Why do I have to do this now? I am only in ninth grade. How am I supposed to know I want to do?
Faith, our career and education advice columnist, received this question the other day. It’s a common concern. After all, the world is changing quickly – what’s the point of making plans? Popular culture tells today’s students YOLO, live for the moment, and carpe diem – it’s easy to see why students question the value of making plans for the future. Read more…
What exactly does early admission mean, and how do you know which if it is right for your student? Before you can answer that, you need to understand the different ways that colleges admit students.
“May you live interesting times.”
You’ve probably heard that expression before – it’s often credited as being a Chinese curse. However, researchers haven’t been able to find any evidence to support this, and, like many often-quoted expressions, there is some debate on the Internet about its origins.
One thing is certain: “interesting times” can be both a blessing and a curse. It all depends on how we respond! Just consider today’s postsecondary landscape. As we will hear repeatedly at NACAC’s national conference from September 22-24, today’s campuses face a lot of “interesting” challenges when students apply, including rapidly increasing demands for training in new fields, a greater emphasis on accountability, and financial concerns for both students and institutions. Read more…
Do you have goals for the new school year?
That was the question we asked students using our Choices360 site last week – and the results were impressive! A full 80 percent of students said they were starting the academic year with some goals in mind. Read more…
You made it through the newborn days, handled the toddler and teen years with style, and now you’re facing the arduous task of helping your son or daughter apply for college or university. Does the fun ever end? Now is a good time to start the year off on the right foot so you avoid a last-minute panic looking for all the necessary documents.
Every January, many students start the new year by vowing to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (commonly called the FAFSA). To keep those students on task, educators often launch campaigns reminding students not to procrastinate on filling out the FAFSA forms.
But this year, students can start even earlier – and smart students will. Why? Because the FAFSA opens up on October 1, 2016. And because some financial aid is given on a first-come, first-served basis. That means filers who submit on October 1 could get more money – and that’s never a bad thing.
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This year, a multi-disciplinary team of organizations created a new initiative which aims to create opportunities for economic success for those without high school degrees, and those who have graduated but do not have sufficient skills to begin a meaningful career. The New Skills For Youth (NSFY) program was created by the Council of Chief State School Officers, National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium and Education Strategy Group, and is funded by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
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College is not the only route to a satisfying, well-paying job. Apprenticeship training, which allows you to earn a salary while learning job-related skills, may be a good option for your teen.
As 2015 starts drawing to close, it’s time to start thinking about what lies ahead in 2016.
Our predictions?
Well, in a perfect world, January 1, 2016, will be the day every high school senior sits down to file the FAFSA. After all, it’s important to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. Some schools and states award aid money on a first-come, first-served basis.
