How to get the most out of a College Tour

One of the best ways for your children to know whether or not a college is a good fit is to tour the college with a student guide. Walking around the campus, visiting classrooms and facilities, eating in the dining halls, and mingling with the students will give you a feel for the college life. Remember, the student guides are paid to sell you on the school and they recite a memorized pitch as they walk backwards along a predetermined path. While this speech is informative, you'll get the most out of the tour if you walk along side the guide and ask your own questions.

Ask the student guide how difficult it is to get into general ed classes. If your children know their majors, inquire about the department and research opportunities. Make a list of the guide's favorite professors and classes. Ask about the social life, school spirit, and other things you're curious about. This is probably your best opportunity to get an insider's view of the college so be prepared -- write a list of questions!

Psst! Give your child a head start -- Prepare for the PSAT!

Should your child prepare for the PSAT? Yes, I recommend that students start taking the PSAT in 9th grade. That way, they're better prepared to take it in 11th grade when the scores are used to determine Merit Scholarships. By preparing for the PSAT, your child will increase his/her odds of scoring in the top 1-5% in the nation. Merit Scholars and Semifinalists have an advantage in the college admissions process.

This preliminary SAT was designed to give students a taste for the real SATs. It is given every October at local high schools, and if your high school doesn't offer the PSAT, you can sign up to take it at another school. There is a nominal fee ($13), and the good news is that college admissions committees don't see these scores.

How to Ensure College-Bound Classes for your Highschool Student in the Midst of Nasty Budget Cuts

With budget cuts hacking away at the integrity of all public schools, high school counselors are often juggling more than twice their regular load of students. When the counselors' goal is to make sure that students graduate in four years, many average students get put on the graduation track instead of the college-bound track.

Parents can no longer sit back and take for granted that their children's academic future will be mapped out for them. A great way to ensure that your children receive a stellar education, and take the required courses that top college admissions committees like to see on transcripts, is to complete their four-year high school plan before they enter high school.

By selecting all of the courses your children will take throughout their tenure in high school before they enroll, the high school counselor will undoubtedly recognize that your children are on the college track. You can discuss the plans with the counselors during the school year and encourage your children to understand and embrace them. That way, each year when students are required to make requests for the following year's classes, your children's plans will already be in place!

I recommend that parents email the counselors their requests for specific classes and teachers before the deadlines for students to submit their lists in the spring and again during the summer when the counselors are organizing and setting up fall classes. Roll up your sleeves and mark your calendar now!

Why would a Harvard MBA student pay $204 for a $20 bill?

Irrational Behavior Happens to the Best of Us.

Why would a Harvard MBA student pay $204 for a $20 bill?

Harvard Business School professor, Max Bazerman found a fail proof way to take money from Harvard MBA students. On the first day of his negotiations class, he waves a $20 bill in the air and declares he will be auctioning it off. There are only two rules to the auction: First all bids must be in $1 increments and, second the winner will walk away with the bill, but the runner-up must honor his or her bid leaving the situation empty handed.

As Professor Bazerman begins the auction, the MBA Harvard students are at the edge of their seats- anxious to make a cheap $20. The auction rapidly takes off as as hands are flying up throughout the classroom. Within no time the bid is up to $10 and climbing, around the $12 to $16 students notice the trend and the volume of bidding falls out completely till there are two bidders left.

Now one would think this shouldn't get too out of hand; these are intelligent business students that are going to change the world. However, neither wants to be out $16. So it goes on to $21, $22, $23, $50, $100 the record is $204.

Lesson? Loss aversion is a powerful force to recon with, as it beckons irrational behavior, be it in a classroom auction or when making important decisions such as choosing a college. By gauging your commitment and controlling your anxiety, you can prevent this from fogging up your decision-making perception! Fight loss aversion and help ease a college's decision to accept a student by encouraging them to Do a Project.

At Last, We Can Make Money For College Shopping!

Yes, it is true and it works nicely. I was browsing through the web a while back and came across this site www.upromise.com, but I wasn't sure about it. Not enough to sign up...until today. I found this post Save For College While You Shop - by my friend JoJo it inspired me to register, and I encourage you as well. You can save some serious dollars, and it's FREE!

Upromise is a website designed to help save money when buying everyday expenses we already incur. Shopping online yields receive 25% of any purchase from 600 participating stores. Just sign up and start saving. Make sure you are signed in to Upromise before purchasing anything online. Download the toolbar to make is easy.

Register your credit cards so that every time you dine out at a supporting venue, 8% of your costs goes toward college. Still skeptical? You could just become a preferred diner. eTrust is Upromise's privacy provider, which is a highly reputable company. Rest assured, your card numbers won't be phished out by some computer hack.

You could also use Upromise to pay off your loans. Just link to your Sallie Mae account. Find out more.

Why College Admission is a Daunting Process

Introduce Yourself to Merit!

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