheff on Nov 22, 2011
Is your senior teen waiting for their acceptance letter from their first choice college or any of the colleges they applied for? If they applied for early decision many should be receiving their letters in December.
The college admissions process has been making students nervous for decades, and no amount of preparation or understanding can make the game of “wait and see” any less stressful for prospective students and their families. While students are unlikely to ever get a break from the stress of this aspect, the admissions system that they deal with today isn’t the same one that their parents faced a couple of decades ago. Trends, preferences, and, most importantly, technology have all changed, contributing to some major shifts in how colleges find, evaluate, and choose students to attend their institutions.
Whether you’re applying to schools now or plan to in the coming months, it’s important to know just what trends are big in admissions right now. Some may affect how and where you decide to apply. Others are just interesting to know and demonstrate some compelling trends in society as a whole. No matter which of these categories they fall into, take your time reading about these modern trends in admission — they’ll help make you savvier and smarter about the process, and those qualities can never hurt to have in spades when it comes to college decisions.
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Admissions officials commonly check applicant’s Facebook pages
Social media has changed more than just how we communicate and keep in touch — it’s also had an impact on how colleges evaluate prospective students for admission. More than a quarter of schools in a 2009 survey indicated that they used social networks to locate information about students, and the number is likely to grow as social networking becomes ever more ubiquitous. That means students need to be smart about what they put on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace if they don’t want it to hurt their chances of college admission.
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Students are applying to more schools
Tuition may be up, but applications to colleges and interest in attending college haven’t tapered off. In fact, in recent years many schools have reported record highs in the number of applications they’ve received. Part of this is due to students applying to many more schools than was common in years past. Nationally, 17.8% of students applied to eight or more colleges, up from just 7.8% a decade ago. Experts believe it could have something to do with the ease of applying through technology, or aggressive recruiting tactics from some schools.
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Admission yields are down
Another byproduct of students applying to more schools may be the downward trend in admission yields. Admission yields are the percentage of accepted students accepted to a given school who ultimately end up attending. Average admission yields in 2011 were about 49%. Today, they are less than 41% and could drop further.
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Few students receive college admissions help from high school counselors and admissions officials
Many students may be struggling with the application and admissions process because they’re simply not getting the help they need. On average, the counselor to student ratio in the U.S. is 460 to 1. That’s a lot of students for one counselor to handle, and many simply don’t have the time to devote to helping each and every student, especially with many other duties besides college counseling on their plates. Only 26% of public schools have a counselor who works exclusively on college counseling, though a surprising 73% of private schools do.
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More and more students are on wait lists
Wait lists have been a part of the college admissions process for a long time, but not to the degree that they are today. Today, over 48% of schools use a wait list, a leap from just 39% in 2009. The number goes up even more for highly selective schools, with 63% using wait lists. Some of the most popular schools have wait lists that include 10,000 students or more, leaving many in limbo as they decide whether to wait out a decision from a top choice, or enroll with a school that accepted them from the get-go. Ultimately, only 28% of students on average will get a spot after being waitlisted.
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Grades are still the most important factor in college admissions
Your high school grades matter quite a bit when it comes to applying to college. In fact, they are generally the most important factor for college admissions officers when deciding whether or not you meet a school’s standards. A survey of schools nationwide found that the most important factors are GPA in college prep courses (upper level, AP, and honors courses, generally), the strength of the curriculum at your high school, your scores on the ACT and SAT, your overall GPA, and your college essay, in that order.
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Demonstrated interest, however, has risen significantly in importance
While the main factors of importance haven’t changed over the past few decades, there is a growing trend towards schools considering your interest in acceptance being a very important factor. In 2003, only 7% of schools thought it was important, but today, 22% do. With long wait lists and lower acceptance rates, students may find showing interest in a school is a way to get an edge, with all other factors being equal.
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Streamlined apps are becoming a hot way to market to applicants
Many colleges and universities are launching aggressive marketing and recruitment campaigns to help bolster their application numbers. One of the ways they’re doing this is through the use of “snap apps.” These streamlined applications often don’t require a fee or an essay, which may make them good for students who are already standouts, but could hurt those who may be struggling for acceptance and need an essay or room for extra recommendations to bolster their chances.
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Recommendations don’t hold the weight they once did
Once upon a time, recommendations from teachers and employers were a big factor in determining whether or not students would get into schools. These days, things have changed. Teachers and counselors are often overwhelmed with recommendation requests, and admissions officials are reporting that what they’re writing is often less specific and thoughtful and often tells admissions little about the student. As a result, only 17% of colleges now rank recommendations of “considerable importance” in the admissions process. Additionally, many schools have eliminated or greatly reduced the number of recommendations they require.
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Many schools no longer require the SAT or ACT for admission
The SAT and ACT have long been rites of passage for college-bound high school students, but fewer colleges are requiring the tests than ever before. It may have something to do with research that shows that the tests do little to predict the success of students in college, instead pointing to grades and GPA as being more important. Today, there are more than 815 colleges and universities that do not require the SAT or ACT for admission, and the numbers have grown rapidly in recent years.
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Schools are using social media to recruit applicants
Recruiting for colleges is increasingly being done through social media, though mailers and other more traditional methods are still popular. Schools can reach out to a large number of students in a cost-effective manner through social media, making it a popular choice. Today, students would be hard-pressed to find a school that doesn’t have a social media presence; they shouldn’t be surprised to get a friend request from a college or an admissions officer when applying to schools.
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Applications are more carefully audited
Whether it’s a sad sign of the times or due to the greater number of students applying to schools, cheating and lying on applications isn’t entirely uncommon. Colleges are increasingly trying to combat this, with schools like Stanford and Harvard increasing their use of fact checking applications and plagiarism software. Students who fudge applications should be aware that there’s a pretty good chance they’ll be caught, so honesty is, as usual, the best policy.
Source: Best Colleges Online
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Tags: College acceptance, College Admissions, college applications, Colleges, Education, Higher Education, SAT Scores, Schools
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Quicks tips to be prepared
by Sue Scheff on Oct 04, 2011
It was only a short time ago parents were scrambling to get school supplies and their kids ready for a new school year.
Now the time is nearing for parents.
Parent teacher conferences are usually set for October.
Are you ready?
Here are some tips to help you get the most from your time with your child’s teachers.
Before the conference:
- Check grades and teacher expectations. Many schools post student’s grades on their Student Information System. So review your child’s past work. There’s no reason to get caught off guard.
- Jot questions and prioritize concerns. Take a few minutes to jot down questions for the teacher. Take those with you so you won’t forget to ask. Also, don’t forget to ask your kid if there is anything the teacher might tell you that you don’t know. (It’s always best to not be surprised.)
- Meet your needs. If you need extra set of “ears” to be with you, you feel intimidated, or worry the teacher may use jargon you don’t understand, bring a friend (a neighbor, relative, older child). If you need a translator (language or sign), call the school to arrange one. Let the teacher know before the conference if you are in a contentious divorce or if your partner requests to come to the conference separately.
- Block time. The teacher has scheduled only a set amount of time, so you will want to use every second wisely and not be distracted. Arrange a baby sitter for a younger child and allow ample time to get there.
Here are the four areas of learning to discuss during the conference:
- Academic: Find out what your child’s strongest and weakest subjects are, how he compares to the other students and if he is keeping up with the workload. You might ask: “If you were to evaluate my child now, what would his grade and average test score be in each subject? “If the teacher uses educational terms that you’re not familiar with, ask for a simpler explanation. Ask to see specific examples of any academic problem so you know how to help or if a tutor might be helpful.
- Social: Find out how your childgets along with others. Let the teacher know of any bullying or repeated peer rejection and create a safety plan. Ask for recommendations for a new friend if there are social problems.
- Behavior: Find out how your child behaves around peers and adults and if he is showing up on time and prepared to learn. If there are behavior issues, get specifics: what the behavior looks like, the teacher’s discipline approach, any triggers or patterns (when and where the behavior usually happens), and how it is being resolved.
- Emotional/health: Find out how your child is coping. Explain any home issues that could affect your child’s learning performance (a divorce, deployment, illness of a relative) and any serious allergies, sleep problems, medication, counseling or other health-related issues that the teacher should know about.
If your child is having any kind of problem in one or more of those four learning areas, then discuss strategies you and the teacher can do to help your child by creating common goals. Discuss how you will you know if things are improving or declining and if there’s no improvement, ask what our “next step” will be and how the teacher would like to be contacted.
After your conference:
Go home, share what you learned with your child and parenting partner, and then commit to doing what you discussed. If you see that your child continues to struggle or you do not see improvement in a few weeks, or things get worse, call for another conference. If you still don’t get help, then it’s time to seek the help of the principal, vice-principal or counselor.
Parents, what are your parent- teacher conference experiences? Do you have any tips of your own to share? Please leave them in the comments.
Special contributor: Michele Borba, Parenting Expert and author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions.
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Tags: Education, Parent Teacher Conferences, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips
Does your teen want to drop out of school? How to help them get back on the right track
by Sue Scheff on Aug 29, 2011
How can we keep students in school? Research suggests that one of the most important things is to keep them engaged in a safe, supportive environment.
Why do students drop-out?
There’s no single reason.
Students drop out of school for a number of different reasons—and it’s typically a combination of many issues. Here are some of the top reasons students give for leaving school:
- Classes aren’t interesting
- Parents/family/adults have low expectations
- Poor attendance
- Failing in school
- Family responsibilities (work, caring for siblings, etc.)
- Becoming a parent
- Too much freedom
What are some warning signs to look for?
What to watch for. There are specific factors to watch for in students who are likely to drop out of school. If you see one or more of these signs, get involved! You can give these students the Boost they need to stay in school.
- They don’t feel challenged in school.
- They don’t feel high educational expectations from either their family or school.
- They believe their parents are too controlling and they want to rebel.
- They have trouble with schoolwork or feel like they are not as smart as other students.
- They have drug, alcohol or mental health problems.
- They regularly miss school or are frequently tardy.
- They struggle with problems at home, including physical or verbal abuse.
- They feel like they don’t fit in or have friends at school.
- Their peers or siblings have dropped out of school.
- They have poor learning conditions at school—such as overcrowding, high levels of violence and excessive absenteeism.
If you fear your teen is heading down a negative path and you need to get them back on track, visit www.BoostUp.org or www.HelpYourTeens.com for more information.
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Tags: GED, High School Dropouts, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Sue Scheff, Teens Dropping out of School
Is your teen considering online college? Know the main accrediting agencies
by Sue Scheff on Aug 22, 2011
Be sure to verify your online college accreditation.
Not every teen is ready to go off to college. Many times starting with online courses can ease their way into going to a local college or university. Many adults are also turning to online college courses since they can be more accessible when having a job and supporting a family. No matter why you are choosing an online college, be sure it is accredited so you can easily transfer or obtain a legitimate degree.
An important step when choosing an online degree program is learning if the online college is fully accredited. This is vital, because by choosing a non-accredited college, you risk receiving a substandard education in exchange for your precious time and money, or employers rejecting you based on an obscure education path. Accreditation allows you to rest assured that your degree, and quality education, will be well-recognized by employers. Without the right accreditation, your online degree may in fact be worthless, so do your research and find out whether the college you’ve chosen is a smart choice for your future.
How does accreditation work? A third party, known as an accreditation agency, validates each online school as a legitimate educator. The agencies usually investigate the school to make sure students are receiving a quality education and the school operates legally. This process keeps schools from making educational promises they simply cannot keep.
Remember that while accreditation agencies offer a certain legitimacy to schools, the accreditation industry isn’t necessarily regulated. The process is voluntary, without much governmental oversight, so know that for every good accreditation agency out regulating schools, there are just as many fraudulent ones. Schools have even been known to set up fake accreditation agencies so they look more genuine, so you must do your research to avoid getting the wool pulled over your eyes.
It is a good sign if either the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the US Department of Education has recognized the organization. CHEA has an international directory of quality assurance organizations, accreditation agencies and Ministries of Education in more than 150 countries. Search for your school on the the US Department of Education’s list of recognized accreditation agencies.
Do all of the schools they accredit appear to be genuine? If they appear phony, they likely are. You can see if they are listed as legitimate by well-known organizations, such as the International Handbook of Universities, the Commonwealth Universities Yearbook, and the US Department of Education’s College Navigator.
Is the accreditation agency connected to the schools in any way? As with online college rankings, there’s a chance that the accreditation agency you’re considering is a front, created to offer credibility to a phony online college. Accreditation agencies should be an independent third party, so any accreditation organization affiliated with a school is a conflict of interest. Look at their addresses, Whois information, ownership and other identifying details.
Follow these guidelines to be sure the accreditation agency you’re trusting to assess your online college is legitimate, offering a helpful and independent endorsement of the school. When you find an accreditation agency and school you can trust, you can feel confident that your online degree will be taken seriously and offer you a quality education.
Source: Accredited Online Colleges
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Tags: Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips
Back to School: 25 Incredible Technologies for the Learning Disabled
by Sue Scheff on Aug 18, 2011
Learning disabilities manifest themselves in countless ways, varying in severity from the very mild to the debilitating and those that impact different elements of education. Yet they almost universally end up equally stereotyped, misunderstood and sometimes even unfairly stigmatized. The rigid traditional classroom structure rarely provides the learning disabled with the resources necessary to meet their reading, writing, math, social and mobility skills or sense impairment.
Because of this, many learning disabled students feel marginalized by their peers and instructors alike, oftentimes hindered more by imposed isolation than the conditions themselves. But as technology marches on, so too do opportunities for academic success. No matter their struggle, these perfectly competent, capable individuals probably have something available to close any unfortunate, challenging gaps. It’s all a matter of finding the right answer and finding ways to pay for it — though the more financially strapped have a few options available, depending on their situation and what they require.
Please be aware that this article is not meant to take the place of legitimate medical advice. Different individuals require different solutions based on numerous factors, and only a small sample of the myriad assistive technologies available receives representation here. Take it as a brief overview rather than something even one atom definitive or professional — save diagnoses and prescriptions for the experts.
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Talking calculators
Both the visually impaired and the learning disabled can greatly benefit from these simple devices, which relay mathematics via audio. For those with dyscalculia, such a gadget renders it much easier to check and double-check assignments.
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Electronic worksheets
Students struggling with properly lining up words and equations using standard pencils and paper sometimes use electronic worksheets when completing assignments. Some even come with text-to-speech or speech synthesizing capabilities, depending on what assistance is necessary for academic success.
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Word prediction software
iPhones and Androids haven’t won word prediction programs much mainstream favor, but for the learning disabled, it can prove an absolute godsend. Those grappling with reading and spelling, such as the dyslexic, or difficulties writing and typing use these fantastic technologies to help complete assignments to their satisfaction.
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Text-to-Voice
Just like the talking calculators, text-to-voice devices and software make classwork much more tolerable for learning disabled students. They do an excellent job of assisting individuals struggling with checking their spelling and grammar in addition to improving reading and writing comprehension skills.
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Free-form databases
When used along with word processing software, free-form databases organize notes for students grappling with disorganization. All they need to do is type out the necessary information and use a quick and easy search function to browse through everything.
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Personal FM systems
Personal FM systems come in a few different varieties depending on student needs and school resources. Some of the most sophisticated transmit audio directly from instructors’ microphones directly into a hearing aid!
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Digital Pens
Different digital pens each feature different perks, but ones equipped with audio recording and the ability to convert handwriting seem to be particularly valuable. Best of all, learning disabled students need only write on traditional paper to reap the full benefits!
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Variable speed recorders
Whether the devices use tapes or some other sonic equipment, students with learning disabilities involving auditory processing issues from variable speed recorders. Depending on their needs, sound can be slowed, hastened and sometimes even pitched up or down in order to render classwork more accessible.
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Abbreviation expanders
Students who find typing extremely difficult use this neat software in conjunction with word processors. Along with some possible presets, they can customize their own unique abbreviations, which automatically expand into longer specified words.
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Graphic organizers
Considering so many types of graphic organizers exist out there, anyone requiring assistance will more than likely find something perfectly suitable. The one thing they do have in common, though, is their ultimate goal — helping users better sort and browse their notes and assignments.
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Portable word processors
These extremely valuable gadgets usually cost less than a laptop, but still provide all the essential word processing learning disabled students need to get work done. Some even come equipped with text-to-speech capabilities, talking calculators, word prediction programs and other fantastically useful features.
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Alternative keyboards
The learning disabled with specific visual, ergonomic, spatial and/or other requirements have plenty of viable options available. Whether they have to have larger keys or an arrangement other than QWERTY, technology has them pretty well covered.
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Alternative mice
As with alternative keyboards, different styles of mice have been developed to help learning disabled students complete their assignments. Joysticks, head mice, touchpads, rollerballs and other options address a plethora of different movement, spatial and/or cognitive impairments.
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Speech recognition
If alternative keyboards still prove unwieldy or otherwise unviable, speech recognition software might prove the better fit. Like the name says, these technologies convert talking into typing, making them ideal for the learning disabled struggling with movement or visual conditions rendering it very tough to click at the keyboard.
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Switches
Usually attached to the head or a hand, switches allow users remote access to various computers and other devices with far more ease than a mouse or keyboard. Like many other wondrous assistive technologies, they come in a staggering variety of structures in order to address the widest number of needs possible.
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Optical character recognition
Learning disabled students requiring assistive technology to help them with reading, grammar and spelling can turn towards these seriously cool devices, which come in a variety of forms. All of them, though, allow users to scan different documents and convert text into something more digital and interactive; some even provide text-to-speech capabilities as well!
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Communication Access Realtime Translation
Also referred to as CART, this technology is meant to reach an audience rather than a single student, making it a perfect fit for classrooms with multiple learning disabled individuals — provided they have similar requirements, of course. A swift-fingered typist inputs what’s being said, which in turn ends up displayed on a screen for easy reading; it’s essentially real-time subtitling benefiting the hearing-impaired.
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Outlining software
Students struggling with organizational issues might want to look into software that automatically generates outlines and allows them to play around with them. Similarly, mind-mapping and brainstorming programs provide them with other opportunities to turn great ideas into great assignments.
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Personal data managers
Whether carried around as a PDA or installed onto a laptop, the learning disabled needing memory assistance have some excellent options open to them when it comes to finding the right personal data manager. Even some of the simpler varieties available offer up plenty of amazing ways to better sort through thoughts, schedules and classwork alike.
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Phonetic spelling software
Dyslexics and others with learning disabilities disrupting reading and writing assignments might want to consider this very useful assistive technology. Some with the condition find anything other than phonetic spelling a challenge, and tools designed to automatically convert their typing into the proper words will undoubtedly render their lives easier.
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Visual systems
Although not used exclusively for students on the autism spectrum, such an arrangement is most often used when assisting them. Visual systems, as one can probably assume, use effective images (obviously customized to the individual’s unique requirements) to relay information about schedules, instructions and plenty more.
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Videotaped social skills
Another very useful tool for autistic students comes in the form of prerecorded social interactions, meant to help them better absorb necessary life skills without inadvertently acting inappropriately. Such a concept, however, extends beyond improving interpersonal skills — videos are also used to address linguistic, emotional, academic and self-help issues.
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Scholastic keys
Many common classroom software programs come with scholastic keys administrators, teachers and parents can implement to simplify their interface. This allows learning disabled students easier access to Microsoft Office and other tools; as an added bonus, many of them work fine with other assistive technologies, such as text-to-speech.
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Audiobooks
They’re nothing new, obviously, but audiobooks will always remain a staple of assistive technology — even if their formats change over time. With so many free and low-cost works available on a staggering variety of platforms, it’s never been easier to bring great literature to learning disabled students.
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Low-tech solutions
Just because so many assistive technologies embody digital, emerging and advanced mechanics doesn’t mean simpler, more low-key solutions should go entirely ignored. Learning disability experts can and have rendered education more accessible to students using resources as simple as highlighters, note cards, construction paper and anything else imaginable. Viable solutions, no matter what form they come in, should never be dismissed because they lack slick, shiny digital pizazz.
Tags: Audio Learning, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Tips, Sue Scheff
Difficult Teens: Are You a Desperate Parent Looking for Help with Your Teenager?
by Sue Scheff on Aug 06, 2011
At any given moment, a parent in need of help with their child can make some very rash and costly mistakes.
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Do you feel that you are at your wits end?
2. Do you feel you or your family is in danger?
3. Do you feel like something needs to be done now?
4. Do you feel out of control with your child’s actions?
5. Do you feel out of control with yourself?
6. Do you feel hopeless and no one will understand?
7. Do you feel completely alone in dealing with this child?
8. Do you feel you lack the capability to make the right decision?
9. Do you feel your child is running your life and the household?
10. Do you feel Desperate?
Are you at your wit's end?
The feelings of desperation are very real and very painful, however it is not the time to make rash decisions. In most cases, the dysfunction has taken months if not years, to come to pass. It will not be resolved in an instant decision to “send your child away” the quickest and easiest way. This is the most important time to stop, think, research, evaluate and conclude what is best for your child and family.
If you have answered yes to any of the above questions, it is time to reflect and begin planning your alternatives. It is not time to make any decisions. We feel that if you are working with a Psychologist, Therapist or Doctor, they should always be consulted first. Once it is determined residential treatment is needed, it is time for your research to start.
Information and resources will be a valuable asset. When calling the schools and programs, be sure they are looking for your child’s best interest. Any program that is quick to enroll your child is not in your best interest. Always keep notes, and document every conversation. When contacting a program; does the Admissions Director ask you questions about your child or do the go directly into how their program can help them? How do they know they can help, if they haven’t taken the time to listen to your child’s needs?
As a parent, your heart and gut will tell you when you have found the right placement for your child. Again, the advice of a Professional (i.e. Doctor) is always beneficial, but not always the end result. Most Doctor’s are not familiar with the many residential treatments centers throughout the country, but can give you advice as to what your child’s needs are.
In some cases urgency is needed. Especially with some legal matters, however many can go into a local Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital for 2-3 days (usually insurance paid) until you can do your homework. Make the most of the 24-36 hours with your research. This can buy you time to find the most appropriate placement for your child.
When your search starts, use caution to a desperate sales person. Many Admissions Personnel are paid per enrollment. Although everyone is entitled to make a living, when it comes to your child, there should be a division. It is more beneficial to speak with a program owner, Director or therapist at the facility. These people are usually not sales people and want their program to succeed. They will screen their potential students to be sure they are a fit for their program.
Parents’ Universal Resource Experts does not engage with admissions and/or enrollments. We always encourage parents to contact the programs directly to determine if the program is appropriate for your child’s needs. We do, however help educated you in this “big business” of teen help.
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Tags: At Risk Teens, bad choices, Defiant Teens, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Problem Teens, Teen Issues, Therapeutic Boarding Schools, Troubled Teens, Wilderness Programs
Stop Medicine Abuse is Looking for the Next ‘Five Mom’ to Join!
by Sue Scheff on Jul 29, 2011
Help Stop Teen Cough Medicine Abuse
Talking to teens about drug abuse is never easy. Did you know teens that learn about the dangers of drugs from their parents are 50 percent less likely to abuse drugs? As parents, we must work together to educate our teens and create awareness about the dangers of substance abuse, including over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse.
In 2007, five moms from around the country were brought together to share information with other parents about the largely unknown trend among teens of abusing OTC cough medicines to get high. Since then, the Five Moms campaign has reached more than 24 million parents to help educate them about preventing teen cough medicine abuse, spreading awareness to parents, schools, and communities. And now they want your help! The campaign recently launched the Are You the Next Five Mom? search to look for a new Mom to join the fight against cough medicine abuse.
Are you a mom who is passionate about working with teens? Do you have experience working with teens and substance abuse? If you are interested in being a part of the Five Moms campaign, they are looking for someone who:
- Has experience or a passion for working with teens;
- Has past or previous involvement in teen programming or issues affecting teens;
- Has experience working with teens and/or substance abuse;
- Has raised awareness of cough medicine abuse in their community or is a community leader;
- Works with teens on a daily or weekly basis a coach, teacher, guidance counselor, youth group leader, etc.;
- Uses social media to reach parents and educate them about teen substance abuse;
- Is involved with community organizations that center around pre-teens and teens;
- Developed an original idea or event to educate others about cough medicine abuse; or
- Has distributed Five Moms and/or cough medicine abuse information to their children, peers, community, etc.
For more information on how to enter the Are You the Next Five Mom? search, and for the official rules and regulations, visit FiveMoms.com. To learn more about over-the-counter medicine abuse, visit StopMedicineAbuse.org.
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Tags: At Risk Teens, cough syrup abuse, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Stop Medicine Abuse, Sue Scheff, Teen Drug Abuse, Teen Help, Troubled Teens
10 Fascinating Projections About Education in the U.S.
by Sue Scheff on Jul 26, 2011
When we think of school, most of us imagine classrooms filled with desks, single-file lines to go to the water fountain, and playgrounds teeming with kids trying to get all their energy out before they have to go back to class and sit still. But our ideas of traditional education could change, some as early as the next five or 10 years, according to education experts. We may not be sending our kids off to school in a spaceship just yet, but some of the projections for education don’t seem too far off of an episode of The Jetsons. Here are 10 predictions that may surprise you.
- No more paper textbooks As e-books become increasingly popular and physical books seem more and more inconvenient, it’s only logical that the bulkiest and most expensive of books, the textbook, wou
ld be replaced by technology. Many colleges already offer electronic options for cash-strapped students, and with education budget cuts in effect, more K-12 schools are bound to adopt the technology. Some already have; various high schools and even elementary schools across the country are having their students use Kindles or iPads in the classroom rather than books. South Korea has plans to get rid of all textbooks and convert to digital by 2015. U.S. adoption of e-textbooks is predicted to be much slower; by 2014, digital textbooks are expected to make up just under 19% of higher education textbook sales.
No more middle school
The idea behind K-8 schools is that moving middle-school-age children to a new environment is disruptive to their learning, backed up with statistics showing that a kid’s performance in school declines once he reaches middle school. The transition to middle school is thought to have a negative effect on pubescent tweens. Rather than shuttling kids between three, sometimes four, different schools by the time they graduate, the K-8 option allows them to go to only two: the lower school through eighth grade and high school for the rest. Across the country, more schools are turning to this model, leaving behind the idea of junior high and integrating older children with younger ones. Many education experts believe this could be becoming the standard model for grade structure. And a few think that grade-based learning will be left behind altogether in favor of a school organized by interest groups and capabilities.- Robot teachersRobot teachers may seem decades out of reach, but they, or at least robot teaching assistants, aren’t too far from being a realistic addition to our classrooms, according to some education scholars. In fact, robots have already been added to some classrooms in South Korea and Japan in the past couple of years. In South Korea, the egg-shaped robot with an LCD screen that shows a human face teaches elementary students English, reducing the need for thousands of foreign English teachers. In Japan, the robot teaching assistant helps with basic classroom tasks, like taking roll and scolding misbehaving students. Using this technology as a springboard, the U.S. could be following in the footsteps of these innovative nations in fewer than 10 years, according to some experts.Though the robots may not be ready to teach full lessons and interact with students at length, they’re expected to be quickly advanced enough to provide teachers with user-friendly aid.
- Online classes will replace traditional schoolsOnline learning is on the rise, in college settings and in K-12 schools. The number of students receiving higher education through the Internet is astonishing; in 2009, 30% of all college students were enrolled in at least one online course. The demand is still growing, and 75% of public colleges say online education is a component of their long-term strategies. And online course work is becoming more accepted in primary and secondary school, as well. Thirty states have a virtual school program, and half the districts in the U.S. offer online courses. Though the trend right now is to have a blended learning approach, using both online and face-to-face classes, some in the education field predict that all learning in the U.S. will someday be done on the Internet.
- User-generated content will become an essential education tool
Instead of learning from textbooks created by corporations or from teachers with limited ways of explaining ideas, students will begin to learn from peers and other users of a service, according to some scholars. Borrowing from the ideas of YouTube, where you can find tutorials for thousands of skills, and the Khan Academy, which offers free videos explaining math and science concepts, education in the future will provide students with lessons from people who talk and think like them and allow them to share their own explanations with others. Whether this will be a service offered through a traditional classroom or part of an online-only strategy is to be decided, but education authorities say user-generated content is going to rise in popularity. This also means Wikipedia — despised by teachers in the past — could finally become an acceptable learning tool.
- Colleges will go bankrupt and close
Even during the worst of the recession, traditional college tuitions were rising to new highs. Since 2005, private four-year universities have hiked tuition 5.6%. Many experts say they’ve gotten away with it this long because people affected by layoffs or pay cuts have turned to higher education as the solution to their worries. But after graduating, those same people are finding they can’t land jobs even after shelling out thousands of dollars for a degree. Now, more and more students are turning to online colleges, which are less expensive and often suit their needs better. Others are forgoing higher education altogether, hoping that work experience right out of high school will give them an advantage. Without the income, many brick-and-mortar universities are losing money and eventually will have to find a way to provide education more efficiently or close their doors for good. This first steps will likely include layoffs of staff and even tenured professors and less money spent on new, unnecessary facilities that don’t contribute to education.
7. The average age of higher-ed students will rise drastically
As the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age and the number of younger students entering college grows at a slower pace, it is expected that adult education will become prevalent. Though students under 25 are still enrolling in larger numbers every year, the rate is slowing and is expected to drop in the next few years. Between 1997 and 2007, enrollment for those 25 and older had only grown by 13% while the younger students saw an increase of 33%. But by 2017, the trend is likely going to shift, with the older group growing at a rate of 19% and the under-25 group slowing to 10%. As time goes on, education probably won’t be dominated by retired people, but lifelong learning is going to catch on, according to predictions, and the average age of the students is going to keep increasing
Teachers will probably miss hearing the creative excuses from students for why they can’t turn their homework in on time, but authorities on the subject say that getting rid of homework will benefit everyone in the education system. Some schools have already implemented the no-homework policy and found that it makes kids like going to school more, causes them to watch less TV at home and decreases conflicts with their parents. Proponents of the movement say that if teaching is done effectively, all the learning will take place at school and there will be no need to send work home with students. The brain will retain information better if classes go over the things they learned in the morning once again in the afternoon. Other scholars who predict that homework will soon be a thing of the past believe it’s due more to the changing role of technology. The boundaries between school and home may become blurred with the rise of online education, so students will manage their own time and work at their own pace, eliminating the need for traditional homework. But then, what will your dog eat?
9. Standardized test scores won’t keep you from getting into college
For decades, getting a low SAT or ACT score in the mail meant that you were destined for community college or trade school, even if you had your heart set on a four-year university. These tests have roots dating back to 1901, and they are starting to show their age. Hundreds of schools across the country have dropped the tests as requirements for admission after studies revealed that the test favors wealthier students and that the scores don’t reflect whether a student will be successful in college. Others still require the SAT or ACT as one component of admission, but it won’t be long before the tests have disappeared completely. One potential replacement for test scores in admission decisions is a digital portfolio where students showcase their best work from high school.
10. A new “Manhattan Project” will save education
The original Manhattan Project was a research project during the 1940s that pooled all the great minds and essential resources from the U.S. and its allies in order to win World War II. It resulted in the creation of the atomic bomb. The new Manhattan Project, being championed by many education supporters, would bring together the great thinkers of our time to solve the problems with education today. Some believe it should focus on closing the racial achievement gap that has plagued our system; others think it should address the weaknesses in our systems in general, the most pressing of which are the cuts being made in school funding across the country. As teachers continue to get fired and schools remain short on staff and equipment, there’s no doubt that educators and parents across the country will demand that our education system receive the resources and attention given to winning a war.
Tags: Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Tips, Sue Scheff
Creative Savings Tips for Back-to-School for College Students
by Sue Scheff on Jul 25, 2011
Retailers are happy to tell you all of the things you’ll need to buy to get ready for college, but you can bet that they’re going to hold back on you when it comes to saving your hard earned cash on all those necessities. Fortunately, money saving strategies for back-to-school college students really do exist and we’ve found 80 creative ideas for you. Read on to learn about money saving tips for college students that have nothing to do with stockpiling Ramen.
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Take inventory
Before running out and buying everything on your list for college, take a look around and make sure you don’t have them already.
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Check out the pawn shop
Most college campuses have a pawn shop or two close by and you can bet that your fellow students have sold a few items you could use. Pick them up for way less than you’d pay retail.
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Go straight to the manufacturer
Get special pricing from manufacturers like Dell or Apple on back-to-school purchases.
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Ask for student discounts
Stores often have student discounts — don’t forget to ask for them.
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Make a list
Prepare a focused plan of attack with a list of things you’ll need, rather than just hitting the store and picking up what looks good.
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Don’t buy in a rush
Rushing to buy everything will almost certainly mean you’ll overbuy or pay too much out of desperation, so be sure you have enough time to carefully consider your purchases.
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Sign up for Upromise
The Upromise program links your debit or credit card and gives you cash back for spending online and with certain retailers and restaurants. You can put your cash in a 529, online savings account, or get a check to pay for tuition today. You can also link friends and family members to your account to save even more.
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Question what’s on the list
If you’ve gotten a supply list from your school or professors, take a critical look and consider what you’ll really need.
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Ask for hand-me-downs
Ask family and friends if they have useful items they don’t need anymore, like a couch or even a laptop.
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Sign up for store newsletters early
Sign up for newsletters before back-to-school season, and you’ll be on the list for coupons when the time is right.
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Comparison shop online
Use online comparison shop websites to find out what items cost in several different stores — and then shop the one with the best deal.
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Get sale alerts
Sign up for email or Twitter alerts from retailers to find out when they’ve got good items on sale.
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Do some mystery shopping
Find out if any mystery shopping agencies need shops done at back-to-school retailers, and you just might get paid to buy school supplies.
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Don’t forget coupon codes
If you’re buying online, check for coupon codes before finishing your purchase.
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Ship to your dorm
Instead of paying for items to be moved, packed in checked baggage, or just having to haul them to college, order online and set delivery right after you arrive.
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Learn how to DIY
Save money by doing it yourself — fixing furniture you can take to college, repurposing clothing items, and more.
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Get price adjustments
Find out about store price adjustment policies — you may be able to get them to honor sale prices for items previously purchased.
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Comparison shop with your cell phone
Use shopping apps on your phone to make sure you’re at the store with the best price for your item.
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Be careful with your credit card
If you’re not going to pay your credit card bill immediately, don’t use it for back-to-school purchases — finance charges will wipe out most of what you’ll save on sales.
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Buy off campus
Supplies will almost always be more expensive at your school bookstore and near campus, so check out stores on the other side of town.
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Put off purchases
Only buy what you really need to use right away. Everything else can be purchased later.
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Use reward programs
If you’re shopping online, use reward programs like Ebates, which often have back-to-school bonuses.
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Find out what your college has for free
Before buying a laptop, scanner, or other expensive items for school, find out if your college has a borrowing program for them.
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Don’t forget about freebies
Your public or college library likely has lots of books that you’ll need, and friends or family may have supplies, like furniture, that you could use for school.
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Pay with cash
Use cash instead of a credit card to better stick to your budget.
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Buy quality items
The cheapest option isn’t always the best choice. You can get more years out of a good quality backpack than one you need to replace each semester.
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Check out sales tax holidays
Lots of states have specific weekends that offer tax breaks for back-to-school items — keep an eye out and buy when the time is right.
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Barter
Need a couch for your college apartment? Find out if you can trade it for some lawnmowing.
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Buy used whenever possible
Save big by shopping used when you don’t absolutely have to buy new.
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Spread out purchases
Break payments up so it won’t hurt so much all at once.
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Save your receipts
Some college expenses can be written off on your taxes, so hang on to your receipts.
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Use your 529 money
If you’ve been carefully putting money into your 529 for years, now’s the time to cash in. Money from your 529 savings plan can be used to buy certain school supplies.
Electronics:
Buy your laptop, cell phone, and other gadgets without busting your budget using these tips.
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Reassess cell phone usage
If you’ve had a cell phone plan for a couple years, chances are your plan doesn’t fit you anymore. Take a look at a few of your latest bills to see your usage, and also consider that you may need increased long distance minutes as you call home from college.
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Know what you need
Be careful not to overbuy on your computer system. Bells and whistles don’t mean anything if you’re not using them.
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Put your smartphone to the test
Before you buy a new electronic device, phone, or gadget, find out if there’s an app for it on your cell phone instead.
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Upgrade, don’t replace
If you’ve determined your high school laptop isn’t going to cut it in college, consider upgrading your hardware instead of tossing the whole thing out the window.
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Skip the printer
Print for free or cheap at your college library of computer lab instead of investing in your own printer and printing supplies.
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Check out bundle deals
Retailers will often give you a deal when making large purchases, such as a free iPod with your computer, or a free scanner with your new laptop.
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Don’t give too much weight to branding
Buy the right computer for your needs- not who happens to market their products the best.
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Download free software
nstead of shelling out big bucks for Microsoft Office, just use Open Office, which will do the same thing for free.
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Find out if your school has a computer purchasing program
Plenty of universities have a computer purchasing program, or a nonprofit program that offers great discounts for buying computers, so make that your first stop.
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Get student discount software
Get a great discount on software by checking with your school’s technology department before buying anything.
Transportation:
Getting to class doesn’t have to mean paying a fortune. With these tips, you can get there cheap.
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Invest in a bike
Buy a bike, helmet, and good lock, and see how far you can get without a car.
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Find out if your college town has zipcars
Use a car only when you need it by taking advantage of Zipcars.
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Update your auto insurance
Be sure to drop or modify your insurance if you’re not bringing a car to college, and update your location if you are.
Getting to class doesn’t have to mean paying a fortune. With these tips, you can get there cheap.
Books, pens, notebooks, and backpacks add up — but they don’t have to add up to thousands if you follow these tips.
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Rent textbooks
Instead of buying books, take a look at rentals to see how you might be able to save money.
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Share books
Share books — and their purchase price — with a friend, and take turns reading them.
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Use an ebook reader
Download books instead of lugging around tons of paper — and save some money at the same time by using an ebook reader.
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Hit up a trade show
Stock up on free pens, bags, and paper whenever you visit a trade show, and you’ll never have to buy these items for yourself.
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Look for loss leaders
Stores often advertise loss leader school supplies, like notebooks, paper, and pens.
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Go online
Sure, it’s nice to go home from the bookstore ready to study with your book in hand, but you can save hundreds of dollars if you just buy your books online.
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Hang on to your high school stash
The books and binders you used in high school will work just as well in college so save them and bring them to college with you.
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Don’t buy books until class starts
Find out what’s really on the syllabus, and ask your professor if an older edition of the book would be fine.
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Network with other students
Find out if friends have used textbooks you can borrow or buy from them for more than they’d get from the bookstore, and more than you’d pay the store.
Tuition and Fees:
You won’t find these items on any back-to-school shopping lists, but saving on tuition and fees can make a big impact when you’re headed off to campus this fall.
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Take advantage of interstate tuition discounts
If you’re planning on going to college out of state, look into state reciprocity programs.
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Get credit card points
Pay with a rewards credit card, and you’ll get points for all of your tuition money which you can redeem for cash, or even gift certificates you can use for books and supplies.
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Max out your credit hours each semester
As long as you can handle a heavy courseload, it makes great sense to take as many classes as possible. You’ll save on fees and maybe even graduate a bit early.
Clothes:
Most students rush out and buy a new wardrobe for a fresh school year. Use these tips to find out how you can do it without breaking the bank.
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Learn how to tailor your own clothes
Repurpose old clothing and give yourself the option to fix up bargain buys with a little tailoring knowledge.
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Get organized
Before back-to-school clothes shopping, take some time to organize and inventory your wardrobe so you know what you’re missing before you go.
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Buy a little bit at a time
Don’t shop all at once — just buy the clothes you’ll need to get started and update as clothes go on sale in the fall and winter.
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Limit designer purchases
You don’t have to buy everything with a designer label, just make a few key purchases.
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Head straight for the sale rack
Don’t buy clothes full price unless you absolutely have to, and head straight to the back of the store for the sale section to save big bucks!
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Wait til the last minute
The best discounts come right before or right after school starts. Procrastinators win at back-to-school shopping.
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Have a garage sale
Get some cash for an updated wardrobe by selling your old clothes at a garage sale, or taking them to a clothing swap shop.
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Stretch summer items
Keep summer pieces around for the fall and use them for layering to cut out on the pieces you need to buy.
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Check out resale shops
Shops like Plato’s Closet sell designer clothes for cheap and will buy them back, too.
Dorm Room
Outfit your dorm room, live comfortably, and still have enough cash to pay for lunch.
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Go on a tour
Without knowing what your dorm looks like and what’s already there, you’re shopping blind, and may buy unnecessary items.
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Buy in bulk
Get paper towels, canned food, and other items in bulk, and split the cost with your roommate.
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Find out what’s allowed
Often, schools have banned items from dorm rooms, so forget buying candles or toasters until you find out if you can actually bring them.
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Shop small
Remember that dorms are small. There’s not a lot of space for large, expensive items, and not a lot of room for items, period, so limit your purchases.
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Divvy up supplies
Talk to your roommate about who is going to bring what, so neither of you spends more money — or brings more items than are absolutely necessary.
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Measure your room
Before making any major purchasing decisions, make sure you know your room’s measurements to ensure that your furniture will fit.
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Check out garage sales
Outfit your dorm room with garage sale items like mini fridges, microwaves, and lamps.
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Buy cheap furniture
Chances are, you’re not going to move your furniture home with you when you’re done with college. Pick up cheap or used furniture from a thrift store or Walmart, use it, and if it survived your college years, resell it when you’re done.
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Shop cleaning supplies at the dollar store
Get great deals on cleaning supplies by stocking up at the dollar store.
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Talk to your RA
Before stocking up, talk to your RA about what you’ll really need to survive in the dorm rooms.
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Live off campus
You can save more money living off campus, making your own food and sharing rent with friends.
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Start a hydroponic garden
While you’re stocking your dorm room kitchen, pick up supplies for a hydroponic garden to save lots of money on vegetables.
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Leave your TV at home
Most dorms offer a common room with TV where you can watch with your friends.
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Check out used items
Cleats, shin guards, and other used items make sense for students in sports.
Tags: Back to School Tips, Parenting, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Sue Scheff
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