You can almost hear the sound effects in homes across America... hearts are breaking, bubbles bursting, dreams swirling down the drain. And I am talking about the parents, not the college applicant.

Nothing hurts more to a parent than our kid being rejected. We feel the pain. We feel rejected. Darryle Pollack, - Huffpost Blogger of the Huffington Post (April 13, 2009) reminds us that Character is defined and strengthened not by acceptance -- but by rejection.

Parents must be prepared for the graduate to assert themselves as they take control of their own destinies. Actually, this is all very healthy. You may have a young adult that has learned courage and self confidence. Sometimes, it is hard to believe but they may know what is best for them. They may not be ready for college now, but this does not mean they will not attend college ever.

I chose my path which was very different from what my parents envisioned and it included the local community college and night courses. I graduated in less than 3 years with no college debt.

In two years time, I returned to school for my Master Degree. Again, I completed this degree in 2 year program and I again graduated with no college debt.

Twenty years later, I returned for my Doctorates and I graduated with no college debt.

So, somewhere, I learned what it was that I needed to do and I did it. It was contrary to what many would have chosen. Now, in hind sight, it was brilliant, but at the time, I was just following my heart.

So, my message to parents is to accept your child's choices. Your role is to be the best cheer leader a child could have. Remember when you cheered them on in pre-school? Well they still need that cheering squad, probably more than ever.

Article by, College Parenting Expert, Dr. Debi Yohn, whose advice on successfully getting college students through college with an emphasis on graduation and rewarding employment is sought by parents from around the world. Now for the first time, she reveals 27 Winning Strategies for Success - a guidebook geared to parents of new college students. Get her free e-Book now at http://www.collegeparentsadvice.com/ and improve your child's chances of a successful college experience.

Posted by Candice Arnold on April 29, 2009 at 8:13 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Recently President Obama has encouraged all students to think beyond high school. Currently, two out of five Americans have 2 or 4 year college degrees.

Millions of Americans struggle to get a high school degree with one in four dropping out. Then a high school degree does not guaranteed a student success in college. Many students often from the lower economic level will drop out of college. There is a 50% drop out rate.

College is a big adjustment and some students just do not have the tools to make this shift into college life. Many are also working jobs to support themselves or this new independence gets away from them.

Do you know what makes all this even worse? When these students drop out, they do not have the salary of a college graduate but they still have the college loan to pay back. Just because a college student drops out doesn't mean they don't have to pay back their student loans.
So, it is probably clear that not everyone should go to college. If there are limited cognitive abilities and/or low motivation, then college may not be a good choice. The student must be capable of doing college level work. Students are able to continue getting some kind of training beyond high school but it may not be college. This path needs to be an option to avoid unnecessary debt. It also will set these students up for success.

A student does not need to see themselves as a failure. So, if they are really not college material, then lets skip this step. It is important to prevent them from having unrealistic expectations.

There are great training courses, technical schools and vocational training courses. If a student does not go to college directly after high school, this does not mean they will not go to college. They may need to mature and get some life experiences first. Just make sure you review all the options and do not put pressure on your child to go to college if they are not equally as motivated as you. College is an investment but it is not for everyone. There are other very good choices.

Article by, College Parenting Expert, Dr. Debi Yohn, whose advice on successfully getting college students through college with an emphasis on graduation and rewarding employment is sought by parents from around the world. Now for the first time, she reveals 27 Winning Strategies for Success - a guidebook geared to parents of new college students. Get her free e-Book now at http://www.collegeparentsadvice.com/ and improve your child's chances of a successful college experience.

Posted by Candice Arnold on April 21, 2009 at 7:18 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Writing a college application essay is like answering the question "Tell me about yourself" at a job interview. Your college, like an employer, wants to know whether you're a good fit. Test scores, GPA, and class rank--while important--don't reveal much about your personality. This is where your essay comes in. Your essay reveals what's unique about you, how interested you really are in the college, and how well you write. The next four tips will help you craft your college essay.

Choosing a topic for your college admissions essay

Feeling overwhelmed? What can you possibly write about that showcases your personality and writing skills? And with a limit of only a couple of pages, if that?

Think about your passions, or think about what has shaped you into who you are today. Does any one particular experience characterizing it stand out? Describe it. Let's say you're a painter who wants to major in the fine arts. You might want to describe the moment when you first realized you wanted to be a painter. Or your greatest accomplishment. Or your mentor. Or, if no one eureka moment comes to mind, explain why. Perhaps you didn't realize your passion or your talent right away. Describe that.

Communicating goals in your college admissions essay

Remember when the college was trying to impress you on your campus tours? Now you have to impress your college. What are you going to do for the college?

You should also think about what admission to this college would mean to you. Discuss your aspirations and how this college will help you achieve them. If you achieve them, how will that help society? Continue reading ...

Article by, Shannon Lausch and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Posted by Candice Arnold on April 20, 2009 at 10:42 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Since September of last year, I've been working on applying to several graduate programs in the United States to support the research I'm planning to do for my next science fiction novel planned to be a trilogy. After all the work searching for good universities with the program I'm searching for, a combination of geology, physics, anthropology, botany and GIS Informatics and history, building the applications including a resume, statement of intent, explanation of my background in school, ordering transcripts from four separate colleges, searching out immunizations, and contacting personal references, I've begun to hear back from the colleges. Since then, my husband and I have been checking out the living conditions in the various regions--Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and New York, since my husband and I are considering a permanent move. One of the remaining requirements for entry is having a college admission interview.

A college admission interview is equivalent to a job interview. For an undergraduate program, the college administrator is looking for evidence that the candidate would be able to succeed at their college or university.

For a graduate program, the college administrator, usually the chair of the program, is often looking to fill teacher assistant, research assistant and fellowship positions within their department and simultaneously checking to see if a candidate is able to perform in the program. Here's ten commonly asked college admissions questions and why they are asked by college administrators. Continue reading ...

Article by, Sheri Fresonke Harper and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Posted by Candice Arnold on April 17, 2009 at 10:37 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Time for Change

Affirmative Action programs seek to level the playing field for minority students who may otherwise be overlooked, despite their merit (Waller 57). As college students, we are very familiar with the subtle nuances of University admissions decisions. Looking back on the process, I feel that Affirmative Action programs are unfair. Admissions preference should not be given to students based on skin color or place of birth. Just because the aim is to help minorities does not excuse or mitigate the fact that non-minority students who are qualified are often denied spots in favor of students with a different skin tone (Cohen 45).
Continue reading ...

Article by, Ruby Kavitsky and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Posted by Candice Arnold on April 17, 2009 at 10:32 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Why major in finance or philosophy when you can choose one of these off-the-beaten-path undergraduate degree programs? They may sound wacky, but they're worth a second look.

1 - Bagpiping

Yes, you can actually earn a bachelor of fine arts degree in bagpiping from the Carnegie Mellon School of Music (Pittsburgh, PA). The undergraduate curriculum is composed of studio time, theory, history, ensemble work, and general studies courses and electives. I suppose if I were hiring a bagpiper, I would want one with impressive credentials like these.

2 - Bakery science and management

I didn't know baking was a science - then again, my version of baking is dumping brownie mix into a pan. At Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS), bakery science degree students can focus on production management (a business-oriented approach) or cereal chemistry (quality control or research and development).

3 - Costume technology

This is the next step after costume design. In the bachelor of fine arts degree program in costume technology at DePaul University's Theatre School (Chicago, IL), students learn to translate designs into the actual garments actors wear. Costume technology students become theatrical craftsmen, drapers, cutters, and costume shop managers.

4 - Egyptology

If you're into hieroglyphics and ancient history, you can major in Egyptology at Brown University (Providence, RI). Courses cover the spectrum of Egyptian language and literature, Egyptian civilization, and Egyptian history. I'd be interested to find out how hiring managers view this degree.

5 - Entertainment engineering and design

Consider this the science of the entertainment industry. At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, students can focus on such specific areas of the entertainment industry as advanced visualization techniques, automation and motion controls, biomechanics and animatronics, entertainment venue design, and structural design and rigging.

6 - Family business

Students at Stetson University (Deland, FL) can earn a bachelor of business administration degree with a major in family business. Topics include family business dynamics; communications techniques; and strategic, estate, and succession planning. Upon graduation, students should have at least two job offers - beyond their family business.

7 - Floral management

Aspiring florists can earn a floral management degree from Mississippi State University. Floral management involves sourcing, purchasing, distributing, marketing, designing with, and selling floricultural products. Career opportunities for graduates include retailing, wholesaling, special event designing, and display gardening.

8 - Turfgrass science

I know turf management is everywhere, but it still sounds funny to me. A bachelor's degree program in turfgrass science is even available online via Penn State World Campus. Turfgrass science covers pesticides, weed control, morphology, entomology, pathology, edaphology, and cultural systems, as well as business management and communication.

Article by, Robyn Tellefsen and courtesy of CollegeSurfing Insider.

Posted by Candice Arnold on April 2, 2009 at 10:40 AM | Leave a Comment (0)