College

Update Regarding Japanese Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Warnings & What To Do If Affected

An 8.9 earthquake hit Sendai, Japan in the middle of the night, sending off tsunami warnings to more than 20 countries, including the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii. A tsunami warning issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii has been widened beyond East Asia to include Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, North, Central and South America and the rest of the Pacific Ocean.

Examining the Merit of Merit Aid

On its surface, merit aid for college is an appealing concept to most parents, especially those who are Moms and Dads of high-achieving students.But questions and objections start to arise with attempts at implementation of merit aid, as colleges try to ensure that available money fairly gets into the hands of students who most deserve it.

Time to Think Globally

Back-and-forth between professors and students just isn't the norm in much of Europe. But John Ferrel didn't know that when he spent a semester at the University of Burgos in Spain before graduating in May from Boston University. "A couple of times I raised my hand in class, and everyone looked shocked," he says. But he adapted quickly: "By my second or third month, I had my first dream in Spanish."

A Reminder to Celebrate Student Success

Many of these weekly columns are about how you, as loving parents, can play a valuable role in your student’s development. We’ve encouraged you to help your son or daughter to:

College Fire Safety

Fire safety should be a priority in evaluating accommodations both before and after entering college. Your students should be aware of housing authority safety policies or create their own check list if living off campus:

Ten Factors in Student Success

College Parents of America operates with a premise that every student wants to succeed. We also believe that part of your role as a parent is to help your student to succeed frequently as the school year begins, and to aid him or her in attaining a higher level of performance throughout the academic year.

Encourage Your Student to Create an Advisor Connection

For at least 18 years, you have probably considered yourself to be your student’s principal advisor. You have been there every step of the way, literally from the first steps taken, and then on to the first words spoken, the first tests taken, and the first degrees granted. You probably didn’t have any “training” to be a parent, but somehow you figured it out.

How College Works

How does college work? Or put another way, how do colleges work and how can you and your student learn to adjust to their practices and achieve success?Ultimately, of course, it is up to your student to find his/her way in the world. And his/her first step to a new world usually starts with college.

Scholarship Program Launched in Honor of Doug Laughlin

Note: For 2013 & 2014, College Parents of America is not currently offering scholarships. I’m very pleased to devote my column today to the launch of the Doug and Grace Laughlin Family Scholarships, a new dual scholarship program named in honor of our organization’s founder. The scholarships are intended to assist first-generation college students and exceptional student leaders to meet the rising cost of a college education.

Prepare Your Child for a Job-Producing College Experience

A parent of a college sophomore is starting a support group called "No Basement- Dwelling Grads." Having seen his friends find their empty nests refilled by children who do "well" in college but are unable to get jobs, he doesn't want it to happen to him. Studies show that about 60% of college graduates move back home.