The Road2College TakeAway - Week of 4/6

HomeCurated ArticlesThe Takeaway: Wk of 4/6This page may contain affiliate links.Apr 13, 2015Here’s a summary of important articles  from the past week  that may give you more insight into the world of college life, admissions, financing, and parenting. Our Push for Passion, and Why It Harms Kids The R2C Takeaway:  In the frenzy of college admissions and in the hopes of differentiating themselves, students are being pushed to develop or identify passions. But how do we know, as parents, if we are  pushing our kids too much past the point of just exposing them to different sports and hobbies, in the hopes that one may turn into a passion. In contrast, a former admissions officer explains what colleges really mean when they are looking for passion. A New College Loan Targets Parents The  R2C  Takeaway:  In order to borrow money for college, most parents opt for a federal Plus loan, till this point, the educational loan that is available to parents. Recently, Citizens Financial Group launched a new college loan, specifically for parents. Unlike federal loans, this new parent loan will not charge origination fees.   Are Kids Sports An Investment For College? The  R2C  Takeaway:  Among other things, kids who are involved in sports learn about teamwork, discipline, work ethic, and how to be a good loser. But keep in mind that only 2% of high school athletes are awarded sports scholarships at NCAA schools, so spend money on your kids sports for all the other good reasons, while making sure a larger portion of your money is going into their college funds. For Students on the Waitlist What to do and what are your chances of getting off? The  R2C  Takeaway:  The result of being put on a waitlist is usually disappointment and frustration, and unfortunately, the chances of getting off are very slim. According to Parke Muth, a former admissions officer from UVA, only a handful of students get accepted off the waitlist at select schools. If you dont believe him, look at the numbers for 2014 by doing a  Google search with the name of the school the phrase wait list and the year 2014. I might be best to  consider your options like taking a gap year or accepting admission to a school thats already accepted you as an insurance policy. And, look at the big picturesometimes things happen for a reason. What Happens When Colleges Fail to Prepare Graduates For Jobs? The  R2C  Takeaway:  Way back when, Employers did a lot more on-the-job training, and college seniors were much more prepared for the job market than they are now. For that reason, many post-graduate Boot Camp programs are springing up to teach students practical business skills not often practiced in college, designed within the parameters of a real business environment. The Case For Taking Parental Leave When Your Kids Are Teenagers The  R2C  Takeaway:  Researchers have found that the more engaged time mothers spent with their teenagers, the less likely those teenagers were to engage in delinquent acts, thus bringing up the question of whether it is more prudent to take maternity leave or teenager leave. Lighthouse Parenting May Be the Best Way to Raise Strong Children The  R2C  Takeaway:  If Helicopter Parenting is done from above, and Elephant Parenting is done from all angles, Lighthouse Parenting can be described as being done from a stable shorelineas you watch your teens navigate stormy waters. This method of parenting, which has been deemed as the most rational, sets expectations on character, and strives to maintain a balance between protection and guidance, thus helping to create strong adults.       Road2College Road2College is dedicated to providing families with trustworthy information about college admissions and paying for college. We recognize the two processes are intertwined and our goal is to educate families on all aspects of admissions and funding so they can make smarter college financial decisions. View all posts CATEGORIES Curated Articles TAGS Passionstudent loanswaitlistNEWER POSTThe Takeaway: Wk of 4/13OLDER POSTThe Takeaway: Wk of 3/22/15