Higher Home Prices Likely to Lead to Surge in Employees Quitting Jobs

John Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas

With the recent report on home prices showing the biggest year-over-year gain in more than six years, one employment authority predicts a surge in relocation by job-seeking homeowners in 2013, which could ultimately help to accelerate the decline in unemployment rates.

“One factor that has kept unemployment rates high has been the inability of underwater homeowners to relocate for employment opportunities.  With home prices bouncing back, even those who may now simply break even on a home sale might consider moving to a region where jobs are more plentiful.  This could spark a more rapid decline in the unemployment rate over the next year,” said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.  Continue Reading

The challenges and opportunities of college transfer student retention

The following post is about helping colleges and universities understand the needs of transfer students to make their campus experiences better.

See original -

The challenges and opportunities of college transfer student retention

Community College Can be a Segueway to University

I have said this before, I went the community college route and I never regretted it. I got a great education at the minimum cost. I recommend this for students that do not know what they want to study, students that do not have the grades to get into the University of their choice and for students to supplement their requirements during the summer. If your student does not have a job, have them take courses during the summer that will transfer. They can take a difficult course, a course they have dropped during the year and need to make up and an elective for fun.
After attending Community College your student can transfer to a four-year state university or private college. It is important to make sure that all the courses your student took can transfer. If the course is too easy or is in a subject not taught at the four-year college, the student might find that the University will not accept the community college course for transfer credit. Often there are agreements in place for which courses will transfer. Look for a list on the websites of both the community college and the prospective four-year college. And when in doubt, ASK.
This is from Professors Guide 4-Star Tip. In many of the larger states, the Department of Education maintains a tool that allows you to see what will transfer. To see one of the best, click on www.VaWizard.org. Then do a Web search to see if your state offers something similar.
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.

The Transfer Transition

When he transferred to Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa last fall, Caleb immediately joined the football team and the choir. He’d been a member of both groups at his old school, so getting involved in these activities at his new school was an easy decision. In fact, since Simpson’s football staff had recruited Caleb, they even helped him out when he first arrived on campus.
You might think Caleb’s transition to Simpson was easy (or at least easier than yours will be!). But Caleb admits that he struggled at first. None of the familiar activities felt the same as they did at his old school. And like most transfer students, he was nervous about meeting new people and about how he would handle his new academic load.

Continue Reading

Write a Terrific Transfer Essay!

Planning to transfer to a four-year college or university? The prospect of writing another application essay might seem overwhelming—and perhaps even unnecessary. But a compelling essay can make all the difference when it comes to getting accepted at your dream school.
If you have “essay anxiety,” you’re far from alone. Many students delay writing it until the last possible moment, or worse, decide to reuse an essay they wrote in high school. Unfortunately, neither of these tactics will reveal the true character of who you are now, nor will they provide the information admissions counselors are seeking.
Relax. It takes only a little preparation and a dash of creativity to write an essay that will boost your chance of being accepted as a transfer student at the school of your choice.

Continue Reading

Top Transfer Questions Answered!

No doubt about it–the transfer process can be daunting. As a college student, you’re pretty much on your own when it comes to researching schools, finding programs that interest you, figuring out which of your credits will transfer, and preparing your applications. And while you’re at it, you’ve still got to juggle your current course load and keep your grades up!
The good news is, you have what some college counselors call “the transfer advantage.” “You’ve already learned what you don’t want or what’s missing,” explains Carol DelPropost, assistant vice president of admission and financial aid at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. That means you’re more focused, more mature, and more likely to succeed at your new school.
Still, you’ve doubtless got plenty of questions. And we’ve got answers! We spoke with transfer admissions counselors at colleges across the country and asked them the most common questions asked by transfer students. Here’s what they had to say.

Continue Reading

Why Transfer to a Four-Year College?

When it was time to make college plans, Kristie Atkins wasn’t sure what to do. She had maintained a B average in high school, but the Portland, Oregon student hadn’t earned any scholarships, and the high cost of college was a worry.
So Kristie decided to attend Portland Community College. It was not an easy decision, since many of her friends were going on to well-known four-year colleges and universities. But once she enrolled, she was pleasantly surprised at how well things turned out. She enjoyed the classes, became involved in student government, and tried courses ranging from dance to journalism.

Continue Reading

. . . Your Grades Don’t Reflect the “Real” You

You’re confident you have what it takes to succeed at whatever college or university you apply to. But if your academic record is inconsistent or otherwise less than perfect, that school might need a little convincing at admission time.
For example, maybe you earned top grades and test scores in high school but your college career just hasn’t matched up. Or perhaps your situation is opposite: your high school record was nothing to brag about, but you’ve really shined in college. How do you convince the institution you want to transfer to that you’re a strong candidate?

Continue Reading

The Transfer Timeline

Planning to transfer to a four-year college or university? This timeline will help you keep track of what you need to do–and when you need to do it!

Continue Reading

Applying to College : No Easy Task

Examine an application – Just see what is required to click that submit button. I understand universities need the information to make distinctions and decisions. However, the complexity of the application is often difficult if not impossible for students to complete without the proper guidance.
Realize that well meaning school counselors are often spread too thin and universities recommending the students’ independence want them to do it alone. Some colleges do suggest support and guidance, but from whom and how? The fact is that many students do not know all the current application requirements, options, statistics or what universities want to know. Reading any university website on what the school wants, clearly demonstrates the vague nature of how admission officials make their decisions. There are factors in admission that change from year to year. What are the different ways to apply? Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive First Choice Early Action? Rolling Admissions? Who is explaining this in the high schools? Most recently Harvard, Princeton and the University of Virginia eliminated their Early Plans for the Class of 2012. How do students become aware of such news?
Other factors students must know when applying to college include standardized tests – what tests to take where and when? And how to prepare…About 720 universities in the United States don’t even require tests. What are the differences in the requirements? Who takes the ACT? SATI? Which universities require the SAT Subject Exams and how many of these? Are they optional? required? Students also need to know how to register for the exams. High schools generally do not provide these answers. The counselors can, at times help but with ratios at nearly 500 to 1, their time is extremely limited. Recently, I had one of my seniors request a senior college prep packet at his high school only to hear, “We don’t have one.” I compliment Rob Killion, executive director of the Common Application who continually works toward a commonality in this complicated maze. However, look at the number of supplements and additional essays required by schools on the common application. www.commonapp.org. Just how common are these applications anyway?
Then there are those recommendations – how many and for which school? Who should I give them to? What should I include? Should I send the universities supplemental recommendations? When should I submit them? What should I fill out? Do I waive my right to see them? These are just a few of the questions I get from students all the time. There are also Midyear Reports. Many students have never seen this before. What do I do with them?
There’s the Brag Sheet or list of extracurricular activities and honors and awards received in high school. Students need to know how to present those. Students want to know how to best state their activities and who should get this list. One of my students recently gave me a near twenty page extracurricular list answering numerous excellent and specific questions. Unquestionably, this gives any reader a clear sense of this student. However, who would read this at the university level. Students are given approximately seven short lines to list years of experience and accomplishments. They are entitled to know how to maximize this space.
Essay questions are a significant source of concern to students. Just what are these admission officers looking for? Although many universities do give a “topic of your choice” there are those questions that are amazingly specific – quoting legendary philosophers that have students decipher the content and then connect it all on a personal level. To do all this in anywhere from 100 to 600 words depending on the institution is yet an additional skill. We hear too that essays should be in story format, creative and wonderfully intriguing. Most recently, I heard an admission officer state that they often read the 1st and last paragraph and then decide whether or not to read the rest. Students generally do not learn to write 1st person essays like this in high school. Realize too that many applications require 3 to 4 essays…some long, some short – but nevertheless all different.
High school athletes also need guidance regarding NCAA rules and requirements – how and when to contact coaches and where to go for information.
If universities are requesting and requiring all these components, students are entitled to know what to do and what it all means. As long as most schools do not provide the adequate guidance, admissions remains a complicated process. Competition for select spots continues to increase along with the need and demand for private college consultants.

Continue Reading