But, in reality, the student is the needle. No, that’s not some obscure Master-Yoda-Jedi-training-mind-trick. What it means is that the more that college bound student, knows about himself/herself (i.e. interests, vision, goals–career and otherwise), then the narrower the field of possible colleges for both application and enrollment becomes. Plus, the six figure price tag of…
Author: Jill Yoshikawa, Ed M, Partner of Creative Marbles Consultancy
Jill Yoshikawa, EdM, Harvard ’99, a seasoned, 25 year educator and consultant, is meticulous in helping clients navigate all aspects of the educational experience, no matter the level of complexity. She combines educational theory with experience to advise families, schools and educators. A UCSD and Harvard graduate, as well as a former high school teacher, Jill works tirelessly to help her clients succeed.
Student Loan Interest Rate Relief In Sight
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to lower Federal student loan interest rates to 3.9% from 6.8% for the upcoming 2013-14 school year–following the U.S. Senate’s passage of the same bill last week. The rate reduction would mean a savings of $944.44 in interest over the life of the loan, for first year college…
Choosing Extra-curricular Activities When There’s No Magic Formula for College Admissions
Unfortunately for college applicants, there is no magic, straightforward formula for earning an acceptance in the college admissions process. Since the evaluation for college admissions is completed by human beings, about other human beings, in an environment with yearly increasing numbers of applicants who excel and exceed the requirements for admissions, subjectivity in decision making…
1140% = Increase In College Tuition Since 1978
Another chart showing college tuition is increasing at a steepening rate: And is causing families to spend a greater portion of the family budget to pay for college expenses, thus making college “more expensive”: (If unable to view chart, click)
Paying For College Tuition
Student loans, grants and scholarships are replacing parent income and savings in paying for college. Source: Wall Street Journal
Letting Go: College Move In Day Approaches
For parents anxiously facing their soon-to-be-college freshman’s move away from home… ‘ Photo Credit: The New Yorker Magazine, August 2012
Summer = College Essay Writing?
For parents of rising Seniors, summer can seem like the ideal unstructured time to get a jump on college essays. For the average rising Seniors, maybe not so much. Take a listen to our podcast about how to combine summer vacation and college essay writing: For more information about college essay writing, see our previous…
College Tuition Set to Keep Rising with No Relief In Sight
Since 1980, college tuition has risen 945%, in comparison with inflation’s rise of 193% during that same period–meaning all purchases have increased in price, but college tuition has increased at a ratio of 9 to 1–based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems…
If You Need Your Appendix Removed, Go to Oklahoma
As seen in Zero Hedge: “What does an appendectomy cost?” College tuition isn’t the only cost that’s rising in the United States. Source: Goldman Sachs
College Admissions & Financial Aid 101: The Expanded Edition
After facilitating a lively Brown Bag Lunch discussion at Hewlett Packard in Roseville, CA called, “College Admissions & Financial Aid 101”, I wanted to l expand on a few answers, as well as offer additional tips for families: About the information college’s review in applications during admissions decision making: The four main areas of…
The Worth of Wealth
What is wealth? The Urban Institute recently reported that the average net worth of today’s 29 to 37 year old has fallen 21% in comparison with previous generations since 1983. On the surface, this idea of “less wealth” may seem like a bad thing, as generally, I don’t like to be “less” at anything. However,…
Aging Doesn’t Have to Mean Old
Why is five, more alive, than sixty-five? As children, wisdom is simple, not contrived. You’d think that with age comes wisdom, not so. Somewhere along the way, wisdom dissolves into reason and logic, as my friends’ daughter reminded me the other evening.
Meaning Is In the Eye of the Beholder
In reference to the picture below: Proud Momma Duck*? Conversation starter when college students call home to ask for more money? Or teasing refrain uttered by teens as they roll their eyes? Perspective can change meaning. *Referring to the University of Oregon Ducks Photo Credit: Creative Marbles Consultancy, 2013
School + New Town = College
Picking colleges for application or enrollment isn’t just picking a new school. Most likely, teenagers are moving away from their hometowns. Knowing something about the place being moved to as well as the college may add insights to the searching. The Atlantic Cities reported on the “Brainiest Cities” based on an online survey measuring cognitive…
When is “Enough” Enough?
When is “enough”, enough? To answer this question, let’s define “enough”. In my experience, an outside (read: someone else’s) definition of “enough” may provide a starting point, but knowing when I’m “enough” is an inside job. Clients and friends time and again have reinforced the notion that “trusting my own experience” will be the true…