Summer is winding down quickly, and for the recent high school grad, that means time to begin packing for college! For us, we packed carefully and tried to think of everything our student would need, but there will always be those last minute Wal-Mart runs to get all the little incidentals that you didn't think about. To help you prepare, we have a packing list on our website that may help you think of some of the things your child will need for dorm life.
Go to www.homeschoolscholarships.com and click on the Helpful Hints tab. Our "Packing List for College".
Good luck to all those Freshmen heading off to college!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Not happy with the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) that was sent to you on your FAFSA? Frequently when families recieve the Student Aid Report from their filed FAFSA, they are amazed at how high the EFC has been set. If this has happened to you, don't despair---you can file an appeal!
If you feel that your EFC is unreasonably high, write a letter to the financial aid administrator of the college to which you are applying. Explain why you think the current package isn't enough to allow you to attend that school--maybe you had unexpected expenses since you filed your FAFSA or there are some other circumstances that have changed since you filed, or possibly the information didn't fit on the FAFSA form anywhere and you want to clarify it for them. Be sure you include some documentation to support your claim (send in tax returns, receipts from medical expenses, pay stubs, etc). You can explain why your family can't afford the expenses as they currently stand.
You can also mention your own accomplishments that might help them understand what a valuable asset you could be to their school. Prove to them that you are worthy of their consideration for more aid.
If you have been offered a better deal at another school, you can also give them that information. It may be enough to encourage them to offer you more money to get you to attend
.
This may not get you further aid, but they will know you are serious about wanting to attend their school and they may be able to increase your aid package in some way. It frequently works, so be sure to give it a try!
If you feel that your EFC is unreasonably high, write a letter to the financial aid administrator of the college to which you are applying. Explain why you think the current package isn't enough to allow you to attend that school--maybe you had unexpected expenses since you filed your FAFSA or there are some other circumstances that have changed since you filed, or possibly the information didn't fit on the FAFSA form anywhere and you want to clarify it for them. Be sure you include some documentation to support your claim (send in tax returns, receipts from medical expenses, pay stubs, etc). You can explain why your family can't afford the expenses as they currently stand.
You can also mention your own accomplishments that might help them understand what a valuable asset you could be to their school. Prove to them that you are worthy of their consideration for more aid.
If you have been offered a better deal at another school, you can also give them that information. It may be enough to encourage them to offer you more money to get you to attend
.
This may not get you further aid, but they will know you are serious about wanting to attend their school and they may be able to increase your aid package in some way. It frequently works, so be sure to give it a try!
Friday, June 08, 2007
Your child has worked hard at putting some money into his savings account---tucking this away for future college expenses. That is an excellent habit for a young person to get into; however, for college savings, it could be costly!
Colleges generally expect a student to pay about 35% of savings accounts in his name whereas they only expect parents to pay somewhere closer to 6% of total savings for college costs. They will use both accounts to figure what the student and his family can afford to pay for college expenses, so maybe it's time to think this through a little bit.
If your child will be heading to school in the fall of 2008, you might want to consider letting him use some of his savings for camps, computers, clothing or whatever this summer and next fall. Allowing her to spend savings on things she will need at college in a year might be a good use of the money.
These and other money-savings tips are available on my website: www.homeschoolscholarships.com
Colleges generally expect a student to pay about 35% of savings accounts in his name whereas they only expect parents to pay somewhere closer to 6% of total savings for college costs. They will use both accounts to figure what the student and his family can afford to pay for college expenses, so maybe it's time to think this through a little bit.
If your child will be heading to school in the fall of 2008, you might want to consider letting him use some of his savings for camps, computers, clothing or whatever this summer and next fall. Allowing her to spend savings on things she will need at college in a year might be a good use of the money.
These and other money-savings tips are available on my website: www.homeschoolscholarships.com
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Teens and volunteering
Our community sustained heavy damage from a tornado last weekend, so on Monday I volunteered to help with some clean up. As I was working in a yard, a group of teenage boys came by to help. They were so pleasant and enthusiastic and got the job done in a hurry! Several of them commented that they wished they could be out of school for several more days, saying, "I'm learning a lot more with this than I ever do in school!"
It is these types of experiences that can be used to teach our teens the meaning of community and the value of service given for others with no thought of reward! These kids were seeing up close exactly what some of our citizens were going through and teaching them to be compassionate people. I know they went home that evening feeling that they had done something significant---they felt needed and useful.
These are the types of things all teens need. Keep on the lookout for community projects in which your teens can participate. Keep careful records of these things so that you can remember what they did and the people they served. These are the sorts of things that can go into scholarship applications a little later, and scholarship committees always like to see these types of activities from their applicants.
This is where my materials come in. The calendar portion of the notebook is the place where records of participation can be kept so that when the information is needed for scholarship application, it is easy to find and retrieve. Also, in my materials, I give lots of information on things kids can do to position themselves effectively for scholarship purposes. Don't get me wrong here, I would never encourage teens to do everything with the thought of scholarships later on, but rather to do these things in order to help others. The possible scholarships should be just an added benefit to what they have learned from being good citizens and decent human beings!
One other thing that may be beneficial with volunteer work is to give a young person something to put down on a future job application. Rather than leave a blank for previous employment, they could list significant volunteer work done. This would speak volumes to a future employer!
Our community sustained heavy damage from a tornado last weekend, so on Monday I volunteered to help with some clean up. As I was working in a yard, a group of teenage boys came by to help. They were so pleasant and enthusiastic and got the job done in a hurry! Several of them commented that they wished they could be out of school for several more days, saying, "I'm learning a lot more with this than I ever do in school!"
It is these types of experiences that can be used to teach our teens the meaning of community and the value of service given for others with no thought of reward! These kids were seeing up close exactly what some of our citizens were going through and teaching them to be compassionate people. I know they went home that evening feeling that they had done something significant---they felt needed and useful.
These are the types of things all teens need. Keep on the lookout for community projects in which your teens can participate. Keep careful records of these things so that you can remember what they did and the people they served. These are the sorts of things that can go into scholarship applications a little later, and scholarship committees always like to see these types of activities from their applicants.
This is where my materials come in. The calendar portion of the notebook is the place where records of participation can be kept so that when the information is needed for scholarship application, it is easy to find and retrieve. Also, in my materials, I give lots of information on things kids can do to position themselves effectively for scholarship purposes. Don't get me wrong here, I would never encourage teens to do everything with the thought of scholarships later on, but rather to do these things in order to help others. The possible scholarships should be just an added benefit to what they have learned from being good citizens and decent human beings!
One other thing that may be beneficial with volunteer work is to give a young person something to put down on a future job application. Rather than leave a blank for previous employment, they could list significant volunteer work done. This would speak volumes to a future employer!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Big Scholarships vs Small Scholarships
When searching for scholarship money, you will discover that there are many sources for scholarships. The local scholarships that we found were generally smaller amounts of money (anywhere from $250 to $1,000) and were only good for one year. We thought this was very helpful in getting into a college, but then what to do for the other years of required education?
Small scholarships are relatively plentiful, but in working a strategy for college funding, it is best to search out some on-going scholarships. These are also available from many sources but are generally a little more difficult to find. Be sure to stay in touch with scholarship search engines like fastweb.com and check out any of the larger scholarships they link for you. One great place to find on-going scholarship money is from your college financial aid office. Be sure to ask them about academic scholarships that will continue throughout college (generally a specific grade point must be maintained). We found these to be the best scholarships overall! The school may also have other significant scholarships, so be sure to ask.
Whatever scholarships you find, be sure to think ahead to the following college years. Don't choose a college based on what you may receive your freshman year---you may not be able to afford the following years! Whatever you do, PLAN AHEAD!
When searching for scholarship money, you will discover that there are many sources for scholarships. The local scholarships that we found were generally smaller amounts of money (anywhere from $250 to $1,000) and were only good for one year. We thought this was very helpful in getting into a college, but then what to do for the other years of required education?
Small scholarships are relatively plentiful, but in working a strategy for college funding, it is best to search out some on-going scholarships. These are also available from many sources but are generally a little more difficult to find. Be sure to stay in touch with scholarship search engines like fastweb.com and check out any of the larger scholarships they link for you. One great place to find on-going scholarship money is from your college financial aid office. Be sure to ask them about academic scholarships that will continue throughout college (generally a specific grade point must be maintained). We found these to be the best scholarships overall! The school may also have other significant scholarships, so be sure to ask.
Whatever scholarships you find, be sure to think ahead to the following college years. Don't choose a college based on what you may receive your freshman year---you may not be able to afford the following years! Whatever you do, PLAN AHEAD!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Here's a quick idea when you make college visits:
If you are taking or planning on taking some courses at a local community college, there is always a concern that your hours may not transfer to the university you plan to attend. Next time you make a college visit, simply bring along a copy of your community college's catalog and ask the admissions office if hours from that school will transfer. It may save you many hours of worry and lots of dollars!
Be sure to check about those community college credits early on---it would be a waste of time and money to take a bunch of classes only to find that your hours won't transfer! Better to be safe than sorry!
If you are taking or planning on taking some courses at a local community college, there is always a concern that your hours may not transfer to the university you plan to attend. Next time you make a college visit, simply bring along a copy of your community college's catalog and ask the admissions office if hours from that school will transfer. It may save you many hours of worry and lots of dollars!
Be sure to check about those community college credits early on---it would be a waste of time and money to take a bunch of classes only to find that your hours won't transfer! Better to be safe than sorry!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Scholarship Season
It is now officially spring and it is also the height of scholarship season. Many, many scholarships are due before the end of April, so seniors have plenty to do!
Hopefully if you are a future graduate, you have not put off scholarship searching until now! It is so much more effective to begin looking toward scholarships during the Sophomore and Junior years. That way, when Senior year is upon you, you already know where the scholarships are and have worked to have abundant activities to list on all the scholarship forms.
For those of you that are graduating in a few months and have only just begun to look for scholarship opportunities, don't give up hope! You are going to have to work really, really hard to find and apply for scholarships! Here are some things you might want to begin doing immediately:
It is now officially spring and it is also the height of scholarship season. Many, many scholarships are due before the end of April, so seniors have plenty to do!
Hopefully if you are a future graduate, you have not put off scholarship searching until now! It is so much more effective to begin looking toward scholarships during the Sophomore and Junior years. That way, when Senior year is upon you, you already know where the scholarships are and have worked to have abundant activities to list on all the scholarship forms.
For those of you that are graduating in a few months and have only just begun to look for scholarship opportunities, don't give up hope! You are going to have to work really, really hard to find and apply for scholarships! Here are some things you might want to begin doing immediately:
- Call the Financial Aid office of any college you are considering. Find out what scholarship opportunities are available at each school, request scholarship application forms and begin working on those.
- Check to see if there are scholarship opportunities in your local communities. Many clubs and organizations offer scholarships to local students every year. Watch your local newspaper for announcements of scholarships. Keep your eyes open and you will find many that you can apply for.
- If you haven't kept records of things you've done during high school, you might want to take some time to jot down as many things as you can remember....organizations you've been involved with, contests you've participated in, people you have helped. These things may be used on lots of scholarship applications. My HomeSchool2College book encourages parents and their students to keep track of all these things during high school so that you don't have to depend on memory for everything over a four year period.
- It's getting late, but there may still be time to file a FAFSA!
These are only a few of the things that can be done, but will be an excellent place to begin. Good luck in your search!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
It is March---have you filed your FAFSA yet? If you will be a college student next fall, you need to get your FAFSA filed now. This is probably one of the most important things you can do to help you find student aid. It is the beginning point for all Stafford loans and many, many colleges use the figures from this report to decide what financial aid a student needs. Get your taxes done ASAP and then use that form to help you file your FAFSA.
I filed my FAFSA last week. It was my 8th year in a row to file it, and now I'm done forever!! It has been worth the time and trouble to get it done each year as both of my girls received substantial financial help over their years in school. Our youngest will be starting her final year of grad school next fall, so this will be our last year to claim her on our taxes and to file this improtant document.
Go to fafsa.ed.gov to file. Remember, this is the FREE application for student aid, so never pay to file this form!
I filed my FAFSA last week. It was my 8th year in a row to file it, and now I'm done forever!! It has been worth the time and trouble to get it done each year as both of my girls received substantial financial help over their years in school. Our youngest will be starting her final year of grad school next fall, so this will be our last year to claim her on our taxes and to file this improtant document.
Go to fafsa.ed.gov to file. Remember, this is the FREE application for student aid, so never pay to file this form!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
The cost of college continues to escalate.
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education has released its 2006 report. It states that the percentage of annual family income needed to pay net college costs at public 4-year instutitions has gone up again this year. Some of the highest are:
Ohio at 42%
New Jersey at 37%
Oregon at 36%
Illinois at 35%
Washington at 31%
Iowa at 30%
The rest of the states are not much better, but they give Utah and California a C (with Utah being the best). D's go to Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington. All the rest were rated F! Getting a college education is becoming an increasingly expensive proposition.
We can help homeschoolers with this difficult situation. Come check out our website to see how! www.homeschoolscholarships.com. We were successful with our children, let our experience work for you!
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education has released its 2006 report. It states that the percentage of annual family income needed to pay net college costs at public 4-year instutitions has gone up again this year. Some of the highest are:
Ohio at 42%
New Jersey at 37%
Oregon at 36%
Illinois at 35%
Washington at 31%
Iowa at 30%
The rest of the states are not much better, but they give Utah and California a C (with Utah being the best). D's go to Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington. All the rest were rated F! Getting a college education is becoming an increasingly expensive proposition.
We can help homeschoolers with this difficult situation. Come check out our website to see how! www.homeschoolscholarships.com. We were successful with our children, let our experience work for you!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Here is a great example of finding a scholarship. This Sunday in the coupon section of the newspaper, I found an ad for a college scholarship from Sharpie. With this scholarship, all you have to do is log onto Sharpie.com and enter for a chance to win a $25,000 college scholarship. This would probably be an outside chance for getting money, but one of those things that won't cost you to enter--won't cost time or money! Besides, you definitely won't win if you don't enter! So why not give it a shot.
We are currently in the major scholarship season of the year, and it will be worth your time and effort to keep your eyes open for other scholarship opportunities!
We are currently in the major scholarship season of the year, and it will be worth your time and effort to keep your eyes open for other scholarship opportunities!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Good morning!
There could be great news coming out of Washington---they are considering lowering the interest rate on school loans. Right now, Congress is debating lowering the interest from around 8.6% to about 3.4%---this could mean huge savings for students that have to borrow money to pay for education. The downside looks like the money the government would loose would be covered by making the lending institutions pay more fees. This could effectively make it a less lucrative business for the lending entities and make it more difficult to find lenders. Time will tell.
We have found that educational loans were the only way we could finish paying the cost of education beyond what scholarships and grants covered. Our girls have minimal loans to repay since they received so much funding in money that didn't have to be repaid. Even their small loans w0uld be easier to repay at a lower percentage rate.
There could be great news coming out of Washington---they are considering lowering the interest rate on school loans. Right now, Congress is debating lowering the interest from around 8.6% to about 3.4%---this could mean huge savings for students that have to borrow money to pay for education. The downside looks like the money the government would loose would be covered by making the lending institutions pay more fees. This could effectively make it a less lucrative business for the lending entities and make it more difficult to find lenders. Time will tell.
We have found that educational loans were the only way we could finish paying the cost of education beyond what scholarships and grants covered. Our girls have minimal loans to repay since they received so much funding in money that didn't have to be repaid. Even their small loans w0uld be easier to repay at a lower percentage rate.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
It's been some time now since I have added to this blog. With this new year, I will try to blog occasionally and keep you up to date on college admission and scholarship information.
If you have a student that will be heading to college next fall, NOW is the time to begin your financial aid search. It is time to begin working on getting your taxes done so that you can file your FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid). I always spend some time in January gathering all my tax information so that when our W-2s come in we can get our taxes done in early February and get our FAFSA filed before March 1. This has worked really well for us, and both our girls have been able to use some federal money for education. It has also been used by their schools to calculate their other aid in the form of scholarships and grants.
This will be the last year that I have to file a FAFSA as our youngest will finish her college work in the spring of 2008. The FAFSA we file this year will handle her funding for the 2007-2008 school year.
This is our 8th year to file a FAFSA and we have learned so much about how the system works! In my materials, I have further information on filing this form--lots of tips and hints that homeschoolers will find very helpful.
I wish each and every one of you a very happy new year!
If you have a student that will be heading to college next fall, NOW is the time to begin your financial aid search. It is time to begin working on getting your taxes done so that you can file your FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid). I always spend some time in January gathering all my tax information so that when our W-2s come in we can get our taxes done in early February and get our FAFSA filed before March 1. This has worked really well for us, and both our girls have been able to use some federal money for education. It has also been used by their schools to calculate their other aid in the form of scholarships and grants.
This will be the last year that I have to file a FAFSA as our youngest will finish her college work in the spring of 2008. The FAFSA we file this year will handle her funding for the 2007-2008 school year.
This is our 8th year to file a FAFSA and we have learned so much about how the system works! In my materials, I have further information on filing this form--lots of tips and hints that homeschoolers will find very helpful.
I wish each and every one of you a very happy new year!
Monday, April 11, 2005
Today let's explore some possible interview questions. These are a few questions that might come up during a college interview. There are many more, but these are very possible questions to prepare for.
1. What recent experience has changed your life?
2. What is your worst quality?
3. If you could read the evaluations of a teacher, what would it say about you?
4. Are your test scores an accurate reflection of your abilities?
5. Are you satisfied with your academic record?
6. How would you describe your two or three best friends?
7. Do you have any anxieties about going to college?
8. What do you want to learn from your college experience?
9. What have you done recently to help someone else?
10. Do you do any writing outside of school? If so, what?
11. What do you feel you could contribute to this school?
12. If you could spend one year prior to college and money wasn't a problem, where would you go and what would you do?
13. If you could call anyone on the phone, who would you call and why?
14. Do you think you are prepared for a college curriculum?
15. Who are your heroes?
16. If you didn't go to college what would you do?
The list of questions could go on and on. Generally you need to be prepared for just about anything. Don't be afraid to pause and think before you answer. Many of these questions have no right or wrong answer, it is just an opportunity for the admissions officer to get to know you better.
Be sure to go by the website and see what other helpful information is available there. The HomeSchooler's College Guide is a helpful tool in preparation for college admission and especially scholarship application. Come check us out at www.homeschoolscholarships.com
1. What recent experience has changed your life?
2. What is your worst quality?
3. If you could read the evaluations of a teacher, what would it say about you?
4. Are your test scores an accurate reflection of your abilities?
5. Are you satisfied with your academic record?
6. How would you describe your two or three best friends?
7. Do you have any anxieties about going to college?
8. What do you want to learn from your college experience?
9. What have you done recently to help someone else?
10. Do you do any writing outside of school? If so, what?
11. What do you feel you could contribute to this school?
12. If you could spend one year prior to college and money wasn't a problem, where would you go and what would you do?
13. If you could call anyone on the phone, who would you call and why?
14. Do you think you are prepared for a college curriculum?
15. Who are your heroes?
16. If you didn't go to college what would you do?
The list of questions could go on and on. Generally you need to be prepared for just about anything. Don't be afraid to pause and think before you answer. Many of these questions have no right or wrong answer, it is just an opportunity for the admissions officer to get to know you better.
Be sure to go by the website and see what other helpful information is available there. The HomeSchooler's College Guide is a helpful tool in preparation for college admission and especially scholarship application. Come check us out at www.homeschoolscholarships.com
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
As you probably know, the March SAT test was the first test where there was a writing portion. Following are the three writing prompts that were used on the March 12-13 test dates. You may want to use these with your student as a way to practice for the exam.
Prompt 1 from the March 12th test date
We must seriously question the idea of majority rule. The majority grinned and jeered when Columbus said the world was round. The majority threw him into a dungeon for his discoveries. Where is the logic in the notion that the opinion held by a majority of people should have the power to influence our decisions?
Adapted from James A. Reed, "Majority Rule"
Assignment: Is the opinion of the majority--in governemnt or in any other circumstance---a poor guide? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience or observations.
Prompt 2
Given the importance of human creativity, one would think it should have a high priority among our concerns. But if we look at the reality, we see a different picture. Basic scientific research is minimized in favor of immediate practical applications. The arts are increasingly seen as dispensable luxuries. Yet as competition heats up around the globe, exactly the opposite strategy is needed.
Adapted from Mihaly Csikszentmihaly, Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention
Assignment: Is creativity needed more than ever in the world today? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Prompt from the March 13th test date
Even scientists know that absolute objectivity has yet to be attained. It's the same for absolute truth. But, as many news reporters have observed, the idea of objectivity as a guiding principle is too valuable to be abandoned. Without it, the pursuit of knowledge is hopelessly lost.
Adapted from "Focusing Our Values," Nieman Reports
Assignment: Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions if they remain neutral and impartial? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Prompt 1 from the March 12th test date
We must seriously question the idea of majority rule. The majority grinned and jeered when Columbus said the world was round. The majority threw him into a dungeon for his discoveries. Where is the logic in the notion that the opinion held by a majority of people should have the power to influence our decisions?
Adapted from James A. Reed, "Majority Rule"
Assignment: Is the opinion of the majority--in governemnt or in any other circumstance---a poor guide? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience or observations.
Prompt 2
Given the importance of human creativity, one would think it should have a high priority among our concerns. But if we look at the reality, we see a different picture. Basic scientific research is minimized in favor of immediate practical applications. The arts are increasingly seen as dispensable luxuries. Yet as competition heats up around the globe, exactly the opposite strategy is needed.
Adapted from Mihaly Csikszentmihaly, Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention
Assignment: Is creativity needed more than ever in the world today? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Prompt from the March 13th test date
Even scientists know that absolute objectivity has yet to be attained. It's the same for absolute truth. But, as many news reporters have observed, the idea of objectivity as a guiding principle is too valuable to be abandoned. Without it, the pursuit of knowledge is hopelessly lost.
Adapted from "Focusing Our Values," Nieman Reports
Assignment: Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions if they remain neutral and impartial? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
We are up and running with a new website. Come visit us at www.homeschoolscholarships.com
I think the new site will be helpful. I'd love some feedback on the site---I'd love to hear from you. I will try to answer any questions that are not addressed online. Hope to hear from you soon.
Linda
I think the new site will be helpful. I'd love some feedback on the site---I'd love to hear from you. I will try to answer any questions that are not addressed online. Hope to hear from you soon.
Linda
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
My blog has been silent for a long time now. We've been busy making changes to our website and will soon have it up and running.
For those of you that are heading to college next fall, your busiest scholarship season is just around the corner. Most scholarships are awarded during the spring, so be sure to keep your eyes open for scholarship opportunities. Pick up applications when you find them and be sure to get them turned in on time!
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Linda
For those of you that are heading to college next fall, your busiest scholarship season is just around the corner. Most scholarships are awarded during the spring, so be sure to keep your eyes open for scholarship opportunities. Pick up applications when you find them and be sure to get them turned in on time!
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Linda
Monday, August 30, 2004
Well, school is back in session for most folks or will be within the next week or so. If you have a high school Junior this year, be sure to have him take the PSAT in October. This is a sort of "practice" test for the SAT and is also the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship program. It is a great way to get in a practice test prior to taking the SAT for real. This fall's test will reflect the changes to the SAT that will begin with the first test date of 2005, so it will be a good preview of that new test.
Also, freshmen and sophomores can take the test---no results will be sent anywhere except to your home address if you register as a homeschooled student. I highly encourage any homeschoolers to take this test. It is a great way to get some testing experience when the results really won't matter and it will give you a good idea of what to expect on later tests.
If you are interested in taking the test, be sure to contact a local high school (some larger private schools also offer the exam). Find out how they want you to register, but do this NOW as registration will end in a few weeks. Remember that the schools do not have to allow outsiders to test with them, so if one school refuses, keep checking around til you find one that will work with you.
I have further information on the PSAT and other tests in my HomeSchooler's College Guide. Let me help you prepare your child for college admission and scholarship application! Come by my website at www.homeschool2college.com
Also, freshmen and sophomores can take the test---no results will be sent anywhere except to your home address if you register as a homeschooled student. I highly encourage any homeschoolers to take this test. It is a great way to get some testing experience when the results really won't matter and it will give you a good idea of what to expect on later tests.
If you are interested in taking the test, be sure to contact a local high school (some larger private schools also offer the exam). Find out how they want you to register, but do this NOW as registration will end in a few weeks. Remember that the schools do not have to allow outsiders to test with them, so if one school refuses, keep checking around til you find one that will work with you.
I have further information on the PSAT and other tests in my HomeSchooler's College Guide. Let me help you prepare your child for college admission and scholarship application! Come by my website at www.homeschool2college.com
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Well, it's been a while since I added to my blog. Been busy getting ready for a homeschool event where I will be giving a presentation on college prep and financial aid.
For those of you preparing for homeschool classes next fall, if you have junior high or high school students, please consider adding some mythology and Shakespeare to your reading for next year. These are areas that they will need some background in for college level English classes. It will make the transition to college classes much easier for your homeschoolers.
Be sure to stop by our website at www.homeschool2college.com We have changed our prices and will add that info to the website soon. The complete notebook is now $60 plus $5 for shipping.
Have a great summer.
Linda Weaver
For those of you preparing for homeschool classes next fall, if you have junior high or high school students, please consider adding some mythology and Shakespeare to your reading for next year. These are areas that they will need some background in for college level English classes. It will make the transition to college classes much easier for your homeschoolers.
Be sure to stop by our website at www.homeschool2college.com We have changed our prices and will add that info to the website soon. The complete notebook is now $60 plus $5 for shipping.
Have a great summer.
Linda Weaver
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Found a great link this week!
www.securityoncampus.org
You can type in the name of a college and it will do a search for that school. Then click on the college you want and you can get all kinds of crime statistics for that school---everything from burglary and rape to hate crimes. Also if you check at the bottom of the page for the school you are checking, you can click on the NCES IPEDS COOL button. This is the National Center for Education Statistics in the US Dept of Education and is the College Opportunities On-Line site. This will give you the current information on cost of attending that school. This should make comparing college costs much easier than going through the on line website for each school. If you find schools you are interested in attending, you ought to go to their wegsite to get more info, but this should make comparing colleges a good bit easier. It will also be nice to check on the crime rates for each school.
Be sure to come by our website for more information on getting your homeschooled child into college! www.homeschool2college.com
Have a great day!
Linda
www.securityoncampus.org
You can type in the name of a college and it will do a search for that school. Then click on the college you want and you can get all kinds of crime statistics for that school---everything from burglary and rape to hate crimes. Also if you check at the bottom of the page for the school you are checking, you can click on the NCES IPEDS COOL button. This is the National Center for Education Statistics in the US Dept of Education and is the College Opportunities On-Line site. This will give you the current information on cost of attending that school. This should make comparing college costs much easier than going through the on line website for each school. If you find schools you are interested in attending, you ought to go to their wegsite to get more info, but this should make comparing colleges a good bit easier. It will also be nice to check on the crime rates for each school.
Be sure to come by our website for more information on getting your homeschooled child into college! www.homeschool2college.com
Have a great day!
Linda
Friday, April 16, 2004
Well, I haven't added anything in a long time. I've been busy getting my website redone and working on a presentation that I will be doing at some homeschool bookfairs this summer.
Seniors should be waiting to hear the results of scholarship applications! Usually late April and early May are pretty exciting times!
If you are a Junior, it would be good to begin looking for scholarships for next year---if you find some applications, check over the form and see what types of information you will need to supply next year.
There are a series of articles in the most recent US News and World Report about the costs of a college education. The price continues to go up every year. In fact, the article indicated that costs have risen 38% in the last 10 years; however, during that same time, median family income has only increased by 10%. It is getting more difficult to afford college every year. Scholarships and financial aid are the only way many people can afford the education. These are the areas that I can help homeschoolers! Come visit my new, improved website at www.homeschool2college.com
Seniors should be waiting to hear the results of scholarship applications! Usually late April and early May are pretty exciting times!
If you are a Junior, it would be good to begin looking for scholarships for next year---if you find some applications, check over the form and see what types of information you will need to supply next year.
There are a series of articles in the most recent US News and World Report about the costs of a college education. The price continues to go up every year. In fact, the article indicated that costs have risen 38% in the last 10 years; however, during that same time, median family income has only increased by 10%. It is getting more difficult to afford college every year. Scholarships and financial aid are the only way many people can afford the education. These are the areas that I can help homeschoolers! Come visit my new, improved website at www.homeschool2college.com
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