How To Prepare Your Child For College

August 26, 2023 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Photo by Keira Burton: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-and-woman-holding-notebooks-while-sitting-on-grass-6147369/

Almost every parent starts preparing for their children’s education immediately after birth. This is supported by statistics indicating that Americans intend to save up to $57,981 for college expenses. And no wonder- higher education can give anyone an added advantage in the world, enabling them to get prestigious jobs with lucrative benefits. Perhaps your child has finally graduated from high school and is preparing to continue their tertiary education. You already have the funds, but is your child prepared for the new journey? Here are some practical ways to psyche them up for college.

1) Guide them in the process of selecting their universities

The time to pick a university is here! While this can be exciting, your kids can quickly become overwhelmed, seeing that there are several schools to choose from. They can even develop anxiety from wondering if their school choice is the wisest decision. You can ease their stress and tension by guiding them through the process. The first thing you should do is create a list of their favorite schools. However, this should not be done at face value; you and your child must determine how each school will impact them socially, academically, and personally. You should also listen to what they need; some may want an academically inclined institution, while others may prefer one with more social connection.

After creating a list, it’s time to weigh them until the best option stands out. In this stage, you will want to factor in your funds. You don’t want a situation where your lack of finances will stress your kid when in school. Therefore, opt for one that you can comfortably pay for. You should also visit the campuses; first-hand experiences will give you a feel of what a school is like, helping your kid to make a more informed decision. You will also want to choose an institution that prioritizes higher ed strategic planning, as students are more likely to easily achieve their college goals in a college that receives this type of assistance. By all means, avoid compelling them to choose a particular school or major if they don’t want to.

2) Now is the time to teach them basic life skills

College life can be pretty exciting, especially for students who are leaving home for the first time. However, life on campus is definitely no bed of roses- things can be pretty costly around there. Therefore, things they could get away with at home may harm them in this environment. For instance, they may find themselves running through their monthly allowances at an alarming speed when buying food daily. Moreover, they risk conflicts with roommates if they can’t clean up after themselves. Therefore, take it upon yourself to equip your kids with these essential life skills to make their stay on campus more pleasant.

For instance, cooking is something they will benefit greatly from; they can have a wide variety of meals without breaking the bank. Let them help in the kitchen, and encourage them to try new recipes on their own. Another skill they need is cleaning and laundry; this way, they can maintain a clean environment and avoid being called names by their roommates. Let them tag along when performing these tasks at home, and teach them how to use the washing machine, dryer, vacuum cleaner, and so on.

3) Money management is essential for survival on campus

As stated earlier, takeouts and restaurant meals can harm a college student’s finances. But it doesn’t end here. Students often make the mistake of buying new sets of textbooks and expensive devices for a one-time assignment. Likewise, some make it a point to live luxuriously, especially when they don’t have the means to sustain this lifestyle. It will also be a huge financial mistake if your kid can’t create a feasible budget, as they won’t be able to track their expenses and how much they spend. Moreover, the lack of financial planning leaves them more vulnerable to impulse buying, causing them to waste more money.

Before heading off to college, your child must learn the importance of money management and how to find ways to cut expenses and save more. For instance, they can ditch the new textbooks for already used ones, as they are cheaper. They must also learn to draw a practical budget, prioritizing their needs over their wants. Anything they can live without is considered a luxury and should be put on hold until all the necessities are taken care of. Peer pressure is also a real money waster, so encourage your kids to avoid wasteful friends. They should also try to rescue their credit card use and leverage cash instead.

4) College students cannot afford to waste their time

Time management is important for all college students, as they must juggle various activities within a limited period. They must get to class, complete many assignments, go for their individual or group studies, study for tests, work on projects, and other academic activities. Moreover, all work and no play won’t complete the college experience, so students have to make time for recreational things like parties, road trips, picnics, and so on. Some students also have to work to support their finances. How, then, do they engage in all these without burning out? Can they get time to rest?

This is where time management comes in. As a parent, you can teach your kids how to use their time wisely before they move on to their campuses. Let them create a daily schedule, allocating time to each task they wish to embark on. Appreciate their efforts when they keep the schedule, and motivate them if they struggle to do so. With time, they will master the art of effective time management.

5) Don’t let them leave without proper advice

Although colleges are places to be imparted with academic knowledge and skills, it’s not without its share of social life. Colleges are where people meet their future partners, while others fully embrace casual dating and whatever comes with it. People also get hooked on drugs and alcohol due to destructive peer pressure. Therefore, you are responsible for discussing these issues with your kids. While at it, avoid telling them what they can or can’t do, as this may spark defiance. Instead, explain to them the importance of safe sex and how alcohol and drugs can affect them. Encourage them to find their way but always be careful to avoid making mistakes. Make them your friends by encouraging them to talk to you about anything and suppress the urge to be judgemental.

Is College Always The Right Choice For Your Kids?

April 26, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

If you asked most parents whether they should encourage their child to go to college or not, most people would say definitely yes. Education is so important and everybody wants their kids to have good job prospects so they can earn good money, nobody wants to see their child in a bad financial position when they’re older. But is college always the best choice? In the last decade or so, more people than ever have started going to college which is great, but there are downsides. A degree isn’t worth quite as much as it used to be because more people have them and there are also a lot of people that go to college because that’s what’s expected, not because it’s the best thing for them. Then there’s the cost to consider because college is so expensive these days and if your kids are taking out loans, they’re going to be paying them off for a long time to come. Some parents might be able to afford to help their kids out but a lot of people can’t, and even if you can, it’s going to put you in a very difficult financial position later in life. That’s why it’s important that you speak to your kids and let them know that they should think about it carefully before they decide to go to college.

Choose The Right Direction Career Direction Direction

Most people don’t know what they want to do when they finish high school but they may have some idea about their future career. If they have a career in mind and it requires a degree, then college is the obvious choice. But a lot of career paths don’t require you to have a degree and you might be better off taking a different route which isn’t going to cost as much and might not take as long. If your kids are starting to make decisions about their future and they’re not sure whether college is the right choice for them, here are some of their other options.

Online College

For a lot of people, the college lifestyle is a big part of the experience and moving to a different city and living on their own for the first time is just as valuable as the degree they get at the end of it. But some people don’t like the idea of it at all so, even though they want to get a degree to further their career prospects, they’re put off by the idea of college. If your child feels the same way, it might be worth thinking about online college instead. Online colleges have become a lot more popular in recent years and they offer a wide range of courses. If they study online @ Aston and other similar online colleges, it’s a lot more flexible. Your kids can continue to live at home if that’s what they want to do, so they’ll save themselves a lot of money. They can also complete the courses in their own time which means they’re free to work more hours alongside their studies to help pay for it. It’s a great option for people that aren’t interested in the college lifestyle and want a more flexible and affordable way of getting a degree.

Community College

So many people don’t even consider the idea of community college because it doesn’t have the same prestige as a traditional 4 year college but there are actually a lot of benefits and for some people, it’s a far better choice. The most obvious benefit of a community college is the cost. On average, you’re paying $300 for every hour of teaching at a normal college, at a community college, it’s only around $60. A lot of community colleges will offer free tuition to high school graduates with a good GPA so your kids might not have to pay at all if they perform well enough. It’s also good for people that don’t want to leave home yet because they can just attend a local community college.

The other major benefit of community college is that it’s possible to earn an associate’s degree in just 2 years. This is important because a lot of employers are starting to focus more on potential than qualifications and most of the fastest growing jobs only require an associate’s degree rather than a bachelor’s degree. That means that 2 years of community college might be enough for your kids to pursue the career that they’re interested in, and the financial burden will be tiny compared to what it would be if they spent 4 years at a traditional college.

Trade Schools

Blue collar jobs have a bit of a bad name because we’re pushing more kids into college and telling them that it’s the only way to get a good job, but that simply isn’t true. There are plenty of people that work in the trades and earn a good living doing something that they enjoy. Some people are well suited to office jobs, but other people are far more comfortable doing something more practical. The other benefit of working a job in the trades like welding, carpentry or painting is that you can’t easily have your job outsourced. If you work in an office, it’s easy for a company to pay somebody halfway around the world to do it for half the price, but you can’t outsource practical jobs. Learning a trade also gives your kids the opportunity to start their own business in the future when they’ve got a bit more experience so they can be more independent and make more money than a lot of people that went to a 4 year college.

Learning a trade is also a lot quicker and easier than doing 4 years of college. Some vocations will require them to do a 2 year associates degree at a community college but a lot of them don’t even require that. Instead, it just takes a single year at a trade school to get qualified. In recent years, people have lost interest in these jobs because we have a misguided view of people that work in the trades and consider them successful, which means there are a lot of positions out there for people that have the right training.

Entry Level Jobs

Education isn’t always the best route for everybody and sometimes, it’s best to just get an entry level job. If your child is undecided about what they want to do, they don’t have to make these decisions right away. There’s no sense in going to college for the sake of it because they don’t know what they want to do. A lot of people benefit from working for a year or two while they decide what they want to do long term. They can earn a bit of money and get some work experience while they think about whether college is right for them or not. If they do eventually decide that they want to go to college, they can have a bit of money saved up

In some industries, there is a lot of upward movement within companies. If your child wants to pursue a career in one of these industries, there might not be any need to go to college at all. If they start out with an entry level job instead and prove themselves, they could quickly get promoted and move towards their eventual career goals. In the 4 years that they would have spent at college, they can progress a long way and they’ll be earning a good wage without having to deal with the financial burden of college.

Creative Careers

If your child is interested in a creative career like writing or music, college might not always be the best way to go. While there are some great courses out there that will help them to develop their skills, it’s very difficult to break into a creative career and sometimes, it just doesn’t work out. It’s important that they think about whether they’re willing to spend 4 years at college and put themselves in a lot of debt without knowing whether they’ll definitely have a career at the end of it.

There are other routes into creative careers and they don’t necessarily need to get a formal college education to be a success, a lot of people don’t. Instead, they might be better off finding a job that can support them while they pursue their creative passion in their own spare time. They may also be able to find jobs that are somewhat related to their creative field which will allow them to network with people in the industry and improve their chances of a successful career.

For some people, college is the right choice because they’re looking at a career that requires them to have a degree. But there are a lot of career paths where a degree isn’t necessary and there are alternatives that are cheaper and won’t take as long. Before you advise your kids to go to college, it’s important that you think about their other options.

Of Sneezes And Sniffs: Helping Your Child Brace For Allergies On Campus

January 21, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

It’s estimated that over 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year, as found by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are a lot of different triggers for allergies like food, medicine, pollen, and even different animals. Allergic reactions can be anywhere from mild to extreme, so parents can’t help but worry about their children especially when they’re poised to leave for college. So how do you go about helping your child learn to healthfully cope with their allergies?

Familiarity is Key

Determining the trigger of your child’s allergies must be a priority. The doctors can help your family understand medical protocols when the type of allergy is causing symptoms. The earlier your child becomes familiar with allergic triggers, the more time they have to learn how to avoid it entirely. When your child does undergo an allergy attack, talk them through it and explain how to soothe it through appropriate medication or even a bath to curb symptoms. Teach them the virtue of staying hydrated, as this helps when their noses get runny. Involving your child in becoming aware of their health, such as noticing the symptoms of an allergy attack right away, drinking their medicine properly, or notifying an adult, will all help them build a strong foundation for coping. When they become teens and young adults, these familiar tactics shall be firmly ingrained and help them manage their allergies on their own.

Proactive Immunotherapy

As a parent, the automatic instinct is to protect and shelter our kids at the first sign of a health threat. This is a form of helicopter parenting and can be quite detrimental to their development as independent individuals. Still, some families are turning to the concept of immunotherapy to reduce allergy symptoms, which involves exposing individuals to the allergens that affect them most in small, manageable doses. This is in hopes of boosting their body’s natural resistance. This form of therapy can come in different forms, like a shot, drops, or pills. As your child grows older, they can be made responsible for keeping up with their doses. This will be truly helpful when it comes to be the time of year when their allergies are more prominent.

Pick a Good College Together

The choice of college is important when your soon-to-be college student has allergies. Allergies can be life-threatening, so the environment of their college is important. Peanut allergies can cause anaphylactic shock, so your child’s food must be carefully prepared. However, expecting a young adult to prepare all of their own food may not always be a viable option. Colleges like Stanford University have dining facilities that are completely peanut-free. University of California-Davis offers vegetarian and gluten-free meals on their campus. The University of Virginia has allergen-free zones. There are a lot of options to choose from, so you and your child can decide where they feel that they are safest.

To become a fully functional person, children need to be prepared – especially when they have to deal with allergies. As parents, we will eventually have to trust that we have done our jobs and launch our responsible adults out into the world. Giving them a helping hand as they start college and independent life should give everyone peace of mind.

A Room Buddy For The Ages: Prepping Your Kid To Be a Roommate Worth Having

January 4, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

A roommate can deeply affect a student’s GPA and even the decisions that they make toward social options and peers. This nugget of wisdom was established by Bruce Sacerdote, a Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College. Prepping a child for college life isn’t just about getting the right sort of GPA or extracurricular application fodder. It is also about making sure that they are completely capable of being a decent person that a fellow college student can live with harmoniously. In all things, when it comes to preparing a child for adult life, it’s best to start early.

Build Respect and Responsibility

Respect for other people starts with learning how to respect one’s self; after all, if you can’t respect your own space, there’s no way that you’ll make room for other people. You can teach responsibility by trusting a child to care for their possessions as well as other things around the home. It can even build into being responsible for pets or siblings.

These lessons which start at the home are important building blocks for a decent person. College students bring more than just themselves to college; they come with precious tools that they need to succeed in their academics. If a student lacks respect and responsibility, they can find themselves mired in horrifying roommate situations that can bleed into their grades, their friend groups, and even later on toward their professional lives.

Chores, Chores, Chores!

The earlier you get your children involved with chores, the better their chances of building a “pitch-in” mindset that benefits their work ethic. This information is backed up by Julie Lythcott-Haims, the author of How To Raise an Adult. Common chores are taking out the garbage, making their own beds, doing the laundry, and even cooking a meal or two. All these enable a child to learn from the experience and give them the actual know-how to survive on their own. When they know how to take care of themselves, they will know right away what is not acceptable when it comes to other people. From there, that’s when your child’s analysis of the situation and their communication skills will come in.

Enhance Communication and Analysis Skills

People need to make use of verbal interactions to get their points across. As they grow, it is important that you teach your child to be able to express their thoughts in a cohesive and well thought out manner. Just because your child is in the right does not mean to say that they are capable of expressing their ideas in a non-abrasive manner. In smoothing out a prickly social situation, it’s not just the message but also the delivery that counts. As a parent, you need to teach your child how to handle verbal strife diplomatically.

College life is a very exciting and important era in a child’s life. For them to be able to make the most out of it and come out ready to tackle life, they need suitable help from you. Preparing them as early as their childhood years can arm them with the knowledge and ability to be great college roommates, with the ability to form long-lasting friendships.

What Do You Need To Do To Survive Your Time At College?

January 2, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

College is one of the biggest changes that you are ever going to face and this is because it is something that you will have never done before. In fact, you have never even done something similar to this, and that’s what makes it so scary. As such, there are some things that you can do so that you can ensure your time at college is easier. If you don’t already know what these things are, this is okay because we are going to help you out. So, read this article carefully, and by the end of it, you will know what you need to do to survive your time at college.

Go To The Orientations

You need to attend the orientations. Some people think that only nerds go to these, but you are going to find that they are a big help when it comes to knowing what you need to. You will be provided with maps, a tour, and other stuff like this that will help you navigate your way around. Without this, you are going to find it difficult to find your way around the campus, and from point A to point B. It might also be the case that you feel like everyone already knows each other and you’re kind of on the outside. The orientations are a great way to meet new people and make friends so that you can head into the academic year with some people to share it with. If you miss out on this, you might find yourself feeling a little behind for a while.

Get To Know Your Roommate

Your roommate is going to be someone that you are spending a lot of time with, so you need to make an effort to get to know them. If you want to have a good time at college, you need to be able to get along with your roommate. Invite them out to social gatherings, go out together, and do things like this so that you will get to know each other. As time goes on, you are going to find that your roommate might be the only person that is always around for you, and this is why it is so important.

Some people just can’t get on with their roommate, and if this is the case then you need to get reassigned ASAP. You have to be careful here though, because if you aren’t you might end up with someone you get on with less than the first one you had. So, you really need to be putting a lot of effort into your relationship with your roommate if you want to survive your time at college. Can you imagine what it would be like to live with someone who hates you? A nightmare right? As such, you should be avoiding this as best you can.

Go To All Your Classes

The next thing that you need to be doing is heading to all of your classes. You might have the urge to skip some of them, but you will feel like you have fallen behind and this is not something that you need. Certainly not in the first semester, but this still stands as the semesters go on. You need to be able to have all the notes necessary, and even the classes that are not relevant to your exam could be relevant somewhere else on your course. Because of this, unless you are sick, you need to be attending all of your classes on a regular basis.

You will also notice that your attendance is being monitored. There is no point in paying thousands to attend a college where you are not going to the classes. Not only is it a waste of your money, but it is also a waste of your time. So you should seriously be going to all of your scheduled sessions.

Know Where You’re Heading

The next tip to help you survive is to know where you are heading after you have finished the course that you are currently taking. For example, if you are into maths, have you considered Michigan Tech’s applied statistics ms program? This could be a great choice for you if you want to take your education one step further. Or, if this is not something that you are interested in, it might be good to know what field you are hoping to head into once you have finished your degree. The job market these days is tough, so you need to have your wits about you, plan ahead, and know exactly what it is that you need to do to get where you are going.

Aim For Good Grades

Another thing that you need to be doing is aiming for good grades. Some students think that a C is sufficient, and only put in the amount of effort that is necessary to get them this grade. But this is not the kind of outlook that you need to have when it comes to studying at college. You need to study hard to be getting the best grades that you could possibly accomplish. This way, you are going to be in a better position when you do finish college, and enter the job market. It is getting more competitive out there, and you need to be able to have a standout resume, including the best possible grades.

Also, if you are not trying to get the best grades, why are you attending college? You are supposed to be there to learn, and broaden your knowledge in a certain area to the best of your ability to aid you in the future. If you are not doing this, then it is a waste of your time. So, if you want to survive at college, and not get thrown out for poor grades, you need to be doing your best to aim for the highest possible grade that you could receive.

Get A Good Laptop

Something else that you should consider is getting a good laptop to aid you in your journey. You should be doing research into the best laptops in your price range to take with you when you head off to college. You might not believe us, but a good quality laptop is going to be your best friend when you are writing assignments at 3am. For example, if you forget to take your computer charger with you, you need a laptop that can last a good few hours of you doing research and typing your assignment. Without this, you are going to have to waste precious time going back to your dorm, picking up your charger, and heading back to the library.

Other than this, you need a computer that is fast. You need to be looking for one with a good processing speed so that you know it will be able to handle all the demands of a college student like having 20 tabs open at the same time. Without this, you are going to find it difficult to have all the information you need in front of you, so make sure you heed this tip especially.

Keep Yourself Organized

One of the most important things that you need to do to survive college is to keep yourself organized. You need to know when your classes are, when your deadlines are, when you are going out, when you are going to write your assignments etc. Without this, you are going to find your life really hard to manage and we don’t want this for you. Make sure that you have planned out your time, so that you can fit in everything that you need to do. You are going to find this a lot easier than just winging it.

We hope that you have found this advice useful, and now know what you need to do to survive your time at college.

How to Help Your Child Navigate a Route to Their Future Career

September 21, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Children should be allowed to be children; there’s no denying that. They should be allowed to enjoy their youth, and they should be afforded the chance to make mistakes and veer off track at times as they grow through life. This doesn’t, however, mean that you can’t guide your children at certain points in regards to what they’re going to do and how they’re going to act when they have a career in their future as an adult.

No matter how young they may be, you can help your children navigate a route to their future career by pushing them in certain directions and planting different seeds for them. Here’s how to do go about doing this without being an overbearing parent:

Keep yourself abreast of the changing world

If you want to offer the most suitable information to your children in regards to what their best career options are and what they can expect from the world of work when they step into it, then you need to keep yourself abreast of the changing world. You need to do so, quite simply, as dealing with starting a career will be different now compared to what it was like when you were just starting out on yours. Specifically, what employers are looking for out of first-time jobbers is now completely different to what they were looking for in your era, and you knowing exactly what they are looking for will help you to prepare your children for it.

What would be even more beneficial to your child is you having some knowledge about the specific industry that they wish to forge a career in. Once your child has an idea about their future goal, even if it is only a rough one, you should be doing all you can to be kept abreast about the changes that have occurred and are containing to occur in it. To do this, simply do a bit go Googling!

Teach them skills outside of the classroom

If you want your children to stand any chance of hitting the ground running when they first step into their career, then you have to ensure that they have good grades behind them — this, of course, means pushing them towards academic success by ensuring that they go to school and do the work that they are set. If you want them to stand out from the crowd when they start their career, however, then you need to be teaching them skills outside of the classroom, too. You need to do so because an extra skill on their resume could put your child in a better position than his or her competitors when they start looking for jobs.

One such skill that you could teach your child or have them taught by a professional is how to play an instrument. By doing so, after you’ve used MusiciansFriend.com discount codes to buy the chosen instrument for a lower price than you would have otherwise paid, your little one will have the chance to be a pro at it by the time they reach adulthood. Even if they do not follow a career in music specifically, having the fact that they can play an instrument on their resume will show them to be someone that is willing to dedicate their time to learning new things, and that’ll make them a more appealing employee than somebody without such a stamp of approval.

Remain impartial

The most important thing that you can do when seeking to help your child navigate a route to their future career is to remain impartial throughout your task — importantly, this means refraining from pushing them towards following the exact path you took. Whether or not you have unfilled desires in regards to what you didn’t do in your career, it’s not fair for you to fill that void by asking your children to fill it for you. If they want to follow in your footsteps, then, great. If they don’t, make sure not to show your disappointment, ensure that you remain impartial, and remember to encourage individuality at all times.

Taking the advice above doesn’t mean impacting your child’s right to enjoy themselves and make the mistakes of youth. It just means pointing them in the right direction to ensure that they navigate that awkward period of being thrust into the world of work in as healthy and as worthwhile a fashion as possible. Seriously, when you do, they’ll thank you for doing so at some point down the road.

Top Study Tips for Busy Dads

June 21, 2017 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Study Tips for Busy Dads

Compared to just a few decades ago, our lives today have changed dramatically. While one of the key factors to bring about these changes has been technology and the internet, in recent times, social norms have also drastically shifted. Today, more and more dads are taking time off from work, or switching to working from home so that they can play a more active role in bringing up their children. While many stay-at-home dads certainly have their hands full when it comes to family duties, many are using this precious time spent at home to study so that they can improve their career prospects and better provide for their family. I’ve listed some top study tips for busy stay at home dads.

Tip #1. Find a Flexible Program

As a stay at home dad who is studying for a college degree or other qualification, your first priority will always be looking after your little ones. Because of this, it’s important that dads first and foremost find a program and school that allows them a lot of flexibility. It’s highly unlikely that attending a traditional campus, with set timetables for lectures, seminars, and workshops is going to suit your lifestyle. Instead, online degree programs, such as this online behavioral analysis program, which can be studied for at home and on your own terms, are an ideal option.

Tip #2. Stick to a Schedule

You’re probably already more than aware of the need to have a routine as a parent. Little ones do tend to live in the ‘here and now’, but because of this, it’s important for them to know what to expect throughout the day or week. As a parent who is also studying, it’s also vital for you to have a routine to stick to. Without a study schedule that fits around your family commitments, it will be more difficult for you to find the time to get things done, which could result in you falling behind with work and struggling.

Tip #3. Get Support

The old saying of ‘it takes a village’ is certainly true when it comes to being a stay at home dad and studying at the same time. Even if you have taken advantage of the extra flexibility by studying for an online BA degree, it’s important to remember that at times, you are likely to need the support of others to help get you through. If you have a partner, then set out a plan with them for childcare and home duties, to give you some quiet time during the evenings, for example, that you can use to catch up with your studies. Additionally, if you have family members or friends who have offered to babysit, then take them up on this offer! Not only will it allow you some free time to focus on achieving your academic goals, spending some time with good friends or relatives can be great for your children’s development.

Are these tips helpful? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

Parents! Don’t Let Student Debt Hold Back Your Retirement

April 30, 2017 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Parents! Don’t Let Student Debt Hold Back Your Retirement

It’s no secret to most parents today that college is expensive — or that the cost of the average college degree is only increasing. What may surprise parents, however, is that their children’s student debt can have a major impact on their own financial health — including their credit score and even their ability to retire.

There are many reasons why student debt may push off retirement for parents. The two primary causes are federal student loans that parents may take out in their own names to fund their kids’ college education, known as Parent PLUS loans, and private student loans that parents cosign for their children. This article explores the ways that these loans can impact parents’ financial health — and how you can avoid being caught in this trap.

Parent PLUS Loans

For parents of undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time at eligible schools, the United States Department of Education offers a specific type of loan designed to help close the gap between savings, scholarships, grants and other types of financial aid. Known as Parent PLUS loans, this type of student loan is taken out directly by parents of students. The loans are offered at a fixed interest rate that is typically higher than other types of federal student loans. The fees associated with Parent PLUS loans are also higher than for other federal student loans that are taken out by students.

When parents take out PLUS loans, they are responsible for repaying the loans themselves, which can be a heavy burden for many borrowers as they approach retirement. Many benefits of federal student loans are unavailable for Parent PLUS loans, such as income-based repayment options. Additionally, because the loans are taken out in the parents’ name, the loans cannot be consolidated with the students’ loans, making the parents solely responsible for the loans.

Cosigning Private Student Loans

Instead of taking out Parent PLUS loans, many borrowers instead turn to private student loans. While these loans offer an alternative to the sometimes higher interest rates of Parent PLUS loans, it typically comes with a significant drawback: the requirement of a cosigner.

Private student loans are approved on the basis of creditworthiness. Since most students are relatively young and do not have an established credit history, they will not qualify for a private student loan on their own. A cosigner with a strong credit score — typically a parent, grandparent or close friend or family member — is generally required to become eligible for the loan. The cosigner will become responsible for the loan in the event that the primary borrower does not make the payments or defaults on the loan. The loan is then approved, usually at a lower interest rate based on the cosigner’s credit history.

As cosigners, parents take the substantial risk of assuming their child’s entire student loan debt if he or she cannot make the payments for some reason. This could be due to unemployment, irresponsibility, or even death or disability. Depending on the lender, if a borrower goes into default, the entire amount may even become due at once, putting a parent in a precarious financial position. If a parent cosigns a student loan, she should be aware that she could become liable for the entire amount of the debt. If you are looking to avoid this pitfall, you can look into student loans that don’t require a cosigner for your child.

Avoiding the Burden of Student Loan Debt as a Parent

Student debt can make it difficult to retire on time — and can make it next to impossible to put away enough money for retirement. Making smart choices about student loans can help prevent this from happening to you.
First, avoid taking out Parent PLUS loans unless all other options have been exhausted. Parent PLUS loans have higher interest rates and fees than other types of student loans, and less generous repayment options. If you and your child are considering PLUS loans, a direct PLUS loan taken out in your child’s name may be the better choice.

Second, if your child will need to take out private student loans for college, start planning in advance to build up his or her credit score. Make your child an authorized user on your credit card, or help him take out a small loan to purchase a car or other consumer good. By establishing a good credit history, you may be able to avoid the need for a cosigner. If you are required to cosign a loan, talk to your child about obtaining a cosigner release. Once your child makes a certain number of on-time payments and has a certain income level and credit score, he or she can often have you removed as a cosigner. This will remove the burden of the debt from your shoulders in the event that your child is unable to pay.

Third, consider less expensive college options. A great education does not have to mean going into substantial debt — or compromising your retirement. By working with your child and making smart choices, you can help your child get a degree and still save for your own future.

Drew Cloud started The Student Loan Report when we found it difficult to find student loan news and information in one place. In his free time, you can find Drew playing basketball, reading other blogs, or playing with his Great Dane named Rudy.

Understanding College Applications – What You Need To Know!

January 25, 2017 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Understanding College Applications – What You Need To Know!

The senior year of high school, a year of wonder and experiences, but also for many, one of great fear and anticipation, especially in regards to the mystical vale of secrecy behind the college application review process at most universities & colleges. As I was previously an Admission Officer for Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), I will try and demystify this process and give you some hints at what admission offices are looking for.

To begin, most college application materials for universities include an:

Application
Application Fee
Official High School Transcript
Test Scores (ACT/SAT)
List of extracurricular activities
Essay (recommended usually, but required for some)
Letters of recommendation (recommended usually, but required for some).

When getting ready to apply to schools it is a good idea to have these seven organized so that they are easy to retrieve, doing this will lessen the burden when you do apply.

Most colleges/universities will have deadlines that are either set, where materials must be postmarked by a certain date, rolling, where they accept and make decisions on applications between certain dates (e.g. 11/1 – 4/1) or open, where they will accept and make decisions on applications year round. Make sure to check deadlines with colleges so that your materials are received by the said date (if there is one). After all materials are received, then, and only then can the admissions review begin.

The review process usually will constitute a thorough read by an admission officer, many times one that is assigned to your high school or district/regional area. This person will be looking at everything that you have sent in and evaluating you on these materials. Each university/college has their own unique system that they use to evaluate students. Some will use a point system, where you will receive points for varying criteria such as academic rigor, involvement, GPA, test scores, etc. Many specialty schools (e.g. Kendall College of Art & Design, Center for Creative Studies) expect certain academic criteria, but they will base a large part of their admission decision on the talents or abilities that a student brings to that certain area.

On a final note, the review methods used by a college/university many times are veiled in secrecy, where generality is key and little detail surfaces if not inquired about. Also, the review methods today merely scratch the surface of the types of evaluation instruments that colleges/universities use today. Saying this, I advise you all to inquire about the particular review process that your college of choice uses, this will ease confusion and tension, and make you the information savvy consumer.

By taking little steps toward understanding and making yourself informed, the college admission process at a college/university becomes known, and the mystery within the process begins to wane. Become informed and you will not be sorry.

Want more information about the College Search and Preparation process? Learn more about the Ultimate College Preparation Blueprint that can assist you along the way!

Saving and Paying for College Doesn’t Have to Be Hard!

April 29, 2016 by dadofdivas 1 Comment

I have worked in the College Admissions field for about 20 years now, and as my own kids get older and older people keep coming to me asking me for advice on paying for college and college planning in general.

I cannot say that I have all of the answers, but I can say that there are some things that I have been doing since my own children were young that may be helpful to you too.

For us, from an early age we started a 409 educational savings plan for our kids. While we were not always able to place a lot into the account, having it there accruing interest always helped. We also started talking to our kids from an early age about the future and the reality of the cost of higher education. While I work in higher education, it is safe to say that the cost continues to rise and even though I have been saving, I do not know that I can say that I will have enough saved to cover the entire college education that my kids will encounter in 7-9 years.

Just saying 7-9 years makes me realize how fast time flies as your kids grow up, and this is important for all parents to soak in early. Why? Because, if you keep saying, I’ll start saving tomorrow, soon you will find that tomorrow has past you by and college is on your doorstep.

As I mentioned, I know that I probably will not have enough saved for my kids, so I keep my eyes out for other options outside of just the federal government. One program that looked really promising lately is one called College Ave Student Loans Parent Loan. This parent loan seems to be a good option to consider for those families you may need to pay for college. In reading more about the loan itself; it can save you money (no origination fee, lower rates than the federal loan for those with qualifying credit), and personalized options to meet individual financial situations (such as money directly deposited in parents’ bank account to help pay for extra educational expenses, and multiple ways to pay back the loan including a reduced interest rate if you start paying back while your child is in school).

The site was easy to navigate and there was a very cool resource that I really appreciated: A student loan calculator! The new College Ave Student Loans parent loan offers qualified parent borrowers an average savings of $1,000 vs. the Federal Direct Parent which can really add up in the end.

Do you want to learn more about the The new College Ave Student Loans parent loan experience? Check out the below to find out more or to see if you may be qualified for their services!

About College Ave Student Loans

College Ave Student Loans, a leading online student loan marketplace lender, and Experian®, a leading global information services company, are offering a limited time joint offer of a credit health check — a complimentary, personalized credit education session with an Experian Credit EducatorSM agent — to families preparing to pay for college. College Ave is collaborating with Experian to better support parents who may need to consider borrowing or cosigning a private student loan if savings, scholarships and federal aid fall short of higher education costs. Families who may want to explore private financing options should start getting ready now. The personalized credit education session offers an in-depth, one-on-one, 35-minute phone call with an Experian Credit Educator agent.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

——————————————————————————————-

New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?

Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader

Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com